| | | | | President Donald Trump delivers remarks Wednesday during the Latino Coalition Legislative Summit in Washington. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images | | | Our Daily Melania: First lady to host International Women of Courage Award at the State Department
J-Kush in Mexico: Jared Kushner (sans his top secret security clearance) ditched US ambassador to meet with the Mexican President
The Stormy Daniels Story on Steroids: White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the case was won in arbitration | | | What the White House Is Talking About:
President Donald Trump has a Cabinet meeting today and later hosts a round table with people from the video game industry. He may also sign something to do with tariffs.
What the White House Press Corps Is Talking About:
Whether Trump is really mad at Sarah Sanders for the way she handled the Stormy Daniels questions at Wednesday's briefing. Also, what's the deal with the tariff signing? Today's briefing time is TBD.
"Rich Guys, They Love Rocket Ships":
This quote from the President this morning during his Cabinet meeting has quickly moved to my Top 5 all-time favorite Trump quotes. The President was touting the advances the United States has made with space and space exploration, one of the topics of the meeting. He also said this about chief economic adviser Gary Cohn, who was literally sitting behind him: "I have a feeling you will be back. I don't know if I can put him in the same position though. He is not quite as strong on those tariffs as we want him to be." | | Credit: Michael Reynolds/Getty images
To Tariff or Not to Tariff:
The President's plan was initially to announce big trade and tariff rules -- and possibly sign something -- at today's 3:30 p.m. event, but then, late Wednesday night, the media heard from White House officials that the event wasn't going to happen, but then (wait for it), the President tweeted this morning he's looking forward to what he's now calling a "meeting." Is it me, or has this whole tariff rollout thing been sort of a disaster? | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
"So, How'd It Go?":
Now, I'm not a lawyer, but I'm sure that's something Trump shouldn't be asking witnesses who have been called to interviews with special counsel Robert Mueller regarding the Russia investigation. However, according to The New York Times, that's basically what the President did.
Our Daily Melania:
The thing about this Stormy Daniels scandal is it just won't go away, which has to be frustrating for first lady Melania Trump. She's not commenting, and she hasn't so far, but it has *got* to be super-humiliating to keep seeing these headlines, and such pictures as the one Hunter's posted below. And let's not forget, it likely falls to the first lady to explain to her son, or steer him clear of, these stories.
But she's doing other stuff. This morning the first lady's office sent out an announcement that she will host the International Women of Courage Award for the second time at the State Department. Her remarks at last year's event were the first somewhat lengthy public sentences we'd heard from her since she became first lady. A White House official tells me that she will again make a speech of some length.
Maybe just because I have this Stormy Daniels stuff on the brain, but this part of the first lady's statement about her participation in today's awards ceremony stuck out to me: "(The honorees') courage only furthers my belief in the powerful impact women can make through solidarity and support of one another. Our strength is something to be celebrated. ..."
Cynthia Nixon Running for Governor Is Actually So Miranda:
Miranda was always the one with the most activism, and the most vocal about rights, especially when it came to women. She counseled Charlotte about her prenup with Trey, she wasn't worried about making more money than Steve, she worked her ass off to make partner in her law firm, she had a baby without being married, etc. I know I'm mixing fiction with reality here, but learning Cynthia Nixon might challenge Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for governor of New York makes me geek out in a way that only my love for "Sex and the City" can. | | Guys, I Maybe Can't With International Women's Day:
Let me just say upfront: I'm sorry, and please don't @ me. I don't know if I can handle my social media feeds on International Women's Day. There's a lot of self-service happening. I know that's difficult to accept, but let's be honest, this day is for many people, politicians and organizations, a 24-hour excuse to say stuff about themselves that's more "look at me, I'm awesome," than "look at women and inequality, and let's literally change some of these atrocities in a tangible way." That said, I feel the same way about international pet day because everyone says theirs is the best. So this could be a personality deficiency on my part. Thanks for listening.
Dress Like the Future Princess:
Meghan Markle is killing it in the fashion department. And she's also taken a liking to belted coats, which is something Melania Trump likes, too. Unfortunately, the J. Crew one she wore today (this navy wool number with white trim) is sold out. | | Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images, jcrew.com
But you can buy her amazing pumps, which are likely these Manolo Blahniks. I know they're expensive, $625 here, but having bought mine 15 years ago, they're a staple, and if you take care of them, Manolos last a long, long time. The Altuzarra bag is this cute top-handle model, here for $1,595. | | | Credit: Neil Mockford/GC Images/Getty Images, saksfifthavenue.com, bergdorfgoodman.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
A group of 107 House Repubs sent a letter to President Trump asking him to reconsider his tariffs "to avoid unintended negative consequences to the US economy and its workers," and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski testified before the House Intelligence Committee. He could be among the final witnesses in the committee's Russia investigation, as several lawmakers said they'll soon be prepared to create a written report of their findings.
