| | | | | President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable discussion on infrastructure yesterday at the White House. Credit: Jabin Botsford/Washington Post/Getty Images | | | FBI Director Puts Crimp in White House Timeline: Um, oops? In testimony by the FBI chief today, the White House's Rob Porter timeline sort of implodes
Louise Linton Does an Interview and It's a MUST: For those of us who were suffering from Louise Linton withdrawals, Elle magazine has come to the rescue
Dress Like Everyone at the Obama Portrait Unveiling: Michelle's real life dress, Michelle's portrait dress, and the artist's dress, we've got it covered | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump today hosts a roundtable with the National Sheriffs' Association, and later he attends a reception for National African American History Month on the State Floor of the White House.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
The White House briefing at 2 p.m. (but not really because the time always changes) when Sarah Sanders will likely again be answering questions about the Rob Porter scandal, going on Day 8.
FBI Director Puts Crimp in White House Timeline:
FBI Director Christopher Wray today answered questions in testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on a range of topics from China to cybersecurity, but when asked about what the FBI knew about Rob Porter's background information, and when, Wray laid out a timeline of events that appears to directly contradict the White House spin, I mean, description of events. Wray today: "..the FBI submitted a partial report on the investigation in question in March. And then a completed background investigation in late July. That soon thereafter, we received request for follow-up inquiry and we did the follow-up and provided that information in November and that we administratively closed the file in January." Deputy White House Press Secretary Raj Shah on Thursday: "His background investigation was ongoing. In this instance, in the case of Rob Porter, we relied on the background check investigative process. That process hadn't been completed, so we were relying on the information that we had." 🤔
Oh, and They Were Maybe Going to Promote Porter, So:
Before he resigned, or was fired (depending on the storyline), Porter was apparently up for a West Wing promotion. Porter was lobbying to expand his policy portfolio and move up from staff secretary to a more formidable position, which he likely could have done because chief of staff John Kelly was supportive of Porter's work. So it seems like the White House wasn't exactly concerned about the above completed FBI investigation... | | Louise Linton is Super-Duper Sorry:
This is the headline from Linton's hot new profile in Elle magazine, on newsstands February 20. In it, she poses in a white sweater and blue high heel Louboutins (!), and she talks about what it's been like in Washington, and how she's landed in the public eye. Her husband, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, says this about his wife:
"I think social media has made her misunderstood and she is not at all the person that has been portrayed. She has a huge heart, is sensitive, deeply compassionate, and kind. She has humility and gentleness. She's also funny and makes people laugh…. She loves gadgets and has a bird feeder in the backyard. She reads John Stuart Mill and writes notes in the margins of her books. She's an incredibly warm and loving person."
Though Linton herself says this about social media: "I was tagging things [on Instagram] because I thought I had seen other actresses doing that, and I was like, I should do that, too. I should be more fashionable. I need to play that role; I need to be more elegant; I need to be more stylish. I look at amazing fashion icons like Jackie O and I'm like, 'Why can't I wear gloves?'"
Anyway, it's all pretty great and my hat's off to Elle for snagging this entertaining sit-down. | | Credit: Marc Hom
This is Generally An Omarosa-Free Zone:
But she made some news on that "Big Brother" show and it involves the vice president, so here you go. | | The Portrait Memes:
There were a lot, and I didn't really think any of them were that good. Except ... maybe this one? | | Credit: @AM2DM/Twitter
Dress Like the Former First Lady:
Yesterday for her official National Portrait Gallery portrait unveiling, Michelle Obama was wearing a floral-patterned navy silk outfit by British designer Peter Pilotto. Here's the blouse, for $990, and the skirt, for $995, but in purple because I can't find the navy. | | Credit: Matt McClain/Washington Post/Getty Images
As for the dress Obama wears in the actual portrait, it's by the label Milly. Washington Post's Robin Givhan has all the details here, including the nugget that the brand's designer, Michelle Smith, had no idea that the portrait with the former first lady in her dress was going to be unveiled yesterday -- and that she was happily surprised. Smith told Givhan that she offered up several versions of the Spring 2017 collection gown, but Obama ultimately went with the one shown on the runway, with a slight alteration to the back design, which Obama preferred be closed instead of open, as it was originally presented. And now, it's iconic. | | | Credit: @stylewriterNYC/Twitter | | | I was also obsessed, OBSESSED, with artist Amy Sherald's distressed ensemble, so I had to find that, too. Appears it's not on sale yet that I can find (ping me if you can) but here it is on the runway from designer Dion Lee's Spring/Summer 2018 collection: | | What Washington is Talking About:
The Senate Intel Committee is holding a hearing on worldwide threats with testimony from the heads of the CIA and NSA, as well as the Director of National Intelligence.
What America is Talking About:
Gunmaker Remington is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Poll of the Day:
The turnover rate of President Trump's White House staff during his first year in office: | | That's according to a study by Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who's studied presidential staff turnovers going back to Reagan. Trump's first-year turnover is triple Obama's and twice as high as Reagan's.
What PyeongChang is Talking About:
The Chicago NBC affiliate's PyeongChang mix-up 🤦, and American Chloe Kim, 17, who won gold in the women's halfpipe and is down for some ice cream. | | Credit: Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images
Adam Rippon Doesn't Want His Olympics to be About Pence:
Speaking at a press conference earlier today, American ice skater Adam Rippon said his feud with Vice President Mike Pence over his stance on LGBTQ issues has "brought a lot of attention to my other teammates and I don't want it to distract from them" but he still stands by his comments. He said:
"I've got so many messages from kids all over the country -- I'm getting so emotional thinking about it -- I think that's why it's so important." | | Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
The Pentagon Wants More Money:
US defense officials asked Congress for $686 billion in 2019, a figure that would rank among the highest in US history. The reason, according to the proposal, is Russia and China. It read in part:
"It is increasingly clear that China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model -- gaining veto authority over other nations' economic, diplomatic, and security decisions."
Meanwhile, Cuts Proposed for Diplomacy:
Trump's proposed budget calls for a 29% cut in spending for the State Department and US Agency for International Diplomacy. A group of 151 retired three- and four-star generals asked Congress on Friday to strengthen diplomatic and aid funding, writing that any cuts would "undercut our nation's ability to lead around the world in such turbulent times."
That's Gotta Sting:
Oof. Wisconsin Repub Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson's parents each donated $2,700 to the primary campaign of his Dem opponent Sen. Tammy Baldwin's primary campaign, our KFile found. His mom has donated to Dems before, and in a statement to CNN, Nicholson said:
"My parents have a different worldview than I do, and it is not surprising that they would support a candidate like Tammy Baldwin who shares their perspective."
Street Art Sighting:
The dream of Oprah 2020 is alive and well in Columbia Heights. Micah Spangler sent in this shot of "LET'S G'O'" posters plastered on a dumpster there Monday. | | Credit: Micah Spangler
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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