| | | | Why the Nunes memo really isn't a partisan fight | | Because we are so polarized politically these days, there's a tendency to assume that every single issue that breaches our collective national consciousness must, at its root, be a fight between Democrats and Republicans.
And most are!
But the assumption of this polarization sometimes oversimplifies the actual dynamic at work. That is very much the case when it comes to whether or not the White House should release a memo put together by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-California, that allegedly contains a series of instances of wrongdoing by the FBI and law enforcement as it relates to the 2016 presidential election.
On one side of the divide, you have Nunes, the GOP members of the House Intelligence Committee, who voted along party lines earlier this week to release the memo, Speaker Paul Ryan and White House chief of staff John Kelly.
Trump himself was overheard Tuesday night telling Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina he was "100%" supportive of releasing the memo within the 5 day window. But the White House has offered no official position yet.
On the other side, you have congressional Democrats, yes, who believe releasing the memo is a major step in politicizing an arena -- intelligence gathering -- that has never before been politicized.
But you also have the FBI, which is run by Trump appointee Christopher Wray, opposed to the release of the memo. In an unusual statement released on Wednesday, the FBI said that "we have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo's accuracy."
In neither camp is Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, who has asked to see the Nunes memo but, so far, been turned away.
"None of the senators have access to it," Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford told CNN.
The divide here, then, is less Republicans vs. Democrats -- although there's some of that! -- than it is those who are suspicious of the activities of the FBI and broader Justice Department, and those who are more trusting in those law enforcement officials.
The Point: This fight is almost certainly moot -- as the decision whether to release the memo lies now entirely in Trump's hands, and he has been quite clear of where he stands on it. Still: This isn't the same old D vs. R fight.
-- Chris | | "More on the coffee, light on the chapstick -- which is probably the right choice this morning."
-Rep. Joe Kennedy III on "Good Morning America" Wednesday RE: the chapstick jokes after his Democrat response to the State of the Union last night | | | TRAIN CARRYING GOP MEMBERS HITS TRUCK | | CNN's Lauren Fox, Jeremy Diamond, MJ Lee and Deirdre Walsh reported this morning:
"A train carrying dozens of Republican members of Congress, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, to their legislative retreat in West Virginia hit a truck Wednesday, leaving at least one person dead. The driver of the truck was killed, President Donald Trump said Wednesday afternoon. Five patients were transported to UVA Medical Center, with one in critical condition, the hospital tweeted. Amtrak said three passengers and two crew members were hospitalized with 'minor injuries.' Multiple sources said that all members of Congress on the train and their families were OK, with the exception of a few minor injuries. Rep. Jason Lewis of Minnesota was taken to the hospital for a potential concussion."
Read more here. | | From CNN's Jeremy Herb and Eli Watkins: House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy said Wednesday he is not running for re-election and plans to leave politics. Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, issued a statement saying he planned to retire from Congress at the end of this term and would return to working in the justice system. "Whatever skills I may have are better utilized in a courtroom than in Congress, and I enjoy our justice system more than our political system," the South Carolina Republican said. "As I look back on my career, it is the jobs that both seek and reward fairness that are most rewarding."
Also in retirement news: Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Bob Brady formally announced Wednesday that he will not run for re-election, according to a statement from his office provided to CNN's Daniella Diaz. "Two weeks ago, I spent Saturday and Sunday sitting by myself in my congressional office only to watch the Eagles NFC Championship game alone as I waited for a vote on the floor of the House -- a vote that never took place," he said in his statement, referring to the government shutdown. "Don't get me wrong, I am the luckiest guy in the world. ... But there are some things I love even more."
Already, at least 38 House Republicans have announced they are retiring, running for another office or resigning outright. Democrats need to pick up 24 House seats to retake the majority from Republicans, who've had control of the House since 2011.
Read more about Gowdy here and Brady here. Also check out CNN's updated House retirement tracker. | | A HISTORY OF FEMALE POLITICIANS BEING TOLD TO SMILE | | In a Wednesday morning interview on CNN's "New Day," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders suggested that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi "should smile a lot more." CNN's Jennifer Hansler took a look at the times that female politicians on both sides of the aisle have been told to smile: - Hillary Clinton: in March 2016, NBC's Joe Scarborough was lambasted for a tweet telling Clinton to "Smile. You just had a big night."
- Carly Fiorina: In 2015, during a primary debate, the Repulican presidential candidate said her biggest weakness was: "Gee, after the last debate, I was told that I didn't smile enough."
- Maria Cantwell: A 2005 Seattle Times column described how Sen. Maria Cantwell had earned the nickname "Maria Cant-Smile."
- Sarah Palin: Wayne Anthony Ross, who had been nominated by then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as state attorney general, said in his confirmation hearing in 2009 that Palin "needs to smile more."
- Patty Murray: Former television host Rosie O'Donnell tweeted a picture of Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, along with the caption "who is that woman and why is she always frowning."
Read more in the full story here. | | Late night host Jimmy Kimmel spoke about President Trump with porn actress Stormy Daniels on Tuesday night, or at least he tried to. As Chris pointed out, it was "the weirdest interview ever." Chris' take: "Kimmel repeatedly tried to pin Daniels -- real name: Stephanie Clifford -- down on whether or not she had conducted an affair with Trump in the mid-2000s, whether she had signed a non-disclosure agreement to not talk about the alleged relationship and whether or not her signature on a statement denying the affair was actually, well, her signature. And she repeatedly sought to stoke speculation with non-answers, rhetorical winks and you-know-what-I-means."
You can watch the full interview here and read Chris' full take on the interview here. | | MEANWHILE, ON A DIFFERENT TALK SHOW | | CNN's Maegan Vazquez reports: Former first lady Michelle Obama relived an awkward Inauguration Day gift exchange during her first television interview since leaving the White House.
"Well, there's all this protocol," Obama told "Ellen" host Ellen DeGeneres in an episode set to air Thursday, describing what happened when the new first lady, Melania Trump, unexpectedly handed her a Tiffany's box at the front steps of the White House on Inauguration Day last year.
The former first lady said the gift was a "lovely frame." "I mean, this is like a state visit, so they tell you that you're going to do this, they're going to stand here. Never before do you get this gift, so I'm sort of like OK. ... What am I supposed to do with this gift?" Obama said.
Read more in CNN's full story here. | | | ICYMI: Brenna also put together "The State of the Union, GIF'd." Have a great night, and don't forget to tell everyone you know to subscribe to The Point. | | 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. | | | | | | |
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