| | | | What Sarah Sanders gets wrong about the free press | | It's Friday night. I'll make this short and sweet.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders did something Friday afternoon that you need to pay attention to.
Asked about a factual inaccuracy in White House chief of staff John Kelly's attack on Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida, Sanders said this:
"If you want to go after General Kelly, that is up to you. If you want to get into a debate with a four-star Marine general, I think that is something highly inappropriate."
Here's the shorter version: Because of Kelly's service to the country, reporters shouldn't question him.
Yes, she really said that. And apparently believes it.
Here's the thing: The linchpin of a democracy is a free and independent media. A media willing to ask hard questions from the people we have entrusted with power. A media who keeps asking and asking those questions until they get answered.
The Point is this: Sanders' comment is the latest in a series of statements -- from Trump on down -- that raise real questions about the administration's understanding of and commitment to a free and independent media. That should shock anyone -- Democrat, Republican, independent or other -- who believes deeply in democracy.
-- Chris | | So how did we get here? Let's review:
Sanders said this afternoon that Kelly's remarks during Thursday's briefings should have ended the discussion over Trump's controversial call with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, killed earlier this month under what remain murky circumstances in Niger, and all that followed.
But like Chris wrote today -- that's not how this works, folks. Kelly's opening monologue was, at times, deeply moving. And we can even take him at his word that Trump intended to deliver a warm message. But that doesn't change the fact that his decision to address the issue was a political maneuver and Kelly, in his current job, is a political figure. Context and caveats aside, here's a quick rundown of today's developments.
1. Kelly gets called out (again)
From CNN's Jeremy Diamond: "Kelly erroneously claimed congresswoman took credit for building funding, video shows"
"White House chief of staff Gen. John Kelly on Thursday erroneously claimed that Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, claimed credit for securing '$20 million' in federal funding to build a new FBI field office in Miami in 2015, according to a video of the dedication ceremony posted Friday by the Sun Sentinel.
Accusing her of being an "empty barrel," Kelly said Wilson focused more on her own actions than the heroism of the two FBI agents for whom the new building had been named.
While Wilson took credit in her speech at the dedication ceremony for shepherding legislation naming the FBI building after two FBI agents who were killed in a 1986 gunfight, she did not claim credit for helping to fund the building, according to the video."
Full story here.
2. Trump attacks Rep. Wilson (again)
This tweet came hours after Kelly addressed reporters and effectively confirmed that Trump had been misleading the public when he tweeted, a day earlier, that Rep. Wilson had "totally fabricated" her account of his call with Sgt. Johnson's widow. And that he had proof. He did not -- no transcript, no recording -- as Sarah Sanders has now twice confirmed.
Asked Friday why Trump wouldn't let go, and attacked Rep. Wilson again, Sanders offered this:
"It's because (this controversy) should have ended yesterday after General Kelly's comments."
3. Kelly's "empty barrel" comment
In an interview on CNN's "New Day" Friday morning, Wilson alleged that "empty barrel" is a "racist term." This is especially important because Kelly, who is white, used it to describe Wilson, who is African-American.
More from Chris here, on the history of the phrase and what to make of it.
4. No end in sight
If we know one thing about Trump, it's that he is watching and reading coverage of this mess and, sooner or later, is going to lash out. Again. Maybe at the press, for being critical of Kelly, who according to Sarah Sanders is untouchable because of his military service, or at Rep. Wilson. But why choose? I'll guess it's both.
5. Want to feel worse?
Masha Gessen had a piece in The New Yorker this morning, BEFORE THE SANDERS BRIEFING, called "John Kelly and the Language of the Military Coup."
In the short post, Gessen wrote that Kelly's press briefing "could serve as a preview of what a military coup in this country would look like, for it was in the logic of such a coup that Kelly advanced his four arguments."
Her first cited "argument" might sound familiar after today's Q&A at the White House:
"Those who criticize the President don't know what they're talking about because they haven't served in the military." | | SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO | | From CNN's Ryan Struyk today: "Two in three Americans say President Donald Trump should not pull the United States out of the nuclear deal aiming to block Iran from developing nuclear weapons, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS."
Another nugget from Ryan:
"Concern about Iran has slipped among Americans since the deal was put in place. Only three in 10 adults say the threat is 'very serious,' down from nearly half, 49%, in September 2015. That marks the smallest share of those concerned in CNN polling dating back to 2000. Still, nearly seven in 10 adults overall, 69%, say Iran poses a serious threat to the US."
