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Then-CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel testifies at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2018. (Photo: Reuters)

Then-CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel testifies at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2018. (Photo: Reuters)

The U.S. Senate voted 54 to 45 to confirm Gina Haspel as the first female Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with most Democrats opposing her nomination. The vote came just one day after the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 10 – 5 largely along party lines to move forward with the confirmation.

Five Democrats opposed her nomination in committee, and all but 5 voted against the confirmation in the full U.S. Senate.

President Donald Trump nominated Ms. Haspel to replace now-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who replaced Rex Tillerson. The confirmation battle sparked yet another debate over CIA’s use of enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs) after the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

While Ms. Haspel served as a supervisor of a secret prison in Thailand in 2002 when an al-Qaeda suspect was waterboarded there, she learned of the program at the same time as members of the U.S. Congress. The program received bipartisan support at the time and was deemed legal.

Her boss was none other than John Brennan, who led CIA under Barack Obama. Democrats, and most of the 13 Republicans who voted for him, did not raise the issue of EITs at the time. Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., who was tortured by the Vietnamese in captivity, did not support Ms. Haspel for CIA director.

He implored his fellow senators not to vote for Ms. Haspel, and Senator Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., obeyed that wish. However, both their actions are largely seen as vindictive attempts to be a thorn in the side of President Trump.

Senator McCain voted to confirm Mr. Brennan.

Consequently, a new poll finds a majority of Republican voters view Senator McCain unfavorably and nearly two-thirds want him to step down. Senator Flake is retiring because he cannot survive his own primary.

(Correction: John McCain implored his fellow senators not to vote for Gina Haspel.)

Yeahs Nays Not Voting
Alexander (R-TN) Baldwin (D-WI) McCain (R-AZ)
Barrasso (R-WY) Bennet (D-CO)
Blunt (R-MO) Blumenthal (D-CT)
Boozman (R-AR) Booker (D-NJ)
Burr (R-NC) Brown (D-OH)
Capito (R-WV) Cantwell (D-WA)
Cassidy (R-LA) Cardin (D-MD)
Collins (R-ME) Carper (D-DE)
Corker (R-TN) Casey (D-PA)
Cornyn (R-TX) Coons (D-DE)
Cotton (R-AR) Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Crapo (R-ID) Duckworth (D-IL)
Cruz (R-TX) Durbin (D-IL)
Daines (R-MT) Feinstein (D-CA)
Donnelly (D-IN) Flake (R-AZ)
Enzi (R-WY) Gillibrand (D-NY)
Ernst (R-IA) Harris (D-CA)
Fischer (R-NE) Hassan (D-NH)
Gardner (R-CO) Heinrich (D-NM)
Graham (R-SC) Hirono (D-HI)
Grassley (R-IA) Jones (D-AL)
Hatch (R-UT) Kaine (D-VA)
Heitkamp (D-ND) King (I-ME)
Heller (R-NV) Klobuchar (D-MN)
Hoeven (R-ND) Leahy (D-VT)
Hyde-Smith (R-MS) Markey (D-MA)
Inhofe (R-OK) McCaskill (D-MO)
Isakson (R-GA) Menendez (D-NJ)
Johnson (R-WI) Merkley (D-OR)
Kennedy (R-LA) Murphy (D-CT)
Lankford (R-OK) Murray (D-WA)
Lee (R-UT) Paul (R-KY)
Manchin (D-WV) Peters (D-MI)
McConnell (R-KY) Reed (D-RI)
Moran (R-KS) Sanders (I-VT)
Murkowski (R-AK) Schatz (D-HI)
Nelson (D-FL) Schumer (D-NY)
Perdue (R-GA) Smith (D-MN)
Portman (R-OH) Stabenow (D-MI)
Risch (R-ID) Tester (D-MT)
Roberts (R-KS) Udall (D-NM)
Rounds (R-SD) Van Hollen (D-MD)
Rubio (R-FL) Warren (D-MA)
Sasse (R-NE) Whitehouse (D-RI)
Scott (R-SC) Wyden (D-OR)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Shelby (R-AL)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Warner (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Young (R-IN)

