News Reporter: The Daily 202: Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet's new rival thinks Ted Cruz belongs on the Supreme Court

Darryl Glenn is one of five relatively unknown Republicans who ran to challenge the Democrat

Senator Michael Bennet may have dodged a stiff challenge at the ballot box in 2016. (Photo by Matthew Staver/For The Washington Post)

James Hohmann will return next week.

THE BIG IDEA by Elise Viebeck: ASPEN, Colo. -- Conservative right, 1. Republican establishment, 0.

That's the score in Colorado this morning after conservatives' pick to challenge Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) won his chaotic five-way primary on Tuesday night. Republican Darryl Glenn, an El Paso County Commissioner and Air Force veteran, has started to pivot by going after Bennet on Obamacare and the Iran nuclear deal. In his victory speech, he seemed to identify with the kind of voter anger that has fueled the rise of Donald Trump, who he has called a "patriot." And recently, Glenn said again that he thinks Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), one of his key endorsers, belongs on the Supreme Court.

Democrats see all of this as great -- for them. In fact, writes The Fix's Amber Phillips, the outcome of Colorado's primary pretty much slices in half Republican chances of picking up Democratic-held Senate seats this year. And by half, that means they may only have a real shot at one: the open seat of retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in Utah (

This wasn't how it might have happened. After ex-Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) lost two years ago, Colorado Dems girded for the possibility that another rising political talent like Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) could challenge Bennet, who is really the only Democratic Senate incumbent vulnerable in 2016. After all, Gardner unseated Udall with one of last cycle's strongest Senate campaigns, and Colorado was seen as one of Republicans' best potential Senate pick-ups this year. It seemed likely that another GOPer -- perhaps Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) -- could use some of Gardner's old playbook to deny Bennet a second term.

But those fears began to fade when Coffman ruled out a Senate bid in June 2015. After that, a handful of Colorado Republicans weighed challenging Bennet, including state Sen. Ellen Roberts and state Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, wife of Rep. Coffman. Others flirted with a bid, like Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler. Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) also left the door open. But ultimately, none of these potential candidates threw their hats in the ring.

The resulting GOP field was a hodgepodge of unknowns -- five, in the end -- and a primary where nobody could predict an outcome. Glenn amassed endorsements from conservative leaders like Cruz, Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ben Sasse (R-Utah) and James Dobson. By the final days, he seemed to have the momentum despite little money and no paid campaign staff, and won with 37.4 percent of the vote. In second and third place were two wealthy political outsiders: Jack Graham and Robert Blaha, with 24.8 and 16.3 percent, respectively.

The story gets more interesting when you think of the fourth-place candidate, Jon Keyser, who managed only 12.6 percent last night. The telegenic combat veteran was known as the National Republican Senatorial Committee's pick, but soon failed to meet expectations between early campaign hiccups and a series of tortured answers in a scandal about forged signatures submitted by his campaign. After clips of those answers went viral (we featured them here in 202 -- and here they are again), it seemed official: Keyser was doomed.

Glenn, who would be the second black Republican senator if he won (joining Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)), was not supposted to best his better-funded GOP rivals. But he nabbed the state party's endorsement during a moment-making speech at its convention in April. See for yourself below:

Darryl Glenn 2016 CO GOP State Convention Speech

So now it's Glenn vs. Bennet, a race likely to be much less interesting than Gardner vs. Udall -- unless Glenn pulls a Trump, of course, and defies all expectations. Here in Aspen, at the tony Ideas Festival, liberal donors seemed unconcerned about Bennet's chances against an unknown conservative. National Democrats are already predicting victory: "We look forward to celebrating Senator Bennet's re-election in November," said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director Sadie Weiner, and with a preview of Dems' messaging, called Glenn an "ultraconservative, nightmare-scenario candidate."

