NPR POLITICS NEWSLETTER 25MAY19

Supporters of former Vice President Joe Biden attend his presidential campaign kickoff rally in Philadelphia on May 18. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The Big Picture: Is The Democratic Divide Really That Deep?Don’t get us wrong: There’s a split in the Democratic primary. But is it as wide as the hype? Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have been leading in the polls to this point, and they have very different ideas about how to govern. Biden wants to build “consensus” while not compromising on principles. Sanders, a self-avowed democratic socialist who has been responsible for a leftward policy shift in the Democratic Party, wants to “transform the United States of America.” But at the end of the day, party strategists and even people aligned with other candidates say beating President Trump is, in fact, the No. 1 priority. “It's like a light switch, I want the light on,” said Sanders supporter Larry Cohen, head of Our Revolution. “It's not a close call. There's a huge difference between Vice President Biden and Donald Trump." — Domenico Montanaro, NPR's lead political editor Read more A mural of Harriet Tubman on a $20 bill is seen in Washington, D.C., in 2017. (Don Gonyea/NPR) ICYMI: Top Stories Investigating investigators: President Trump says Attorney General William Barr can declassify what he discovers as he looks into the origins of the Russia investigation. NPR’s Philip Ewing reports that Democrats call it a bid to scare up political “weapons.” The announcement comes asTrump spars with Democrats over sharing information they want for their own investigations. Assange faces new charges: U.S. prosecutors have brought a slate of new charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. NPR’s Carrie Johnson reports the charges include violations of the Espionage Act, which has raised alarm among First Amendment advocates. Harriet Tubman $20 delayed: Remember the planned redesign of the $20 bill that was set to feature 19th-century abolitionist Harriet Tubman? That won’t happen during the Trump administration. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Congress the new design won’t be released until 2028. Cases to watch: The Supreme Court ruled this week in favor of Native American rights, with a 5-4 decision centered on a 19th-century treaty in Wyoming. The court is expected to release decisions in a series of prominent cases over the next month. Here’s what to watch for. Opening arguments: NPR’s Morning Edition continued its “Opening Arguments” series with two 2020 presidential candidates: Kirsten Gillibrand and Julián Castro. Gillibrand spoke with NPR’s Rachel Martin about abortion, women’s rights and public service; Castro told NPR’s Steve Inskeep about his proposed shift away from the detention of migrants.  — Brandon Carter, NPR Politics social media producer South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg spoke with the NPR Politics Podcast on May 17. (Olivia Sun for NPR) The Shot: 'That's Nice' Mayor Pete Buttigieg dismissed President Trump's comments that the presidential candidate's marriage to a man was "absolutely fine": "That's nice. I'm more interested in policies that affect LGBTQ people," Buttigieg told the NPR Politics Podcast. He also opened up about the connection between his marriage and faith. "I think there's a real relationship between romantic love and the kind of love that is talked about in my faith's tradition. The kind of love that motivates and animates," he said.