The Field: An Anti-Endorsement in Nevada

The Daily

The New York Times

Daily News, News

4.4 • 102.8K Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2020

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Note: This episode contains strong language. Senator Bernie Sanders is a staunchly pro-union candidate. But he has found himself mired in an escalating battle over health care with the largest labor union in Nevada. With what some call “the best insurance in America” — the fruit of struggles including a six-year strike — members of the Culinary Workers Union have been reluctant to support Mr. Sanders’s “Medicare for All” plan. We went to Nevada to ask how what is effectively an anti-endorsement of Mr. Sanders from the union’s leaders may affect his support in the state’s caucuses on Saturday. Guests: Jennifer Medina, who is covering the 2020 presidential campaign for The Times traveled to Nevada with Clare Toeniskoetter and Austin Mitchell, producers for “The Daily.” For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Background reading: Mr. Sanders, who is betting on the Latino vote to win the nomination, is trying to convince Nevada’s union members his policies are in their best interest. His rivals are trying to capitalize on the fight.The Nevada Democratic Party has been scrambling to put in effect safeguards in its caucuses to avoid the technical issues that created a debacle in Iowa. Here’s how the caucuses will work.

Transcript

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0:00.0	So they're like yo. Hi.
0:07.0	Describe what that was. So that was two showgirls with giant feather crowns and they have
0:20.9	like wings, wings on the back with black and white feathers.
0:27.2	Hi, black, pat and leather boots. Topless. Topless, but with rhinestones on the nipples.
0:34.2	Can we say that on the radio? I don't know.
0:49.2	From the New York Times, this is The Field. I'm Jenny Medina in Las Vegas, Nevada.
0:55.2	We have just entered a casino and I've sort of overwhelmed by the number of sounds and
1:02.2	lights. Oh, a cocktail waitress in a blue lace dress. Short. This is Roulette. This is
1:13.2	Blanche. I think this is crap. It's with dice. You roll the dice. I can imagine like a James
1:33.2	Bonn scenario. You walk in high heels, strutting. I sort of have a cigarette in my mind from this fantasy.
1:43.2	Money is no object. I'm just here to play with it. I'm just here to have a good time.
1:49.2	Queen of the world for one day or one night. That's what Vegas is all about.
1:57.2	Like complete fantasy life.
2:14.2	But to make all that happen behind that all are thousands and thousands and thousands of people
2:21.2	who often can kind of seem to almost blend into the scenery, serving drinks, serving food,
2:31.2	cleaning up, fulfilling whatever wish or dream you've got for the night. And there's something
2:39.2	that unites most of them. Is the staff here? Are you in the union? Yes. Which union?
2:44.2	Collinary. Are you part of a union? Collinary.
2:51.2	Collinary. Are you a part of a union here? Collinary.
2:58.2	Yes. The Collinary. Which is Nevada's largest union and is considered one of the most powerful players in Democratic politics.
3:15.2	So the Collinary union has about 60,000 people in the state of Nevada. And that is pretty remarkable
3:30.2	because it's in a state where only 84,000 people participated in the last Democratic caucus.
	...

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