Republicans will have to do a lot to catch up their candidate on the money side: Glenn had $50,198 cash on hand as of June 8 to Bennet's $5.7 million. That is, if they want to compete. Three hours after Glenn was declared the winner, the NRSC had not yet put out a statement congratulating him. In another corner, the Senate Conservatives Fund was elated, calling Glenn an "unapologetic conservative" who "overcame great odds" to win his primary.

If Glenn follows Gardner's strategy and manages to bulk up his resources -- again, his campaign is currently all-volunteer -- Bennet may have to compete. But that's "if." Until then, Dems are eager to paint Glenn as a firebrand who is too conservative for the state. Republicans should -- in a normal year -- have a shot at winning Colorado in a swing state. But given that it has the eighth largest Latino population in the country, and Trump's comments about Latinos, competing here may be hard for Republicans anyway.

That comment about Cruz on the Supreme Court? In Colorado, we'll see how it plays.

Welcome to the Daily 202, PowerPost's morning newsletter.
With contributions from Breanne Deppisch (@breanne_dep) and Elise Viebeck (@eliseviebeck) Sign up to receive the newsletter.

Passengers embrace outside the Istanbul airport after the attack. (Monique Jaques/The Washington Post)

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:

THE LATEST FROM TURKEY. IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL?

--The death toll from the deadly blast rises to 41, killing at least 13 foreigners -- including five from Saudi Arabia and others from China, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan -- and wounding at least 239 more, Turkish officials reported Wednesday in the latest update. They declared today to be a national day of morning, Erin Cunningham reports.

--How it happened: Three bombers with suicide vests detonated their explosives at the entrance of Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport. Police manning a checkpoint at the airport's international terminal shot at the attackers as they approached. The attackers then detonated their bombs and were also killed.

--Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim placed the blame on the Islamic State, though there have been no official claims of responsibility yet. "I call on every citizen to act in unity and stand by each other, and I believe that this is going to be the best answer to the terrorists," said Yildirim.

--The U.S. Embassy in Turkey has issued a travel warning for the country, and the State Department released a statement condemning the attack.

John Kerry called the attacks "desperate" during a brief speech at the Aspen Ideas Summit in Colorado, lamenting the "daily fare" of violence waged by extremist actors. "It has been more than one year since Daesh has actually launched a full scale military offensive," said the Secretary of State, referring to ISIS as Daesh. "Now, yes, you can bomb an airport, you can blow yourself up. That's the tragedy."

Donald Trump tweeted about the attacks, saying the U.S. must keep such violence outside of its borders:

And in a speech, he said "we had better get tough" against terrorists. "Folks, there's something going on that's really, really bad. It's bad," Trump said.

Trump on Turkey: 'We had better get tough'

Hillary Clinton tweeted her statement that the U.S. must stand "with one of our NATO allies:"

Watch the apparent explosion inside the Istanbul airport:

Video appears to show explosion in Istanbul airport

BREXIT FALLOUT CONTINUES:

-- LABOR PARTY'S JEREMY CORBYN LOSES VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE, BUT VOWS TO REMAIN IN THE JOB. From the BBC: "On Tuesday 172 Labour MPs voted in favour of the no-confidence motion; 40 voted against." Corbyn said he won't "betray" his supporters by resigning, but two possible replacements are in the offing: Labor's deputy leader Tom Watson and ex-shadow business secretary Angela Eagle.

--Secretary of State John Kerry referred to a number of ways Britan's vote to leave the E.U. could be "walked back," The Guardian reported. Kerry visited resigning Prime Minister David Cameron in London on Monday, saying Cameron felt powerless to "start negotiating a thing that he doesn't believe in" and "has no idea how he would do it."

--European leaders from the remaining 27 E.U. countries met in Brussels Wednesday, Michael Birnbaum and Griff Witte report. "The breakfast was the first pan-European gathering in decades at which Britain was not represented, a reminder of last week's momentous vote by British voters to sunder ties across the English Channel."

