| | | | | President Trump meets Tuesday with a bipartisan group from Congress to discuss immigration policy. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images | | | Peace Out, Steve Bannon: Didn't we see it coming?
Pence is Heading to the Olympics: Veep will lead the US delegation in PyeongChang
Members of Congress Wearing Black to SOTU: Lawmakers following Golden Globes #MeToo lead | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump today has a Cabinet meeting, and later holds a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
This is going to be Trump's first formal press conference since the one he held in Vietnam in November. However, no one is expecting that he will take more than two questions -- but it's Trump, so we're expecting the unexpected.
Staffing Exodus:
White House aides are apparently being told they have to decide before the end of January whether they plan to skedaddle, or stay put in their posts through the November midterms. There's apparently not a lot of wiggle room for indecision because staffing up the West Wing has become a struggle for Trump, especially as the Russia investigation drags on. Chief of Staff John Kelly, sources tell CNN, has been trying hard to get open positions filled as quickly as possible, however, "[he] is eating bullets every day by himself and doesn't have a lot of help," said one person familiar with the personnel situation. "He needs reinforcements."
Peace Out, Steve Bannon:
I like how we all acted like it was 🚨 , but really didn't we see it coming? Yesterday afternoon Breitbart reported that Bannon, who served as executive chairman, was stepping down. The decision came in the wake of Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury" book, and on the heels of an angry and vengeful Trump reportedly pushing for his ouster -- not to mention the President's statement that Bannon had "lost his mind." An aside -- in searching for images of Bannon that could illustrate departure/fall from the ranks, I realized that basically every Getty photograph taken of him in the past year could suffice. A sampling, for your pleasure: | | Credit: Getty Images
Um, An Interesting Photo Choice from Ivanka Trump:
This morning on her Instagram and Twitter accounts, Ivanka Trump posted a happy birthday message to her husband, Jared Kushner, who turns 37 today. But the choice of photograph literally set off a crazy barrage of emails and texts -- to me, of course, because I guess people think I know this stuff -- asking whether or not Ivanka is pregnant. Guys, NO. Unless she has some magic body because literally not two weeks ago she was at Mar-a-Lago for New Year's Eve in a tight gown with cutouts at the waist. I asked her spokesman, just to be sure, and he told me this photograph is not recent. Let me just say, though, if she's not expecting, it's sort of an unusual image to put up, right? | | Credit: @ivankatrump/Twitter
Obama Portraits Unveiling:
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery has announced it will unveil the commissioned portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama on February 12. The portraits, anticipated to be unique in style and composition, were painted by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, respectively. Both the Obamas and the artists are expected to attend the unveiling ceremony, which is invitation-only.
"Treating People Well":
The reviews for "Treating People Well," the new book by former White House social secretaries Lea Berman (George W. Bush) and Jeremy Bernard (Barack Obama) are good. The duo talk about insider-y White House stuff and tell some cute stories about working for the president and first lady, but the real aim of the book is to impart some wisdom about the importance of kindness. Says the New York Times review, "Perhaps this should be the first book we all are obliged to read in 2018. Through tales of political politesse both harrowing and howlingly funny, Berman and Bernard, the social secretaries for the Bush and Obama administrations respectively, tell us all we need to know about etiquette — which translates very often into putting others first."
Trump Loves a Monogram:
Doug Mills took this awesome photograph of Trump in yesterday's lengthy, on-camera DACA discussion with lawmakers. Note the "45" on his cuff, which is a "French cuff," by the way -- POTUS prefers this style because he's a cufflinks guy. I asked a source in the White House if the "45" was a new thing for his shirts, or if he's been doing it for a long time, and I was told it's a new development. My two cents: I actually really like this touch. It's subtle (for him), and I can appreciate a custom dress shirt. | | | Credit: @nytmills/Instagram | | What Washington is Talking About:
California Repub. Rep. Darrell Issa is the latest member of Congress to announce he's retiring. And talks continue on DACA and a spending deal. Dems want more clarity on what exactly President Trump means these days when he says he wants The Wall ("If he's still wedded to something ridiculous, then we can't," one Dem aide told CNN), and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said it's "likely" they'll pass a short-term spending deal to buy some time and avert a government shutdown.
What America is Talking About:
Mudslides in California have left 13 dead, and at least two dozen others are missing.
Poll of the Day:
The percentage of Americans who are unsatisfied with the position of women in society has reached its highest point since Gallup began polling on the question in 2001. The poll found 37% of people are "very" or "somewhat dissatisfied," and the gender split on that was 46% women and 28% men. | | Credit: Gallup
Pence is Heading to the Olympics:
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, will travel to PyeongChang, South Korea, next month to lead the US delegation at the Winter Olympic Games. The trip will also include stops in Alaska and Japan, and Pence is expected to show "appreciation" for US service members stationed in South Korea while there.
So Much Drama for the Steele Dossier's Year Anniversary:
Today is the one-year anniversary of BuzzFeed publishing the infamous Steele dossier, and what an anniversary it's been so far. In the past day, Sen. Dianne Feinstein released a doc of the testimony from last August of Glenn Simpson, the co-founder of Fusion GPS, the firm behind the dossier. In his testimony, Simpson claimed dossier author Christopher Steele went to the FBI because he feared a presidential candidate was being blackmailed. And Trump lawyer Michael Cohen filed a suit against Fusion GPS and BuzzFeed, which published the dossier, saying it defamed him.
Trump's Nickname Game Weak:
"Sneaky Dianne Feinstein" is not his best, I'll say. Or is the schtick just getting tired? Here's what he tweeted about her release of Simpson's testimony: | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
North Carolina Has to Redraw Its Congressional Districts:
Federal judges said Tuesday that the state's districts are drawn in a partisan way that favors Repubs and they have to go back and try again. The state legislature has about three weeks to come up with a new map so it'll be ready in time for the 2018 midterms. Woof. It's also not the first time North Carolina's been called out by a judge over gerrymandering; in 2016, judges struck down the boundaries for two districts they said were drawn around racial lines.
Members of Congress Will Wear Black to SOTU for #MeToo:
A group of lawmakers plan to follow the Golden Globes' lead and wear black to the State of the Union on January 30. Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Dem who's among those planning to wear black, told CNN, "This is a culture change that is sweeping the country, and Congress is embracing it."
At Trump's joint address to Congress last year, some female Dems wore "suffragette white" to show their support for women's issues and for Planned Parenthood.
Oprah Stays Mum on 2020:
In her first Instagram post since the Golden Globes, Oprah didn't say a thing about politics, instead commenting on the natural disasters in California. She wrote her property had "minor damage that pales in comparison" to her neighbors.
Fundraisers on Ice:
Finally, a political fundraiser the kids will enjoy. The PAC Save America is hosting a fundraiser for Idaho Repub Sen. Jim Risch at Disney's "Frozen on Ice" next month when it comes to Washington. Tickets start at $1,000. | | Credit: Save America PAC
Street Art Sighting:
Today's sighting is actually signs from a hockey game, flagged by Laura Licata. The Vancouver Canucks were in Washington last night to take on the Capitals, and fans were spotted with a "Hope" sign in the style of Shepard Fairey's Obama portrait, and another sign that read "Make America Flow Again," a reference to Canuck Brock Boeser, who has beautiful flowing hair that's become a thing. Amazing. | | Credit: @Canucks/Twitter
If you spot political street art, I'd love to see it. Here's how you can reach me:
1. Tweet me @hunterschwarz
2. Tag me on Instagram @hunterschwarz
3. Email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com | | | | | | |
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