| | | | | President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump arrive at the White House Sunday. Credit: Chris Kleponis/Pool/Getty Images | | | Melania Moves In: She made it official last night at 8:30
Comey's Monster Ratings: About as many watched his testimony as watched Game 2 of the NBA Finals
Katy Perry and the Gospel of Wokeness: Reflections from her Witness livestream | | | What the White House is Talking About:
After a morning Cabinet meeting, President Trump will be on the (sweltering, probs) South Lawn this afternoon to honor the Clemson Tigers for their NCAA championship season.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
🚨MELANIA TRUMP HAS MOVED INTO THE WHITE HOUSE. I REPEAT: MELANIA TRUMP HAS MOVED INTO THE WHITE HOUSE.🚨
FLOTUS Gonna FL':
In a tweet last night at 8:30, Melania Trump made official what I'd been hearing for weeks: June 11 was official moving day. | | Credit: @FOTUS/Twitter
Here's What It's Like to Move a First Lady into the White House:
I talked to a handful of experts for this story on what happens behind-the-scenes at the White House to accommodate FLOTUS' arrival, from decorating the Executive Residence to establishing new Secret Service parameters. Basically, unlike other first ladies in recent history, Melania's team has had five months to essentially set up for the move and get everything in place. That's far more time than the usual six-hour full switcheroo that typically happens on Inauguration Day, when one presidential family moves out the back while another moves in the front.
The Gang's All Here:
Melania and POTUS arrived back in town last night with Barron Trump in tow. And, bringing up the rear, Melania's parents, Amalija and Viktor Knavs. | | Credits: Mandel Ngan/Getty Images
Note that Barron has a fidget spinner, which is all the rage in the 9-13 year old set. My kid is 12 and she has, like, six of them. I don't get it. They just spin around. | | Ivanka Surprised by the Meanness:
Ivanka Trump on Fox News this morning said she is keeping her head down and forging ahead with her initiatives -- like this week's workforce stuff -- but she has been personally taken aback by how rough the criticism has been.
Sessions Wants Public Session:
Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he'll testify publicly, and not behind closed doors, tomorrow when he goes before the Senate Intelligence Committee. | | Dress Like The First Lady:
Melania yesterday was wearing Bally twill, wide-legged, cropped pants (h/t White House Wardrobe). They're on sale for $460. | | Senator Santorum's Daughter Marries at Irish Castle:
Congratulations to CNN senior political commentator, and former senator and presidential candidate, Rick Santorum, whose daughter, Elizabeth, wed Matthew Marcolini at Ireland's Dromoland Castle this weekend. Local wedding planner Lauryn Prattes handled details, and Virginia-based florist Holly Chapple of Holly Heider Chapple Flowers created the florals. | | | Credit: @elizabethsantorum/Instagram | | What Washington is Talking About:
The attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia today are expected to announce a suit accusing President Trump of violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution by accepting foreign money through his businesses.
What America is Talking About:
ABC has suspended filming "Bachelor in Paradise" because of "allegations of misconduct."
What Silicon Valley is Talking About:
Whether Uber CEO Travis Kalanick will take a three-month leave of absence and who would take his place since many executive-level positions are vacant. Last week, it was reported that more than 20 employees had been fired after a company-wide investigation that included allegations of sexual harassment.
Poll of the Day:
The percentage of Americans who get news from a mobile device has risen since last year from 72% to 85%, according to a Pew poll. The rise was driven in large measure by people over the age of 65. | | Credit: Pew
Comey's Monster Ratings:
About 19.5 million people watched former FBI Director James Comey's testimony Thursday. That's about as many as watched Game 2 of the NBA finals.
Trump's Other Calls:
Former US Attorney Preet Bharara said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday that Comey's testimony "felt a little bit like deja vu" because he also received multiple "unusual phone calls" from Trump that he perceived as "trying to cultivate some kind of relationship." Bharara also said he believes there is "absolutely evidence to begin a case" against Trump for obstruction of justice.
Biden Backs a Romney Senate Run:
Joe Biden told Mitt Romney, "by the way, you should run for Senate," during their interview at Romney's E2 Summit in Park City, Utah. Son Matt Romney posted this photo of his parents with the Bidens, the Ryans, and Sen. Lindsey Graham. | | Credit: @mattyromney/Instagram
Katy Perry and the Gospel of Wokeness:
To promote her new album Witness, Katy Perry has been live streaming her life on YouTube 24 hours a day since Thursday from a home in Los Angeles. I've found myself surprisingly captivated, tuning in throughout the weekend to watch her get her makeup done, be interviewed, and even sleep.
There were plenty of political moments, like an interview with activist DeRay McKesson Saturday and a dinner last night that included guests Caitlyn Jenner, and CNN commentators Van Jones, Ana Navarro and Sally Kohn. | | Credit: Katy Perry/YouTube
To anyone vaguely familiar with Katy's politics, there was nothing particularly surprising -- she's newly woke, aggressively earnest and compassionately liberal -- but what struck me was the missionary zeal with which the former Christian singer takes her politics. She was like a woke convert, preaching the gospel of wokeness to all who would listen.
"Witness" isn't just the name of her album, it's a way of life. She said during the livestream she wants to be an "active witness," she talked frequently about how she has political disagreements with her parents but still loves them and listens to them, she atoned for her insensitive and politically incorrect comments in the past ("The whole world is keeping me accountable and I hope that we can keep each other accountable, with compassion"), and she wished everyone well, from every single Instagram-famous makeup artist who seemed a little too thirsty in their sudden proximity to celebrity to even Taylor Swift. "God bless you on your journey," she would say time and time again.
I've previously called Katy the Hillary Clinton of pop, and this seemed like a continuation of that, hyper-focused on Clinton's campaign message of "stronger together" and "love and kindness." She's also someone who can be extremely transparent in what influences her, following fellow pop stars or the latest Internet memes a little too closely or a little too late. After Lady Gaga stunned the VMAs with multiple flashy costume changes during the 2010 show (the meat dress was just one of her looks that night), Katy did her own version of the multiple costume changes at the 2011 VMAs. But it felt like a stale stunt, ~reductive~, if you will, and Gaga spent entirety of the 2011 show in drag, dressed as her alter-ego Jo Calderone. I remember thinking at the time Katy felt late to the party, left in the dust.
Even as Katy copies her political icon, Hillary Clinton, Clinton herself has moved on. "Stronger Together" didn't win an election, and Clinton these days is often throwing punches and willing to pick fights. Katy seems stuck in 2016, promoting an album with love and kindness even as critics pan the record and her pop rival plays petty, dropping her entire discography on streaming services to steal the spotlight.
But Katy seemed unbothered by any outside storm, eternally optimistic, and driven by her mission. "I want to spread love and hope and kindness to all the people of the world," she said.
Street Art Sighting:
Spotted flying in the skies above Corona Del Mar this weekend: a plane with a banner reading "TRUMP VINDICATED! BEST PRESIDENT EVER!," sent in by COVER/LINE reader and political science professor Meredith Conroy. | | Credit: @sidney_b/Twitter
Send me your pics of political street art to coverlinehunter@cnn.com, tweet me @hunterschwarz or tag @cnncoverline on Instagram. | | | | | | |
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