| | | | Why Donald Trump won't condemn Rob Porter | | On Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump was asked about the resignation of White House staff secretary Rob Porter amid allegations of domestic abuse.
"He says he's innocent and I think you have to remember that," said Trump. "He said very strongly yesterday that he's innocent, but you'll have to talk to him about that."
Of course, what Porter denies is something both of his ex-wives as well as a third woman who dated him allege: That he physically and mentally abused them. But a published picture of Porter's ex-wife sporting a black eye brought a quick resignation.
And yet, Trump sides with Porter -- with nary a mention of the women. Which, you'll remember, is the exact same thing he did when Senate nominee Roy Moore of Alabama faced accusations from a number of women that he had pursued physical relationships with them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s.
"He totally denies it," Trump said of Moore at the time. "He says it didn't happen."
Trump's view on allegations made against his friends and allies is born of necessity.
Remember that in the course of the 2016 campaign, Trump faced accusations from more than a dozen women that he has sexually abused or acted inappropriately with them. He denied all of the allegations and insisted the women were lying because they didn't like his politics.
If Trump is willing to acknowledge that Porter abused his two ex-wives as well a former girlfriend, then Pandora's box is opened on him.
If Porter's accusers are to be believed, then why aren't Trump's accusers? You get the idea.
The Point: This is a President who came into office under extraordinary circumstances and with a background unlike anyone before him. That background makes it very, very hard for Trump to lead the country from a moral perspective -- even if he wanted to. Which he doesn't.
-- Chris | | "'We wish him well. ... He did a good job."
-President Donald Trump on Rob Porter, his former staff secretary who left the White House after allegations of domestic abuse from two ex-wives (who detailed to CNN what they said were years of consistent abuse from Porter) | | | Minnesota Democrat Rick Nolan announced on Friday that he will retire from Congress at the end of this term. "There is a time and a purpose for everything and now is the time for me to pass the baton to the next generation," Nolan said in a statement.
From CNN's Adam Levy:
Nolan in is his third current term in Congress, and narrowly won his 2016 reelection by roughly 2,000 votes over Republican challenger Stewart Mills. He previously represented southwest Minnesota from 1975-1981. Nolan's retirement is good news for Republicans, as this seat represents one of their best pick up opportunities in 2018. Even before Nolan's announcement, this was going to be one of the most competitive districts of the campaign. During Nolan's three terms representing the 8th district, he never won with more than 54% of the vote. CNN currently rates the race as a toss-up.
Minnesota's 8th District voted for Trump 54-38, an incredible 22-point swing from Obama's 52-46 victory here in 2012. The district encompasses northeastern Minnesota, including Duluth and the northern Twin Cities.
Nolan is the 53rd member to leave Congress in this election cycle -- the 17th Democrat, with 36 Republicans also departing.
Read more in CNN's Eric Bradner and Terence Burlij article here. | | | New Kendrick Lamar! From the amazing "Black Panther" soundtrack, which dropped today. | | Rachel Brand, the third-ranking official at the Justice Department, resigned Friday, a source familiar with Brand's plans told CNN's Ariane de Vogue. Brand, an associate attorney general who was confirmed last May, has been a prominent Trump administration official working on the reauthorizing of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. She has accepted a job with Walmart.
Read more in CNN's story by Ariane and CNN's Laura Jarrett, Evan Pérez and Sophie Tatum here. | | GOVT CONCERN OVER LACK OF GOVT WORKERS | | CNN's Juana Summers looked into an interesting new report. She writes:
"A report from the federal government's top personnel manager this week says that staffing gaps across the government are harming performance and causing stress for already-overworked employees. The Office of Personnel Management's 'Federal Workplace Priorities Report' comes days ahead of the White House's planned budget release, which will reflect the Trump administration's previously announced intention to shrink the federal workforce further. The report states that 'many programs cited capacity shortcomings affecting both the management and mission accomplishment of at least 20 (or 83% of) agencies.' The report notes that while budget issues were commonly cited as the basis for staffing gaps, they were also attributed to trouble filling vacancies and to turnover."
Read more in Juana's full story here. | | Julián Castro told CNN's Eric Bradner this week that he is in fact weighing a 2020 presidential run.
"Yeah, I'm interested, but whether or not I end up doing it -- I'll decide that later," he told CNN on Thursday, after speaking at an event at American University in Washington. The 43-year-old former San Antonio mayor and Housing and Urban Development secretary is now traveling the country, using his Opportunity First PAC as a vehicle for his political activity while teaching seminars at the University of Texas at Austin and working on a book.
Read more in Eric's #2020 Vision Memo here. | | CNN's Saeed Ahmed and Jake Tapper reported Friday a.m. that Vice President Mike Pence sat in close proximity to Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang Games.
"Pence, who has been vocal in his criticism of North Korea in the run-up to the Games, sat just feet away. Asked by CNN whether there was any concern by Pence about Kim's sister sitting behind him, an aide to the vice president said, 'not in the slightest.'"
Read more here. And a reminder that tonight is the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony! | |  | | H/T Brenna | | | We brought you back the Biden GIF, just for today. Anyway, TGIF! Please spend a minute this weekend telling 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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