| | | | Teleprompter Trump made the trip to Las Vegas | | You'd be forgiven if President Donald Trump's speeches in Puerto Rico and Las Vegas over the past two days gave you a bit of whiplash.
On Tuesday in Puerto Rico, Trump was all victimhood and credit-hogging. He suggested the country had not weathered a "real" catastrophe because of the relatively small number of deaths. He "joked" about Puerto Rico busting his budget because of the costs associated with disaster recovery. He complimented the island nation on its weather. (I am not kidding. He really did!)
On Wednesday in Las Vegas, Trump was calm, comforting and reassuring. "In the depths of horror, we will always find hope in the men and women that risk their lives," Trump said. "America is truly a nation in mourning."
What changed?
Simple. In Puerto Rico, Trump was speaking without notes or a teleprompter -- just sort of winging it, as we know he likes to do. In Las Vegas, Trump was reading a scripted speech. (He didn't have teleprompters, but was clearly reading off a paper on his podium.)
We see Teleprompter Trump from time to time. His speech to a bicameral session of Congress in January was the shining example. Today's Las Vegas speech is another. He occasionally delivered a relatively standard issue speech during the campaign too.
In the wake of those sorts of speeches, there's a tendency for some in politics to conclude that Trump is making some sort of pivot to a more conventional presidency. "He became President with that speech" and all that.
But for every Telemprompter Trump moment like Wednesday's, there are 10 Twitter Trump moments like the one in Puerto Rico on Tuesday. Twitter Trump -- brash, braggy and bias-calling -- is, as is now apparent to anyone paying attention, the real Trump.
At root, Trump is most comfortable when he is pushing boundaries, provoking and, in his mind, fighting the good fight against the "fake news" media and the hordes of political correctness.
Trump -- and all of us -- return eventually to who we fundamentally are. Which means Twitter Trump will be back. Soon.
-- Chris | | | CNN's Ryan Struyk reports: President Trump has been in office for 258 days. His Cabinet? Not so much. The President's Cabinet has been at full capacity -- with Senate-approved, permanent appointees -- for only 94 days so far in his term. Read Ryan's full story here. | | "I think Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis and Chief of Staff Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos." -- Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker
Read Chris' full take on how Corker just told the world what he really thinks of President Trump | | | IS THE CENTER WORTH HOLDING? | | CNN's Greg Krieg writes:
Later this month at the University of Delaware, former Vice President Joe Biden and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the Republican Party's leading Trump-skeptic elected official, will get together for a "moderated discussion" on "how to bridge the many political and partisan divides that exist in Washington, DC."
And yeah, this sounds nice enough in the abstract. Two grizzled political warriors, with more than six decades in Washington between them, coming together to amicably chew over ways to reroute DC gridlock. Etc., etc.
But contra the implicit sales pitch here, Biden and Kasich make for the most ordinary of bedfellows. Together they proudly represent a receding brand of centrism their respective parties' rank-and-file regard with increasing or outright hostility.
For whatever their disagreements, both seem inclined to believe -- somehow! after all that's happened! -- that voters are really just thirsting for a more decorous status quo. And that could be very, very good news for Trump.
Read Krieg's full story on this here. | | | Eleven years ago today, "Friday Night Lights," the single best TV show in history, premiered. Here's the show's perfect theme song from Explosions in the Sky. | | FEINSTEIN'S GUN CONTROL PUSH | | CNN's Ashley Killough covered Sen. Dianne Feinstein's press conference on the Hill Wednesday, during which the California Democrat announced a new gun control push. Killough tells The Point:
Feinstein, while introducing legislation to ban "bump stocks" for firearms, revealed her own personal connection to the tragedy in Las Vegas. The longtime gun control advocate said her daughter was planning to attend the Route 91 Harvest Festival with some neighbors, adding that they were going to stay at the Mandalay Bay hotel. But "for one reason or another," Feinstein said they decided against making the trip from San Francisco. "That's how close it came to me," she said at a news conference. "I just thank God. That's just, it's one of those misses in life. Could happen to any one of us." Read Ashley and Ted Barrett's full story here. | | MONOPOLY MAN'S ULTIMATE PHOTOBOMB | | "Monopoly Man" photobombed former Equifax CEO Richard Smith's testimony at the Senate Banking Committee Wednesday -- and many people noticed. Smith was there to testify about Equifax's data breach, which affected over 45 million people. Equifax offered free credit monitoring to affected consumers. The fine print initially included an arbitration clause to prevent people from suing or joining a class-action lawsuit. It removed arbitration from its identity theft protection offering after outrage following the data breach, but still has it in other consumer products.
