| | | | | Ground crews clear snow from a driveway at the White House Thursday. Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images | | | That Escalated ... As Expected: Trump's lawyers send cease-and-desist letter to Steve Bannon
Jeff Sessions Rescinds Obama-Era Pot Rules: "Sessions directs all US Attorneys to enforce the laws"
Decide For Yourself: Does Trump look like a ghost here or nah? | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump once again has no public events on his schedule today. But his afternoon is packed with meetings and events, starting with the bestowing of the National Security Medal at 1:30, a catch-up with Senate Republicans on 2018 priorities at 2:15, and a closed-door with RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel at 3:30.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Michael Wolff's new book, full stop.
Trump Talks Bannon for First Time:
In a brief pool spray in the Oval Office this morning, Trump was asked if Steve Bannon betrayed him, to which the president responded:
"I don't know, he called me a great man last night, so you know, he obviously changed his tune pretty quick. I don't talk to him, I don't talk to him, I don't talk. That's just a misnomer, thank you."
Few quick points here: One, Trump is referring to Bannon calling him "a great man" on his Sirius radio show last night. Two, when the president said "I don't talk to him," it's sort of the exact opposite of what press secretary Sarah Sanders stated in the briefing yesterday when she said the last time the two men spoke was in early December. Three, not sure he understands what "misnomer" means.
No Cell, Who Dis:
The White House has banned the use of personal cell phones in the West Wing, a rule that applies to both staff and visitors. It's apparently bummed out many of the people working there, which is understandable, but Sanders says the move is to uphold the "security and integrity of the technology systems at the White House." Staff can still use their government-issued devices -- woot.
More Wolff Stuff:
New insight into "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" came out this morning in The Hollywood Reporter. Michael Wolff talks about what it was like to report from inside the White House, and how he maneuvered to get content for his new book, which drops on the 9th but is already #1 on Amazon's bestseller list. I can corroborate at least one part of his observation -- this really is what most of the female staffers wear to work every day: "The West Wing is configured in such a way that the anteroom is quite a thoroughfare — everybody passes by. Assistants — young women in the Trump uniform of short skirts, high boots, long and loose hair — as well as, in situation-comedy proximity, all the new stars of the show: Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer, Jared Kushner, Mike Pence, Gary Cohn, Michael Flynn (and after Flynn's abrupt departure less than a month into the job for his involvement in the Russia affair, his replacement, H.R. McMaster), all neatly accessible."
There was also a fresh chunk published in British GQ, mostly about how Trump handles the media. You can read it here. And Wolff will be on the "Today" show tomorrow morning, too.
The illustrations on these mag stories have been pretty amazing. Here's the one Luke McGarry did for THR: | | Credit: Luke McGarry for The Hollywood Reporter
That Escalated ... As Expected:
Trump's lawyer last night sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bannon for talking to Wolff, claiming his statements are defamatory and violated a confidentiality agreement. Fun fact: The attorney who filed it, Charles Harder, was also the lawyer for Melania Trump when she successfully sued The Daily Mail for publishing a story that falsely claimed something disparaging about her past. In this new case with Bannon, Harder says, "legal action is imminent."
And ... While We're At It:
Harder today just sent another cease-and-desist letter, threatening legal action against Wolff and his publisher Henry Holt. The move is clearly to try to stop publication of Wolff's book, but legal experts tell CNN the tactic likely won't work, and that the actuality that Harder will actually file a lawsuit is slim. | | New York Tabloids Cover the Story:
Both the New York Daily News and the New York Post today had explosive covers on the whole Trump-Bannon feud. I personally think the Daily News won the round. You? | | | Credit: nydailynews.com, nypost.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
The Senate is giving members time to leave town for the weekend before the massive winter storm strikes, so no votes are scheduled.
What America is Talking About:
"Bomb cyclone."
What Paris is Talking About:
French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a law allowing judges to rule that fake news can be taken down and fake news sites blocked.
Sessions Rescinds Obama-Era Pot Rules:
The Department of Justice announced today that memos from the Obama administration that took a look-the-other-way approach to states that legalized marijuana will be rescinded. You can read the new memo here. It reads in part:
"Attorney General Jeff Sessions directs all US Attorneys to enforce the laws enacted by Congress and to follow well-established principles when pursuing prosecutions related to marijuana activities."
Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner came out against Sessions' today, tweeting that his move "directly contradicts" what Sessions told him before the election. "With no prior notice to Congress, the Justice Department has trampled on the will of the voters in CO and other states," he wrote.
Poll of the Day:
This one's from back in October, but I bring it up because of the Sessions news: Support for legalizing marijuana is at a record high of 64%, including 51% of Repubs, according to Gallup. | | Credit: Pew
US-South Korean Military Drills to be Suspended During Olympics:
President Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have agreed to suspend military drills during the Pyeongchang Games next month, Moon's office said today.
Decide For Yourself: Does Trump Look Like a Ghost Here, or Nah?
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted Wednesday that one claim from "Fire and Fury" -- that he said his father looked like a "ghost" when he found out he won the 2016 election -- was not true. "Anyone who knows me or follows me knows that's about as far from something I would say or how I speak as possible," he tweeted (DJTJ, have you heard yourself speak?).
Lucky for us, DJTJ provided the receipts himself, as he usually does. Here are some photos from election night that he posted of his dad. Ghost or not ghost? | | Credit: @DonaldJTrumpJr/Twitter
What about this photo he posted with the caption, "I never thought he could get tired of winning but maybe for just a second"? Ghost or not ghost? | | Credit: @donaldjtrumpjr/Instagram
Side note: my personal favorite behind-the-scenes photo of Trump from election night is this one @realDonaldTrump tweeted out himself in which he does not look happy, Melania and Barron's eyes are closed, and no one was looking out for Tiffany because all you can see is a sliver of her eye poking out behind Mike Pence. #justicefortiffany
How One Trump Family Friend Defended His Recent Tweets:
HUD regional administrator and longtime Trump confident Lynne Patton had some thought on Insta yesterday about everyone "up in arms" over Trump's tweets this week. "Bravado & condescension has always worked for him," she wrote, before recounting the song lyrics Trump recited during the campaign about a woman who brought a snake into her home that bit her. "And while that analogy typically applies to refugees, the moral of the story is the same: a leopard doesn't change its spots," she wrote.
Fire at the Clintons' Chappaqua Home:
The fire began in the second-floor ceiling of a building used by the Secret Service on the property of the former first couple and was quickly extinguished, according to a report from local newspaper the Journal News. The Clintons were not home.
Last Ones Kneeling:
At least one NFL player has knelt during the anthem every week of the regular season, including seven who knelt during the final week. Bleacher Report talked to five of them about why they knelt.
I'm Sure Kendrick Will Have Something to Say About Trump?:
Kendrick Lamar is performing during halftime at the College Football Playoff National Championship Monday in Atlanta that Trump announced he'll attend, so that could be interesting. The rapper won't actually be in Mercedes-Benz Stadium performing (Alabama and Georgia's school bands were booked for that gig). Instead, he'll be at nearby Centennial Olympic Park and his performance will be airing on ESPN, so I'm guessing Trump won't see it until he sees a clip of it on cable news the next day.
Street Art Sighting:
Sent in by Maxwell Bernstein from London, a profile of Trump that lists his "Misogyny Rating," "Islamaphobia Rating" and "Idiocracy Rating" as 100. Next to it are prints of Trump, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. | | Credit: Maxwell Burnstein
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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