Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 24-7 at Background Briefing.org.

I'm Ian Masters, and today we'll look into a number of stories and issues in the news. We'll begin

with Mitch McConnell's craven endorsement of Trump now that he has the nomination all but locked up.

And whether, after Nikki Halley's withdrawal, can Biden pick up the 20 to 30 percent of Republicans

who are disaffected with Trump at the same time placate the uncommitted mostly young Democrats who voted

in large numbers in Michigan and again on Super Tuesday in Minnesota. Joining us is Jeffrey Khabis

Service, the Vice President of Political Studies at the Niscannon Center in Washington, D.C., as well as

the author of several books, including Rule and Ruin, The Downfall of

Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party from Eisenhower to the Tea Party.

He is a contributor to an expert roundtable at Politico, Mitch McConnell, hero, or villain.

Then we'll examine the uncommitted vote in Minnesota and the challenge it poses to Biden

and speak with David Shorts, a professor of political science at Hamline University

and the University of Minnesota School of Law.

He is the author of 30 books and various articles on American politics, ethics, election law, and the media.

Most recently, American politics in the age of ignorance,

why lawmakers choose belief over research. And his forthcoming book is The Role of Generations in

American Politics. And his latest article at counterpunch is how the corporate university killed

diversity. Then finally, we'll explore why there is not a guns and butter argument in the

United States, given that up to $2 trillion is about to be spent on so-called nuclear modernization,

with $130 billion about to be spent on the new Sentinel ICBM that is both unnecessary and

dangerous.

Joining us is Sharon Weiner, a professor of foreign policy and global security at the School of International Service at American University.

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