THE LEDE
The Democratic primary (if anyone’s paying attention amid impeachment) has become all about Elizabeth Warren, and so is this newsletter.

The Policy Stakes: Elizabeth Warren has made a pretty clear decision not to say something true: She’s going to raise taxes to pay for universal health care. The next beat of the argument is that you, middle-class person, won’t feel the tax increase because you’ll stop paying those huge health insurance premiums out of your pocket or your paycheck. Your costs will go down, and the US will operate like most other industrialized countries.

She’s not lying, and it’s a reasonable argument. But her political refusal to say the words has led to a series of tense, confusing exchanges and her only real moments of political weakness for someone emerging as the dominant figure on the Democratic stage.

The Political Stakes: Here’s a little glimpse at some of the nonsense that shoots back and forth between campaigns and reporters — and perhaps a bit of the stress of Kamala Harris’s campaign trying to break through with a Twitter stunt — in a text from a Harris aide to me complaining about a BuzzFeed staffer’s tweet:

STAFFER: Hey I have talked to her directly a few times when she's tweeted out stuff like this, and i told her i was glad she deleted this tweet, but this kind of stuff is just a really horrible look for you guys. frankly, it's whiteness manifest. if kamala shrugged off a warren critique of how she wasn't with her on Facebook, we'd get raked and she would get lauded as taking on corporate power. the blithe mockery here of kamala while lauding warren's style, is just not up to par. i say this to you just to be super frank and because i really like your guys' work, the platform, and your reporters. we work well together across the board, but this is a bit problematic.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Deleted tweet from reporter reading, Hard to know if last night night harmed or helped Warren, but think all can come together and agree a debate highlight was Warren telling Kamala Harris no about banning Trump from Twitter then just continuing with her point in the manner of shrugging off a Greenpeace clipboard person BEN SMITH: Do you seriously not have real problems? This text makes me think you are totally, totally unready for an actual presidential campaign

READ RECEIPTS

Texting with Howard Dean

Howard Dean was, back in the fall and winter of 2003–4, the next president of the United States. He was the progressive governor of Vermont, a doctor who had signed a universal health care law, and a strident voice against the Iraq War. I asked him about how it felt then, and what he sees when he looks at the candidates — and in particular, progressive, Northeastern Elizabeth Warren — now.

BEN SMITH: Governor - Ben Smith from BuzzFeed here. Thanks for doing this! And to begin -- could you send over a selfie and let us know what you’re up to?

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Selfie of Howard Dean. BEN SMITH: Where are you? HOWARD DEAN: Currently taking a break in Vermont to do all the errands I have ignored over the past month. Recycling soda bottles. Grocery shopping, cleaners. Very exciting.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Screenshot of an article from December 17, 2003 by Bootie Cosgrove-Mather reading, Poll: Dean Pulls Away in Dem Race.

BEN SMITH: So I’m bothering you today because around this time 12 years ago, you were the next president of the United States. Did you believe that then? HOWARD DEAN: If you don’t think you can win you shouldn’t run. BEN SMITH: Do you identify with anyone on that debate stage last night? HOWARD DEAN: Elizabeth, I was the front runner until Iowa so I knew hoe she felt being the pin cushion for a while. You BEN SMITH: Do you think she can handle it?

HOWARD DEAN: Looked like she could but it’s definitely an adjustment. BEN SMITH: What do you know, having been there, that our audience wouldn’t? HOWARD DEAN: I know what goes on during the prep sessions. Your campaign brings in outside staffers to push you hard on what they consider your weaknesses. I could tell what the candidates had been working on. You just know certain questions are going to be asked by moderators or competitors. When those questions come, you can see how well the candidate was drilled.

HOWARD DEAN: Biden has to deal with the age question and the Hunter questions and Bernie with the health question. They both did well.

BEN SMITH: You ran in 2004 for the “Democratic Party” - having passed universal health care and opposing the Iraq war. I think on that stage you might be … a right winger. Do you like where the Democratic Party is now?

HOWARD DEAN: I think the party is actually moving center and the country is moving left. The squad is delightful but they are five of 40 newly elected Congress people. The other 35 are young and more centrist, from Orange County, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma the country moving towards is. Big support for Medicare for all as long as you give choices to consumers. Growing support for climate change issues and big support for marriage equality and reproductive choice.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: YouTube clip of CNN clip entitled, “2004: The scream that doomed Howard Dean” BEN SMITH: Back then, you got in trouble for getting … excited… on stage. Now the president screams all The time. Do you think this sort of thing still matters?

HOWARD DEAN: As you know, the “I have a Scream” speech has nothing to do with my losing. I had come in third when I was supposed to come in first in Iowa. We were not well organized and I wasn’t exactly a disciplined candidate. You BEN SMITH: And finally: Any advice for Warren in this moment?

HOWARD DEAN: Hang tough. Trump will be far worse than anything the Democrats throw at you. Also. The press will turn on you once you get to the front of the pack. They love a horse race so they will build you up and when you get to the head of the line you will become click bait with any idle chatter they can print. This is a tough business but it’s an even tougher job your auditioning for so get used to it. BEN SMITH: Thanks for doing this Governor!

HOWARD DEAN: Thank you. As Cory Booker said, we have to win this. Let’s keep our eye on the White House. The stakes are bigger than any I’ve ever seen for our country.

ON THE TRAIL WITH BUZZFEED NEWS

Ruby and Katherine reported from the debate in Ohio how Elizabeth Warren’s rivals came after her like she’s the race’s frontrunner.

Henry and Nidhi reported from the debate on Joe Biden disappearing into the background — something that actually wasn’t such a bad thing for the candidate.

Darren reported on another strong debate performance from Cory Booker, which...still might not add up to anything for his campaign.

Facebook made a splash for saying it won’t take down campaign ads for lies. Ryan Mac and Zahra reported on what caused them to take down more than 160 ads from top campaigns.

And Bernie Sanders is getting a big endorsement this weekend from AOC, Addy reports.

📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Ben Smith, Veronica Dulin, and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.

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