Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

It looks like winning debates is a black job!

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

The choice is between normal and crazy.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

It’s a doggy dog world.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

The jury literally has a bell they can ring to force Trump to show up on command. Greatest thing ever!

Maybe you would prefer that we take Joelle’s side in ALL CAPS?

Never forget that he train is barreling down on Trump, even as he dances on the tracks.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

The lights are all blinking red.

You are here: Home / Elections 2024 / Tuesday Evening Open Thread: Meanwhile, in Nevada…

Tuesday Evening Open Thread: Meanwhile, in Nevada…

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Per NPR — “Here’s what you need to know about today’s Nevada presidential primary”:

Democratic and Republican voters in Nevada head to the polls today for the “first-in-the-West” primary election.

Nevada is one of six swing states that will get outsized attention in the general election and is the first swing state to vote early, making it a testing ground for the candidates, even if the races aren’t that competitive on paper.

Democrats and Republicans are racing to close the margins in November. In 2020, President Biden won the state by less than 3% of the vote. Now, Democrats on the ground plan to use the results to gauge how to focus their efforts to court voters…

It’s going to be a different process Tuesday than it has in the past due to changes made 2021.

That’s when the state implemented several new election laws that implemented all-mail voting, expanded voter registration and moved the presidential contests from party-run caucuses to state-run primaries.

On Tuesday, both Republicans and Democrats will vote in the primary, as is state law.

But Republicans will have another opportunity to vote later this week — because the Nevada Republican Party, who wanted to do a caucus, like they did before, pushed back against the 2021 laws. In order to “protest” the state-run primary, the party will be hosting their own caucus on Thursday. Per the rules, candidates participating in the caucus cannot also have their name on the ballot of the primary.

As a result, former President Donald Trump will only be an option in the Thursday caucus and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will only be an option to primary voters. Still, no law prohibits registered Republican voters from participating in both contests.

And there is an additional catch: Only the caucus awards delegates, which makes Trump the de facto winner — as the only viable candidate — before any votes are even cast.

The messaging from the state Republican Party runs counter to efforts from the Republican National Committee, which is instead urging Republicans to vote early in 2024…

Republicans in Disarray!

Meanwhile, among the sane people…

Per the Associated Press, “Biden warns of a ‘nightmare’ future for the country if Trump should win again, and lists reasons why”:

LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Joe Biden on Sunday ticked through a list of reasons he says a second Donald Trump presidency would be a “nightmare” for the country as he urged Nevada Democrats to vote for him in the state’s presidential primary this week and for his party at large in November.

Biden opened a campaign swing with a fundraiser where he focused on Trump’s ample history of provocative statements — his description of Jan. 6 rioters as “hostages,” his musing about a former top military officer deserving execution, his branding of fallen soldiers as “suckers” and “losers,” his wish to be a Day One “dictator,” his vow to supporters that “I am your retribution,” and more.

Then it was on to a community center in a predominantly Black section of Las Vegas, where he told his crowd of several hundred that “you’re the reason we’ll make Donald Trump a loser again.”

Biden said the stakes were huge when he took on Trump in 2020 — “what made America America, I thought, was at risk’ — and they are even larger now as a likely rematch looms.

“We have to keep the White House,” he said, “We must keep the Senate” and win back the House.

Accomplish that, he said, and “we can say we saved American democracy.”

He was equally blunt in talking up his record at his subsequent rally where he implored voters to “imagine the nightmare of Donald Trump.”…

The state known largely for its casino and hospitality industries is synonymous with split-ticket, hard-to-predict results. It has a transient, working-class population and large Latino, Filipino and Chinese American and Black communities . Nevada has a stark rural-urban divide, with more than 88% of active registered voters — and much of its political power — in the two most populous counties, which include the Las Vegas and Reno metro areas…

The Democratic National Committee recently announced a six-figure ad buy in Nevada and South Carolina, where Biden won the leadoff primary Saturday. The ads are meant to boost enthusiasm among Black, Asian American and Latino voters statewide, including radio, television and digital ads in Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog, and a billboard in Las Vegas’ Chinatown…

Reader Interactions

81Comments

  1. 1.

