The Progressive Change Campaign Committee led a rally on Tuesday, November 28, protesting President Trump’s appointment of Mick Mulvaney as acting director to lead the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. Former director Richard Cordray resigned last Friday and left his chief of staff Leandra English in charge. Mulvaney is already serving as the director of the Office of Management and Budget and several critics of this second appointment feel he is not fit to manage to major government agencies well. Ultimately, both English and Mulvaney laid their claim to the position and after taking their unique case to trial, a judge sided with Tump’s pick. Interesting fact: Judge Timothy J. Kelly was a Trump pick. Do with that what you will.
If only we had known how quickly the tide would change. Alas!
That brisk Tuesday at noon, I quickly made my way to the CFPB headquarters to gather color and quotes on the hastily planned rally. The block was overtaken by construction workers and equipment so I almost missed the building entirely. Luckily, I followed a slew of photojournalists carrying tripods and cameras who were setting up next to an area of corded off wet cement. I quickly joined the press pool and interviewed a few key organizers as the crowd slowly grew in size. At most, about 150 people in all came out to voice their dissatisfactions towards Trump’s latest government appointee. Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts gave campaign-style speeches promising their best efforts towards ensuring Leandra English secured the post of acting director. Each speech was bombastic and high energy, lasting no longer than five to eight minutes. Afterwards, I dutifully followed each senator to ask them questions on their plan forward if English is ousted. Merkley didn’t have a coherent response, he more or less trusted that Mulvaney would not win. The reality we now know requires he figure out a path forward!
Senator Warren was extremely difficult to pin down, yet I joined the milieu of journos that swarmed around her hoping for a quote. You can see my triumphant face below, looking over her right shoulder. I must say, I truly adore reporting. Read the article here!
Nathalie Nieves 
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