| | | | 4 reasons Trump thinks NFL players are a good target | | | On Friday night, President Donald Trump began a full-frontal assault against NFL players who refused to stand during the national anthem -- deriding them as "sons of bitches." On Sunday night, he was still at it, tweeting "Sports fans should never condone players that do not stand proud for their National Anthem or their Country. NFL should change policy!"
Over those intervening 48 hours, a national controversy erupted -- with professional athletes asserting their right to express their First Amendment freedoms, team owners expressing their support for their players and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell condemning Trump's "divisive comments." So why would Trump continue to poke at the players and, as he did Sunday night, call for the NFL to change its policies to ban any sort of protests surrounding the anthem? The most basic (and right) answer is because he knows that, for his base, this fight is a winner for him. Here's why: 1. The players are rich. Remember that Trump, despite being a billionaire, sees himself (and is regarded) as the voice of the Average Joe. And he knows that lots of Average Joes resent how much money these players make for playing a game.
2. The players are playing a game. Spend 10 minutes talking about football (or any pro sport) with a group of people, and I guarantee that you will hear someone (if not several) say something like, "Man, they get to play a game for their job. I'd do that for free." (Obviously points No. 1 and No. 2 are closely tied.)
3. The players are (mostly) black. Trump insisted on Sunday night that "this has nothing to do with race." But that simply doesn't fly. The vast majority of the players in the NFL are black. Ditto the players in the NBA, whom Trump also went after over the weekend. Trump knows that. And he also knows that when he uses phrases such as "our heritage" to describe what's allegedly under assault in the anthem protests, many of his supporters see that in racial terms. You don't simply get to repeatedly flick at racial animus -- in the campaign and as President -- and then plead total innocence when those code words trigger a reaction.
4. Trump can paint this as a battle for patriotism. The anthem protest was begun last year by then-San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who cited concerns about the deaths of African-American men at the hands of police as the motivation for his stance. Trump has seized on the protests as some sort of slap in the face to the military, which it's not. By painting the players as insufficiently loyal to the country, Trump can make an appeal to patriotism -- a powerful emotion not just in his base but in the country.
This is, of course, an incredibly oversimplified argument. The flag represents America -- and America represents the right to express your views without fear of retribution. Patriotism isn't just following orders because the President (or anyone else) tells you to. It's about loving the country enough to fight for it to be a more perfect and equal union.
For Trump, then, attacking the NFL -- and the reaction from the players, the media and even the team owners -- is natural. Not only does he always do better when he has an active opponent on which to focus his energy, but it's also an opponent that embodies many of the resentments and anger of the people who support him.
Finally, there is an element of distraction here -- of changing the subject or the landscape on which the national conversation is happening. So Trump leans into the criticism -- knowing that his base will love it and it might just also take the focus away from stories he'd rather not talk about.
When asked on Monday if it's OK for Trump to call kneeling NFL players "sons of bitches," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that "it's always appropriate for the President of the United States to defend our flag, to defend the national anthem" and to defend "the men and women in the military who fought to defend what they stand for."
Read my full analysis here.
-- Chris | | 🚨HEALTH CARE BILL TOWN HALL🚨 | | REMINDER: Tune in to CNN at 9 p.m. ET for a bipartisan health care town hall debate with Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, who will be debating health care with Sens. Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar. CNN anchor Jake Tapper and chief political correspondent Dana Bash will moderate the 90-minute live event from Washington.
A revised version of the Graham-Cassidy health care bill -- circulated to Senate Republicans Sunday -- would allow states to design some of their own insurance rules. The new version of the bill aims to win over key Republican votes to repeal Obamacare. (Read more in CNN's MJ Lee, Phil Mattingly and Lauren Fox's latest story).
But as CNN's Katishi Maake reported earlier today: A majority of Americans disapprove of the Republican Party's last-ditch effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, according to a new CBS News poll released Monday. The poll found 52% of Americans said they disapprove of the Graham-Cassidy health care bill. One in five Americans polled said they approved of the bill, which was revised on Sunday after the poll was conducted. Fewer than half of Republicans (46%) said they approve of the legislation.
Protests erupted on the Hill on Monday, as hundreds lined up to voice their opposition ahead of the sole hearing on the Graham-Cassidy bill. As protesters chanted "No cuts to Medicaid, save our liberty," Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch said: "If you want a hearing you'd better shut up." (Watch the CSPAN footage here). | | | Dave Chapelle, Ed Sheeran and Frederic Yonnet jammed together at 18th Street Lounge in Washington DC on Sept. 19 (!!!). Here's video of them performing the song "Creep." And here's the Washington Post's write-up of this party we wish we were at. | | PUERTO RICO'S 'APOCALYPTIC' CONDITIONS | | CNN's Nicole Chavez is among the reporters covering Hurricane Maria's impact on Puerto Rico. Here's an excerpt from her latest story:
"Days after Hurricane Maria pounded the island of Puerto Rico, killing at least 10 people, authorities are starting to see firsthand the scope of devastation that left the US territory off the grid. Without power and communications in much of the island, millions of people, including city leaders and first responders, have been cut off from the world since Maria hit Wednesday.
Authorities flew over the island Saturday, and were stunned by what they saw. No cellphones, water or power. Roads completely washed away and others blocked by debris, isolating residents. Some described the conditions in their communities as 'apocalyptic' and said there have been incidents of looting in both homes and stores." Officials are now pressuring Congress and the White House to fast-track disaster relief funds to Puerto Rico, CNN reported Monday.
Check out this article from CNN's Impact Your World for more on how you can help victims of Hurricane Maria. | | Former Rep. Anthony Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexting with a minor, CNN reported Monday. CNN's Jean Casarez was in the courtroom. She shared some of her observations with the Point:
I was sitting in the front row of courtroom 15B in New York City's federal courthouse. Anthony Weiner arrived about 20 minutes before his sentencing, with his jaw clenched. He appeared extremely nervous. After the prosecution and defense arguments were presented before the court, Weiner stood up and read a prepared statement. He was emotional the entire way through, at times dabbing his eyes with a Kleenex.
The judge communicated the seriousness of Weiner's crime -- but she was also extremely complimentary toward the former representative, commending the steps he has taken to change his life. After the judge spoke, Weiner seemed to relax. By observing his demeanor at that point, I believe he thought he would get probation. But when the judge ordered 21 months in a federal prison, the courtroom went silent. All we could hear were Weiner's sobs.
As people left the courtroom, Weiner stayed in his chair crying, with his head bowed down. | | MENENDEZ TRIAL REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK, CONTINUED | | Elsewhere in the Northeast...
CNN's Laura Jarrett returned to covering the trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. Here's her latest dispatch from New Jersey:
Sen. Bob Menendez's federal trial resumed Monday with a peace offering from his defense attorney.
Abbe Lowell presented Judge William Walls and prosecutors with small individual containers of tzimmes (a carrot stew served during Rosh Hashanah and referenced by the judge last week during one of his many extended trial metaphors). Walls said he's watching his salt intake -- doctor's orders -- but Lowell assured he'd be safe.
Meanwhile, Suffolk University released a new poll showing roughly 84% of likely voters in New Jersey say Menendez should quit if convicted of bribery. Menendez fiercely maintains his innocence, but only 20% of voters polled have a "favorable" opinion of the Democrat.
Read Laura and CNN's Sarah Jorgensen full story here. | | | Ah, when Harry met Melania ... a moment which the great Kate Bennett and Betsy Klein covered over the weekend. Anyway, happy Monday! Remind everyone you know 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. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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