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Defending his decision to pull out of the Paris climate-change agreement, President Trump said he was elected to represent Pittsburgh, not Paris. However, his conception of Pittsburgh as a heavy-industry steel town is badly out of date. CBS News reports:

The one-time industrial center is now a thriving city focused on health care, tech and clean energy. In fact, Pittsburgh now has more jobs tied to clean energy than to steel. Mayor Bill Peduto has taken to news programs and Twitter to denounce Mr. Trumps decision.

As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement for our people, our economy & future, Peduto wrote. . . . More than 13,000 peoplenow work in renewable energy and related areas in Pittsburgh, according to a report from the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance and Environmental Entrepreneurs.

Pittsburgh plans to transition to100 percent renewable-energy sources by 2035.

Trump and his populist puppeteer Stephen K. Bannon seem to think Republicans will cheer climate-change denial. Again, their conception of America is badly out of date. Last October, the Houston Chronicle reported:

The UT Energy poll of 2,043 Americans by the University of Texas at Austins Energy Institute found that 89 percent of self-identified Democrats and 62 percent of self-identified Republicans accept the overwhelming scientific consensus about global warming. In 2012, only 45 percent of Republican accepted climate change science as fact.

Thats in direct contrast with Republican leaders, both nationally and in Texas, who still question whether humans burning fossil fuels for the last 250 years has contributed to a warming planet and rising sea levels.

Oh, and the University of Texas at Austin is one of the worlds premier schools for climate science. (Texass U.S. senators should drop by and learn something UT has some great professors at the top of the field.) Major energy companies including ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillipswanted the United States to stay in the Paris agreement.Again, the right-wing pols seem oblivious to the 21st-century economy, current public opinion and the state of scientific knowledge.

In the minds of Trump and his allies, coal jobs are coming back. Nope. Industry experts say coal mining jobs will continue to be lost, not because of blocked access to coal, but because power plant owners are turning to natural gas. At least six plants that relied on coal have closed or announced they will close since Trumps victory in November, including the main plant at the Navajo Generating Station in Arizona, the largest in the West. Another 40 are projected to close during the presidents four-year term.

Likewise, Trumps fetish with manufacturing jobs suggests he hasnt gotten out much since the 1970s. (Despite the presidents promise to bring jobs back to the United States, technology has caused massive upheaval in the manufacturing industry. Labor-intensive manufacturing is rapidly disappearing from communities like Erie and economists say traditional factory jobs are not coming back.) Hes pushing for jobs in a sector of the economy that employees a declining segment of the workforce:

Economists say that automation is by far the biggest factor behind the decline in manufacturing jobs across the country. Technological advances mean that fewer factory workers are required to maintain the same level of output.

Since 2001, roughly one-in-three manufacturing jobs have been lost in Erie, but manufacturing output has remained relatively steady. Manufacturing represented 28 percent of Eries GDP in 2001. In 2015, it was 26 percent.

This pattern holds true across the country, according to Mark Muro, the director of policy at the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute. Today, it only takes six workers to generate $1 million in manufacturing output, says Muro. The same level of output would have required 25 workers in 1980.

Republicans are paying a price for cocooning themselves in the Fox News fact-free bubble and vilifying cities where some of the most dynamic parts of the economy are based. While they accuse elites of being out of touch, the GOP climate-change deniers and non-college-educated voters especially those who reside in poorer, rural and small-town America are increasingly oblivious to the world outside their ideological bubble. Rather than level with voters, their GOP representatives cater to their ignorance and mislead them about the state of science and of our economy.

The more out of touch these voters become, the more they come to resent and distrust people who tell them facts contrary to their isolated world view. (Dont call us ignorant!) They elect people equally clueless, or willing to feign cluelessness. Even educated right-wing pundits resort to ad hominem attacks on Hollywood stars, meaningless buzzwords (a raw deal!) and flat-out untruths about the Paris deal rather than addressing the facts. The If you cant convince them, join them attitude seems to have infected conservative outlets terrified of losing readers/listeners.

So, the gap between those participating in the 21st-century economy and those hiding from it gets wider and wider; the politics of the latter group gets less and less grounded in reality. The result is counterproductive policy decisions and tribal politics with Trump leading the race to the bottom.