    Baud

    Here’s what you need to know about today’s Nevada presidential primary

    I learned there’s a Nevada primary today.

  2. 2.

    eclare

    I need to see when early voting starts here in Memphis.  The official voting day is Super Tuesday, but I like to vote early.  Shelby County makes it very easy to do so, lots of locations, lots of hours.  If only the state outside of the cities weren’t so red…

  3. 3.

    Scout211

    I’ve been reading about this but I couldn’t quite understand how the Nevada Republicans would actually count the vote with both a primary and a caucus.  So thanks for the information, AL.

    As a result, former President Donald Trump will only be an option in the Thursday caucus and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will only be an option to primary voters. Still, no law prohibits registered Republican voters from participating in both contests.

    And there is an additional catch: Only the caucus awards delegates, which makes Trump the de facto winner — as the only viable candidate — before any votes are even cast.

    Yeah, that seems super fair. Or maybe it just makes Nikki Haley look like she’s been had.  Crazy.

  4. 4.

    sab

    I really wish national news people could learn to pronounce Nevada. The Spanish news services are the only ones that manage it, and it is not hard.

    Sierra Nevada is pronounced ” Nevahda” like it might be Spanish.  Nevada the state is prounounced Nevada, like you were from Indiana or someplace. Very flat “a”.  We do this all the time. Why can’t we do it for the state of Nevada. It is not pronounced like the mountains. It is pronounced like you are midwestern. It really isn’t that hard.

    ETA Especially for people who hate immigrants. Pronounce the state like it is in America, even though a lot of its residents (or more likely, their parents) were born South of the border. They speak Spanish at home (mostly) but they still can pronounce the state’s name like Americans.

  5. 5.

    lowtechcyclist

    The Democratic National Committee recently announced a six-figure ad buy in Nevada and South Carolina, where Biden won the leadoff primary Saturday.

    Do they really think Biden has a prayer of winning South Carolina in November??  That part of the ad buy makes no sense to me.

  9. 9.

    Scout211

    @sab: Sierra Nevada is pronounced ” Nevahda” like it might be Spanish

    For the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, Nevada is pronounced with the flat “a” just like how the state of Nevada is pronounced.  Or maybe you are referring to different Sierra Nevada?

    But I agree, News reporters  should pronounce a state the way the people of the state pro uncle it.  All they have to do is ask.

  13. 13.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Scout211:

    But I agree, News reporters should pronounce a state the way the people of the state pro uncle it. All they have to do is ask. 

    Can we ask autoincorrect not to be crazy?  LOL!  I think that’s the funniest autoincorrect I’ve seen.

  14. 14.

    wjca

    @Scout211: Too bad FL has gone so Republican. Makes it more of an uphill climb.

    It will be no surprise if we see Haley ads trumpeting her win in the Nevada primary.  The low information voters won’t catch the nuance that TIFG wasn’t even on the ballot.

    And he will be furious at somebody saying that the lost a primary — even though he gets all the caucus delegates, he won’t be able to help himself.  Firestorm on “Truth” Social.

  15. 15.

    Marmot

    @sab: My NV in-laws “correct” me all the time because I pronounce most words with a flat A. So for them, I now say “Nuhvayday.”

  16. 16.

    zhena gogolia

    @sab: I don’t know. I was born and raised in Missouri, and I pronounce it with an “ee” as the last syllable, not as “mizura,” as you’ll hear people say is the “real” way to pronounce it. Lots of people say it with “ee.” I’ve never been to Nevada, but I’d be surprised if everyone in the state said it the same way.

  20. 20.

    sab

    @zhena gogolia: Actually, they ( Nevadans) do, and they are quite touchy about it. Only one way to pronounce it, and that is in English.

    Ohio is Ohio in the north, and Ohiah in the south. We don’t even think about it.

  22. 22.

    wjca

    @sab: If so, then why are Californians the worst offenders on mispronouncing the state? Deliberate snub?

    Parochialism and/or snobbery.  If it ain’t California, why worry about it?  (Nevada, whatever the pronunciation, is only there for gambling and quicky weddings.)

  23. 23.

