| | | | | President Trump leaves after speaking to supporters at the Atlantic Aviation hangar near Pittsburgh on Saturday. Credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images | | | Betsy DeVos is Cringe: DeVos really struggled on "60 Minutes" last night
We Don't Know When Stormy's "60 Minutes" Interview is Coming: Her strip club tour rolls on
Kathy Griffin's Comeback: She's planning a return to US shows, in New York and Washington | | | What the White House is Talking About:
The only public event on President Trump's schedule today is hosting the Houston Astros baseball team, which won the 2017 World Series.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Trump's walking-back on gun control guidelines. Also, one of the Astros' star players, Carlos Beltran, is not attending the White House ceremony because he has been unhappy with the way the President handled the hurricane response in Puerto Rico.
The White House briefing with Sarah Sanders is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Guns and Blue Ribbon Commissions:
On Saturday night, Trump railed against "blue ribbon commissions" assigned to solve problems; he argued all they do is talk, no action. But by Monday morning, America was waking up to the news that the White House had created, well, a blue ribbon commission, helmed by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, to handle the gun issue in American schools. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
Meanwhile, last night the administration unveiled its gun proposal, which ramps up background checks, supports the idea of arming teachers and backs off lowering the legal age for purchase from 21 to 18, an idea Trump didn't seem to have a problem with just a couple of weeks ago during a bipartisan meeting with lawmakers. Oh well. He tweeted his feelings on the matter this morning: | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Betsy DeVos is Cringe:
DeVos really struggled on "60 Minutes" last night -- it was difficult to watch. She didn't seem to have a good grasp of what's happening with education even in her own home state of Michigan. Lesley Stahl tried to get to specifics, but DeVos, the SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, literally said: "I hesitate to talk about all schools in general because schools are made up of individual students attending them." What? Oof, this clip.
DeVos didn't do a whole lot better with Savannah Guthrie on "Today" this morning, tbh, but there was a bright spot in the interview. Asked how she felt about Trump's use of language to describe Chuck Todd over the weekend rally (he called him a "sleeping son of a bitch"), DeVos responded adults should be held to a higher standard, and that includes the President.
Stormy Daniels Wants Talk:
Porn star Stormy Daniels, via her attorney, this morning sent a letter to Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, saying she would return the $130,000 payment she received in 2016 from Cohen, and in exchange be able to speak freely about her alleged affair with Trump. The New York Times reported this development, which includes a deadline of noon tomorrow for Trump to respond to Daniels' request.
Ivanka Trump Cut Ties with Family Business, But Not Really:
According to a story in McClatchy today, Ivanka Trump, first daughter and senior presidential adviser, is still attached to the Trump Organization, to the extent she'll reportedly reap more than $1 million from companies associated with the organization. Not to mention the myriad potential conflicts of interest issues. No matter where you fall on this, I found the story really interesting to read, and it's an eye-opener. | | ICYMI, The Parade:
Ryan Browne scooped the details on the planned military parade for November 11, which Trump wants to be a big ol' spectacle of military might. I've talked about my feelings on the parade here before, but to recap: I'm all for it. I love parades, I love our military, I love pageantry, and I love planes -- and the Pentagon now says there will be planes, lots of them. The route of the parade will travel from the White House to the Capitol, but there won't be tanks or other really heavy machinery because the roads can't take the weight. | | Fashion Loses a FLOTUS-Loving Legend:
Hubert de Givenchy has died at the age of 91. The French fashion house Givenchy (pronounced "Gee-vonn-chee," for you youngs) developed lives on in his name, but it was the designer's work with his primary muse, Audrey Hepburn, that really put Givenchy into the fashion vernacular in the 1950s and 60s. Givenchy and Hepburn essentially launched the little black dress -- need I say more?
But Givenchy was also a favorite of first ladies. Jackie Kennedy famously wore this silk embroidered Givenchy gown to a dinner at Versailles during her first official visit to France in 1961. | | Credit: AFP/Getty Images, Getty Images
Two recent examples of Givenchy/FLOTUS looks include the custom-beaded gown Michelle Obama wore to the 2016 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, and a rare mini-dress with cape sleeves worn by Melania Trump during a trip to Palm Beach in February of last year. | | Credit: Nicholas Kamm/Getty Images, Joe Readle/Getty Images
Hot Tip in Case You Can't Take This Week:
A new bar from my pal Ian Hilton (and his brother, Eric) opens today on 14th Street. Here's why you want to check it out: It's called Players Club because it has lots of vintage games like pinball, air hockey, pool, board games, skeeball, and Pac-Man; there's a claw machine, but with sex toys instead of stuffed toys; you can order in from Shake Shack because it's right next door; there's a very cool '70s basement vibe; they will primarily serve beer, mostly in bottles and cans. | | What Washington is Talking About:
Congress is returning to town from the weekend -- the Senate this afternoon and the House tomorrow -- with a whole lot on its plate: responding to President Trump's tariffs, a banking bill, a sex trafficking bill and guns.
What America is Talking About:
Brackets. March Madness is upon us, and Warren Buffet said he'll give $1 million a year for life to a Berkshire employee who has a perfect bracket through the Sweet 16.
Poll of the Day:
The percentage of college students who think the climate on their campus prevents some people from saying what they believe because it might offend someone has risen, from 54% in 2016 to 61% in 2017, according to a Gallup poll released today. | | Credit: Gallup
Trump Returns to Campaign Trail for Pennsylvania Special Election:
Tomorrow's a special US House election in Pennsylvania, and Trump was there Saturday to stump for Repub candidate Rick Saccone. During the rally, Trump claimed to know Oprah's "weakness" without saying what it was, reaffirmed his 2020 slogan would be "Keep America Great," took credit for the PyeongChang Olympics because "it's a little hard to sell tickets when you think you're going to be nuked," and criticized the media. Oh, and he also told people to vote for Saccone.
We Don't Know When Stormy's "60 Minutes" Interview is Coming:
She's recorded an interview with Anderson Cooper for "60 Minutes" but there's no air date, her lawyer yesterday tweeted a story on Sunday that Trump's lawyers are trying to prevent it from airing, and her Make America Horny Again tour rolls on. Daniels performed shows this weekend in Pompano Beach, Florida, and told CNN, "If someone came up to you and said, 'Hey, you know that job you've been doing, I'm going to pay you quadruple for doing it ...' no one is going to say no." I loved our Hadas Golds' story from the Solid Gold strip club; read it here. | | Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Biden Spotted Talking to Homeless Man in Georgetown:
The former Veep was seen talking to a homeless man after seeing a movie in Georgetown last week with his grandkids, a tipster who sent this shot to Politico said. Also, Biden wears a suit to the movies. | | Credit: via Politico
Bernie's Batting Practice:
Bernie Sanders on Sunday was in Arizona, where he met with the LA Dodgers, there for spring training in Glendale. He wore a Brooklyn Dodgers hat and posted this photo with outfielder Yasiel Puig. | | Credit: @berniesanders/Instagram
Kathy Griffin's Comeback:
She's booked two US shows -- at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington -- and is plotting her comeback following the controversy over the bloody dummy Trump head photo back in May. Appearing on "Real Time with Bill Maher," Griffin saids "I'm dipping my toes into touring again even though the Trumps and nobody wants me to work again," and said that she was detained at every airport she flew into during her international tour.
HRC Honors Adam Rippon:
The Human Rights Campaign awarded the Olympic figure skater with the Visibility Award Saturday. Gus Kenworthy introduced Rippon at the event in Los Angeles, and Rippon -- who was not wearing a harness tux this time -- avoided talking about Vice President Pence, said his mom loves Rep. Maxine Waters, and met Sally Field's son.
Eminem Goes After the NRA:
Eminem, who was introduced at the iHeartRadio Music awards yesterday by Parkland shooting survivor Alex Moscou, criticized the NRA during his performance of the track "Nowhere Fast" with Kehlani. He opened the song, rapping:
"This whole country is going nuts/And the NRA is in our way/They're responsible for this whole production/They hold the strings, they control the puppet"
Street Art Sighting:
Spotted last Monday in Austin by Leo Lutz: a Willie Nelson campaign mural. | | Credit: Leo Lutz
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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