The U.S. Senate voted 54 to 45

E-Commerce Retail Sales Graphic (Source: Adobe Stock)

E-Commerce Retail Sales Graphic (Source: Adobe Stock)

E-Commerce retail sales gained in the first-quarter (1Q) 2018, rising 3.9% to $123.7 billion from the previous quarter juxtaposed to a 3.2 gain in the fourth quarter (4Q). The U.S. Census Bureau and Commerce Department (CoD) joint report showed e-commerce rose 0.4% to 9.5% of total retail sales.

However, year-on-year growth did slow slightly, to 16.4% in the 1Q from 16.9% in the 4Q.

E-Commerce retail sales gained in the first-quarter

A manufacturing assembly line at the Heinz factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Courtesy of Heinz)

A manufacturing assembly line at the Heinz factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Courtesy of Heinz)

The Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s gauge of regional factory activity, rose to a strong 34.4 in April. New orders surged more than 22 points to 40.6 for the strongest reading since March 1973.

Worth noting, though tariffs are reflected in higher prices, it doesn’t seem to be hindering output.

The current prices received index, which reflects the manufacturers’ prices, gained 7 points to a reading of 36.4. That’s the second consecutive month of gains and the highest reading since February 1989.

Still, price increases for purchased inputs were reported by 55% of the manufacturers this month, down slightly from 59% in April. The prices paid diffusion index fell 4 points but remained at an elevated level.

Manufacturing firms continued to report overall positive gains in employment.

Nearly 37% of the responding firms reported increases in employment, while 6% reported decreases this month. The current employment index edged 3 points higher to 30.2, its highest reading in 7 months. The firms also reported a longer average workweek this month: The current average workweek index increased 13 points.

Meanwhile, optimism about the future is extraordinary high and also not phased by tariffs.

Future Optimism

More than 48% of the manufacturing firms expect increases in activity over the next 6 months, while just 10% expect declines. The future new orders index edged 3 points higher, while the future shipments index fell 1 point.

Nearly 64% of the firms expect price increases for purchased inputs over the same period, while 36% expect higher prices for their own manufactured goods. More than 49% expect to add workers over the next 6 months, up from 42% in April.

The future employment index increased 8 points to a reading of 42.8, its highest reading since August 1983.

New orders in the Philadelphia Fed's Manufacturing

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, May 10, 2017. (Photo: AP)

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, May 10, 2017. (Photo: AP)

Republican voters once chose John McCain as the nominee of their party, but now they hold an unfavorable view of the six-term senator from Arizona and want him to step down. The terminally ill senator has chosen to spend his final days as a thorn in the side of President Donald Trump, and GOP voters do not approve.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 52% of Republican voters have an unfavorable view of Senator McCain, including 25% who hold a Very Unfavorable opinion of him. Forty-three percent (43%) of these voters have a positive view, which includes just 18% with a Very Favorable opinion.

In 2015, opinions were completely reversed, with 51% of Republicans having a favorable view of Senator McCain and 44% having an unfavorable one. While most Republicans (69%) continue to have their designs on a party that looks more like President Trump than Senator McCain, 76% of Democrats and 53% of voters not affiliated with either major party think the GOP should be more like the failed 2008 nominee.

Senator McCain was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 and to the U.S. Senate in 1986 after Barry Goldwater, another former GOP nominee for president, decided to retire.

But Republicans now say it’s time for him to leave Washington, D.C.

A whopping 62% of Republican voters want Senator McCain to step down from the U.S. Senate before May 30 so voters in Arizona can choose a successor to run for the seat in November. Thirty-four percent (34%) of Democrats and 45% of unaffiliated voters agree.

