Your politics briefing: As in Brexit, immigration a Clinton-Trump flashpoint

Brits’ EU dump pumps up Trump

Donald Trump – instantly and predictably -- linked Britain’s stunning European Union exit to himself and his own presidential campaign.  “They took their country back, just like we will take America back,” he tweeted and repeated.

Even while hailing a repudiation of the "global elite," Trump visited his upscale golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, along with family members, and called a news conference at the 9^th hole. “It's a great thing," he said, with people all over the world “angry over borders, they're angry over people coming into the country and taking over."

President Barack Obama was due to speak with departing Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday. Obama had been urging the United Kingdom to resist the “Leave” movement. 

Backing him as usual, Hillary Clinton had one of her strategists say in a statement in April: “She has always valued a strong United Kingdom in a strong EU. And she values a strong British voice in the EU.”

The British move sent stock exchanges tumbling and its long-term economic and political impact in the U.S. will be carefully tracked.Vice-President Joe Biden is in Dublin, reportedly prepared to warn against "reactionary politicians and demagogues."

Sanders: I'll vote for Clinton

Bernie Sanders responded "Yes" on MSNBC's Morning Joe when asked if he would vote for Hillary Clinton in November. But while explaining the key goal is to defeat Trump, he added he will not "withdraw."

"Why would I want to do that when I want to fight to make sure that we have the best platform that we possibly can, that we win the most delegates that we can?" he said. Later, on Chris Cuomo's CNN program, Sanders said "In all likelihood, it will be Hillary Clinton" he'd support.

The border as dividing line

Trump’s rise to the top of the Republican pack was driven in large part by his vow to deport 11 million immigrants who are here illegally.

By blocking President Barack Obama’s plan to protect many of them, the U.S. Supreme Court has made the issue even bigger for November.

“The election, and the Supreme Court appointments that come with it, will decide whether or not we have a border and, hence, a country,” Trump said in a statement.

But just as Trump’s stand has drawn in supporters, it has energized foes, particularly among Latino voters.

Clinton told an interviewer from Telemundo: “My heart is really breaking for the 5 million people in this country who have been waiting for the decision and are facing deportation, living with fear every single day.” (Video here.)

She reiterated a pledge to “introduce comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship within my first 100 days.”

Trump: No IOU to me

Trump announced that he is forgiving the $50 million in loans he has made to his campaign — a move aimed at reassuring donors that he won’t use their money to pay himself back.

Campaign finance chairman Steve Mnuchin also told CNBC that fundraising has picked up. An online pitch that began this week has raised $6 million, he said.

Sanders: Fight for ‘revolution’

Bernie Sanders urged supporters in a speech at Manhattan’s Town Hall Thursday night to keep fighting for a political “revolution,” Newsday’s Laura Figueroa reports.

He made no mention of Clinton, but pledged to do “everything I can” to prevent Trump from winning the presidency. Some Sanders backers in the audience said they remained unwilling to vote for anyone but him.

Trump’s LGBT embrace

Since the Orlando massacre, Trump has touted himself in stump speeches as a better ally and protector of LGBT Americans than Clinton.

That puts him in new territory for a presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and has won him praise from pro-gay GOP members such as the Log Cabin Republicans. But liberal LGBT advocates call it transparent pandering. See the story by Newsday’s Emily Ngo.

Email eye roll

Newly released emails suggest even a close Clinton aide was dubious about a plan to put Rajiv Fernando, a major Democratic donor with little experience, on a sensitive government intelligence board, according to a McClatchy report.

“Couldn’t he have landed a spot on the President’s Physical Fitness Council?” Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philippe Reines wrote in 2012 to two other Clinton aides.

Unforgettable

Trump has boasted he has “the world’s best memory.” So a plaintiffs’ lawyer called him on that during a Trump University lawsuit deposition by saying he couldn’t recall specific claims, documents or events.

“I don’t remember saying that,” Trump answered. “As good as my memory is, I don’t remember that, but I have a good memory.”

The fact check is in the mail

In an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt that aired Thursday, Trump was pressed to back up his claim in Wednesday’s speech that hackers penetrated Clinton’s private email server.

“I think I read that,” Trump said. “And I heard it, and somebody ...”

“Where?” Holt asked.

“ ... that also gave me that information. I will report back to you. I’ll give it to you,” Trump said.

What else is happening

• 'Make America White Again,' said a short-lived billboard for Tennessee Congressional candidate Rick Tyler, who promoted its message even after it was removed....
• Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia has emerged as a front-runner on Clinton’s running-mate short list, Politico reports. He was also a finalist during President Barack Obama’s 2008 veep search.
• Fired Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has a new gig. CNN has hired him as a political commentator.
• Long Island hedge fund executive Robert Mercer is launching a super PAC that will focus solely on attacking Clinton, not boosting Trump.
• A deeply reported Washington Post look-back at Trump’s early life found a number of constant themes. “Confident. Incorrigible. Bully,” the headline says.
• How will Trump’s campaign timeout to visit his golf courses in Scotland play? Nearly 7 in 10 voters in a CNN/ORC poll say Trump ought to step down as chairman and president of the Trump Organization while he’s involved in politics.
• Trump was fined $10,000 for skipping a hearing Thursday on whether he violated an agreement with the city by using public space in Trump Tower to sell campaign merchandise, DNAInfo reported.