Hi John, 

As we remain focused on our ballot access drive in the states, Washington, D.C. is sending yet another reminder of the stakes of our work to bring problem solving back to government. 

In the Senate earlier this week, the two parties were close to a landmark bipartisan deal on border security that included notable wins for both sides. But on Wednesday, Sen. Mitch McConnell revealed that the legislation is not likely to move forward... because of Donald Trump. 

"Politics on this have changed," McConnell told Senate Republicans after Trump's win in New Hampshire. Referring to Trump as "the nominee," he added, "We don't want to do anything to undermine him." 

Meanwhile, Trump himself is telling Senate Republicans to reject any border deal “unless we get EVERYTHING.” We all know why. Trump wants to campaign on the border crisis. He doesn't want it solved unless he gets the credit. 

The blame for the deal's likely demise doesn't lie just with Trump.  

On the other side, Democrats have largely shied away from identifying the situation at the border as the crisis that it is. Many Democrats in Congress came out in opposition to the deal. And then there is Vice President Kamala Harris, whom President Biden placed in charge of immigration yet has been absent from the Senate negotiations and hasn't been to the border since June 2021. 

President Biden himself refused this week to allow the Texas state government to take needed action to secure its own border. And in the GOP, Speaker Mike Johnson has preemptively declared the bipartisan border deal “dead on arrival” in the House as the most extreme members of his party agitate for their own partisan border bill.

The Problem Solvers, meanwhile, are left to languish in the middle. 

This episode is the latest reminder of the broken incentives that leave so many of our nation's most pressing problems – from our border, to fiscal health, to crime – to fester at the American people's expense.  

We're fighting to change that, but we need your help. Please donate today to help us continue our work nationwide.  

Thank you for your support. We're proud to stand with you.  

Margaret

The Conspiracy Against No Labels.
 By William Barr 

Although I am a committed Republican and not part of No Labels’ effort, I believe the campaign to disenfranchise the group is profoundly wrong. Poll after poll shows American voters want a choice beyond Joe Biden and Donald Trump. I don’t know whether a No Labels candidate would help or hurt either. But that calculus should make no difference. Blocking ballot access to a qualified organization doesn’t enhance American democracy and civic life. It extinguishes First Amendment rights and makes our elections less meaningful.

No Labels National Director Joe Cunningham on CNN News Central. 
By CNN

Cunningham: Well, it certainly played out last night according to how the pundits and pollsters were predicting. It seems to be going along this trend of these presumptive nominees. That is why No Labels has been working to provide Americans with a third option. Two thirds of Americans do not want to see this rematch between Trump and Biden. We are more focused about getting on the ballot and being in a position where we can offer Americans another voice, another choice.

No Labels National Co-Chair Gov. Pat McCrory (R-NC) on Fox & Friends.
By FOX

McCrory: All indications and yet 65% of the American people do not want a rematch at this point in time. So, we have never really had this in American history where such a large percentage of people are not satisfied with the possible selections coming out of the Democratic and Republican primaries. And if not now, when for the possibility of people having a choice. And what’s unique about this, it’s winner take all in all the states. Winner take all, including my state of North Carolina. So, you could get 35% of the vote as a third party and win. And we’re right now gaining access to ballots across the nation. We’re the only independent group that has an opportunity to get on all 50 state ballots. And we have been working on it over a year. And I’m proud of being part of the effort with Ben Chavis and Joe Lieberman and many people throughout the nation.