Leaders seem to agree on taking a hardline stance against on Britain's exit, but they are less united on how to salvage the rest of the union. "Some leaders want to bind themselves together even more tightly, in a bid to fend off euroskeptic forces who might attack at the ballot box. Others say the only way to survive is by loosening the confederation and scaling back E.U. ambitions. About the only issue they can agree is that they face profound risks," Michael and Griff write.

From Michael and Griff: "Seeking to prevent a further crackup of their 28-nation bloc, nervous heads of government told London that it cannot preserve access to the world's largest consumer market if it does not also accept the exact obligation that British voters seemed to reject: open borders. Some leading British exit campaigners already appeared to rein in ambitions for the split."

--Norwegian model? "European leaders said the best deal they could offer would resemble Norway's. A non-E.U. member, that country has to submit to most E.U. rules and regulations in exchange for free access to the bloc's rich markets. But Norway allows free movement of labor with the E.U., which would be a bitter disappointment for the British voters who just rejected E.U. membership."

The hard-line stance could come as a shock to British voters: "Many 'leave' voters who opted to exit the E.U. argued that Britain would continue to enjoy an advantaged trading relationship with Europe without having to abide by the continent's free-movement rules. But since the vote, the pro-Brexit camp has splintered, with some continuing to press for an answer to immigration while others seem to quietly acknowledge that meaningful change is probably out of reach."

-- The U.K.'s Conservative Party began its search for a new prime minister to replace Cameron. "Among his possible replacements are Boris Johnson, a leader of the 'leave' campaign and the former mayor of London, Home Secretary Theresa May, Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. The fallout from the 'leave' vote also hit Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, who was accused by party members of failing to aggressively back 'remain.'" (USA Today)

-- Many Britons are scrambling to apply for passports from other E.U. countries such as Ireland. From Karla Adam: Britons can apply for Irish citizenship if they were born in Ireland or if they have a parent or grandparent who is Irish. It's estimated that about 6 million people – roughly 10 percent of the British population, have Irish heritage. Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan complained about the flood of unnecessary passport applications since the Brexit vote, saying the stampede could impact those with a genuine need for a passport for imminent travel.

-- Brexit unleased chaos among global currencies. From Ylan Q. Mui, Chico Harlan and Jim Tankersley: "Thanks to Brexit, the French may not buy as many American pharmaceuticals this year. Germans probably won't buy as many Japanese printers. It's the best time in recent memory for a non-Brit to drive home a new Jaguar, but no one in Britain should be too excited about that." Britain's vote to leave the E.U. has unleashed a currency war in which all sides appear likely to lose. In the aftermath of the June 23 vote, the value of the British pound has plummeted. The U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen have surged. And unlike in normal times, when at least one of those moves would signal faster growth to come, all three countries are bracing for currency-driven slowdowns in their economies.

The turmoil in foreign exchange markets since Brexit exemplifies a new world order: "A strong currency used to be the hallmark of an advanced economy, a symbol of financial stability and international influence. But now, those rules no longer apply. Britain suddenly finds itself in a similar boat to many developing nations, less concerned with how a weaker currency might boost its export sectors and more with the faltering economic prognosis that is driving investors away from the pound."

-- More than a third of U.S. voters see the Brexit as damaging to the American economy, according to a Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll, while four in 10 Americans with stock believe fallout from the split will hurt their portfolios.

U.S. consumers were the least affected by the exit: 50 percent of voters said it will have "no impact" on their purchasing decisions, compared to 10 percent who said it will have a major impact, and 19 percent who said it will have a minor one.
Most Americans are following the Brexit news: 28 percent of voters said they've read, seen or heard "a lot" about the decision, while another 36 percent said they were familiar with "some" details over the split.
A majority of U.S. voters (57 percent) said they don't expect the verdict to influence their vote in November's presidential election. Among voters who said they will be influenced by the decision, nearly half said they were more likely to vote for Clinton, while 35 percent said the same for Trump.

--Meanwhile, U.S. defense leaders sought to downplay the impact of Brexit, saying the United States's closest military relationship would be protected. From Missy Ryan: "While last week's vote was an expression of many Britons' desire to put national interests first, American officials voiced cautious optimism that British leaders would uphold their tradition of employing military power, allowing the two countries' battlefield partnerships to continue."