What America is Talking About:
Amazon's Alexa is laughing at people, and McDonald's is commemorating International Women's Day with a stunt, flipping its Golden Arches logo upside down to look like a "W."
Poll of the Day:
The percentage of American adults who believe Jared Kushner should resign from his position at the White House, according to a Monmouth poll released Wednesday: | | Credit: Monmouth
J-Kush in Mexico:
Jared Kushner is in Mexico City, where he met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto without US Ambassador Roberta Jacobson in attendance (she announced earlier this month she's retiring in May). You may remember, Mexico is one of four countries where officials were reported to have discussed how they could manipulate J-Kush because of his inexperience and financial problems. 🤔
Trump's Been Trying to Peep the Special Counsel's Investigation:
The President has had conversations with at least two people who were interviewed by Robert Mueller's team's Russia investigation, per the New York Times. One of them is his former chief of staff Reince Priebus, who was asked by Trump if investigators were "nice," and the other was White House counsel Donald McGahn, who Trump asked to deny a New York Times article claiming Trump asked McGahn to fire Mueller.
The Stormy Daniels Story on Steroids:
Wednesday's White House briefing was filled with dodges and non-answers, but press secretary Sarah Sanders did give one response that shed new light on Trump's alleged affair with Stormy Daniels. When asked if Trump approved the $130,000 payment to her from lawyer Michael Cohen, Sanders said the "case has already been won in arbitration," which was news to me.
The statement by Sanders that the arbitration was won "in the President's favor" is an admission that the non-disclosure agreement exists, and that it directly involves the President. It is the first time the White House has admitted the President was involved in any way with Daniels. A source close to the White House told CNN Trump "is very unhappy" with Sanders' handling of the questions about the story. She "gave the Stormy Daniels storyline steroids yesterday," the source said.
Daniel's lawyer says Trump has "further threatened" his client, obtaining a temporary restraining order, and as late as yesterday, the private mediator who issued the order warned Daniels to not talk about the alleged affair. This morning, Daniels posted a #tbt on Instagram with the caption: "Good morning, haters." | | Credit: @thestormydaniels/Instagram
Sam Nunberg Says it Actually Wasn't Hard Prepping for Mueller Testimony:
In an interview with WABC Wednesday, the former Trump aide -- who, you'll remember, said that he didn't want to comply with the special counsel's subpoena because of the time commitment of going through his communications with various people in Trump's orbit was too great -- said it "was much easier to do than I initially thought" and that his bizarre TV media blitz was because he wanted to "do something memorable." 🤦 He said he's now turned over all the documents requested by Mueller.
Hope Hicks Hacked:
During her testimony before the House Intel Committee last week, the former White House comms director said she was unable to access two email accounts -- her personal and one used for her work on Trump's campaign -- and that one had been hacked, although she did not specify which one, sources at the testimony told NBC.
Betsy DeVos and Dwyane Wade Both Visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Yesterday:
The education secretary and the Miami Heat star were both at the school in Parkland, Florida, Wednesday. DeVos' visit was closed press, except for a student journalist, a broadcast student and a photographer from the yearbook. You can read the story from Douglas' The Eagle Eye here. Senior Kyra Parrow, who got to ask DeVos a question during a Q&A, said: "She didn't come to inform us or talk about how we are going to fix this issue; she just came to say that she came. That disappoints me."
Wade's visit played out much differently. He talked with students in the cafeteria during a lunch hour before meeting with classes and friends of Joaquin Oliver, a student who was killed in the shooting and who was buried in a Wade jersey. "I understand the power of my voice. I speak for the ones that don't have a voice… That whole 'just being a basketball player,' I'm so not that," Wade said, according to the Eye. | | Credit: @MichaelUdine/Twitter
Ruth Bader Ginsberg Working on her Fitness:
The trailer for the upcoming documentary "RBG" is out (watch it here), and it includes footage of the justice working out with her trainer, Bryant Johnson -- who is also a court clerk, an Army reservist, and the author of "The RBG Workout." Guys, she really planks. The film will be in theaters May 4. | | Credit: Magnolia Pictures
There's Also Going to be a Rachel Dolezal Documentary:
It's called "The Rachel Divide" and it's out on Netflix April 27. In the trailer, Dolezal talks about the risk she's taking in making the doc, and her son talks about how he thinks Dolezal, who found herself in the middle of a racial identity controversy in 2015, "did not choose her words carefully."
Street Art Sighting:
Spotted by Bethany Ford on the Lower East Side of New York City, a rainbow mural of pantsuits over the word "TOGETHER." It reminds me of the various photoshops of Hillary Clinton in an array of colored pantsuits that were shared online during the 2016 campaign. | | Credit: Bethany Ford
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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