| | | | | First lady Melania Trump arrives for an event Thursday at the White House, where President Trump nominated Kirsten Nielsen as his new Secretary of Homeland Security. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images | | | "Classic Trump" at Value Voters: POTUS talked flag and teased his upcoming Iran speech
Former White House Florist Wrote Another Book: "A White House Christmas" drops tomorrow
The Russians' Bizarre Pokemon Go Campaign: What didn't they try? | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump this morning spoke at the Value Voters Summit, but it's his remarks about the Iran deal at 12:45 that everyone is anticipating today. This afternoon, he and Melania Trump will visit a US Secret Service training facility in Maryland before returning to the White House.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Trump's decertification of the Iran nuclear deal -- it's not a full kill, but it's enough to dismantle the agreement and kick the can to Congress. Also, in another Obama-era-ending move, Trump announced last night that he's undoing cost-sharing subsidies for health care. Also, we all dug Chief of Staff John Kelly at the press-briefing podium yesterday, mainly because he actually answered questions. | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Trump Value Voters:
The President went "classic Trump" in his speech today at Value Voters -- he talked about respecting the American flag, said we're having a better time with countries like Pakistan, and teased his Iran speech, saying, "I think you are going to find it very interesting."
Nats Lose, Sigh:
This morning -- the day after the Washington Nationals were eliminated from the Major League Baseball playoffs -- I was in the elevator with the one man at CNN who really puts his heart and soul into D.C. sports teams: Wolf Blitzer. He looked at me and said, "I'm sad. I'm very sad." I asked him why and he said, "Well, the Nats." And I said, "I'm sorry, Wolf. This is why I don't invest too much into our teams." And he said, "Yeah, but I do. And I will keep doing it." I feel like this is a good story to tell because if Wolf can have faith, so can you. | | Weinstein Explainer:
I haven't really touched on the whole Harvey Weinstein scandal in this space because it's made me so angry and disgusted. But, at the same time I'm inspired by the courage of the women coming forward, a number that now hovers around 30. The Huffington Post has done an excellent video timeline that demonstrates the breadth and scope of Weinstein's attacks. Meantime, Dan Merica had this story about how much Weinstein money Hillary Clinton is donating to charity in the wake of the scandal. | | Obama Golfing Options, Now Three Strong:
The Washingtonian is reporting Barack Obama has joined the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, bringing to three the total number of private golfing spots of which he is now a member. The story also says Secretary of State Rex Tillerson joined Army Navy this summer and that both men have played there within the past month.
Former White House Florist Wrote Another Book:
"A White House Christmas" drops tomorrow from Laura Dowling, former chief White House florist during the Obama years, until she left in 2015. Dowling's first book, "Floral Diplomacy," came out in April, and in it she talked about how she oversaw arrangements from the private residence to State Dinners. This Christmas book has actual tutorials, so you can get crafting on those holiday flower situations I know you're anxious to start. | | Dress Like the First Lady:
I love it when Melania Trump goes OG back to the coat-on-the-shoulders look that sort of made everyone pay attention to her style two years ago. The look is baller, because it's like she *could* put her arms through her sleeves, but she doesn't *have* to.
Yesterday also was a monochrome moment for her -- head-to-toe blush pink. I found the coat, a wool/cashmere blend by Acne Studios, here for $1,150. | | | Credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images; ssense.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
The Nationals' 9-8 playoff loss to the Cubs :(
What America is Talking About:
The death count in California's devastating wildfires has reached at least 31, and just 10% or less of the largest fires are contained.
Poll of the Day:
Gun owners and those who believe gun laws should be less strict are more likely to have contacted a public official to express their opinion on gun policy in the past year than those who are not gun owners or believe gun laws should be more strict, according to a Pew poll. | | Credit: Pew
One of the Most Pleasant Briefings of the Trump Administration:
Chief of Staff John Kelly took the podium at yesterday's briefing for about 30 minutes, denying reports he was close to quitting or being fired, and calling on the press to "develop some better sources." I thought it was among the most pleasant briefings of the Trump administration, and the boss liked it too. A source told CNN that President Trump wanted Kelly to get in front of the camera to deny reports about a West Wing in crisis and answer questions about Iran and North Korea. Trump watched and apparently thought Kelly did a good job during his first turn in the briefing room. | | Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images
The Russians' Bizarre Pokemon Go Campaign:
CNN has the scoop on how Russia-connected accounts pushed a campaign called "Don't Shoot Us" that even used Tumblr posts to encourage Pokemon Go players to name their Pokemon after victims of alleged police brutality, capture gyms near the sites of brutality and send in screenshots of their Pokemon owning the gym to win Amazon gift cards.
Here's a graphic from the Tumblr with instructions on how to win. It shows the Pokemon Hypno (a psychic Pokemon with moves like hypnosis and confusion, which is the perfect choice for a stealth foreign propaganda campaign, no?) named Eric Garner. | | Credit: via CNN
The Tumblr page that posted about the contest now appears to post about Palestine. CNN could find no evidence of people entering the contest. Niantic, the software company behind the game, told CNN: "It's clear from the images shared with us by CNN that our game assets were appropriated and misused in promotions by third parties without our permission. It is important to note that Pokémon GO, as a platform, was not and cannot be used to share information between users in the app so our platform was in no way being used. This 'contest' required people to take screen shots from their phone and share over other social networks, not within our game. Niantic will consider our response as we learn more."
An email account connected to the "Don't Shoot Us" campaign even pitched a story to a journalist. Brandon Weigel, an editor at Baltimore City Paper, said he received an email to promote a protest outside the courthouse where Freddie Gray was set to appear. Baltimore is one city for which Russia-connected accounts bought targeted Facebook ads. The response online to the Russians trying to meddle in our politics through Pokemon Go has been disbelief -- and memes, of course. | | Credit: @gilbertjasono/Twitter
J Kush's Background Check Facing Scrutiny:
Charles Phalen, director of the National Background Investigations Bureau, said during a House subcommittee oversight hearing Wednesday that the level of mistakes in Jared Kushner's background check was something he had "never seen." Kushner's original SF-86 form, a questionnaire for security clearance, omitted about 100 foreign contacts that were later added. His June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer was not included among the foreign contacts he added but has since been included.
HBD, Tiffany Trump:
The first daughter is 24 today. To celebrate, here she is in 2008 at the age of 14. Vintage TT. | | | Credit: Mark Mainz/Getty Images | | | | | | |
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