We recently discussed how the Democratic establishment seems to be ramping up a campaign to block Sanders (as it did in 2016), including a plan to derail him at the convention. With Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and DNC figures openly organizing against Sanders, the question is whether such a strategy, if successful, would alienate Sanders’ supporters in picking someone like Michael Bloomberg as an establishment choice. A remarkable exchange with Bernie Sanders’ national campaign co-chair Nina Turner last night on MSNBC may give a glimpse at such a future — and there is reason for the DNC and the Democratic establishment to be worried.

In 2016, many of us objected to the concerted effect of the Democratic establishment and the Democratic National Committee to rig the primary for Hillary Clinton. Later it was revealed that the Clintons have largely taken over the DNC by taking over its debt and the DNC openly harassed and hampered Sanders at every stage. Despite this effort, Sanders came close to beating Clinton, who has never forgiven him for contesting a primary that she literally bought and paid for with the DNC. The simmering rage was still evident recently in Clinton’s attack on Sanders and suggestion that she might not support him if he were the nominee (a suggestion that she later took back). She continued her attacks this week and it has served to remind voters, particularly younger voters, of the DNC interference with the primary election. After the scandal, the DNC pledged to reform itself and reduce the power of establishment figures and superdelegates at the convention. Now, however, Politico is reporting that DNC members are again discussing changing the rules to stop Sanders. This follows the selection of Clinton allies to control the convention and a shocking level of anti-Sanders bias shown by CNN at the last debate. In the meantime, the DNC has been criticized for clearing the way for Michael Bloomberg by changing its rules to help him make the debates.

On the campaign trail, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (like Nancy Klobucher and other presidential candidates) has emphasized his ties to the “American Heartland.” The Midwest has long been viewed as an area known for moderate and common sense politics. However, a recent reference by Buttigieg to his roots in the “American Heartland” has led former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien to denounce his words as a racist “dog whistle.”

Recently, I criticized Lawrence O’Donnell for proudly proclaiming that MSNBC would not invite Trump defenders on the network because they are liars. O’Donnell’s comment brought a rare joining of voices from across the political spectrum denouncing the knowing bias in such statements. Once again, however, President Donald Trump has supplanted the story with his own equally objectionable statement. On Tuesday, he attacked Fox News for interviewing Democrats like Sen. Chris Van Hollen and declared “this will be the beginning of the end for Fox.” If so, it would mean the end of journalism since Fox News was merely offering both sides of these stories in interviewing one of the senators who will be voting in the upcoming trial.