The person dressed in a black top hat and white mustache -- inspired by Rich Uncle Pennybags from the board game Monopoly -- was Amanda Werner, Campaign Manager for Public Citizen, which organized the ruse with another progressive nonprofit, Americans for Financial Reform. Saba chatted with Amanda over the phone Wednesday about why they were inspired to make such a statement.
Saba: What was the motive behind dressing up today?
Amanda: "We (Public Citizen) wanted to call attention to Equifax and Wells Fargo's use of forced arbitration clauses as a 'get out of jail free card.' That's where our Monopoly idea came in. Yesterday, we had people going door-to-door on the Hill dropping off 'Get out of Jail Free' cards with Equifax and Wells Fargo logos on them. Actually I tried to get into the hearing yesterday but we didn't get as prime of a seat. I ended up standing outside the hearing handing out the cards. So today we had an intern get there at 7 a.m., he was the first one in line so we were the first in.
S: How did handing out the cards go yesterday? What did you say to people when you handed them out?
A: "I basically told people as I handed it out, 'if Wells Fargo and Equifax get a jet out of jail free card you should too.' But really we are just trying to educate people about the arbitration rules. People warned me I might get kicked out or arrested at the hearing, but I joked 'it doesn't mater, I have a get of jail free card.' We had some fun interactions. The Wells Fargo CEO (Timothy Sloan) was sitting in the Senate Banking Staff Room so he didn't have to talk to press. He came rushing by me as I was talking to a reporter. I was able to try and kind of hand him a card, but he walked past me and ignored me. My first job in DC was actually working for Sen. Warren as a legal fellow, when I talked to her yesterday she didn't recognize me in costume. But her office definitely knows me."
S: What was the vibe like as you sat in the room today? Obviously people noticed your attire.
A: "Oh yes, it was an interesting vibe. There were Equifax reps all around me. I was in the second row. The folks who are with the witnesses tend to sit in the front row. I got a lot of dirty looks, especially whenever I would crinkle a dollar bill or drop my monocle. Folks were not happy. But I also had some supporters in the room."
S: Do you feel that, especially under the Trump administration, in order to make a difference you have to make a big statement to draw attention to a particular issue?
A: "Yeah, unfortunately I think there's this constant barrage of attacks on public protections. It's health care one moment, and our day in court the next. I think you have to create a bit of a spectacle to get enough focus on something, so Republicans get a bit shamed out of doing these things.
S: What is your overall hope with these efforts?
A: "We won't stop. Today was a great start, but I'm very happy to revive Monopoly Man (if needed)."
For more about the hearing, check out this story in CNN Money by Selena Larson. | | Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, CNN will host a town hall with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
The event, moderated by CNN's Chris Cuomo, will air on CNN, CNN en Español and CNN International, and will stream live for subscribers via CNNgo (at CNN.com/go and via CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TV and Android TV) and on the CNN mobile apps for iOS and Android. The debate will also air on CNN's SiriusXM Channel 116. It will also be available October 5 on demand via cable/satellite systems, CNNgo platforms and CNN mobile apps.
Read more in CNN reporter Sophie Tatum's preview. | | | PBS' new season of "Finding Your Roots" shared a clip of the episode on Facebook where "Curb Your Enthusiasm" comedian Larry David and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders learn they're distant relations. Above are some screenshots of the moment they each find out. David had already announced this news while promoting "Curb Your Enthusiasm" during the Television Critics Association Press Tour over the summer, as CNN's Sandra Gonzalez reported. But the clip is too good not to share. You can also watch the full episode on PBS' website. | | | In honor of the big reveal on "Finding Your Roots"... here's a throwback GIF of Larry David as Bernie Sanders on "Saturday Night Live." Tell your doppleganger, cousins, friends and other family members 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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