    Marmot

    @Steve in the ATL: Thx. Gotta start somewhere!

    Normies are often surprised when I point out that all the midsize and large TX cities are blue, not just Austin.

    Edit: Sigh. They are also usually surprised when they hear that areas of CA are dark red, Orange County having only recently converted.

  24. 24.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Steve in the ATL:

    all but Knoxville, which sucks for many reasons besides that

    It’s been >25 years since I’ve lived there (thank you, Lord!) but I’ll bet the ‘Tri-Cities’ of upper east Tennessee aren’t very blue at all.

  25. 25.

    Mai Naem mobile

    Nevada is the one state that worries me of flipping The combo of COVID shutdowns, tourist dependent economy, sizable LDS population, RW oligarchs, worker shortage+ rural red-necks is just ripe for the GOP to take advantage of.

  26. 26.

    Scout211

    @wjca: Nevada, whatever the pronunciation, is only there for gambling and quicky weddings.

    True, but we pronounce the state either “Reno,” “Las Vegas” or “Vegas.”

  27. 27.

    wjca

    @Scout211: True, but we pronounce the state either “Reno,” “Las Vegas” or “Vegas.”

    You mean there’s other parts??? 🤥🤥🤥 Who knew?

    EDT, OK, there’s also Mustang Ranch.  (Which isn’t in Reno, because prostitution is legal in Nevada except in Reno and Vegas)  But that’s a quibble.

  28. 28.

    sab

    @Marmot: My RWNJ brother was a secret Republican who was actually mayor of his city in Marin. Lots of Republicans in Marin. They just keep their heads down and their mouths shut.

  31. 31.

    MattF

    OT. Mayorkas impeachment appears to be stuck at a tie, 215-215, which would be a D win.

    ETA: Another R ‘No’ vote.

  34. 34.

    sab

    @wjca: There is lots of Nevada besides the big cities. Farming Ranching cows in places too hot for cows, and lots of mining. Tough people living hard lives. I liked them, but I thought their voting was nuts. But Harry Reid understood them because he came from them.

  36. 36.

    dmsilev

    @MattF: That’s funny. They can’t even do performative assholery correctly.

    Edit. WaPo:

    A measure to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas narrowly failed in the House on Tuesday in what would have been the impeachment of the first Cabinet member in nearly 150 years. The failed vote was a stunning rebuke of a months-long investigation into Mayorkas that legal experts and even some Republicans had raised concerns about.

    You know it’s serious when “even some Republicans” have concerns. Susan Collins, however, would like everyone to know that she has the copyright on that phrase.

  39. 39.

    Jackie

    The House rejected an effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, 214 to 216.

    This is another major embarrassment for Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican leadership.

  45. 45.

    bbleh

    HAW HAW HAW!  Wadda buncha LOOOO-ZERZZZZZ!

    And yeah, whoever those 4 Reps are — I assume Buck was one — better watch their backs

    ETA, ah, per CNN:
    Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher and California Rep. Tom McClintock — joined the Democrats in voting against the resolution to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.  GOP Rep. Blake Moore joined the no side to allow House Republicans to bring up the vote again.

  48. 48.

    dmsilev

    @Jackie:

    This is another major embarrassment for Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican leadership.

    I think reporters have that sentence saved as a macro in their word processors.

  50. 50.

    dmsilev

    @bbleh:

    GOP Rep. Blake Moore joined the no side to allow House Republicans to bring up the vote again.

    Like the Senate Majority Leader switching sides to a No vote at the last minute, I guess? Parliamentary rules get weird.

    Wonder how much arm-twisting is going on right now for the actual No votes. Also, George Santos’s vacant seat will be filled next week, likely by a Democrat…

  53. 53.

    Timill

    @dmsilev: The basic rule makes sense: you can only move to reconsider a vote if you voted on the winning side – ie you’re willing to abandon your win to discuss/vote again.

  54. 54.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Joy Reid just opened her show with a comment on the Mayorkas impeachment vote: “An embarrassing loss for Speaker Mike Johnson,” and I can’t wipe the big grin off my face.

