| | | | Anthony Scaramucci was announced as the new White House communications director six days ago. He's been doing a whole hell of a lot of communicating since then.
In an interview Wednesday night with the New Yorker's Ryan Lizza, which Lizza reported late today, Scaramucci went absolutely bonkers -- savaging the people leaking information on him (and others) out of the White House, calling chief of staff Reince Priebus a "paranoid schizophrenic" and suggesting that chief strategist Steve Bannon is more of an acrobat than you might suspect from looking at him.
The whole interview is beyond bizarre and casts Scaramucci as angry and vengeful at, well, almost everyone. And all of this before he ever steps foot in the White House formally!
"I sometimes use colorful language," Scaramucci tweeted at 6:23 p.m. "I will refrain in this arena but not give up the passionate fight for @realDonaldTrump's agenda. #MAGA"
It's hard to imagine that explanation will be enough to satisfy the likes of Priebus or Bannon -- not to mention President Trump himself.
Of course, Scaramucci spent 30 minutes on the phone with CNN's Chris Cuomo this morning insisting he had just spoken to the President and that "I'm far from in trouble."
What we know: Scaramucci and Trump are personal friends. Trump likes Scaramucci's style.
What we also know: Trump really hates bad press put on him by staff.
So, what happens to the Mooch? To quote his soon-to-be-boss: "Time will tell. Time will tell."
Read Scaramucci's most absolutely bananas quotes to the New Yorker, ranked (NSFW language ahead). | | Senators are still debating possible plans to repeal and replace Obamacare. Once debate time is up, the vote-a-rama -- in which senators can introduce an unlimited number of amendments -- starts. Republicans believe the so-called skinny repeal -- ending the employer and individual mandates -- has the votes to pass. But, according to the Washington Post, that version of the health care law would mean 16 million fewer people insured than under Obamacare.
By the time "The Point" lands in your inbox, CNN reporters will be well into live coverage both on air and online. You can follow along with everything here. | | Hillary Clinton unveiled the title -- "What Happened "-- and cover of her highly anticipated book, which is expected to hit bookshelves September 12.
Here are five things we hope HRC touches on in the book:
1. All things Trump (obviously). Clinton has talked about her relationship with Trump before, but it was her recent conversation with Kara Swisher at the Recode conference that really got us intrigued. During the interview, Swisher brought up how the Clintons attended Trump's wedding.
Clinton's reaction: "You know, look. I was never even a social friend, it was kind of a lark to go to his third wedding. But I have to tell you, I sat behind Shaquille O'Neal, so I didn't see anything."
When elaborating on Trump as a whole, she added: "He really understands how to inflame people, how to motivate them, how to bond with them over whatever their grievance is. Whatever resentment or point of anger that you may have, if he can get into it, whether it's race or sex or xenophobia or anti ... Islamophobia, whatever it is. And so we're seeing it on a broader stage."
Tell us more!
2. Russia. In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in early May, Clinton touched on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Of Russian President Vladimir Putin, she said: "He certainly interfered in our election and it was clear he interfered to hurt me and help my opponent. If you chart my opponent and his campaign's statements, they quite coordinated with the goals that leader who shall remain nameless had."
3. Misogyny. As Clinton has said before, she believes misogyny did play a hand in her 2016 loss. But when asked by Amanpour, she only briefly touched on it. "Yes, I do think it played a role," she said. "I think other things did as well." We know she'll get into the other things (probably Russia, former FBI Director James Comey's letter, the emails), but we hope she also examines the overall challenges women in power face.
4. Post-election life. Clinton revealed some interesting details about her day-to-day life after a tumultuous political year in an interview with New York magazine journalist Rebecca Traister. But we want the book to go beyond the New York Magazine cover story from May (which was very good btw).
5. How she feels every time "Fight Song" comes on. Realistically, HRC probably won't address this song, which was her walk-on song throughout the campaign. But that doesn't mean we don't have questions about it. Does Clinton avoid the song at all costs? Does she blast it every once in a while when she's alone in the house? Does she block artist Rachel Platten's music on Spotify? | | ANOTHER NOTABLE QUOTE OF THE DAY | | | "This guy is a modern-day Davy Crockett."
-CNN contributor/ former South Carolina senator and lieutenant governor André Bauer, on President Donald Trump | | | | Jagwar Ma is performing in DC tonight. Check out one of their best songs, "Come and Save Me," from the album, "Howlin'." | | Rep. John Delaney is eyeing a presidential run, according to POLITICO's Kevin Robillard and Heather Caygle, who cited five Democratic sources in Delaney's state of Maryland. The political moderate and former banker is reportedly worth about $90 million.
From POLITICO's story: "A presidential bid would seem quixotic: Delaney is little-known even among Democratic operatives, and his moderate stances and background in finance don't match a left-leaning Democratic primary electorate." | | There's apparently a reason Larry David is really good at impersonating Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders: They are related.
The "Curb Your Enthusiasm" comedian told reporters at the Television Critics Association on Wednesday that in an upcoming episode of PBS' "Finding Your Roots," he will learn he has genealogical ties to the lawmaker and former presidential candidate.
CNN's Sandra Gonzalez reports:
David said he was "very happy" to learn about his connection to the Vermont senator. "I thought there must be some connection," he said. "I love Bernie."
David couldn't remember the exact nature of their relation, but said Sanders was "like a third cousin or something."
For more, check out her story here. | | CBS' Jillian Hughes and Margaret Brennan pointed out on Twitter that members of the band Journey were spotted in the White House briefing room Thursday.
... and now we have "Don't Stop Believin" stuck in our heads.
Another (unofficial) WH visitor: Chelsea Manning, who posted a selfie of herself outside the White House on Twitter protesting Trump's ban on transgender troops, which he announced Wednesday. Manning also penned a New York Times opinion article on the ban. | | | Did that hot pie Arya was eating on last week's episode of "Game of Thrones" look appetizing to you? Good news then for those who live across the pond: Ben Hawkey, the actor who plays Arya's friend Hot Pie on the HBO series, teamed up with Deliveroo to open a limited-time bakery in London called "You Know Nothing John Dough." Yes, really. Read more on Mashable. | | HAPPY NATIONAL INTERN DAY! | | | Twitter informed us that it's #NationalInternDay. So just a quick shout out to CNN's The Point intern Liz Stark. | | | Raise your hand if you've given someone the look VP Biden is giving House Speaker Paul Ryan in this GIF. Anyway, rejoice because IT IS ALMOST FRIDAY! A reminder: Please tell everyone you know to subscribe. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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