Article snippet: The TAKE with Rick Klein Out of the chaos and norm-busting and institution-bursting of the last few days comes a voice from the not-so-distant past. Former President Barack Obama will now start making himself known in the midterms, with a speech at the University of Illinois on Friday, followed by his first campaign trail appearance of the year, in California, on Saturday. Obama will offer “new thoughts on this moment,” according to his spokeswoman, though he is expected to tread lightly when it comes to directly engaging President Donald Trump. (Trump, it barely needs saying, is unlikely to tread lightly on anything regarding Obama.) It marks the re-emergence of a singular force in Democratic politics, though one who had distinctly less luck in building up his party than he did in getting elected himself. Democrats from here on in will have their own powerful countervailing force. But as Trump campaigns again on Friday, in North Dakota, after a Montana trip on Thursday, the current president gets something he wants as well: a foil. The RUNDOWN with Rick Klein “Bring it,” Sen. Cory Booker challenged Republicans on Thursday, after he appeared not to have broken Senate rules by releasing Brett Kavanaugh emails that were technically already cleared for public consumption. Consider it brought. And like Kirk Douglas’ “Spartacus,” Booker wasn’t alone. This week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court has... Link to the full article to read more