| | | | | President Trump speaks as he meets with North Korean defectors in the Oval Office Friday. Credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images | | | The #ReleaseTheMemo Memo Has Been Released: The document says the FBI sought a warrant because of the Steele dossier
Michelle Obama Says "I'm Back!": She spoke today at the Kennedy Center
Government Surveillance is the Internet's Hottest New Meme: Out: Tide Pods, In: Joking about the FBI watching you through your webcam | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump's response to the memo. Also, jobs report. Later this afternoon, Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart together for a weekend at Mar-a-Lago.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
🔥🔥MEMO FRENZY🔥🔥.
Memo Release Day:
Trump earlier today in the Oval Office told the press he feels the Nunes memo proves a political bias against him and that it's a "disgrace." He also said that certain people within the FBI, presumably, "should be ashamed of themselves." The whole thing -- from releasing the four-page classified document, to finger-pointing at the Department of Justice, and ignoring warnings from the FBI and Democrats saying the memo is misleading -- to me is just another unprecedented episode born of the current political climate and the Trump administration. I mean, regardless of partisan leanings, the whole thing is pretty extraordinary.
The FBI on Defense:
It's just ... strange. And I'm sure it doesn't help change the minds of everyone outside of Washington who believes Washington is messed up. | | Credit: @katebennett_DC/Twitter
Does Someone Lose a Job Over This?:
That's the next question -- or one of the next questions. Will Trump oust Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (a Trump pick)? Will FBI chief Christopher Wray (another Trump pick) quit in the wake of the memo release? | | Credit: @KevinliptakCNN/Twitter
Jobs Report Friday:
The first Friday of the month means one thing for wonks: jobs report day. The economy added 200,000 jobs in January, up from a 160,000 increase in December. Unemployment stayed steady at 4.1% -- and wages have risen 2.9% since last year.
Michelle Obama says "I'm Back!":
Today at the Kennedy Center, Michelle Obama announced to the crowd gathered to watch her distribute the School Counselor of the Year Award, "I'm back ... this is what back looks like." Hmm. An interesting statement from the former first lady who this week captured headlines with her appearance on "Ellen." I know, I know, she's said she hates politics, she's not going to run for president, she's not interested in campaigning, etc., etc., but tell me the quotes from her today at this event don't sound like Michelle's warming up the pipes for something:
"Too often in this country, we lose sight of that basic truth. Too often we get caught up thinking real change only happens through the White House or by passing legislation or signing some big executive order. We think that only the president or first lady can make big national statements or shift culture or impact public debate, and don't get me wrong, all of that is critically important to bringing about change. Real change doesn't happen from the top down here in Washington. Real change happens from the bottom up in communities across this country and that holds particularly true when it comes to our kids. Our counselors and educators have a far bigger impact on our kids' lives than any president or first lady. It doesn't even come close. You all serve as living, breathing examples of the kind of people they should aspire to be. And trust me, I know this work isn't easy, especially right now. I know there's a lot of anxiety out there. And there's no denying that our kids, what they see on TV, the kind of behavior being modeled in public life, all of that, yes, impacts their behavior and their character. But at times like this the work you are all doing is even more urgent. It's even more critically important. See, you all have the power to teach our kids what it means to go high when others go low. You have that power. " | | With "Bezerkazoid Craziness," A Mooch Rears Again:
You might want to read Anthony Scaramucci's new Vanity Fair interview because it's a wild ride. Make time for it this weekend if you can't stomach it today. (Spoiler: his nickname for Reince Priebus is "Rancid Penis.") The Mooch recounts his brief White House tenure in the way that only he can. This is the accompanying Sam Hadley illustration, which is also awesome. | | | Credit: Sam Hadley for Vanity Fair, vanityfair.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
The release of Rep. Devin Nunes' #ReleaseTheMemo memo. While President Trump believes the memo's release will discredit the Russia investigation, Speaker Ryan said at Repubs' retreat yesterday the memo "does not impugn the Mueller investigation or the deputy attorney general."
