🤫 Ultra-MAGA scheming

Plus: Nordic defense muscle | Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By American Bankers Association   Axios Sneak Peek By the Axios Politics team · May 18, 2022 Welcome back to Sneak. ⚡Situational awareness: President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to increase the supply of baby formula. It's just the action Axios' Andrew Solender reported earlier today that lawmakers were seeking. Smart Brevity™ count: 759 words ... 3 minutes. Edited by Glen Johnson.     1 big thing: Ultra-MAGA scheming Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios   The rise of far-right Republican candidates has some Republicans considering voting Democratic this fall — and some Democrats trying to engineer the rise of ultra-MAGA candidates they feel will be easier to defeat in a general election, writes Axios' Alexi McCammond. Why it matters: Embracing unorthodox voting strategies illustrates the concern both parties have about ultra-conservative candidates competing in high-stakes campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate. While Donald Trump has a tight grip on the GOP and has endorsed over 100 candidates so far this cycle, some of his handpicked candidates are viewed as too extreme even for his own colleagues. That helped fuel a late Republican effort to stop Kathy Barnette in yesterday's Pennsylvania Senate race (she ended up third). It also prompted Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro to air an ad saying Republican Doug Mastriano was too conservative for the state. That ended up boosting Mastriano among Republicans, as Politico noted, and helping him win yesterday. What they're saying: "In a general election, if it's Shapiro vs. Mastriano, there will be a significant number of swing-voting Republicans and independents who will vote for Shapiro — and particularly in eastern Pennsylvania," Charlie Dent, a former Republican House member from the state, told Axios. "Many Republicans leaders will likely be supporting him, too, but whether they do it publicly or not is another matter," Dent added. In another political hotbed, thousands of Georgians who've voted Democratic in the past appear to have pulled Republican primary ballots this year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. "Whoever wins the gubernatorial election in November will be my governor regardless of party affiliation. So, in the primary, ... I will vote for the Republican I can best live with," Elyn M., who identifies as a moderate Democrat, said in response to a reader callout made by Axios Atlanta reporter Emma Hurt. Keep reading.     2. Charted: Swedish and Finnish offerings to NATO Data: Global Firepower Index; Table: Axios Visuals Sweden and Finland's membership in NATO would integrate two of Europe's most highly capable and modern militaries right on Russia's doorstep, according to rankings and data from the Global Firepower Index reviewed by Axios' Zachary Basu. Why it matters: Sweden and Finland are seeking to join to obtain security guarantees from the world's most powerful military alliance. But experts say they wouldn't be Article 5 freeloaders. The Nordic nations will bring unique capabilities to an especially vulnerable Baltic region, where NATO has struggled to project power. By the numbers: Sweden's defense budget for 2022 is estimated to total $8.6 billion, while Finland's is $6.3 billion, according to the Global Firepower Index. Both Sweden and Finland have announced plans to dramatically boost their military spending in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, after years of failing to reach the 2%-of-GDP threshold NATO seeks from all its members. The number of active military personnel in the Finnish Defence Forces is a modest 23,000, but the country boasts a wartime strength of 280,000 because of its massive conscription system. A total of 900,000 Finnish reservists can be mobilized — a product of the deep-seated focus on security in a country that shares an 800-mile border with Russia, and was twice invaded in the 20th century. Keep reading.     3. Worthy of your time President Biden gave first lady Jill Biden a lift to the airport as he took Marine One to Joint Base Andrews for a hurricane briefing, while she departed for a trip to Ecuador, Panama and Costa Rica. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images   🦠 First daughter Ashley Biden dropped off first lady Jill Biden's trip to Central America today after testing positive for COVID-19. The White House said she was not a close contact with the president, Andrew also reports in tonight's Sneak roundup. 🇺🇦 The U.S. has re-opened its embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, though it will operate in a limited capacity without the chargé d'affaires or consular services, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced via Twitter. ❌ The Department of Homeland Security is suspending plans to establish a "Disinformation Governance Board" after a torrent of criticism from Republicans, according to The Washington Post. 🐘 Tech billionaire Elon Musk tweeted he will vote for Republicans going forward, and claimed he has previously voted Democratic, asserting the Democrats have gone from "the kindness party" to the "party of division & hate." 👎 Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) lamented moderate Rep. Kurt Schrader's (D-Ore.) likely loss in his primary to a more progressive primary challenger, telling CNN, "It's a really sad scenario when you lose people that are willing to work, to find solutions."     A message from American Bankers Association America's banks are empowering consumers to spot phishing scams     Don't fall for bogus calls, emails or texts from scammers pretending to be from your bank. Take note: Your bank will never ask you for sensitive information like your password or PIN. For tips and tools to protect yourself from phishing, check out the award-winning #BanksNeverAskThat campaign.     4. Pics du jour Photos: CJ Gunther/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images   Vice President Kamala Harris held aloft the gift she received from the 2022 graduating class as she addressed the Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremony. Underclassmen cadets marched onto Cadet Memorial Field in New London, Connecticut. Harris presented a diploma to a new ensign. The graduates tossed their caps in the air at the conclusion of the ceremony.     A message from American Bankers Association Americans like their bank     A strong majority of U.S. consumers are happy with their bank, think the financial services industry is highly competitive and believe their bank is transparent about disclosing fees. View ABA's recent Morning Consult survey results to see the many reasons Americans appreciate their bank.   🐫 Thanks for reading tonight. We're more than halfway home this week! Please tell your family, friends and colleagues they can subscribe to Sneak or any of Axios' other free local and national newsletters through this link. Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. 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