President Obama moved to deflate public anxiety: "There's been a little bit of hysteria post-Brexit vote, as if somehow NATO's gone, the transatlantic alliance is dissolving, and every country is rushing off to its own corner," he said in an NPR interview "That's not what's happening."
British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said his country will not back down from its duty to combat international threats: "This is not Britain turning its back on the world," he said

Officials from both countries said the U.S.-U.K. defense relationship will be "relatively unchanged," noting that most of the two countries' military cooperation takes place on a bilateral basis or through NATO. There are "no major agreements or any military arrangements" that will need to be renegotiated, leaders said.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pose for a photo with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau as they arrive for a state dinner in March. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

GET SMART FAST:

President Obama is traveling to Ottawa today for a North American Leaders' Summit, joining Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to discuss issues including clean energy, terrorism, and trade. (Juliet Eilperin)
Trudeau announced his country will begin lifting visa requirements for Mexican visitors in December. The announcement is poised to remove a major irritant in relations between the two countries. (Toronto Star)
The Supreme Court will not review Washington state's requirement that pharmacies dispense emergency contraceptives to women. The decision prompted an outcry from conservative justices, who argued that it was an "ominous sign" for religious liberty. (Robert Barnes)
Zika could linger in pregnant women for three to seven times longer than non-pregnant individuals, according to new findings from the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. The potentially-prolonged infection time is of particular concern to pregnant mothers, who risk putting unborn infants at risk for microcephaly. (Lena H. Sun)
Top world golfer Jason Day has pulled out of attending this year's Rio Olympics, citing concerns over the Zika virus. Day is the fourth elite golfer to drop out of this year's Olympics because of concerns over the mosquito-borne virus. (Matt Bonesteel)
International visitors to the U.S. could soon be asked to disclose their social media accounts as part of an anti-terrorism screening process. The proposal comes as federal officials seek to bolster the vetting process against European-born or naturalized citizens with terrorist ties. (New York Times)
The Justice Department is mandating "implicit bias" training for nearly 30,000 federal agents and prosecutors, aimed at helping them recognize how unconscious stereotypes can affect decisions in the workplace. (Eric Yoder)
U.S. Education Secretary John King Jr. called on charter school leaders to reduce reliance on suspensions and expulsions, echoing critics who say that harsh zero-tolerance policies push students back into neighborhood public schools. (Emma Brown)
Ikea is recalling nearly 30 million chests and dressers from its Malm line, after six children died when the furniture tipped over on them. (Abha Bhattarai)
A task force of medical experts said there is "no proven benefit" to regular pelvic exams for most U.S. women, potentially putting an end to the uncomfortable annual procedure. (Ariana Eunjung Cha)

Trey Gowdy attends a news conference held to discuss the committee's release of its 800-page report. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

IS THIS THE END OF THE BENGHAZI PROBES? Maybe, is the answer from Capitol Hill after the House select committee headed by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) released an 800-page report collected after two years and $7 million dollars.

--The report found no new evidence of wrongdoing by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, reports Karen DeYoung: "For the most part, it describes what it says Clinton and other senior officials should have known and should have done, amid systemic failures across the administration's national-security apparatus ... The majority report identified for the first time the force that ultimately rescued the remaining U.S. personnel at the CIA facility, known as the 'annex,' as a group known as Libyan Military Intelligence ... The report repeats, with additional detail, Clinton's strong advocacy for the 2011 U.S. bombing in Libya that helped lead to [Libyan leader Moammar] Gaddafi's overthrow ... the majority report and previous inquires have noted, numerous internal State Department reports described the temporary Benghazi facility as insecure ... The report recounted, in more detail than previous accounts, the fluctuating internal and public versions of the motivation of the attackers."

