| | | | | The Senate side of the US Capitol is seen Tuesday, before Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the vote on the GOP health care bill would be delayed. Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images | | | Trump Headlines Fund-raiser: The $35,000-a-plate dinner is tonight at his hotel
Chaffetz Calls For Housing Stipend: The retiring Utah Repub wants $2,500 a month for members of Congress
Trust Is Up: Americans trust the media, the Supreme Court and Congress more than they did last year | | | What the White House is Talking About:
After a morning energy roundtable, President Trump meets this afternoon behind closed doors with the Chicago Cubs, then with "immigration crime victims."
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
The Cubs thing. While most might want to make something of Trump's welcoming the team outside the view of the media, don't forget that President Obama formally honored the team's World Series win with a White House ceremony on January 16, one of the last events he hosted as President. Today's visit is more one of convenience, since the Cubs are in town for a four-game series against the Nats.
Also, Sean Spicer is back for today's briefing after a fairly dramatic session yesterday with Sarah Huckabee Sanders. It starts at 1:30 p.m. ET -- and will be off-camera.
But First, Tweets:
Lots of people had fun this morning on the Twitter machine following Trump's tweet in which he called the Washington Post "the guardian of Amazon." Also, he went after The New York Times and media writ large. | | Trump Headlines Fund-raiser Tonight:
The President and Melania Trump will tonight attend a $35,000-a-plate dinner ($100,000 for "co-host" status) at the Trump International Hotel here in DC. The fund-raiser is for the two pro-Trump super PACs presumably shoring up funds for his re-election campaign.
Javanka Date Night:
OK, the weirdest part of this item about Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump having a dinner date at Kinship last night is that she went from dinner straight to SoulCycle (West End location). I mean, more power to her, but who does that? The cutest part of this, though, is that they sat next to one another at dinner, not across the table.
Ivanka had a big day yesterday, giving a speech at the State Department about how the world needs to put an end to human trafficking. My colleague, Betsy Klein, has this solid explainer on the first daughter's involvement. Ivanka has posted at least three times about the event. | | Credit: @ivankatrump/Instagram
Vive La France!:
The White House today confirmed POTUS will be going to France to celebrate Bastille Day, at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron. Trump, and possibly Melania Trump, who was also invited, is scheduled to attend the Bastille Day parade on July 14 in Paris. | | Dad Jeans, An Obama Love Story:
Guys, Obama's dad jeans have made a return on this family vacation to Indonesia and the consensus is: better? | | Credit: Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images
This was Obama visiting a temple yesterday in Bali. The jeans are definitely still "Dad" style, but the waist fits better, and the legs aren't as wide as earlier versions we've seen from him.
He's digging them enough to keep the trend going. Here's another of him from today, also in Bali. And a cute shot of Sasha and Malia Obama, wrapped in traditional skirts, taking in the sights during the temple visit. The Obama family is on a 10-day trip to Indonesia. | | Hey, Brother:
Um, how much do Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and Senator Ted Cruz look alike? | | Credit: @SenTedCruz/Twitter
Your Wednesday Read:
This Robin Givhan screed about why stars need to stop posing naked and pregnant is fun and well written. She calls it a "strange celebrity ritual" and a "complicated stew of personal indulgence." It's good times.
Can't Not Include This Odd But Very Trump-ian Situation:
Yesterday, while the President was on the phone with the new Taoiseach of Ireland, he called over Irish reporter Caitriona Perry, who found the encounter "bizarre." I'm curious what your thoughts are on this interaction. | | Sign UP!:
Tonight marks the debut The Point with Chris Cillizza, an evening wrap of the day's events. Sign up, fam! | | What Washington is Talking About:
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has delayed the vote on Senate Repubs' health care bill until after the July 4 recess, in order to make changes and get a new score from the Congressional Budget Office. After the delay was announced, an additional three Republicans came out against it.
What America is Talking About:
The press tour of "Despicable Me 3" has begun, and everyone's noticing how hot Steve Carell has gotten. The film is expected to have one of the top box office openings of the summer, grossing anywhere from $85 million to $100 million.
What Silicon Valley is Talking About:
The European Union says Google violated antitrust rules and denied "consumers a genuine choice" when using the search engine, and it's fining the company $2.7 billion.
Poll of the Day:
I always get nervous when I see polls about the cratering trust Americans have in our institutions. Well, good news, Gallup has found trust actually rose this year, to its highest point since 2011. | |
What's driving that bump? Trust in newspapers, public schools, banks, organized labor, the Supreme Court, the criminal justice system, Congress, TV news, and business is up since last year. Meanwhile, trust in organized religion remains flat, and trust in the medical system and the presidency has declined. | |
Chaffetz Calls for Housing Stipend:
Rep. Jason Chaffetz's last day in the House is Friday, and on his way out, he's calling for members of Congress to receive a $2,500 monthly housing stipend. He told The Hill it "would be appropriate and a real help to have at least a decent quality of life in Washington if you're going to expect people to spend hundreds of nights a year here." He added, "There are dozens upon dozens of members living in their offices, and I don't know how healthy that is long-term."
The Utah Republican and father of three famously slept on a cot in his office. He told CNN in 2009 it'd save him $1,500 a month. | | | Much of the reaction I saw to Chaffetz's proposal was incredulity that we'd give these guys any more money (members of Congress already earn a salary of $174,000 a year). But consider it from the perspective of a politician who already has a mortgage and family back in their home state. That's expensive enough. Now add to it a second home in Washington, the fifth most expensive city to rent a home in America. The median cost of a one-bedroom apartment in DC is $2,160, according to a survey this month by rental listing start-up Zumper. | | Credit: Zumper
Sure, giving members of Congress a housing stipend puts more taxpayer money in their pockets, but it also makes it more affordable to serve in Congress, which on average is already much older and richer than the American populace. A housing stipend could make it easier for, say, millennials and members of the middle class to go to Washington and represent us.
Palin Sues NYT:
Sarah Palin has sued the New York Times for defamation for a recent editorial accusing her of "political incitement" ahead of the 2011 shooting of then-Rep. Gabby Giffords. Palin is seeking $75,000 in damages. The Times said it will defend itself "vigorously."
Actual Fake News:
A fake Time magazine cover of then-"The Apprentice" host Donald Trump with the cover line "TRUMP IS HITTING ON ALL FRONTS ... EVEN TV!" was spotted by the Washington Post in at least five Trump properties. The bad fonts and thinner-than-normal red border are giveaways. Below, on the left, is a real Time cover, with the fake Trump one, on the right. Time has asked that the fake covers be taken down. | | Credit: The Washington Post
🐸Pepe Watch🐸:
Artist Matt Furie reached his Kickstarter goal yesterday in his effort to "resurrect" Pepe as a non-alt-right cartoon frog in a new zine, pulling in $12,440 from 171 backers.
Street Art Sighting:
As seen near S and 11th in Northwest Washington, a RE/PER SIST painted on the side of a building: | | | Send me your pics of political street art to coverlinehunter@cnn.com, tweet me @hunterschwarz or tag @cnncoverline on Instagram. | | | | | | |
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