Document V3eLROkpV9o49Y3Yd3knLEvZ

NYT IN KENTUCKY, ON A1 -- "In McConnell's Own State, Fear and Confusion Over Health Care Bill," by Sheryl Gay Stolberg in Whitesburg, Kentucky: "Perhaps nowhere has the health care law had as powerful an impact as in Kentucky, where nearly one in three people now receive coverage through Medicaid, expanded under the legislation. Perhaps no region in Kentucky has benefited as much as Appalachia, the impoverished eastern part of the state, where in some counties more than 60 percent of people are covered by Medicaid. "And in few places are the political complexities of health care more glaring than in this poor state with crushing medical needs, substantially alleviated by the Affordable Care Act, but where Republican opposition to the law remains almost an article of faith. While some Senate moderates say the Republican bill is too harsh, Rand Paul, Kentucky's other Republican senator, is among Senate Republicans who say they are opposed to the current bill for a different reason: They believe it does not go far enough to reduce costs." http://nyti.ms/2t3QTT0 THE RESISTANCE -- "Democrats to 'crank up the outrage' over Senate Republican health care bill over July 4 break," by USA Today's Heidi Przybyla: "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's decision to delay a vote on a GOP health care plan is giving Democrats a big opportunity to seize the July 4 recess to dial up the pressure to kill the bill. Several outside progressive groups are planning campaigns over the congressional recess to highlight the stories of real Americans who could lose health care - and targeting vulnerable and moderate Republican senators with paid media, phone calls and protests." https://usat.ly/2tro4mz THE STORY OF THE DAY -- BOSTON GLOBE'S ANNIE LINSKEY (the pride of Fairfield County) ON REP. SETH MOULTON (D-MASS.) -- "Seth Moulton seemed to be in Nancy Pelosi's fan club. And then he wasn't" (with a Salem dateline): "Over last Labor Day weekend, when Democrats were under the mistaken belief they would win the White House and Senate, Representative Seth Moulton sat down to pen a note that departed from his renegade brand. Three pages of gushing words to Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, thanking her. "For everything. For the plum House Armed Services Committee assignment she'd given him ('people at home are thrilled,' he enthused). For the chance to sell the Iran nuclear deal on TV ('the opportunity you gave me to exercise that on a national stage did not go unnoticed,' he wrote). Even for the intern she'd helped secure ('I don't know where we'd be without Dennis - he's extraordinary!' Moulton exclaimed). "'The bottom line is that I'm proud to be in public service, but I wouldn't be able to do the job as well without your help,' he concluded, laying the groundwork for a pitch to win a coveted spot on the House Transportation Committee as well. "Shortly after he sent the note, the political landscape shifted , and so did Moulton's tone. After a devastating November election for Democrats left Republicans in control of all branches of government, Moulton became a loud voice opposing Pelosi's leadership, joining 62 other House insurgents who voted to replace her in November. Last week, as the Democratic Party reeled from another loss in a hardfought House race in Georgia - giving Democrats an 0-for-4 record in House special elections for Republican-held seats this year - Moulton again joined a band of House members demanding that Pelosi, 77, step aside. "Loyalties in Washington are fluid, but even by the Capitol's standards, Moulton's change in posture is striking. The September note included no hint of the simmering dissatisfaction he said he was feeling at the time. Pelosi, through a spokesman, declined to comment." http://bit.ly/2tn8tUG NEW WHITE HOUSE EMAIL BLAST -- WEST WING READS . The Trump administration is launching a new email called "West Wing Reads" aimed at sharing stories they like about the Trump presidency. Today is the first edition they are sending out. A White House digital staffer told us: "West Wing Reads was launched to give Americans across the country an inside look into the articles White House staff are reading each day. We focus on sharing stories and perspectives that may have been missed by the mainstream media. These types of articles were among the most popular parts of White House's 1600 Daily newsletter and we are excited to deliver this content in a dedicated email." See yesterday's edition, which featured stories from Breitbart, National Review, the Washington Free Beacon, the Wall Street Journal, the Hill, and the Washington Times http://bit.ly/2t4hhwi WEST COAST WATCH -- "California Republicans don't want to be caught again without a statewide candidate -- but the party is fractured," by L.A. Times' Seema Mehta and Phil Willon: "The GOP may be in dire straits in California, but a flurry of recent moves suggests the party of Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon is not willing to abandon the 2018 gubernatorial race, as it did four years ago. The big question is if the party will be able to marshal enough support behind a Republican candidate for governor and avoid a repeat of last fall's Senate campaign, which, thanks to the top-two primary, was fought between two Democratic candidates.