2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren stumped in the shadow of the famous Washington Square Arch Monday night as a crowd of thousands — 20,000 according to her campaign — largely cheered her on. The presidential hopeful presented her plan to fight corruption in Washington, a message that included a cautionary warning about multiple layers of impropriety in the United States.

"Corruption has put our planet at risk. Corruption has broken our economy. And corruption is breaking our democracy," the Senator told a cheering crowd of supporters. "I know what's broken. I've got a plan to fix it."

Warren released her plan to take on corrupt institutions on Monday. Ingrained in the plan is the need to "end lobbying as we know it," which includes banning former members of Congress and White House officials from entering the sector after their service is done. She also plans to stop those who lobby for foreign entities and corporate lobbyists from working for the federal government.

Warren took a swing at President Trump during her New York event as she called on all presidential candidates to release their tax returns to the public. Trump has famously refused to do that, eschewing a long tradition of presidents who have voluntarily shared that information.

"Donald Trump is corruption in the flesh," Warren exclaimed.

The Massachusetts progressive has said this plan will be her first priority if elected president, built off of her Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act, which she introduced on the Senate floor prior to her announcement of running for president.

Warren's rally was held just feet away from the location of the former Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, site of the infamous 1911 fire where 146 workers died, many of them immigrant women, because bosses had locked doors and provided few options to escape in an emergency. The outcry drew attention to the fight for better working conditions.

To that end, Warren said, "We're not here today because of famous arches or famous men. In fact. We're not here because of men at all. We're here because of hard-working women."

And in front of a massive crowd of diverse supporters from New York City, Warren added that it is not just corruption in Washington that is preventable, but in many facets of public life: healthcare, housing, and criminal justice, to name a few.

Warren was joined by 14 New York lawmakers who gave their endorsement for her White House bid. Answering the question if Warren's anti-corruption plan is similar to Trump's 2016 campaign promise to drain the swamp, New York State Sen. Gustavo Rivera told Cheddar, "The main difference between the two, is that, unlike Trump, she actually means it when she says that she would cleanse the federal government. So, I would say that the main difference is, this guy only wants to do things for himself, and his own cronies. In the case of Elizabeth … she has demonstrated that she cares about making sure that we have a transparent government that responds to the needs of actual citizens."

Share:
More In Politics
Trump suggests canceling Xi meeting and threatens more tariffs after China restricts key exports
President Donald Trump says “there seems to be no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea after China restricted exports of rare earths needed for American industry. The Republican president suggested Friday he was looking at a “massive increase” of import taxes on Chinese products in response to Xi’s moves. Trump says one of the policies the U.S. is calculating is "a massive increase of Tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States." A monthslong calm on Wall Street was shattered, with U.S. stocks falling on the news. The Chinese Embassy in Washington hasn't responded to an Associated Press request for comment.
Poll: More Americans think companies benefit from legal immigration
A new poll finds U.S. adults are more likely than they were a year ago to think immigrants in the country legally benefit the economy. That comes as President Donald Trump's administration imposes new restrictions targeting legal pathways into the country. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey finds Americans are more likely than they were in March 2024 to say it’s a “major benefit” that people who come to the U.S. legally contribute to the economy and help American companies get the expertise of skilled workers. At the same time, perceptions of illegal immigration haven’t shifted meaningfully. Americans still see fewer benefits from people who come to the U.S. illegally.
Tylenol maker rebounds a day after unfounded claims about its safety
Shares of Tylenol maker Kenvue are bouncing back sharply before the opening bell a day after President Donald Trump promoted unproven and in some cases discredited ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism. Trump told pregnant women not to use the painkiller around a dozen times during the White House news conference Monday. The drugmaker tumbled 7.5%. Shares have regained most of those losses early Tuesday in premarket trading.
Powell signals Federal Reserve to move slowly on interest rate cuts
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday signaled a cautious approach to future interest rate cuts, in sharp contrast with other Fed officials who have called for a more urgent approach. In remarks in Providence, Rhode Island, Powell noted that there are risks to both of the Fed’s goals of seeking maximum employment and stable prices. His approach is in sharp contrast to some members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee who are pushing for faster cuts.
Load More