| | | | 3 simple reasons why Donald Trump wants a shutdown | | On Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump suggested a government shutdown might be just what Washington needs.
"If we don't change it, let's have a shutdown," said Trump, referring to his push to overhaul the country's immigration laws. "We'll do a shutdown and it's worth it for our country. I'd love to see a shutdown if we don't get this stuff taken care of."
"I'd love to see a shutdown." So, there it is.
Trump might get his wish as soon as Thursday if the House and Senate can't agree on any sort of funding package to keep the lights on. (For more on the chances of a shutdown, scroll down.)
Why would the President of the United States want the government to shut down? Easy! Here are three simple reasons:
1. He "won" last time: When the government shut down -- for three days -- last month, the conventional wisdom coming out of it was that Senate Democrats had caved. In the zero-sum world of Trump, he is ahead 1-0 on Democrats when it comes to shutdowns. Why not do it again?
2. "Art of the Deal": One of the key principles of Trump's ode to deal-making is that you have to drive a hard bargain -- and be willing to walk away if you don't get it. Even if that means shutting down the government, it's the price of getting the deal you want.
3. Trump is the wild card: Trump thinks of himself as the free radical in the political system, the actor willing to say and do stuff no one else will do. By doing the unexpected, he can get results way beyond what anyone expects. WILD CARD!!!
The Point: With Trump, the simplest explanation is almost always the right one. Winning is good. Not winning is bad. He thinks he can win another shutdown showdown. So he wants it. The end. | | Soooo, will there be a government shutdown?
Earlier today, senior aides -- and lawmakers -- in both parties, in both chambers, told CNN's Phil Mattingly: No. Per Phil's reporting Tuesday: "House Republican leaders have the votes to pass a bill Tuesday to fund the government through March 23, with a full defense appropriations bill attached to the measure, as well as two years of funding for community health centers. This is the start of the real work -- but far from the finish line. What will the final funding bill look like? Well, that's up to the US Senate. In the meantime, the government shuts down in less than 72 hours." Read more in Phil's story here.
However, some Republican aides working on the budget deal have voiced concern to CNN that the President's comments about a shutdown may cause things to fall apart, CNN reported. | | "Democracy dies in darkness, my friend. Get to work."
-Rep. Devin Nunes after CNN's Manu Raju asked if the White House had any role in his memo | | | BIDEN ON TRUMP: 'HE'S A JOKE' | | Former Vice President Joe Biden sat down with CNN's Chris Cuomo for an interview on Tuesday, where they touched on everything from Biden's recent book to whether President Donald Trump should sit down with special counsel Robert Mueller.
During the interview, Biden called Trump "a joke" and suggested Trump not consent to a special counsel interview for fear of being caught misleading investigators.."The President has some difficulty with precision," he said.
Read more in CNN's Eli Watkins' story or watch the full interview tonight on CNN at 8 p.m. ET. | | Remember when President Donald Trump on Monday accused stone-faced Democrats of treason for not standing and applauding during his State of the Union address? White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Tuesday the President was "clearly joking" when he made the comment.
"He was making the point that even when good things are happening they are still sitting there angry," she said. Deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley added that the remark was "tongue-in-cheek."
Read more in CNN's reporting here. | | Attorney General Jeff Sessions believes the FBI needs a "fresh start" after FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stepped down abruptly in January, two months ahead of those who expected his March retirement.
"Well, I have believed it was important to have a fresh start at the FBI, and actually, it was in my letter to the President when I recommended (former FBI Director James) Comey's removal. I used the words, 'fresh start,' and the FBI director is Chris Wray, a very talented, smart, capable leader," Sessions told the Washington Examiner on the day McCabe left the bureau. The interview was published on Tuesday.
Read more in CNN's story here. | | Speaking of the FBI, CNN's Ryan Struyk writes:
Republicans are standing by their president — and here are three new poll numbers from Quinnipiac that prove it. A majority of GOP voters, 53%, say they disapprove of how the FBI is handling its job vs. 28% who approve, though all voters approve overall. Another 58% of Republicans say the FBI is biased against Trump, though voters overall disagree. And while Americans broadly say it's not appropriate for a president to ask Justice Department officials for loyalty — 67% to 27% — Republicans are evenly divided on whether it is appropriate, 46% appropriate to 44% inappropriate. | | | As always, if you like what you read, please tell people 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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