--Gowdy defended the report, which Democrats on the panel didn't sign on to, saying the GOP "squandered millions in taxpayer dollars." Gowdy claimed the intent of the report was never to damage Clinton, who is about to be nominated as Democrats' presidential candidate in Philadelphia. "'Color me shocked that they are critical of our report,' Gowdy said of Democrats, accusing them of being 'serial leakers of information' during the two-year investigation."

--Meanwhile, Chris Cillizza notes that Clinton's explanations for her separate email server as secretary, which was originally unearthed by the Benghazi select panel, are getting harder to believe. Cillizza cites the release of an additional 165 emails from Clinton's private server revealed in an Associated Press report on Monday. "The latest batch of emails suggest that Clinton's filter to decide between the personal and the professional was far from foolproof," Cillizza writes. "Then there's this quote from a newly released March 2009 email between Clinton and her top aide Huma Abedin about the email setup: 'I have just realized I have no idea how my papers are treated at State. Who manages both my personal and official files? ... I think we need to get on this asap to be sure we know and design the system we want.'"

One group isn't going to give up on Benghazi, however. The NRA's political arm released a new ad today on which it will spend $2 million featuring a survivor of the attacks urging voters not to back Clinton:

Mark "Oz" Geist: Stop Clinton, Vote Trump

WAPO HIGHLIGHTS:

ZIKA FUNDING DIES -- FOR NOW -- AMID "POISON PILL" AMENDMENTS. Senate Democrats rejected a $1.1 billion Zika funding package drafted by congressional Republicans, citing "poison pill" measures aimed at Planned Parenthood and environmental regulations. The standoff comes just two weeks before Congress breaks for summer holiday and raises the possibility that emergency funds could be stalled through the government's seven-week holiday. (Kelsey Snell and Mike DeBonis)

-- Lawmakers continued to play politics with the looming health crisis, writes Katie Zezima: Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers blamed the opposing party for inaction, vowing to hold them responsible if funds aren't approves and the virus spreads in the country this summer. The issue could also become a factor in the November elections, particularly in states such as Florida and Texas where the mosquitoes that transmit the disease flourish.

Clinton called on Congress to pass a deal, echoing calls that public health emergencies are not the place for partisan politics. Trump's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
The White House blasted congressional Republicans for inaction: "You would think that at some point the safety and well-being of pregnant women in the U.S. would be more important than politics to Republicans," said press secretary Josh Earnest. "But unfortunately it's not."

-- "Venezuelans are storming supermarkets and attacking trucks as food supplies dwindle," by Joshua Partlow and Mariana Zuñiga: "In the darkness the warehouse looks like any other, a metal-roofed hangar next to a clattering overpass, with homeless people sleeping nearby in the shadows. But inside, workers quietly unload black plastic crates filled with merchandise so valuable that mobs have looted delivery vehicles, shot up the windshields of trucks and hurled a rock into one driver's eye. Soldiers and police milling around the loading depots give this neighborhood the feel of a military garrison." "'It's just cheese,' said truck driver Juan Urrea, as workers unloaded thousands of pounds of white Venezuelan queso. 'I've never seen anything like this before.'"

"The fight for food has begun in Venezuela ... Exhausted by government-imposed power blackouts, spiraling crime, endless food lines, and waves of looting and protest, citizens are mobilizing against their leaders. And now, what has been a slow-motion crisis in Venezuela seems to be careening into a new, more dangerous phase. 'This is savagery,' said salesman Pedro Zaraza. 'The authorities are losing their grip.'"

--"How North Carolina's idyllic hipster haven is being hurt by the 'bathroom bill' boycott," by Karen Heller: "Emoke B'Racz is resting in the Southern literature corner of her congenial bookstore in this Southern town [of Asheville], a tad disgusted. The daughter of a Hungarian political exile, B'Racz is a woman who is cowed by little. She opened Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe in 1982 … Along the way, she deflected criticism from all quarters: from lesbians for not operating a gay bookstore (she's gay) and military buffs for omitting military history ('Not my thing'). But nothing prepared her for the economic fallout from the 'bathroom bill.' Within days, North Carolina became the place not to visit but to strenuously avoid, and an economic boycott went into full throttle. Tourists who couldn't cancel their trips would walk into Malaprop's … and announce that they weren't spending money. Although it draws national attention to a cause, economic boycotts can be punitive to small businesses in a vacation destination like Asheville." "Our business is off on a day-to-day basis," said B'Racz.