    😁😁😁

  55. 55.

    eclare

    @Marmot:

    Definitely Memphis and Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville to a lesser extent.  My CD voted for Biden in 2020 by something like 70% to 30% for TIFG.

    Pigeon Forge doesn’t surprise me.

  58. 58.

    Jackie

    @bbleh: Yes, Buck is one of them, and he’s retiring after this term. Carpetbagger Boebert is running for his seat. Haven’t seen who the other three are, yet.

  59. 59.

    Scout211

    @bbleh: California Rep. Tom McClintock

    Whoa.  He’s my rep.  I don’t even know what this means.  I do know that he was a supporter of Kevin McCarthy.

    Payback maybe?

  60. 60.

    Jeffro

    @Baud: well, that and ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY!!!1!    lol

    The long-awaited decision by special counsel Robert K. Hur will probably roil the presidential contest as Republicans seek to paint Biden as a criminal — and as Donald Trump, the president’s likely GOP rival for the White House, faces trial for allegedly keeping boxes of classified papers at his Florida home and obstructing officials’ attempts to retrieve them.

    While the facts of the Biden case appear to have major differences from the Trump case…

    understatement of the year!

    …Hur’s conclusions are likely to face intense scrutiny from Republicans in Congress.

    runner-up

  62. 62.

    Jackie

    @dmsilev:

    This is another major embarrassment for Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican leadership.

    I think reporters have that sentence saved as a macro in their word processors.

    I 100% hope so! May it be used EVERYDAY!

  67. 67.

    Trivia Man

    @sab: Amen

    As a westerner, it grates. I well remember 2016 when orange head lectured the crowd on how to pronounce it. Guess if he was right or wrong!

  70. 70.

    sab

    @Trivia Man: I am from Florida and Ohio, and didn’t live in Nevada long (although I love the state) but this national obsession with mispronouncing it really urks me a lot. It seems willful.

    Missouri has multiple pronunciations. Oregon does not: Oregan or Oregun is not correct and everyone knows that.

  76. 76.

    Eyeroller

    @Alison Rose: The word is Spanish, it means “snowy” or “snowfall,” and in Spanish would be pronounced much closer to nevahda. Sierra Nevada means “snowy mountain range.”  None of the Anglicized pronunciations are all that correct because the Spanish “v” is between English “v” and “b” and the “a” is sort of between English “a” and “ah” but closer to “ah.”  https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/la%20nevada?langFrom=es “the snowfall”

  77. 77.

    Mousebumples

    @bbleh: Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher and California Rep. Tom McClintock — joined the Democrats in voting against the resolution to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. GOP Rep. Blake Moore joined the no side to allow House Republicans to bring up the vote again.

    Wooooow. My Rep voted against impeachment. Afraid of the gerrymandered district getting more swingy as women don’t like being told what to do with their bodies. 🧐

  78. 78.

    Eyeroller

    @sab: I am from the OK-KS-MO region and it’s always been the opposite to me.  Just one  way to say Missouri (Missourah is not right, though with a drawl it may sound something like that), but Oregon and Oregun are pretty similar.

    The aggressive insistence that Nevada must be (mis)pronounced in the Anglo way has always seemed to me to smack of white privilege.  In Spanish the correct pronunciation is much closer to nevahda. But I’m willing to go along with it, just as I dealt with the similarly aggressive mispronunciation of Spanish place names in Texas when I lived there.  In the state where I live now there is a town with a Spanish name, which is perplexing since the region has almost no Spanish influence (Buena VIsta) and the pronunciation makes my ears hurt, but it’s also something else I just have to accept.  And I’m far from a native speaker of Spanish, just somebody who studied it for quite a while.

  80. 80.

    Ealbert

    I live in Wisconsin. It has gotten better, but for the longest time you would hear people on tv talking about WESconsin. Our response is “there is no Norsconsin, Southconsign, Eastconsin or Wesconsin.

  81. 81.

    Chris T.

    Dead thread, but I have to say: I pronounce it “Or-ee-GUN”, because it’s full of gun nuts (outside the blue splotches).

    Then again, I pronounce this state “Warsh-a-lot”. Everyone’s un-titled to they are own pro uncle!

    (/s?)

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