Senator McCain has brain cancer and Republicans who control the Arizona Senate were prevented by the lockstep Democratic minority from passing an emergency clause changing how members of Congress who die or resign are replaced. Vacancies are filled by a governor’s appointee, with the seat on the next general election ballot.

Republican voters hold an unfavorable view of

U.S. jobless claims graph on a tablet screen.

U.S. jobless claims graph on a tablet screen.

Initial jobless claims came in at a seasonally adjusted 222,000 for the week ending May 12, a gain of 11,000 but indicative of a strong monthly Employment Situation report from the Labor Department (DOL).

The 4-week moving average — which is widely considered a better gauge, as it irons out weekly volatility — was 213,250, a decline of 2,750 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 216,000. This is the lowest level for this average since December 13, 1969 when it was 210,750.

Claims taking procedures in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands have still not returned to normal and extended benefits were payable in the Virgin Islands during the week ending April 28.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2% for the week ending May 5, down 0.1% from the previous week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 5 was 1,707,000, a decrease of 87,000 from the previous week’s revised level.

This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since December 1, 1973 when it was 1,692,000.

The previous week’s level was revised up 4,000 from 1,790,000 to 1,794,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,773,750, a decrease of 39,750 from the previous week’s revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since December 22, 1973 when it was 1,756,000.

The previous week’s average was revised up by 1,000 from 1,812,500 to 1,813,500.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 28 were in the Virgin Islands (4.1), Alaska (3.1), California (2.2), New Jersey (2.1), Puerto Rico (2.1), Connecticut (2.0), Pennsylvania (1.8), Illinois (1.7), and Rhode Island (1.6).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 5 were in Texas (+1,694), Ohio (+1,682), Pennsylvania (+1,655), Georgia (+965), and Alabama (+528), while the largest decreases were in Wisconsin (-1,829), California (-875), Connecticut (-770), New Hampshire (-374), and Massachusetts (-359).

Initial jobless claims came in at 222,000

Graphic for the Generic Ballot, otherwise known as the Generic Congressional Ballot or Generic House Vote. (Photo: Christos Georghiou/Adobe Stock/PPD)

Graphic for the Generic Ballot, otherwise known as the Generic Congressional Ballot or Generic House Vote. (Photo: Christos Georghiou/Adobe Stock/PPD)

Democrats now hold a slim 3-point lead on the PPD Generic Ballot after enjoying an edge upwards of 13 points for most of the year. If the election in their congressional district was held today, 49% of voters say they would vote for the Democratic candidate, while 46% would back the Republican candidate.

Five percent (5%) are undecided a just 1% said they would vote for some other candidate.

Midterm elections are base elections. At least as of now, Democrats have done a better job coalescing their base than Republicans, though that disparity is quickly disappearing. Roughly 88% of Republicans (87.8) say they will back their candidate in November juxtaposed to 91% of Democrats (90.9).

“Democrats have been able to pull off some special election upsets in Republican and Republican-leaning congressional districts. But they didn’t do that by changing many minds. Republicans weren’t showing up to vote,” Rich Baris, the Director of the Big Data Poll (PPD Poll) and PPD Election Projection Model said. “We saw that in our polling at the time and we’re seeing that change now.”

Republican enthusiasm is more than on par with Democrats in the latest PPD Poll. It’s exceeding it. Republicans are 10 points more likely to say they are certain to vote, and younger voters who are most enthusiastic about voting in November aren’t as liberal as Democrats should hope.

However, Democrats (45.9) still garner as much of the independent vote as Republicans (45.7), both taking their respective 46%. For Republicans to either cut that lead or even retake it, they’ll have to win some back and win those who will remain undecided until after Labor Day.

“Come the weeks after Labor Day, we’ll start to get a much better picture of who will be more likely to vote,” Mr. Baris added. “Until then, support for these two parties will go up and down almost weekly. We’re more concerned with intensity, who will win the war of ideas among independents and which party will meet or exceed that 90% base support threshold.”