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Rip Van Winkle Republicans - The Washington Post - Washington Post (blog)

CARSON CITY The legislative session has come down to a big game of chicken. At stake is the funding thousands of Nevada children need to improve their education.

As I told you about first last week, an unexpected twist has given legislative Republicans the opportunity they need to force Democrats to pass funding for a modified version of education savings accounts.

Democrats and Republicans were on the cusp of a compromise just a few days ago when Sen. Majority Leader Aaron Ford blew up negotiations by forcing a vote on a marijuana tax. Since tax increases need two-thirds approval, Senate Republicans had been withholding their votes until leaders reached an ESA deal.

After Fords move, Sandoval signaled that he was satisfied to sign the budget bills even if no Republicans voted for them, issue veto after veto and send lawmakers home.

A straightforward, if anticlimactic, end to the session looked near.

But in a correct, but unexpected change from 2015, the Legislative Counsel Bureau ruled that the Capital Improvement Projects budget contained a tax increase and needs two-thirds approval. Senate Republicans held to their promise not to vote for budget bills unless there was an ESA compromise, and CIP failed.

Then the Las Vegas Review-Journals Sean Whaley broke the news that not passing the bill would create a $270 million hole in the states general fund and could hurt Nevadas bond rating.

Hello, leverage. No longer can Sandoval and Democrat leaders alone just call it a draw and walk away. If a CIP budget doesnt pass by Monday at midnight, Sandoval would have to call a special session, because the budget wouldnt be balanced, as required by Nevadas constitution.

If there was an ESA deal, the CIP budget would pass both houses unanimously. If there isnt an ESA deal, at least two Republicans in the Senate and one in the Assembly must break the unified front and vote for the CIP budget stabbing in the back both their colleagues and children desperate for educational options for the session to end on time. Sandoval could could use the leverage of setting any special-session agenda to force an agreement on ESAs.

Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, looks to be the key swing vote. Its a good sign that hes already voted down the CIP budget, but the pressure is mounting. He played his cards close to the vest when questioned. There are still a lot of ongoing discussions, was all hed tell me via text.

Sandovals spokeswoman Mari St. Martin was just as opaque.

The governor is working with legislators to complete the states work on time, she said in a text.

As an aside, if President Trump is looking for help on stopping leaks, Sandovals office has been tight-lipped all session. Not so helpful for a columnist looking for scoops, but an impressive show of discipline.

As the final hours approach, were waiting on the same question: Do Republicans stand together or hang separately?

Victor Joecks column appears in the Nevada section each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Contact him at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4698. Follow @victorjoecks on Twitter.

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If legislative Republicans stand united, ESAs get funded - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Washington Post

Republicans and Democrats react after Trump's tweets on London attack Washington Post June 4, 2017 12:09 PM EDT - Republicans and Democrats on June 4 commented on President Trump's tweets calling for a travel ban and criticizing the mayor of London after an attack in Britain's capital left seven people dead the day before. (Bastien ...

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Republicans and Democrats react after Trump's tweets on London attack - Washington Post

CARTERSVILLE, Ga.Several miles off Route 41 in Bartow County, Georgia, is the downtown area of Cartersville. It's a throwback place with brick-face storefronts, independently owned businesses, and railroad tracks that bring freight trains straight through the center of the town every 30 minutes.

The Myth of the Kindly General Lee

Here, the firing of James Comey arouses not support or opposition, but rather, indifference. Nobody I spoke with cared either way; it doesn't affect them or their families. People shrugged when asked about Trump's tweetstorms. Most agreed that press treatment of Trump is too harsh. Overall, the focus for Trump voters here is the big picture: the economy, jobs, and border security.

Bartow County is 885 miles from Manhattan, but this is Donald Trump country. He took 46 percent of the vote here during the primary, trailed by Ted Cruz at 25 percent and Marco Rubio at 18 percent. In the general election, Trump trounced Hillary Clinton, winning 75 percent of the vote to Clinton's 21 percent.

Currently, however, President Trumps job approval is clinging to the 40 percent threshold. And while Republican members of Congress, save for a select few, are backing the president, his legislative agenda appears stalled, with the prospects of health-care reform tenuous at best. Tax reform, at this point, looks like a pipe dream.

