| | | | | Sen. Al Franken arrives Thursday at the US Capitol Building before giving a speech announcing his resignation. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images | | | Franken Resigns: You could hear a pin drop during his speech on the Senate floor
Our Daily Melania: FLOTUS heads from Texas' flood recovery zone to Children's National Medical Center
Quite an Exit: After a day of avoiding cameras and questions about his father, DJTJ live-streamed his chopper ride back to New York | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump has an afternoon meeting with members of Congress, this time including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi. He also meets with former UN Ambassador John Bolton. Later, he and Melania Trump host a Hanukkah Reception on the State Floor of the White House.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Al Franken fixation. And today's briefing, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET -- however, no briefing time this week has been what was originally set for, so we're basically leaving open a window from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Franken Resignation Announcement:
CNN's Ashley Killough reports some color from the announcement made by Sen. Franken on the Senate floor that he's resigning at the end of the year: "It's very quiet in there as he speaks -- you could hear a pin drop. A stark contrast from the normal bustle of the room. I counted 22 Democrats in their seats + Franken. Most of them turned their seats to face him and listen. Among them were nine women, including many of those who first called on him to resign (Gillibrand, McCaskill, Baldwin, Warren, Hassan, etc), Klobuchar also there. Jeff Flake was the only Republican, from my vantage point in the gallery. The tourist gallery section was about half full."
Our Daily Melania:
This afternoon, Melania goes to Children's National Medical Center to read holiday books to kids there. I'll be tagging along. Yesterday, we were in Texas with her and second lady Karen Pence as they toured the Corpus Christi area, which is still recovering from the massive devastation of Hurricane Harvey. Melania gave a few remarks outside the trailer home of the one of the families that lost its original house in the devastation. Here's a bit of what she said: I want to thank Mario and Rosemary Zamorano, and your wonderful children for allowing us to tour what was once your family home. I am so impressed by your positive attitudes and resilient spirit, and look forward to the progress you will make as you rebuild your home and make new memories. As we approach Christmas this holiday season, your family is an example of what it means to have hope and recognize your blessings. You serve as a reminder to all of us that the best gifts are those of family and friends, love and kindness. Here's a shot of her with the family, touring what's left of the home they lived in for 20 years, which Mario Zamorano told her he is going to rebuild himself. There was basically nothing left of it. The family will spend the holidays and foreseeable future living in a trailer provided by FEMA. | | Credit: Official White House photo by Andrea Hanks
And here's one of her meetings with first responders who helped -- and are still helping -- to provide safety and support to the region. | | Credit: Official White House photo by Andrea Hanks
Whataburger Stop:
The first lady and the second lady made an unannounced stop at a Whataburger (a Texas institution) to grab burgers and fries. We all had to wait in the press van and couldn't get out -- but trust me, we were THRILLED when we saw communications director Stephanie Grisham walking towards us with two huge bags filled with the chain's ah-mazing french fries. A classy move 🍟 🙌🏼 . | | Credit: @StephGrisham45/Twitter
RIP PICKLE:
Headed to that great cat-scratcher in the sky. | | Credit: @secondlady/Twitter
Fallout from Trump's Jerusalem Announcement:
The responses to Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv have echoed all over the world, especially in Europe and the Middle East, where there is high alert for violence and backlash. Here's a good primer on which countries have said something.
