Elizabeth Warren is Biden's "confidant and adviser." But will she make it as VP?

"Warren, a Massachusetts senator and leading progressive, has become an unlikely confidant and adviser to Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. They talk every 10 days or so, according to aides to both politicians who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely describe their relationship." (AP News)

• What's happening: A glowing piece about Elizabeth Warren's role as "unlikely confidant" to Joe Biden signals she's either the VP pick -- or, as we would guess, a shoo-in for a cabinet position. Either way, since Warren and Biden aides are the sources, you can presume this is a story the Biden campaign would like to have circulating.

• What's at stake: First, this could be a clue for Biden's VP pick as Warren is still in the running. Biden has pledged to announce his running mate around August 1.

Second -- and more important, we'd argue -- is that Biden wants to make nice with the left-wing progressives who have taken over his party. The mainstream media isn't covering the Democratic Party schism, but it's a big problem for Biden.

He's trying to present himself as a centrist candidate to general election voters (see: Gov. Kasich reportedly speaking at the convention) while also placating Bernie Sanders and his far-left and socialist supporters.

But his policies -- and new friendships, apparently -- show that Biden has moved far left to try to match the Democratic Party. Of course, you won't find that story anywhere in the media.

• What else to know: As the AP reported, Warren has been a top fundraiser for the Biden campaign, which shows their party's enthusiasm is with the progressives.

Warren's virtual campaign event for him raised $6 million. The only fundraising speaker who topped that was President Obama.

It's Bernie's party now! Sanders campaign reportedly has "significant influence" in the new Democratic platform.

"The chair of the DNC Platform Drafting Committee and potential Biden running mate [Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms] said that the campaign for former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders also has a significant influence in writing the document. 'What I most appreciated about the composition of the platform committee is that there was representation not just from the Biden campaign, but also from Sen. Sanders' campaign,' she said." (Newsmax)

• What's happening: Every four years, the two major parties update their party platforms -- a statement of principles and policy goals -- at their conventions.

This year, the Democrat's Platform Drafting Committee chair shared that Bernie Sanders' campaign reportedly has had "significant influence" in the process ... which means the party is adopting some of his avowedly socialist ideas.

• What's at stake: It's the biggest story the media just won't cover! The progressives have taken over the Democratic Party, and now the party leadership seems ready to give in to their demands. Both Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee have taken great pains this spring to include Sanders (and his socialist vision) into their policy process. 

• What else to know: Although the Democratic Party has emphasized unity in the lead-up to the presidential election, their actions show their concern that far-left activists coming to the convention won't back Biden.

As Reason reported, some Sanders' convention delegates were asked "to sign a pledge saying they won't denounce Democratic party leaders or other candidates, won't be argumentative with anyone on social media, and won't speak to the press without explicit approval." That doesn't sound like unity to us!

Biden's policy plans would cost 3X of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign ideas.

"On Tuesday, Biden unveiled a new $775 billion proposal for government-run childcare with additional taxpayer programs for the elderly. The latest program comes just days after Biden announced a $2 trillion package to ensure 'environmental justice' hashed out with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ team to pile onto the $7 trillion in spending already proposed, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. The total price tag for the Biden agenda now stands at nearly $10 trillion with more on the way, which is already triple what was put forward by 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton." (The Federalist)

• What's happening: Joe Biden has been rolling out his policy platform, and it means a massive bill for American taxpayers -- likely due to the influence of Bernie Sanders and the progressives on the "unity" platform.

The cost so far is $10 trillion -- and it will only go up from here. That's 3X the cost of the plans that Hillary Clinton laid out in 2016.

• What's at stake: This again shows Biden's shift to the far left ... and his intention to take America along with him. Just a few months ago, Biden said in a primary debate that he'd oppose a Sanders policy due to its cost.

As Biden said then, according to CNBC reporting, "I want to know, how did they find $35 trillion? What is that doing? Is it going to significantly raise taxes on the middle class, which it will? What’s going to happen?”

To which we'd say today: very good questions, Joe!

• What else to know: Before this slew of new proposals, Biden already announced the "most expensive Democratic tax plan that we've seen from any Democratic candidate in recent history," as one CNBC reporter explained, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

Once again, the Biden plan topped Hillary Clinton's ambitions: $4 trillion, Biden to $1.5 trillion, Clinton.

Joe Biden continues to rely on President Obama for popularity boost. Full video to come on Thursday.

"Video of the conversation, which will be released in its entirety on Thursday, shows the former president and vice president arriving in masks for a sit-down conversation and talking about how the Trump administration has handled the COVID-19 outbreak." (The Hill)

• What's happening: Joe Biden and President Obama met for a socially distanced conversation yesterday. The Biden campaign posted a preview already (you can watch a one-minute preview here); the full video will reportedly be out on Thursday.

• What's at stake: Biden's candidacy! There's a significant lack of enthusiasm for Joe Biden among the Democratic base ... at the same time that Biden wants to present himself as a centrist, unifying candidate.

No wonder Biden is relying on President Obama (and a professionally edited conversation, rather than a live event) to provide him with the gravitas that his solo campaign events have lacked.

• What else to know: Just last month, Biden's most successful fundraising event was with President Obama. The event raised more than $11 million. Of course, just this week, President Trump's campaign raised $20 million at his virtual events.