| | | | | First lady Melania Trump and President Trump attend the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday night at the Ellipse near the White House. Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images | | | ZOMG FLYNN: The first member of Trump's administration to be charged in special counsel Mueller's investigation
The Rock Says He's "Just Quietly Observing": Where he now stands on a presidential run
Street Art Sighting: Giant Al Franken on a billboard in Los Angeles | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump meets with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj this morning, then lunch with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Later, he'll give remarks at the White House holiday party for members of the media.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Michael Flynn's guilty plea this morning for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia and how that could affect Trump. Also, awkwardness at lunch with Tillerson given yesterday's news that he might be replaced; today, he called that reporting "laughable."
ZOMG, FLYNN:
At least this is what it felt like in the CNN newsroom this morning when the news broke about Flynn. While it's been clear that this day could and likely would come, there are lots of ways we now have to look at the Russia investigation to connect some dots going back as far as the campaign -- and potentially as recently as Jared Kushner's testimony to prosecutors earlier this month. I found this explainer really helpful; we've updated it and posted again on the CNN Politics homepage. Here's a snap of the scene as Flynn arrived today to the federal courthouse: | | Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Annnnd Drink!:
Logan Circle bar The Bird will all day today be serving $5 "Moscow Muellers" in honor of the Flynn news. You're welcome.
James Comey Weighs In, Kinda:
This is the first post from Comey's new Instagram account, which happens to be the title of his forthcoming book. | | Credit: @a_highter_loyalty/Instagram
Mark Your Calendars, Politics Nerds:
Speaker Paul Ryan announced yesterday that Trump's first State of the Union address will be January 30.
Work Orders at the White House Reveal Rodents:
Well, mice, really. WRC-TV got a hold of the General Services Administration work orders for 2017 at the White House, and it's a revealing bunch of documents, if you're into that kind of stuff, which I am. For instance, shortly after the inauguration, a new toilet seat was ordered for the Oval Office bathroom. There were reports of mice in the Situation Room and the Navy Mess, and a few cockroach infestations. Listen, I get it, the building is old, these things happen, but still. My actual favorite parts were the notes about requests for work in the East Wing, like the specifics for hanging new drapes: higher than the old ones, with a break at the floor, to make the ceilings appear taller (a handy-dandy trick I actually used hanging my own curtains); and the moving in and out of furniture in the first lady's office.
In Mooch News, He's Apparently Home for the Holidays:
TMZ is reporting that Anthony Scaramucci and his wife, Deidre Ball, are trying to repair their marriage. She has apparently withdrawn her divorce filing, and he told TMZ they're now "living under the same roof." Here's hoping for the best. | | Dress Like the First Lady:
As soon as I saw Melania Trump's red coat from the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony last night I thought, "Wait, is that Chanel?" I figured it was because the plaid is so iconic to the label, but I also wasn't sure because she doesn't really wear Chanel. But, per usual, I should have just trusted my gut. It's Chanel, pre-fall 2017 to be exact. Hi, I'm Kate. | | | Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images; elle.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
I mean, everyone's talking about Flynn. But also, Senate Repubs' tax reform bill is on the verge of passing. Sens. Steve Daines, Ron Johnson and Jeff Flake are on board.
What America is Talking About:
Taylor Swift has now put Reputation on streaming music sites, and Beyoncé is featured on a new song with Ed Sheeran.
Reminder:
Rent is due.
Analysis Finds Senate Tax Bill Would Add to the Deficit:
Per Congress's nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation's analysis, over the course of a decade, the bill could generate $408 billion in net new revenue, but it would still add $1 trillion to the deficit.
There Were a Few Extra Seats at the National Tree Lighting Ceremony:
Here's a shot from ABC7's Steve Rudin last night. I find myself wondering what Sean Spicer would say about this crowd. | | Credit: @SteveRudinABC7/Twitter
Three Things I Learned About Hillary Clinton From Her Teen Vogue Issue:
The 2016 Dem candidate guest-edited the special issue, now on newsstands. She describes it as "articles about the search for the perfect makeup remover next to essays about running for office." I learned: - Her first concert was the Rolling Stones
- Her favorite makeup remover is Georgette Klinger, which she bought a year's worth of when it was discontinued
- She calls "What Happened" "the most personal book I've written," which is the same sentiment Britney Spears had about Britney Jean.
The Rock Says He's "Just Quietly Observing Everything" in Politics:
The "Jumanji" press tour is in full swing, and The Rock finally commented on politics, telling InStyle he's in watch-and-wait mode for whether he runs for office. He said:
"Where we're at right now is just quietly observing everything happening on the political landscape, and when the next election comes along, I will be watching very intently."
He said Trump dropped the ball when he rescinded Steph Curry's White House invitation:
"I felt like it was our president's perfect opportunity to say, 'Now you must come to the White House and sit down with me, and I must hear you and understand you.'"
The Rock added he used to get "pissed" when he would wake up every morning (between 4:30 and 5, btw) and see the latest news alerts, but now he's realized he needs to be positive and not have "a knee-jerk reaction out of anger." | | Credit: Carter Smith for InStyle
Shout-out to Government Agencies That Appreciate Good Design:
The Atlanta Department of Planning has updated its signage with the help of Atlanta-based firm Matchstic. It's from earlier this year, but I'm just finding out about it and thought it was cool and wanted to share. Below is the before on the left, and the after on the right. Commissioner Tim Keane told CityLab, "To me, when you saw the signs that we had before, what they said to you as residents was, 'We don't care a lot about this.' They're hard to read, they kind of screamed, 'This is a bureaucracy, good luck!'" | | Credit: Matchstic
Walmart No Longer Selling "Rope. Tree. Journalist." Shirt:
The Radio Television Digital News Association sent a letter to Walmart asking them to remove the shirt, and it's been pulled. Said RTDNA executive director Dan Shelley:
"We are grateful for Walmart's swift action, but dismayed that it, and anyone else selling the shirt, would offer such an offensive and inflammatory product. We live in an environment in which political and ideological discourse has deteriorated to the level where some find it appropriate to advocate violence targeting journalists merely for performing their Constitutionally-guaranteed duty to seek and report the truth." | | Credit: Walmart
Street Art Sighting:
Los Angeles street artist Sabo put up a giant cutout of Sen. Al Franken -- from the now-infamous photo of his reaching out in 2006 to grope a sleeping woman -- on a billboard of Zendaya for the upcoming film, "The Greatest Showman," on the corner of Overland Avenue and National Boulevard. | | Credit: @unsavoryagents/Twitter
Send your political street art pics to me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com, tweet me @hunterschwarz or tag @cnncoverline on Instagram. | | | | | | |
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