Looking for votes in all the tough places. It’s Friday, and here are the five things you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.
1. Campaign 2016: Democrats
Bill Clinton has always had a close relationship with black voters. So close in fact that he was often called the nation’s first black president (before Barack Obama, of course). But on the campaign trail for his wife yesterday in Philadelphia, strains in the relationship were on full display. The ex-prez tangled with Black Lives Matters protesters for about 15 minutes. They criticized Hillary Clinton’s use of the phrase “super predators” to describe black youth 20 years ago and 1990s-era crime and welfare bills. Someone shouted she was “a murderer.” Bill Clinton vigorously defended his wife and said the protesters trying to shout him down were “afraid of the truth.”
2. Campaign 2016: GOP
Things weren’t much rosier on the Republican side of the trail yesterday. Earlier in the campaign, Ted Cruz seemed to anger most of New York — one newspaper told him to take the “F U” train — when he complained about “New York” values, prompting complaints from Mayor Bill de Blasio to GOP New York Rep. Peter King. Cruz campaigned in NYC yesterday, and, undeterred by the cool reception, made a pitch to the city’s Jewish population, including making matzo at a Chabad in Brooklyn.
3. Panama Papers
British Prime Minister David Cameron told a media outlet yesterday he and his wife, Samantha, profited from shares they had in a Panama-based trust set up by his late father — and that he had nothing to hide. All of this comes up after the Panama Papers — 11 million leaked documents that purportedly show how the Mossack Fonseca law firm helped the rich and powerful set up shell companies and offshore accounts — came to light this week. Cameron became Prime Minister in May 2010 after he and his wife sold their holdings.
4. Escaped patients
One of the two men who escaped a Washington state psychiatric hospital is back in custody, but authorities desperately want to track down the other man, who remains on the loose and is considered a real threat. Anthony Garver allegedly tied a woman to a bed and stabbed her to death in 2013. He, like the other escapee, Mark Alexander Adams, was ruled not competent to stand trial.
5. ‘American Idol’ finale
“American Idol” ended its legendary, 15-season run last night, and of course there was some controversy when the final winner was announced. Trent Harmon beat out heavily-favored La’Porsha Renae, shocking the audience and eliciting a mouthed “wow” from judge Harry Connick Jr. But it was also a night to honor the stars the show produced. There were appearances by Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Even President Obama turned up. Beyond the stars it created, “Idol” will be remembered for being a pop culture juggernaut in a fractured media landscape, easily the most popular TV show of the 21st century.