Trump's struggles have left Republicans, who had once hoped to gain seats in 2018, worrying they might lose control of both the House and Senate. "Obviously no one knows what is going to happen in next year's midterm elections, but analysts who have watched congressional elections for a long time are seeing signs that 2018 could be a wave election that flips control of the House to Democrats, Charlie Cook wrote recently in National Journal.

Trump keeps adding gasoline to fires, yet House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell behave as if its business-as-usual in Washington, D.C. If there is anything to explain their reticence in publicly rebuking Trump, it likely comes from GOP fears of alienating Trump voters across the country.

Ross's Diner has been a Cartersville fixture since 1945. There are no tables (save for one or two outside), just two long counters with stools that hold a total of 30 people. On any given morning, a dozen or so are there at one time, eating breakfast, reading the newspaper, and chatting with each other about a variety of topics, including politics.

Several said Trump hadnt been their first choice. Tony Favero and his wife Elizabeth, owners of two "Larry's Giant Subs franchises in town, initially supported current Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Ben Carson. "We wanted somebody who was a real outsider."

Both backed Trump in the general election, but at this point, Tony is handing Trump mediocre marks. "I would say a C. I'm disappointed he's focusing so much on Syria and North Korea instead of focusing on domestic issues, such as tax reform and repealing Obamacare." Elizabeth was more optimistic, but she also offered a mixed review. Although she believes Trump has achieved more than she thought possible, she also complained Trump is often immature, needing to dial back his impulsive behavior.

Sharon Ross was another early Carson supporter. "He really had it together. His answers to debate questions were thoughtful." She appreciated Carson didn't have a political background. After he dropped out, she voted for Trump to oppose Hillary Clinton. Ross didn't have much to say about his performance so far; she's tuned out of the news entirely, she said. "It's only been four months. Come back and ask me in four years and I'll give my opinion on how he's doing."

The word establishment never surfaced. People spoke only of political insiders and outsiders.

"I was with him the moment he came down that escalator," Debra Cagle, a server at Ross's, said with a smile. Cagle, like the Faveros, wanted an outsider for president. "He can't be bought like those career politicians," she said. She dressed as Donald Trump for Halloween, and readily produces a photo to prove it. Thrilled with the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, Cagle said the biggest problem facing Donald Trump is the mainstream media. "I don't trust anything they report."

She wasnt alone. Ken Wilbur of Powder Springs grew up on a farm near the Cobb County Airport. "I've worked to elect politicians from the local level to the federal level," said Ken Wilbur of Powder Springs. I have no idea why people do it. Hes appalled by what he sees as the medias unfair treatment of Trumps family. If you went after my family, there'd be big trouble. I don't know why he wants that job. I sure wouldn't want it."

"I wish they'd leave him alone, already," said Hugh Siniard. The 61-year-old had recently retired from a utility company after 40 years. He hadnt had a preference in the Republican primary; he'd been prepared to vote for anybody that was not Hillary Clinton. "I'm glad he's holding the liberal media in line," he said.

But for all his discontent with the media, Siniard was still waiting to see Trump deliver on his campaign pledges. "I'm happy with Neil Gorsuch," he said, "but I want Trump to focus on what he promised, such as securing the border and putting people to work here in the United States." Siniard supports the construction of a border wall and Trump's infrastructure proposal.

This is the predicament now facing conservatives and Republicans in Congress. Trumps supporterstheir own primary votersare standing by him. But while Trump supporters want him to focus on the big picture issues such as health care and tax reform, the president spends most of his time consumed with the kind of trivialities other presidents leave for spokespeople to handle. Trump still sees the presidency as a brand to sell, rather than a political office in which to shape an overall agenda for the country. Instead of talking about his tax reform plans when asked questions, the president is still reminding people he won the election.

A 70-year-old man, who spent 50 years cultivating an image and personality, isn't going to adjust it, even while occupying the Oval Office. When Rod Rosenstein named Robert Mueller to as special counsel, the Trump administration released a brief, level-headed statement reiterating its belief no collusion between Trump's campaign and foreign entities existed and looked forward to the end of the investigation. The following morning, Trump took to Twitter, lashing out at the investigation, calling it the "single greatest witch hunt of a politician in history." He followed it up with another tweet, complaining about the lack of the appointment of a special counsel in the Obama administration.

