| | | | | President Donald Trump looks on as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi kisses former Sen. Bob Dole at Wednesday's Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. Credit: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg/Getty Images | | | Trump and Obama Haven't Spoken in a Year: It's been decades since a POTUS and ex-POTUS went that long
"Fire and Fury," the Show: The film and television rights to the bestseller have already been bought
Women's March Posters, Take Two: Shepard Fairey's creative agency released a new line | | | What the White House is Talking About:
Somewhat busy day for President Trump. He met this morning at the White House with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson before heading to the Pentagon for a meeting with military leaders. Afterward, he departs for Andrews Air Force Base to hop aboard Air Force One and take a quick jaunt to Pittsburgh, where he'll tour H&K Equipment and give remarks before heading back to DC later this evening.
*Motorcade traffic alert: Trump's scheduled to leave the Pentagon at 12:30 p.m. en route to Andrews, so heads up.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
What John Kelly said about the wall last night, versus what Trump said about it this morning. Also, just generally getting on the same page inside the West Wing. Not only is there the Kelly debacle, there's also his trip to Pennsylvania today, which the White House says is to tout Trump's tax plan, but Trump says is about supporting a GOP candidate for Congress. And his tweet about the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was also a head-scratcher, since it was contradictory to the stance his own administration has take on the issue.
Trump "Fuming" About Kelly:
A source told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that the President was "fuming" about his chief of staff's comments on Fox News last night that Trump has changed his attitude about the wall (and immigration, for that matter), backing off on whether Mexico will pay for it, and that it will be more of a conceptual wall and not 100% a physical barrier. Here's what Kelly said: "[Trump] has evolved in the way he's looked at things. Campaign to governing are two different things, and this President has been very, very flexible in terms of what is within the realm of the possible....He's changed his attitude towards the DACA issue and even the wall."
Trump wasn't down for that description. He tweeted this this morning: | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Trump Says Shutdown will Harm Military:
This appears to be the warning message Trump is touting today. Here he is saying it while arriving at the Pentagon a short time ago.
"I Mean, I Walk, I This, I That":
To be honest, this is the most amazing answer I've ever seen to the question of whether or not one exercises. I intend to use it as much as I possibly can to apply to my own habits when asked. Trump gave Reuters this gem as part of a larger interview that came out yesterday, in the wake of his doctor's physical assessment. He also said working out is bad -- like, he's actively *against* going to a gym. "A lot of people go to the gym and they'll work out for two hours and all. I've seen people ... then they get their new knees when they're 55 years old and they get their new hips and they do all those things. I don't have those problems."
I'm Not Crying, You're Crying:
Best part of yesterday's Congressional Gold Medal presentation ceremony for Bob Dole was when he stood up from his wheelchair for the presentation of the colors, followed by the National Anthem. Maybe it seemed powerful because I grew up in a world of politics that heavily featured Dole, both as a senator and a presidential candidate, but it could just be that it was emotional and human and we all need to be reminded to feel stuff in this town from time to time. | | Trump and Obama Haven't Spoken in a Year:
Kevin Liptak has an interesting piece here, not only with the info that Barack Obama has not spoken to Trump since the inauguration, but outlining when and why a former POTUS has checked in with a current POTUS. These two, however, have not.
Wait But Are These Store-Bought Flowers?:
Please don't @ me because I have to bring this up. Is it me, or do the flowers Barack Obama got Michelle Obama for her 54th birthday yesterday look like he got them at Safeway? Wait, and People magazine even said his "gift" was "swoon," and that she's "getting spoiled." At the very least, sir, go with an arrangement. In a vase or container. These are WRAPPED IN PLASTIC. Yes, though, the card is nice, and Michelle does call them beautiful. AND ... he did take her to dinner last night at the most buzzed about new restaurant in Washington. Chef Spike Gjerde's A Rake's Progress isn't even fully open to the public yet at The Line Hotel, but the Obamas had a tasty meal, according to WaPo. | | Credit: @michelleobama/Instagram
Marla Maples and Donny Deutsch Are Dating, Maybe:
According to gossip column Page Six, Trump's second ex-wife, mom of Tiffany, was spotted getting cozy with Deutsch at the Polo Bar the other night. For the past year, ad man-turned-tv-host Deutsch has been extremely vocal about his seething distaste for Trump on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." | | What Washington is Talking About:
We're now less than two days away from a possible government shutdown (CNN has a countdown clock for it), and Repubs in the House and Senate are uncertain whether they have enough votes to pass a short-term spending deal.
What America is Talking About:
Amazon has announced its 20-city shortlist for where it will build its second headquarters.
What PyeongChang is Talking About:
North Korea and South Korea will compete together in a single women's ice hockey team, and after all the feel-good unified Korean Olympics news, this development is rubbing some the wrong way since it means some of the South Korean athletes could end up being cut to make room.
Poll of the Day:
The Oprah 2020 boomlet has put a dent in her approval rating. A Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday found her approval has dropped from 52% in March 2017 to 47% today. | | Credit: Quinnipiac
The poll also asked respondents if they'd be inclined to vote for five possible 2020 candidates and Oprah came in fourth at 24%. In first place was Joe Biden at 48%, followed by Bernie Sanders at 39%, and President Trump at 34%. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was in last place at 13%, but she was also the only potential candidate in the list who's never had a TV show or run for president before, so she had the highest "don't know/no answer" percentage at 38%.
How the Big Tech Hearing Went Yesterday:
Reps from Facebook, Google and Twitter testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee yesterday and they basically said they have everything under control thanks to algorithms. Facebook's head of policy and counterterrorism Monika Bickert said they get 99% of terrorism content detected and removed before it even has to be reported, and YouTube's director of public policy Juniper Downs said 98% of extremist videos are removed by algorithms.
White Supremacists Behind Largest Number of Extremist Killings in 2017:
A report from the Anti-Defamation League found 18 of the 30 people killed in the US last year by extremists were killed by white supremacists, the largest number by any group. The report also found 2017 was the second year in a row that people were killed by black nationalists. "If we are going to solve this problem, extremism of any kind must be taken seriously," CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said.
"Fire and Fury," the Show:
Endeavor Content has purchased the film and television rights to Michael Wolff's bestseller and will adapt it into a television series, according to the Hollywood Reporter. No word on when it will be released.
Obama's Final Year, the Show:
"The Final Year," a documentary about Obama's last year in office, premieres tomorrow in theaters and on iTunes and Amazon Video. The behind-the-scenes footage includes election night and the aftermath. Check the trailer here. | | Credit: Magnolia Pictures
Women's March Posters, Take Two:
Street artist Shepard Fairey was responsible for the ubiquitous "We The People" posters at last year's march, and this year, his creative agency Studio Number One put out a new line of posters free to print for marches taking place this weekend across the country. | | Credit: Studio Number One
Street Art Sighting:
I'm noticing a trend in some of the street art that's been sent in from overseas pairing Trump with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. This one, spotted in London by Benji Winch, shows the trio as a band called the Psychos, with Trump as lead singer. | | Credit: @benjiwinch/Instagram
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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