What America is Talking About:
Britney Spears' ex-boyfriend released his new album "Man of the Woods" today. And brands are pre-releasing their Super Bowl spots, including ads for Pepsi, Amazon's Alexa and the Koch brother's company. A Tennessee man who said his daughter died in a collision with a guardrail bought airtime for a local Super Bowl ad to run on NBC's West Palm Beach, Florida, affiliate in hopes that President Trump will see it and meet with him to discuss highway safety.
Poll of the Day:
A Monmouth University poll released Thursday found almost half of all Americans believe Super Bowl commercials are more interesting than the game and 36% said the game was more interesting. I find the absence of a "halftime show" option to be a problem. | | Credit: Monmouth
2018's Second Government Shutdown on the Horizon:
Congress is facing its second possible government shutdown of the year if it doesn't reach another spending deal by next Thursday. Lawmakers look poised to kick the can down the road for a second consecutive month with another short-term spending deal, this one until March 22.
Mitt Watch:
Mitt Romney announced he has something to announce about the Utah Senate race on February 15. Wonder what it could be.
There Really *Aren't* A Lot of Streets Named for Joseph McCarthy:
As tension mounted last night that Trump would go against the FBI and release the memo, former FBI Director James Comey tweeted about "weasels and liars," saying they "never hold the field, so long as good people stand up." He also noted there aren't many schools or streets named for Joseph McCarthy, the US senator from Wisconsin known for accusing people -- without evidence -- of being Communist sympathizers in the 1950s. | | Credit: @Comey/Instagram
I checked, and Comey's right. While there are about 900 streets named after Martin Luther King Jr., and 5,000 named Washington, according to 1993 Census data, I had a hard time finding anything named Joseph McCarthy. There's a Joseph McCarthy Transit Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin, but it was named after a former Kenosha Transportation director, and there's a Joe McCarthy Road in Buffalo, New York. I reached out to the city of Buffalo to ask who that road is named after, but haven't heard back yet. | | Credit: Google Maps
Government Surveillance is the Internet's Hottest New Meme:
Out: Eating Tide Pods
In: Joking about the government watching you through your webcam
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we feel powerless in the face of government surveillance, and we've collectively given up on worrying that our every move, email, Google search, and Insta stalk can be tracked, if not by the US government, then by tech companies or hackers. If we can't stop the government agent in our laptop screen from watching us, we might as well imagine him or her as a friend, a guardian angel who knows us more intimately than some of our family members or friends and is here to protect us. | | Credit: @xowenm/@AlexErnst/@McJesse/Twitter
Here's Omarosa's "Big Brother" Head Shot:
Her official bio describes the former White House director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison as a "television personality," the three adjectives she uses to describe herself are "devoted, dynamic, and driven" and she says she plans to take a Bible given to her by her husband into the house. There is zero reference to the fact that she worked in the Trump administration. | | Credit: CBS
Can We Get This Eagles Fan Some Super Bowl Tickets?:
This is so pure. Eagles fan Haley Parks woke up after getting her wisdom teeth removed and was worried she missed the Super Bowl. Her mom calmed her down, telling her it was on Sunday, but then Parks was upset that she wasn't going to the game, worried they might lose, and peeved at fair-weather fans jumping on the bandwagon now ("If [the Eagles] would have went 0 and 16 I would still be their friend.")
Street Art Sighting:
This mural of people abandoning Trump, who stands on a precariously placed board on a Constitution cliff was spotted off Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood by Samuel Spitale. Although Trump's approval rating has hit historic lows, it's actually on the upswing. If this mural reflected his current approval rating, there'd be a fourth adult walking back onto the board, with five walking away and one person who doesn't know what they're doing (42% approval, up from 32% last month, 50% disapproval, and 8% with no opinion, per a Wednesday Monmouth poll). | | Credit: Samuel C. Spitale
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
See You in a Week:
I'll be off most of next week and leave you in Kate's care. I'll be back next Friday. See you then! | | | | | | |
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