Read this Story:
The feature I've been most obsessed with this week actually has nothing to do with politics; instead, it's about food. Jessica Sidman has written a richly delicious piece for Washingtonian about what restaurants go through to spot check, identify and appease food critics. Code names, duplicate dishes, a face book of VIPs -- it's so good. I also just dig the way Sidman writes her stuff:
"In fact, many restaurants know food writers' aliases, significant others, and friends. They know what days of the week and what times they typically like to dine. Some closely track preferred dishes, wines, servers, and sections of the dining room. One of the most extensive dossiers I've seen, used by a major Washington restaurant group, went so far as to list alcohol tolerance. (My own bio: "3 drinks until tipsy"—generous!)" | | Dress Like the First Lady:
Yesterday in Texas, the first lady opted for a head-to-toe olive-green ensemble. The coat was pretty awesome -- it's this $995 Rag&Bone "Leonard" puffer jacket with lace-up side detail. | | Credit: Kate Bennett, rag-bone.com
And, Yes, Those Boots:
They did have a heel on them, and they were suede. And while my Sorel rain boots looked muddy and trashed by the end of our Texas adventure, hers somehow remained clean. She was wearing these $1,625 Gianvito Rossi boots. | | | Credit: Kate Bennett, net-a-porter.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
Sen. Al Franken announced he will resign in the coming weeks; FBI Director Christopher Wray is testifying before the House Oversight Committee; and the House Administration Committee is holding a hearing on sexual harassment on the Hill.
What America is Talking About:
By yesterday afternoon, just 5% of the Southern California wildfires were contained. The photos coming out of the disaster are heartbreaking. One of the defining images of the fire has been from footage shot by a Ventura County commuter on the 405, passing under a freeway sign showing exits for Getty Center Drive, Sunset Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard while the hills burn like the entrance to the underworld. Unreal. | | Credit: @WLV_investor/Twitter
What Moscow is Talking About:
Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday at a rally at an automotive plant that he'll run for re-election in Russia's March election for what would be his fourth non-consecutive term (let's hear it for the 22nd Amendment, shall we?).
DJTJ Wouldn't Say What He and His Dad Talked About Re: Trump Tower Russia Meeting:
Donald Trump Jr. claimed attorney-client privilege and didn't answer the question while testifying during a closed session with the House Intelligence Committee. He did say, however, that he texted with Hope Hicks about the meeting.
Quite an Exit:
DJTJ was masterful at avoiding cameras yesterday, but after more than eight hours on Capitol Hill, he left and posted one photo, one video and one livestream from his helicopter return to New York City on Instagram lol. | | Credit: @donaldjtrumpjr/Instagram
Team USA Might Not Go to the 2018 Olympics:
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told Fox News it's still an "open question" whether our athletes will be able to travel to Pyeongchang, South Korea, and compete in the Games in February because of escalating tensions with North Korea.
"What we will do is make sure we are taking every precaution possible to make sure that [athletes] safe and to know everything that's going on around them," she said. "So, I think that's something where the administration is going to come together and find out the best way to make sure they're protected."
I can't imagine training and sacrificing and dreaming to compete in the Olympics for years only to not be able to go. Crossing my fingers 🤞
If They Do Go, Lindsey Vonn Says She'll Represent the US But Not Trump:
"I hope to represent the people of the United States, not the president," the gold medalist skier told CNN. "I want to represent our country well. I don't think that there are a lot of people currently in our government that do that." Vonn also said if she's invited to the White House as a member of Team USA, she will not go. | | Credit: CNN
House Repubs are Offering an All-Expenses-Paid Trip to the Trump International DC:
The National Republican Congressional Committee sent this fundraising email offering a chance for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington to visit Trump's hotel. Travel, hotel and entertainment costs would be paid for. You don't have to donate to enter, so if you want a free vaca without giving to House Repubs, you can enter here. | | Credit: NRCC
Pantone's Color of the Year 2018:
The Pantone Color Institute has named Pantone 18-3838, AKA Ultra Violet, its 2018 Color of the Year. "We're in a complex time; this is a complex color," executive director Lee Eisenman told Co.Design. | | Credit: Pantone
Street Art Sighting:
Projection artist Robin Bell lit up the top of a building in Miami, where Art Basel is being held, with the words "Impeach Trump," written out in a "Miami Vice"-esque font. | | Credit: @bellvisuals/Instagram
Send your political street art pics to me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com, tweet me @hunterschwarz or tag @cnncoverline on Instagram. | | | | | | |
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