Pro-life activists gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

FOR CONSERVATIVES, THE HIGH COURT'S TERM WAS A LETDOWN:

-- "Conservative hopes for a transformational Supreme Court term ended with Justice Scalia's death this winter," Robert Barnes reports. Instead, liberals prevailed on what are likely to be the term's most influential decisions. "The cases and causes that had the right so excited at the beginning of the term — challenges to affirmative action, restrictions on abortion, and Obama's use of executive power — ended either with liberal victories or draws that set no precedent ... As has been the case for more than a decade, Justice Kennedy again was the court's pivotal player, and he gave the left important and somewhat surprising victories. But it was the absence of Scalia, the bombastic justice whose intellect and bravado powered the court's conservative wing, that altered the court's tone and reversed its reputation as a welcoming place for conservative causes." Without the spotlight-loving Scalia, other members of the court emerged:

Justice Thomas asked questions at oral argument for the first time in a decade — and assumed the role of the chief defender of gun rights. Justice Sotomayor spoke frankly about issues of race and discrimination in sharply worded dissents, meanwhile, prompting comparisons to former justice Thurgood Marshall.
Justice Breyer wrote the "no-frills, just-facts" opinion striking down Texas's abortion clinic restrictions. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. took on Scalia's role as a dissenter – but unlike his predecessor, "he lacks a love of the whip."

"In general, the temperature at the court this term was more moderate. There was no landmark case, such as last year's same-sex-marriage case. Moreover, with the realization that the Republican-controlled Senate was not going to vote on the confirmation of Judge Merrick Garland, and restore the court to full strength, the justices seemed to adopt a we're-all-in-this-together attitude. 'It has long been said that if you add one new justice, you get an entirely new court,' said Washington lawyer Gregory G. Garre. 'This term showed that if you take away a justice, you get an entirely new court.'"

Trump speaks to voters during a campaign stop in Monessen, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty)

THE DAILY DONALD:

-- Trump channeled more than a year's worth of fiery, freewheeling protectionist rhetoric into a trade speech, seeking to recover from weeks of self-inflicted wounds and return to the economic grievances that originally animated his campaign. From Jose A. DelReal and Sean Sullivan: "Speaking in a western Pennsylvania warehouse filled with piles of compressed aluminum cans and metal scraps, Trump ticked through a seven-step plan to boost domestic job growth that included renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, labeling China a currency manipulator and withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and preventing its implementation." The mogul praised Britain's exit from the European Union, saying "our friends in Britain recently voted to take back control of their economy" and that "now it's time for the American people to take back their future."

Trump delivered his populist pitch to voters at a steel plant in Pennsylvania coal country, encapsulating his aspirational strategy for the general election, write NYT's Nick Corasaniti, Alexander Burns and Binyamin Applebaum. "His greatest source of support has been white working-class men, and his campaign hopes to compete in traditionally Democratic-leaning states, like Pennsylvania and Michigan, to offset his deep unpopularity with Hispanic voters in swing states like Florida and Colorado."

Trump aggressively slammed the TPP as a disaster "pushed by special interests who want to rape our country": "Just a continuing rape of our country. That's what it is, too. It's a harsh word -- it's a rape of our country. This is done by wealthy people that want to take advantage of us and that want to sign another partnership."

The speech, while uncharacteristically disciplined, put him at odds with decades of Republican orthodoxy. Both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers blasted his remarks on Twitter: "Setting Things Straight: NAFTA has NOT been a disaster for the U.S.," read one tweet from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Another said, "You heard from Trump on trade, here's what you really need to know."