Poll: Trump’s Approval Rating Rises to the Highest Level Since March 2017

Independent data journalism take a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. You can support our efforts by subscribing and becoming a member of the PPD Community. If you are already a subscriber and would still like to fund polls like this, you can also donate.

[QuestionnaireFull Results | AAPOR Transparency Initiative Checklist]

The mixed-mode survey of 1,067 likely voters nationwide was conducted from May 11 -12 & 14, 2018 by Big Data Poll for People’s Pundit Daily. The margin of sampling error = +/- 3% with a 95% Confidence Level.

[pdfviewer width=”740px” height=”849px” beta=”true/false”]https://www.peoplespunditdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/PPD-BDP-PPD-Poll-National-Survey-May-2018-Crosstabs-PDF.pdf[/pdfviewer]

Democrats now hold a slim 3-point lead

Boxing promoter Don King, right, holds up the hand of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a visit to the Pastors Leadership Conference at New Spirit Revival Center, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo)

Boxing promoter Don King, right, holds up the hand of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a visit to the Pastors Leadership Conference at New Spirit Revival Center, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo)

The percentage of voters who approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President is at the highest level measured by the PPD Poll since March 2017. The gain in his approval rating is in large part fueled by an increase in support among minority voters, specifically black voters.

Overall, 48% approve of the way Mr. Trump is handling his job as President, including 31% (31.4) who “Strongly approve” and 17% (16.6) who at least “Somewhat approve.” That gives him a slight 1-point intensity edge. While it may be small, it comes after roughly a year of the intensity index favoring those who disapprove.

Among white voters, 52% (51.6) approve, including 36% (35.7) who strongly approve. But it’s his numbers among minorities that exhibited the most significant change.

Now, 44% (43.6) of Hispanics and a record 27% (26.6) of black voters at least somewhat approve of the way Mr. Trump is handling his job as President.

“The bump in support for President Trump among black voters we’ve seen recently in other polls, is real,” Rich Baris, the Director of the Big Data Poll (PPD Poll) and PPD Election Projection Model said. “We don’t know whether it’s temporary, how long it’ll last or whether some increased support will remain. But it’s definitely real.”

Fifty-two percent (51.9) of voters still disapprove of the way Mr. Trump is handling his job as President, including 31% (30.8) who strongly disapprove and another 12% (12.3) who at least somewhat disapprove.

However, voters give him much higher marks on specific issues than they do overall, with the U.S. economy and employment and jobs being his top-rated issues. With a closely divided 49%/50% spread, his handling of U.S. foreign policy was the only tested issue that came back underwater, albeit by the slimmest of margins.

It’s well within the +/- 3% margin of sampling error.

Nearly 6 in 10 voters, or 58% (57.5), give his stewardship of the U.S. economy a thumbs up, including 42% (41.3) who strongly approve and another 16% (16.2) who at least somewhat approve.

On employment and jobs, President Trump is above water 55%/44%, including 39% (38.6) who strongly approve and another 16% (16.3) who at least somewhat approve.

Americans’ views about their personal finances and the state of the U.S. economy are fueling a higher sense of optimism. Forty-two percent (42.4) now say the country is headed in the right direction, up from an annual low of 32%, and 53% (53.2) now say it’s off on the wrong track, down from 61%.

Poll: Generic Ballot Lead for Democrats Shrinks to Within the Margin

Independent data journalism take a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. You can support our efforts by subscribing and becoming a member of the PPD Community. If you are already a subscriber and would still like to fund polls like this, you can also donate.

[QuestionnaireFull Results | AAPOR Transparency Initiative Checklist]

The mixed-mode survey of 1,067 likely voters nationwide was conducted from May 11 -12 & 14, 2018 by Big Data Poll for People’s Pundit Daily. The margin of sampling error = +/- 3% with a 95% Confidence Level.