Which brings us to North Korea. Sixty-two percent called it a "very serious" threat -- but the respondents' feelings about how Trump has handled the situation are colored by their political priorities. Here's Ryan again:
"When considering Trump's responses to North Korea's threats, more than six in 10, 63%, say they have been more reckless than responsible. These views are divided starkly by party: 88% of Democrats say Trump has been more reckless, though a sizable 27% of Republicans agree. About two-thirds of independents (65%) say he's been reckless."
Go on and read the full story. | | | "When the Yankees face off against the Dodgers, the only people who will be independent in that ballpark will be the umpires."
From the DNC's Bob Mulholland, who was one of the members pitching a resolution to urge Sens. Bernie Sanders and Angus King to formally join the party. (Note here: the Yankees still have another game to win before they book a date with the Dodgers in the World Series. If they don't, you know whom to blame, or credit.)
| | | New out of CNN's STATE magazine today: "This Mississippi hospital should be in crisis. How it beat the odds."
CNNMoney Senior Writer Tami Luhby goes deep on the crisis facing rural hospitals and, in this piece, the story of how one -- North Sunflower Medical Center in Ruleville, Mississippi -- is beating the odds and, more importantly, what it could mean for the rest of the country.
This one riff grabbed me:
While North Sunflower's goal is to treat everyone in need, it can't always afford to do so. Some 16% of county residents are uninsured, and the $60 tab to be seen at the clinic is out of reach for many, particularly those who have to pay their neighbors $20 to give them a lift to Ruleville, a common practice.
The hospital provides payment plans for patients who don't have the funds on hand. Still, some of those who fall short get turned away, even if they have insurance.
Get the whole story HERE. | | DEMOCRATS DO VEGAS; #2020 VISION | | The Democratic National Committee is meeting in Las Vegas, its first gathering since Tom Perez edged out Rep. Keith Ellison to win its chair. There's been some drama, but mostly everyone is playing nice -- and one potential crisis was averted this AM when...
...the Sanders wing secured a small win, as The Washington Post's Dave Weigel reports here, after Democrats in Vegas rejected a resolution that would have called on Sen. Bernie Sanders and his fellow independent, Sen. Angus King, to formally join the party.
The not-so-sub subtext here: Hillary Clinton and her supporters have repeatedly criticized Sanders for criticizing Democrats, while/despite running in their presidential primaries. The resolution wouldn't have had any real effect, except for angering the party's progressive wing and setting off more Twitter fires.
Your 2016 relitigation news aside, how about a look forward?!? To 2020. Gasp. Here's a nugget from CNN's Eric Bradner's weekly #2020 Vision:
"The single biggest Democratic donor, Tom Steyer, is self-funding a new nationwide ad calling for Trump's impeachment. The ad -- which you can see here -- is sure to fuel speculation that Steyer is running for something. It also sets in stark terms the position Steyer wants Democrats to take while running for office in 2018. 'This President is a clear and present danger who is mentally unstable and armed with nuclear weapons,' Steyer said. A Steyer aide said he is spending 'well over $10 million' on the TV ads, which will air on broadcast stations in New York and California and cable nationally, and is also spending seven figures on a companion digital ad buy."
Bradner has more here on Steyer's spending. | | WHAT WASHINGTON IS PRETENDING TO CARE ABOUT | | 
The very, very serious baseball fans in Washington (disclosure: this is Greg the Mets fan writing from New York) are twittering, and tweeting, about the Nationals' decision not to renew (now-former) manager Dusty Baker's contract. The 2017 Nats failed, yet again, to win even a single round in the MLB postseason.
Here's a note, sans #Natitude, on Baker from the Lerner family:
"Dusty Baker led the team to the first back-to-back division titles in our history and represented our club with class on and off the field. He is one of the true gentleman in our sport, and we thank him for the successes that we enjoyed together over the last two years. We wish him nothing but the best going forward."
The Mets are actually rumored to be interested in Baker's services, so maybe the joke's on me. Usually is. Anyway, WaPo's Chelsea Janes has the gamer. | | Halloween is on the horizon, which means you're already behind the game if you haven't secured a unique and humorous (and let's hope breathable) costume. Below are some choices, with a political bent (because who would want to stop talking about politics for even one night in 2017?!?).
Side note/self plug: During the early days of the 2016 primaries, I did a roundup of the best (read: worst) campaign swag shops. No Pulitzer, sadly, but this below reminded me: Jeb Bush had an amazing collection. Really, though, look at this choice number:
 | | First lady Melania Trump, who totally doesn't have a body double (CNN's Kate Bennett assures us), is also now without her inaugural ballgown.
But that's because she donated the dress to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. It is a more than century-old tradition for first ladies to gift their gowns to the museum, as Bennett reports. | | 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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