-- Trump's campaign hired former Rand Paul digital director Vincent Harris: The businessman is employing both Harris and the services of his Austin-based firm Harris Media, Politico's Shane Goldmacher and Darren Samuelsohn report. The move comes as the presumptive Republican nominee seeks to ramp up his digital operations and build out a network of small donors ahead of the general election.

-- Longtime Trump lawyer Michael Cohen launched an aggressive social media attack against Clinton, tweeting an image that claimed she "murdered an ambassador." Cohen, who serves as a top executive to the Trump Organization and special counsel to the real estate mogul, is not affiliated with Trump's presidential bid. But the tweet highlighted how Trump's many business associations can quickly raise questions about his personal beliefs and political leanings. (Sean Sullivan)

-- Trump is holding a high-dollar fundraiser in Boston this afternoon, two weeks after he canceled a similar event following the Orlando shooting. The event is part of Trump's daylong campaign around New England as he seeks to pad his campaign coffers ahead of the general election. He is also slated to appear at a Bangor rally alongside Maine Gov. Paul LePage. (The Boston Globe)

-- Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski lost a $1.2 million book deal with HarperCollins. The ousted campaign manager began soliciting offers for a book in March but refused to provide a copy of his non-disclosure agreement, forcing the publishing giant to abandon the deal. (Politico)

19 days until the Cleveland:

-- Bloomberg reported that Trump's campaign has lined up Mike Tyson and Mike Ditka to appear at the Republican National Convention in July: The lineup comes as part of Trump's proposed "winner night," slated to include a list of iconic sports figures and celebrities as the bombastic billionaire struggles to tap GOP leaders to stump at the event.

But Trump rebutted speculation that Tyson had been offered a speaking role at the event: "Iron Mike Tyson was not asked to speak at the [convention]," Trump said in a tweet, "though I'm sure he would do a good job if he was. The media makes everything up!" It remains unclear what role Tyson or Ditka will play at the convention.

-- The RNC unveiled its model for the convention stage, offering a preview of the dramatic setup less than a month before attendees gather at Cleveland's Quicken Loans arena. (Check out a digital rendering here.)

Clinton takes a selfie with a member of the audience after speaking at a Digital Content Creators Town Hall in L.A. (AP/Andrew Harnik)

MORE ON THE DEMOCRATIC RACE:

-- Clinton unveiled a broad technology agenda during a speech in Denver, outlining proposals that cast technology as an engine of "equality rather than elitism." From Anne Gearan and Danielle Douglas-Gabriel: Clinton touted the idea of tech entrepreneurship as a positive solution to job creation, offering permanent resident status to immigrants who earn graduate degrees in science and engineering fields and offering deferred repayment options for college loans. "[There is] $1.2 trillion in student debt," Clinton lamented to the crowd, in a clear nod to supporters of fomer rival Bernie Sanders. "Think of how more productive that money could be spent." Her platform also included support for familiar policies such as net neutrality and expansion of high-speed internet to bridge the so-called digital divide. "Every year we waste means we leave people behind," Clinton said.

-- Sanders's campaign is raising money to help send his delegates to Philadelphia next month for the Democratic National Convention: The Vermont senator called for donations in a Tuesday fundraising email, encouraging supporters to donate before Thursday's FEC deadline. "Our delegates are not wealthy campaign contributors," the email read. "They're not party insiders or establishment elites. They're working folks, and it's not easy for many of them to fly to Philly and stay in hotels for a week." The email comes as Sanders seeks to maximize his influence in crafting the party platform in July.

SOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:

Here's a theory we never considered:

Trump solicited donations by promising to indict Clinton:

Check out this gif of Clinton mistaking a reporter for a voter:

The backdrop for Trump's speech got attention on Twitter:

So did his multiple references to rape:

A general response to the speech:

Journalists criticized Corey Lewandowski's new role on CNN:

An update from our colleague Dave, who is researching Trump's donations to charity:

The Chamber of Commerce went after Trump on Twitter:

Darrell Issa seemed to shift his tone on the Benghazi report:

Oops -- spot the typo:

Democrats were back on the House floor demanding a gun control vote:

Thom Tillis celebrated his wedding anniversary:

Gary Peters wished Carl Levin a happy birthday:

GOOD READS FROM ELSEWHERE:

HOT ON THE LEFT:

"Gay YouTuber Says He Was Assaulted, Officials Unable To Substantiate Claims," from Buzzfeed: "British YouTuber Calum McSwiggan wrote in an Instagram post Monday evening he was attacked after leaving a gay bar in West Hollywood earlier in the day. McSwiggan, best known for his personal YouTube videos, had been spending Pride weekend at VidCon … in Anaheim, California. According to McSwiggan, he was separated from his friends while leaving a bar and assaulted by three men. He said authorities treated him like a 'second class citizen' and the experience left him 'terrified.' McSwiggan suffered three broken teeth and needed six stitches in his forehead, he said."

HOT ON THE RIGHT:

"Cops: Doctor Stole Fentanyl For Illegal Abortions," from the Daily Beast: "In September 2015, Michigan abortion doctor Michael Arthur Roth asked the West Bloomfield police to retrieve some items from his car, which had been impounded after an accident. But when police looked inside the vehicle, they found painkillers and containers of human tissue stashed in the trunk and glove box. The medical examiner later determined that the containers held products of conception—a medical term for tissue left over after an abortion, birth, or miscarriage. Now, nine months after the discovery, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is charging the 74-year-old doctor with possession with intent to deliver the narcotic fentanyl, six counts of identity theft, and three counts of larceny …"

DAYBOOK:

On the campaign trail: Here's the rundown:

Clinton: San Francisco, Calif.
Trump: Bangor, Maine

At the White House: Obama travels to Ottawa, where he meets with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada and President Nieto of Mexico, participates in a North American Leaders' Summit working session and addresses Parliament. Vice President speaks at the Cancer Moonshot Summit in Washington, D.C. and holds roundtables with industry leaders, patient groups and patient advocates.

On Capitol Hill: The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. to resume consideration of the House message to accompany S.2328, PROMESA/Puerto Rico legislation. The House is out.

A special note: You heard it here first: The Washington Post will set up headquarters in Cleveland and Philadelphia this July for the national political conventions. I'll be there. Will you? Let us know if you're attending the RNC, DNC or both here.

NEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:

-- Drier air and sunny skies make for a beautiful Wednesday! The Capital Weather Gang forecasts: "A slightly cooler and noticeably less-humid air mass settles in today after the overnight cold front. Morning temperatures rise into and through the 70s, reaching the very pleasant low- to mid-80s for afternoon highs, under partly to mostly sunny skies."

-- Civil rights activist Walter Fauntroy was released from jail Tuesday, less than 24 hours after being arrested at Dulles International Airport on outstanding fraud charges. Fauntroy, who helped plan the 1963 March on Washington alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., left the U.S. in 2012 after being charged with writing a bad $55,000 check. (Ian Shapira)

-- D.C Council members agreed to temporarily withhold votes on a "fair scheduling" bill dictating the amount of advance notice major employers must give workers when scheduling shifts. The decision comes as a minor victory to retail and food industries, who have heavily lobbied against the legislation. (Perry Stein)

-- D.C. police officers fatally shot a Northeast Washington man after he repeatedly defied commands to drop a gun, raising the weapon towards the officers instead. Police later identified the weapon as a pellet gun. (Peter Hermann)

-- Members and staffers in the Cannon House building were warned that water supplies in certain offices were experiencing higher-than-average levels of lead. Buildings superintendent William Weidemeyer said the cause remains under investigation, adding that affected offices will receive bottled water in the meantime. (Politico)

VIDEOS OF THE DAY:

Watch these dogs strut their stuff at Woofstock 2016: