| | | | 1 guaranteed way to change the gun debate | | We may well be in the midst of a landmark moment in the long and controversial history of the politics of guns in America.
The murders of 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, eight days ago -- and the subsequent pop-up activism of their surviving classmates -- has, at least in the near-term, changed the all-too-predictable blueprint of how the country reacts in the wake of a mass shooting.
President Donald Trump is promising action -- although he remains uncertain as to what, specifically, he wants to get done and in what order. The likes of Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Pat Roberts of Kansas seem to be open to potential gun control compromises they might not have been a few weeks ago.
And yet, the path to passage through Congress of anything beyond a small-bore gun control measure remains very rocky.
The reason for that is simple: Republicans -- and some Democrats -- believe/know that if they cross the National Rifle Association on the organization's priorities, there will be a political price to pay.
That price won't necessarily be in campaign contributions, but more in the NRA's ability to use its active membership list to make the lives of politicians who cross them uncomfortable.
What those supporting more so-called "common sense" gun restrictions have long lacked is the sort of counterweight political muscle to the NRA. Politicians are simply not afraid of those pushing for more gun control because, traditionally, they have been neither well-organized enough nor well-funded enough to instill fear.
That's why, despite polls that show large majorities in support of things like universal background checks or even a nationwide assault ban, pro-gun rights politicians have shown little concern about avoiding these topics over the last several decades.
The Point: Fear is a powerful political motivator. If gun control advocates want to effect real change in the way politicians view the politics of guns, they need to show there are political consequences on both sides of this debate -- not just the NRA's.
-- Chris | | Speaking of the NRA ... CNN's Lauren Fox reported Thursday:
"The head of the biggest gun lobby in the United States has accused Democrats of pushing a 'socialist' agenda to deprive gun owners of their weapons, in an uncompromising speech just a week after 17 people died in the Florida school shooting.
"Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association, made no attempt to moderate his message a day after survivors of the Parkland shooting faced down lawmakers in a CNN town hall and the President at the White House. Instead, he told conservative activists that voters should be 'frightened' of any future Democratic election victories, and accused Democrats of exploiting the deaths in an effort to destroy the Second Amendment.
"'Socialism is a movement that loves a smear,' he said."
Read more here. | | From CNN's Eli Watkins:
"Missouri GOP. Gov. Eric Greitens was indicted on Thursday, amid looming allegations of sexual misconduct and blackmail following an admission of an affair last month.
"He was charged in St. Louis with a first-degree felony invasion of privacy, according to the Missouri court system. Missouri's KMOV published a report last month in which a man said his now-former wife had an affair with Greitens in 2015. The report included details of a recording of a woman saying Greitens had tried to blackmail her to keep quiet about their sexual encounter.
"Greitens denied he resorted to blackmail, but admitted to an affair, and the circuit attorney for St. Louis, Kimberly M. Gardner, said they had launched a formal investigation."
Read more in CNN's story here. | | MUELLER FILES NEW CHARGES | | Some more afternoon breaking news, from CNN's Kara Scannell and Katelyn Polantz:
"Special counsel Robert Mueller has filed new charges against former Donald Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. In the 37-page indictment, prosecutors describe a 'scheme' in which the two longtime business partners allegedly laundered $30 million, failed to pay taxes for almost 10 years and used real estate they owned to fraudulently secure more than $20 million in loans.
The indictments show increasing pressure from Mueller on the former top Trump campaign officials and highlight his aggressive effort to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and any related matters uncovered during the investigation."
Read more here. | | WHCD ENTERTAINER ANNOUNCED | | The White House Correspondents' Association has tapped "Daily Show" contributor Michelle Wolf as the featured entertainer for this year's dinner. Four things to know about Wolf:
1. She has a stand-up special on HBO.
2. She's a former writer for "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and others.
3. She's only the fifth woman to headline the dinner.
4. She is only going to get more famous.
Read more in Saba's story here. | | | From CNN's Veronica Stracqualursi: "The woman whose affair with former Rep. Tim Murphy ultimately led to his resignation is now running for Congress, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Shannon Edwards, a clinical forensic psychologist, is running as a Republican in Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District race, she announced Wednesday in downtown Pittsburgh, according to the newspaper."
Read more here. | | GET YOUR POINT FIX ON INSTA | | | Click on CNN Politics' Instagram story every Monday through Friday afternoon for more #content, courtesy of Chris and CNN's Brenna Williams. | | | Don't forget to tell people to subscribe to The Point. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | | | | |
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