At this point, it does not appear that anybody in the White House can communicate to Trump the urgency to dial down the tweetstorms and outbursts. (Kellyanne Conway defended Trumps tweeting as going directly to the people.)

That leaves leaders like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell in a bind. They worry about Trump alienating the swing voters some of their members will need to win reelection but if they make their concerns public, Trump supporters may see it as an attempt to undermine the president. In March, Trump threatened lawmakers who didn't back the AHCA with a primary opponent. Many Republicans represent districts that went strongly for Donald Trump in 2016, and while they hold safe seats for the general election, none of them want to waste time and resources beating back primary opponents.

Much as Trump voters may detest insiders, the presidents ability to enact his agenda now rests on Ryan and McConnell. Theyre left to perform a high-wire act of politics and personal persuasion, trying to rein in their presidents excesses without alienating their own voters. If they cant pull it off, voters in places like Cartersville are likely to be unforgiving. Couple that with a resurgent Democratic electorate, and the wave election Charlie Cook warned about comes closer every day.

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The Republican Dilemma - The Atlantic

Republicans could hardly contain their excitement after Hillary Clinton said she plans to get involved in the 2018 midterm contests, which Republicans see as a chance to contrast themselves once more with Clinton, the two-time failed Democratic presidential candidate.

"Hillary Clinton is a face that Republicans would love to have out there as much as possible and Democrats want to see as little as possible," said Doug Heye, a former Republican National Committee communications director. "Hillary Clinton was and is a divisive figure in the party."

Clinton promised to get involved on Wednesday, when she delivered a lengthy speech that blamed her November loss on President Trump, his alleged coordination with Russia and several other factors. In particular, she blamed the Democratic National Committee for not helping her enough in the general election and blamed the press for overplaying the situation involving her private email server.

Her remarks were widely seen as another example of her failure to take responsibility for the loss. But it also left Republican groups salivating at the idea of using her as a foil to raise money.

The GOP campaign arms of the two congressional chambers the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee both plan to fundraise off Clinton in the coming days and weeks, as they have in recent months off Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who has long been a Democratic foil for Republicans in campaign cycles. The NRCC said it is set to use Clinton in states like Minnesota, Maine and Ohio against various Democratic candidates.

"The NRCC would welcome Hillary Clinton getting back out on the campaign trail with Democratic candidates," NRCC spokesman Matt Gorman told the Washington Examiner. "She's still, in so many battleground districts across the country, unbelievably unpopular, and an overwhelming amount of voters still find her to be untrustworthy."

As for her own party, Clinton angered Democrats on Wednesday by going out of her way to bash the DNC. In her remarks, she said the party apparatus gave her "nothing" in the general election and said their data operation was "mediocre to poor, non-existent," and "wrong." She also praised the Republican National Committee's operation.

Despite that, Pelosi claimed Friday that Clinton would be more than welcome by Democrats to lend a helping hand, just as all party leaders are.

"There are going to be all kinds of messengers in this," Pelosi told reporters on Friday when asked if Clinton was a good messenger for the party. "Some people will be more helpful in some places than others."

"That would be great," Pelosi added of Clinton's involvement. "She is highly respected in our country, and it's going to take everything to defeat the Republicans because they will have endless special interest, secret, dark money flowing like black substance into the campaign, suffocating the airwaves with their misrepresentations. So we'll take everything ... We are proud to enlist all of our leaders in that effort."

At the moment, Democrats have the wind at their back in the battle for the House as they look to make inroads in suburban districts. That includes Georgia's 6th Congressional District, where Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel are running neck-and-neck despite longtime Republican control of the district.

Republicans, however, hope their numbers advantage in the House 239-193 could be too much for Democrats to overcome. Either way, Republicans are eager to make Clinton an issue for Democrats.

"For a lot of Democrats ... Hillary Clinton is the candidate who lost to Donald Trump, and that is the worst thing you could be for a Democrat right now," Heye said. "Any time she's out trying to respond to Trump or trying to explain away her loss, she reminds Democratic voters of that fact."

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Republicans can't wait to run against Clinton again - Washington Examiner