[pdfviewer width=”740px” height=”849px” beta=”true/false”]https://www.peoplespunditdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/PPD-BDP-PPD-Poll-National-Survey-May-2018-Crosstabs-PDF.pdf[/pdfviewer]

The percentage of voters who approve of

The massive Big John dragline reshapes the rocky landscape in some of the last sections to be mined for coal at the Hobet site in Boone County, West Virginia. (Photo: Reuters)

The massive Big John dragline reshapes the rocky landscape in some of the last sections to be mined for coal at the Hobet site in Boone County, West Virginia. (Photo: Reuters)

The Federal Reserve said industrial production rose 0.7% in April, slightly beating the consensus forecast and posting gains for the third consecutive month.

Mining, which has been the strongest component in the report, once again leads the way with a 1.1% increase for the month. That puts the year-on-year volume gain for mining output at 10.6%.

Production of consumer goods is close behind with a 0.9% gain.

Manufacturing production rose 0.5% in April to beat the consensus forecast by 0.2. That comes despite the 1.3% drop in vehicle production and puts the year-on-year in manufacturing output is up 1.8%.

Worth noting, volumes in business equipment rose 1.2%, which indicates a strong second-quarter for business investment.

Utilities is also very positive at a gain of 1.9%, making the yearly gain for utilities 6.0%.

Construction has not been phased by tariffs, as construction supplies rose 0.3% in the month.

The rates of change for industrial production for previous months were revised downward. For the first quarter (1Q), output advanced at a 2.3% annual rate.  After being unchanged in March, manufacturing output rose 0.5% in April.

The indexes for mining and utilities moved up 1.1% and 1.9%, respectively. At 107.3 percent of its 2012 average, total industrial production in April was 3.5% higher than it was a year earlier.

Capacity utilization for the industrial sector climbed 0.4% point in April to 78.0%, a rate that is 1.8% below its long-run (1972–2017) average.

The Federal Reserve said industrial production rose

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director nominee Gina Haspel (R) attends Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's ceremonial swearing-in at the State Department in Washington, U.S. May 2, 2018. (Photo: Reuters)

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director nominee Gina Haspel (R) attends Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s ceremonial swearing-in at the State Department in Washington, U.S. May 2, 2018. (Photo: Reuters)

BREAKING: The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 10 – 5 to move forward with the confirmation of Gina Haspel for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The full U.S. Senate is expected to vote on her nomination as early as this week.

All 8 Republicans and 2 of the 7 Democrats on the committee voted in support for Ms. Haspel. The remaining 5 Democrats opposed her nomination. However, with Red State Democrats under pressure for re-election, Ms. Haspel already picked up enough crossover support in the U.S. Senate and appears on a path to confirmation.

The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 10 -

New residential homes are shown under construction in Carlsbad, California September 19, 2011. (Photo: Reuters)

New residential homes are shown under construction in Carlsbad, California September 19, 2011. (Photo: Reuters)

The new residential construction report was mixed, though the U.S. Census Bureau said housing starts and building permits fell. Completion were up and the data for single-family homes remain consistent.

Building Permits

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,352,000. This is 1.8% (±1.3 percent) below the revised March rate of 1,377,000, but is 7.7% (±0.9%) above the April 2017 rate of 1,255,000. Single-family authorizations in April were at a rate of 859,000; this is 0.9% (±1.4%)* above the revised March figure of 851,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 450,000 in April.

Housing Starts

Privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,287,000. This is 3.7% (±11.4%)* below the revised March estimate of 1,336,000, but is 10.5% (±9.7%) above the April 2017 rate of 1,165,000. Single-family housing starts in April were at a rate of 894,000; this is 0.1% (±11.8%)* above the revised March figure of 893,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 374,000.

Housing Completions

Privately-owned housing completions in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,257,000. This is 2.8% (±10.1%)* above the revised March estimate of 1,223,000 and is 14.8% (±10.5%) above the April 2017 rate of 1,095,000. Single-family housing completions in April were at a rate of 820,000; this is 4.0% (±9.2%)* below the revised March rate of 854,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 425,000.

The new residential construction report was mixed,

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