It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy. 

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HOW SOME CITIES ARE STARTING TO TACKLE POLICE REFORM
By Daniel Bush, @DanielBush ([link removed])
Senior Political Reporter

As cities across the country move quickly to implement law enforcement reforms in response to the protests over George Floyd’s death, local officials are warning that the changes could take months or even years and likely won’t result in the full disbandment of police departments.

In the weeks since Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, city and state officials have joined activists in calling for a wholesale reimagining of law enforcement’s role in society, in particular the way policing is carried out in communities of color.

The city council in Minneapolis made national headlines over the weekend by taking an initial step toward entirely disbanding its police department. In New York and other cities, officials have announced plans to cut funding for the police and redistribute it to other social services and community programs.

But even as they join the calls for sweeping reform, many local officials have in recent days begun acknowledging that the changes will require navigating a complex labyrinth of city and state laws, police union contracts, and budget issues complicated by the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Minneapolis is perhaps the most prominent example of a large city running into obstacles as it tries to address policing issues as quickly as possible amid pressure from thousands of protesters calling for change.

“This is a moment where change can happen quickly, but also let’s be real,” said Linea Palmisano, the chair of the Minneapolis City Council’s budget committee. Terms “like ‘dismantle,’ ‘defund’ and ‘abolish’ [the police department] mean different things,” she added, and have varying degrees of feasibility. READ THE FULL STORY. ([link removed])


FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By Ian Couzens, @IanCouzenz ([link removed])
Politics production assistant

Protests after Floyd’s death reach rural America ([link removed]) -- June 6. Parts of Montana, South Dakota, and Idaho saw protests similar to those in big cities over the weekend, giving new life to the historic struggle for equality in rural America. Why it matters: While many minority communities in the rural U.S. have a long and prominent history, they often face a unique set of challenges and inequalities that have often been overlooked but are now gaining attention that could spur change. -- Politico

U.S. marine corps issues ban on confederate battle flags ([link removed]) -- June 6. The U.S. Marine Corps gave orders last Friday that banned at Marine installations all public displays of the confederate battle flag, including depictions on posters, mugs or bumper stickers. Why it matters: Over the years, the military as a whole has had many high-profile issues with racist behavior come to light, yet few changes have been implemented to stop or prevent these incidents until now. -- New York Times

John Hickenlooper violated ethics laws twice in 2018, commission finds - ([link removed]) - June 5. Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper violated his state’s gifts rules twice in 2018, according to the Independent Ethics Commission. Why it matters: Hickenlooper is currently running for Senate and is poised to help the Democratic Party flip a Republican seat in its quest to gain a majority in the upper chamber of Congress, but this revelation could damage him politically. -- The Denver Post

Trump 'approves plan' to cut US troops in Germany ([link removed]) -- June 6. President Donald Trump gave orders to the Pentagon last Friday to remove 9,500 U.S. troops from Germany by September. Why it matters: The decision comes as the Trump administration continues to complain about burden sharing within NATO, leading many to point to this troop withdrawal as further evidence of the fraying relationship between the U.S. and its European allies. -- BBC

Supreme Court asked to reconsider immunity available to police accused of brutality ([link removed]) -- June 4. The United States Supreme Court is considering taking another look at qualified immunity, the doctrine that often safeguards police against lawsuits claiming they have violated a plaintiff’s rights. Why it matters: Though the nation’s highest court has only ruled in favor of the plaintiff in two out of 30 cases that have dealt with qualified immunity, the country’s renewed interest in matters regarding race, equality and policing could pressure the court to rethink the issue and potentially change how police are held accountable. - The Washington Post

#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke ([link removed])
Politics producer

On this day in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a national day of mourning after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. It was a tumultuous year in American history, with widespread protests over civil rights, the Vietnam War and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. At the time of Kennedy’s assassination, he was running for president, but he was also a sitting U.S. senator.

Our question: What state was RFK representing in the Senate?

Send your answers to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.

Last week, we asked: On this day in 1774, the British government renewed an act that allowed British troops to stay housed in private American residences. What was this act called?

The answer: The Quartering Act

Many Americans think this act allowed British troops to essentially evict people from their homes and eat their food. But it actually forced the colonists to build barracks for British forces and, if those were full, then they could stay in other buildings, including unoccupied private residences and buildings.

The Quartering Act was actually among the “taxation without representation” grievances for the colonists — they took issue with having to provide these resources for the British government and considered it an indirect tax.

The colonial frustration over this policy would eventually lead to the Constitution’s Third Amendment, which states: “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”

Congratulations to our winner: Ed Witt!!

Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your Inbox next week.
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** 'A very long, very loud existential scream'
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Amid the largest pandemic in a century, we’re also experiencing the biggest protest movement in a generation. In this episode of America, Interrupted, protesters in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., tell White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor and senior political reporter Daniel Bush about why they’ve taken to the streets after the death of George Floyd — and why this moment feels different.

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