(FRI 5/6/22)

Another good jobs report … The U.S. economy added another 428,000 jobs in April to keep the employment market tight, with unemployment steady at 3.6%, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Biggest job gains, as usual, were in the leisure, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing industries and wages were up, though not by enough to overcome the highest inflation in 40 years.

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New poll affirms abortion rights support … We’ve heard for years that most Americans support abortion rights, and now that we’re on the precipice of the Supreme Court likely overturning Roe v. Wade, Democrats can have some confidence from a new Reuters/Ipsos poll that they have an issue that can push back on the expectation that the GOP will take back House and Senate majorities in the midterms. 

Reuters/Ipsos says 63% of 998 adults interviewed online after May 3 are likely to support a candidate who would support a law giving all Americans a legal right to abortion, in order to replace Roe if it is struck down by the Supreme Court.

Split by political parties, 78% of Democrats said they would support a pro-abortion rights candidate, 49% of Republicans agreed, and 59% of independents agreed. 

The Democratic National Committee’s lingering problem, of course, is whether a sufficient number of independents and most Democrats are as passionate about their “pro-choice” position as the 51% of Republicans who would not support such a candidate due to their “pro-life” stand. It must be noted that hard-right conservatives have also been floating the possibility of a federal law that would prohibit abortion in the U.S.

Reuters/Ipsos parsed out support for Roe v. Wade with these follow-ups…

•33% say they would be angry if SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade, including…

•51% of Democrats.

•24% of Republicans.

•25% of independents.

•29% of Americans say they would be “afraid” if SCOTUS overturns.

•40% of Democrats agree.

•22% of Republicans agree.

•23% of independents agree.

Finally, 54% of Democrats say the U.S. would become a “worse” place to live if Roe v. Wade is overturned, versus 43% of Republicans and 42% of independents.

White House announces new press secretary … Karine Jean-Pierre becomes the first-ever Black White House press secretary, replacing Jen Psaki, who is leaving for MSNBC. Jean-Pierre currently is deputy press secretary and has filled in for Psaki when she was out with COVID-19.

--Edited by Todd Lassa and Charles Dervarics