| | | | | President Trump holds up a proclamation at an event commemorating National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day with Pearl Harbor survivors in the Roosevelt Room Thursday. Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images | | | But Wait, It's Almost Been a Year?: I'm not sure what is "surreal" about Ivanka's Instagram story
The Politics of Pop Music in 2017: From Gaga's Super Bowl performance to Taylor's grievance pop
Street Art Sighting: Trump mural on separation barrier in Bethlehem defaced | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump has lunch today with Vice President Mike Pence, and then a meeting with Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Later, he departs for Florida and his 7pm "Make America Great Again" rally in Pensacola. He'll then go to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach and remain overnight.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
The "Make America Great Again Rally" is actually code for a Roy Moore rally, tho. Pensacola is 25-miles from the Alabama border.
Any Pretense, Gone:
This morning Trump let go of any remaining ambiguity about his feelings for Moore and how much he actually wants the guy in the United States Senate. | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Strong Jobs Report:
The new jobs report out this morning showed continued growth in the economy, with employers adding 228,000 jobs in November. Unemployment remained low at 4.1%.
But Wait It's Been Almost Year?:
I'm not sure what is surreal about it, but maybe it still feels that way for Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner when their children are at the White House -- this is a screen grab from Ivanka's Instagram story yesterday as Arabella and Joseph greet mom and dad in the colonnade. | | Credit: @ivankatrump/Instagram
Our Daily Melania:
Yesterday FLOTUS continued a tradition of first ladies visiting Children's National Medical Center that's been happening since Bess Truman -- the hospital was established in 1870 (fun fact). Wearing an all-white ensemble, signature coat over shoulders, Melania first visited with children too sick to come down and listen to her read "The Polar Express" in the atrium area. | | Credit: @FLOTUS/Twitter
Before she read the book, a handful of children were allowed to ask her questions about the holidays. She said "O, Holy Night" is her favorite Christmas carol, and that her favorite tradition includes a big dinner and then midnight mass with the family. She's not big on chowing down at the holidays, though. Asked what her favorite holiday food was, Melania said "healthy food," which was kind of a let down. Her reasoning: "You feel very good after. Not too much eating. The most important part is to spend time with the family."
And the answer that got the most attention (and laughter) was where she would ideally want to be for Christmas, her dream destination: "I would spend my holidays on a deserted island, a tropical island, with my family." She also said this year she asked Santa for "peace on the world, health, love and kindness."
Prepare for Sads:
I know it's strange for a pet bunny to be speaking in the first person about the death of its "sister," a cat, but let's suspend judgment on this one for a second, shall we? Marlon Bundo, the Pence family rabbit, instagrammed his grief over the death of Pickles the cat and it's feels. | | Credit: @marlonbundo/Instagram
Dress Like the First Daughter:
Ivanka wore a pretty cool Alexander McQueen top last night to the White House Hanukkah party. It's on sale for $947.50 here. | | Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images, net-a-porter.com
I Mean 900 lbs of Icing Just Seems Excessive?:
But, if you had it, you too could construct this 30-foot Washington Monument replica that is now on display at the Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC. It's so big they had to put it through the staircase. It's actually gingerbread, 600 lbs of it. On display now if you have a hankering. | | | Credit: courtesy Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC | | What Washington is Talking About:
The House and Senate voted for a short-term spending bill Thursday that averts a government shutdown for two weeks, and over at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel today, the Democratic National Committee's Unity Reform Commission is holding a meeting. One item on the agenda: DNC superdelegates.
What America is Talking About:
Wildfires continue to burn in California. The Thomas fire has burned 132,000 acres, which is nearly the size of Chicago, while its smoke plume is more than 1,000 miles long, covering an area that would reach from New York City to Miami. Meanwhile, it's snowing in places like Jackson, Mississippi; San Antonio, Texas; and Atlanta.
Poll of the Day:
President Trump's approval rating has slipped to 32%, according to a Thursday Pew poll, matching his lowest-ever polling numbers. Here's how that compares to the past five presidents. | | Credit: Pew
The poll also found 59% of Americans believe senior Trump officials either "probably" or "definitely" had improper contact with Russia and 55% are either "very" or "somewhat" confident that special counsel Robert Mueller will conduct a fair investigation.
Trump and Trump Jr. Received Email Offering WikiLeaks Decryption Key:
CNN has the exclusive on the email then-candidate Trump, DJTJ and others in the Trump Organization received on September 4, 2016 from someone who said their name was "Mike Erickson" that offered a web address and decryption key to access WikiLeaks docs.
DJTJ told investigators he doesn't remember the email and his attorney told CNN he took no action on it. The same day it was sent, he tweeted this: | | Credit: @DonaldJTrumpJr/Twitter
White House Says Team USA is Going to the Olympics:
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said at yesterday's briefing that "no official decision" had been made on whether American athletes would compete in the 2018 Games, but backtracked minutes later with a tweet:
"The U.S. looks forward to participating in the Winter Olympics in South Korea. The protection of Americans is our top priority and we are engaged with the South Koreans and other partner nations to secure the venues."
*begins chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" at my desk*
It's Not Just Dems Calling for Their Colleagues to Resign Anymore:
The juxtaposition of more than two dozen Dem senators calling for Sen. Al Franken to resign before he announced Thursday that he would while the Republican Party jumped back on board to back accused child molester Roy Moore this week has been something. But now Utah Repub Rep. Mia Love has called for one of her House colleagues to step down. Love told CNN Thursday she believes Texas Repub Rep. Blake Farenthold should resign following allegations he sexually harassed staff members. She also said:
"I think that anyone who feels like they've done something wrong should voluntarily resign. I really do. And I think that members of Congress should hold themselves to a higher standard. We need to be examples of appropriate behavior, at the very least." | | Credit: CNN
The Politics of Pop Music in 2017:
I wrote here about politics — both explicit and implicit — that we've heard in pop music this year. Here's my tracklist: - "God Bless America" (live at the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show) - Lady Gaga
- "Chained to the Rhythm"- Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley
- "Lions" - Skip Marley
- "Make America Great Again" - Joy Villa
- "In Another Life" - Emin
- "Po-Dunk" - Kid Rock
- "Something to Talk About (live in Las Vegas) - Britney Spears
- "Look What You Made Me Do" - Taylor Swift
- "The Storm" - Eminem
- "Go High" - Kelly Clarkson
- "Strength in Numbers" - Prophets of Rage
LaVar Ball Tweets Gif of Him Dunking on Trump:
This makes the Trump-wrestling-CNN tweet look like amateur hour. Ball tweeted the original animated gif Thursday with the hashtags #thetrumpdunk #stayinyolane. It's now his pinned tweet. | | Credit: @Lavarbigballer/Twitter
Street Art Sighting:
The mural of Trump by street artist Lushsux on a separation barrier in Bethlehem was defaced this week following Trump's announcement about recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. His face has a giant black "X" on it, and underneath are the words: "WARNING Trump: Jerusalem is the Capital of Palestine" and "Mr. PENCE you are not welcome." | | Credit: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images
Send your political street art pics to me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com, tweet me @hunterschwarz or tag @cnncoverline on Instagram. | | | | | | |
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