The Point: Sean Hannity reveals the real Donald Trump

View this email in your browser April 26, 2019  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski Sean Hannity reveals the real Donald Trump On Thursday night, Donald Trump did a 45-minute phone interview with Fox News' flagship face: Sean Hannity.  That, on its own, is, well, odd. The President of the United States spending 45 minutes on the phone with a conservative talk show host isn't something that happened ever before. And may not happen ever again.  Also, sort of weird in that Hannity hosts a TV show and TV is a visual medium -- not exactly the preferred medium for an extended phone interview. But it's not just that Trump did it that is so startling. (In fact, calling into cable shows has been a regular Trump practice since the 2016 campaign and even before). It's what Hannity and Trump talked about. I went through the most remarkable 45 lines from the 45-minute interview, but suffice it to say that it was a miasma of conspiracy theorizing, fact-free "analysis" and martyrdom. "So, I really say, now we have to get down because this was a coup," Trump said at one point, referring to the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. "This was an attempted overthrow of the United States government." At another, Trump said this: "This was a coup. This wasn't stealing information from an office in the Watergate apartments. This was an attempted coup." He offered almost no evidence -- beyond anti-Trump texts between two FBI employees -- to back up any of these claims. Here's what's important about all of that: Trump was at his most comfortable in this interview. He was on the phone from the White House talking to one of his most ardent defenders in Hannity. This interview is as close to the "real" Donald Trump as you are going to get. And what did we get? A series of entirely unproven conspiracy theories. A series of bullying claims about his opponents -- including that Joe Biden "is not the brightest bulb in the group." And time and time again, a deep victimhood complex -- in which everyone but Hannity and a few other true loyalists were out to get Trump but he somehow, managed to persevere. The Point: The Trump of Thursday's "Hannity" interview is the honest-to-goodness Trump. Which is a truly daunting thing. -- Chris And now, the week in 43 headlines. Monday:  Trump sues to block Dems from obtaining his financial records Trump claims 'nobody disobeys my orders' Admin: Countries importing Iranian oil will be subject to sanctions Herman Cain withdraws from Fed consideration, Trump says High school journalists take on DeVos after being barred from event House panel issues subpoena to former WH counsel Don McGahn Tuesday: WH ordered Trump administration officials to boycott WHCA Dinner Kushner: Russia investigations more harmful 'than a couple Facebook ads' Michael Cohen set to report to prison May 6 Trump to make first state visit to UK in June SCOTUS will hear arguments over census citizenship question WH tells official not to comply with subpoena over clearances Trump doesn't want aides to testify to Congress after Mueller report Acting DHS chief: Family separations policy 'not worth it' WH may seek to prevent McGahn from complying with subpoena Pelosi says she will meet with Trump next week about infrastructure Treasury misses deadline to turn over Trump tax returns House asks court to block Trump's border wall before it starts Wednesday: Trump at war with Democrats: 'We're fighting all the subpoenas' DOJ won't comply with House subpoena over citizenship question Trump touts 'progress' in combating the opioid crisis House Oversight opens investigation into EPA admin NYT: Mulvaney urged Nielsen to not bring up future Russian election meddling to Trump 'Like pulling teeth' to get WH to focus on election interference Trump says he agrees with Ocasio-Cortez that the VA isn't broken WSJ: Cohen tells Tom Arnold he didn't do crimes he pleaded guilty to Trump calls working dogs 'the greatest equipment in the world' US Navy introducing guidelines for pilots to report UFO sightings US Border Patrol begins fingerprinting children younger than 14 Thursday: WSJ: Moore will remove himself from consideration if he becomes a 'liability' Trump says there was an attempted 'coup' on his administration Rosenstein unloads on critics DHS request for more troops at the border is sent to the Pentagon Judge blocks Trump administration's Title X abortion 'gag rule' Admin sets up plan to identify thousands of separated families Friday: Trump now says parents must vaccinate children FBI director says Russia a 'significant counterintelligence threat' NK presented US with $2 million bill for care of Otto Warmbier Connolly threatens to jail officials who won't comply with subpoenas Abe set for White House visit Trump causes congressional headaches with McGahn obsession Trump defends his Charlottesville comments after Biden slams them Trump gives base-pleasing NRA speech, teasing 2020 pitch QUOTE OF THE DAY "I'm so young. I can't believe it. I'm the youngest person -- I am a young, vibrant man." -- Donald Trump, 72, comparing himself to Joe Biden, 76. WHAT'S COOKIN'? Among Lauren's favorite insights about presidential contenders is their differing food interests, like Cory Booker's veganism or Donald Trump's love of well-done steaks with a side of ketchup. Enter: Kamala Harris, who's apparently a big fan of a good marinated protein from The New York Times' recipe archives. Among her two favorites: smoky pork shoulder with chile paste and feta-brined roast chicken. Bon appetit! LAUREN'S GOOD READS Women did everything right. Then work got "greedy." Hello, Florida big cat Alabama should be SO proud The losers speak!  You should Google "Thanos"  Wedding bouncy castles are apparently a thing MUSICAL INTERLUDE The song title is a lil' morbid but I promise it's peppy and perfect for your Friday: "Catch My Disease!" LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL SCHEDULER Coming next week: Donald Trump's MAGA rally counter-programming, Joe Biden finally hits the campaign trail and Kirsten Gillibrand talks LGBT issues with a drag queen. Saturday, April 27 Donald Trump: Holds a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, instead of going to the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Here's Chris' take. National Forum on Wages and Working People in Las Vegas is drawing a swath of the 2020 Democrats: Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O'Rourke, John Hickenlooper and Julian Castro Sunday, April 28 Stacey Abrams: Participates in a talk about her book in Toledo, Ohio  Kamala Harris: Delivers the keynote speech at Ohio's Cuyahoga Democrats' annual dinner Eric Swalwell: Holds three campaign events in Iowa Andrew Yang: Participates in a town hall with former House candidate J.D. Scholten in Des Moines, Iowa, hosted by the Polk County Democrats Monday, April 29 Joe Biden: Holds his very first campaign event of 2020 at the Teamster Temple Union Hall in Pittsburgh Wayne Messam: Holds a town hall at Fox Brewing in West Des Moines  Tuesday, April 30 John Hickenlooper: Participates in a fireside chat with Wall Street Journal editor Gerard Baker at the Milken Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California Seth Moulton: Also participates in a fireside chat with Baker at the Milken Global Conference in Beverly Hills John Delaney: Will speak on US foreign policy in Washington Kamala Harris: Hosts a roundtable with teachers and community activists a day before they are set to protest for better pay and working conditions   Wednesday, May 1 Joe Biden: Travels to Iowa to begin a two-day campaign swing through the state, beginning in Cedar Rapids  Thursday, May 2 Kirsten Gillibrand: Will discuss LGBT issues with a drag queen and activist in a New York fundraiser Friday, May 3 Andrew Yang: Holds a campaign rally in Seattle YOUR DAILY GIF From Brenna: "President Trump looks at the governor of Indiana like the rest of us look at the weekend. 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