| | | | The Supreme Court just gave Democrats a much better chance of retaking the House in 2018 | | On Monday afternoon, the Supreme Court handed Democrats a major victory in the party's attempt to retake the House this November, turning aside an appeal by Pennsylvania Republicans that would have kept the state's new congressional map from being in effect for the coming primary and general elections in the Keystone State.
At issue was a map put in place by Republicans at the state level in Pennsylvania following the 2010 census. Despite the state's demonstrated Democratic lean, the map usually gave advantage to the GOP. Republicans currently control 12 seats. Democrats will control six, assuming that Conor Lamb's victory in the 18th District special election stands. Democrats filed suit and the state Supreme Court sided with them.
The new map, which now almost certainly will be the lines under which candidates will run in 2018, handed Democrats a series of opportunities including at least three seats in southeastern Pennsylvania and several more improved opportunities in places like Allentown and southwestern Pennsylvania. (For much more on the map fight, check out my Q&A with the Philly Inquirer's Jonathan Tamari.)
For Democrats, the Supreme Court order is good news on top of good news. The national political environment -- as signaled by Lamb's likely victory in a district that Trump won by 20 points in 2016 -- suggests that a large-ish Democratic wave is building in advance of November. Trump's unpopularity, historic trends against the party in power in midterms and the tremendous energy within the Democratic base (again, thanks to Trump) are creating a political climate where Republicans who never thought they would have to worry about a challenge in the general election now have to start worrying.
The broader Point here is twofold: 1) This is a major win for Democrats hoping to retake the House majority this November and 2) If the Court ultimately decides that partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional, it will have a profound effect on how maps gets drawn -- and who controls the House majority -- in 2021 and beyond.
Read my full take here.
--Chris | | "I love tough guys."
-- President Donald Trump during his speech in New Hampshire on Monday | | | MAGIC WALL: REPUBLICAN SEATS IN JEOPARDY | | | Chris utilized CNN's magic wall to explain why, as of mid-March, there are now 69 Republican seats in jeopardy in the November election. Check out the full video here. | | | Ben Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda mashed up "Hamilton" and "Dear Evan Hansen" for the song "Found Tonight." It's obviously amazing. Listen here. | | | While her father was in New Hampshire, first daughter and presidential adviser Ivanka Trump was in Iowa Monday, where she met with Gov. Kim Reynolds and visited the Waukee Innovation and Learning Center. There, she posted on her Instagram story that she practiced her coding skills. Per CNN's Betsy Klein she also toured the facility, met with students and faculty, and discussed skills-based training and technology education. Read more in Betsy's story here. | | TRUMP CALLS RUSSIA PROBE 'WITCH HUNT' (AGAIN) | | President Donald Trump on Monday continued his Twitter attack on special counsel Robert Mueller, calling the ongoing investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election a "witch hunt."
As Chris has written before, Trump has frequently slammed the probe as a "witch hunt," dismissing it as a frivolous investigation launched by his political enemies seeking to delegitimize his election victory.
The tweet came after Trump lashed out at Mueller's team over the weekend, as well as former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and former FBI Director James Comey, raising fresh speculation the President could seek to fire Mueller. Chris' take: Trump may not be able to fire Robert Mueller. So he's doing the next best thing. | | RUSSIAN ELECTION: REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK | | | Photo courtesy: Marshall Cohen / CNN | | Speaking of Russia, CNN' Politics' Marshall Cohen is in Moscow, where he watched the Russian presidential election unfold on Sunday. He sent us a dispatch for The Point. He writes:
I accompanied CNN's team to Manezhnaya Square, adjacent to the Kremlin, where Russian President Vladimir Putin held his victory rally on Sunday night. The outcome was never in doubt: Putin faced no real opposition and he won with an overwhelming 76% of the vote.
Supporters endured temperatures in the mid-teens for hours while musical acts revved up the crowd. Many were either pretty old or children -- a younger cohort was seemingly missing. Putin came out and gave a brief speech to the nation, which lasted less than five minutes.
There was a massive law enforcement presence, ranging from local cops to members of the special police forces. Local government workers were seen constructing flags that were later handed out to people in the crowd, even though that probably violated election laws.
By the way: If anyone got hungry, they could choose from dozens of food stands that circled the plaza. After enjoying a free sample of meatballs, I bought a sausage wrapped inside a pancake.
Read about the election with CNN's coverage here -- and look out for more reporting from Marshall on CNN Politics' website in the coming days. | | THE OTHER BUNDO BOOK, BY JOHN OLIVER | | CNN's Betsy Klein reported Monday: "Comedian John Oliver is provoking Mike Pence with a parody book about the vice president's pet bunny to coincide with the Pence family's release of a new children's book.
"'Marlon Bundo's A Day in the Life of the Vice President' was written by the vice president's daughter, Charlotte Pence, and illustrated by second lady Karen Pence, a watercolor artist. The book, which is out Monday, gives young readers a bunny's-eye view of the special duties of the vice president,' per its publisher.
"Not to be out-bunned, HBO's 'Last Week Tonight' released its own version, 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents a Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.' The late-night comedy news program's book 'tells the story of Vice President Mike Pence's famed pet rabbit's same-sex wedding,' per its publisher."
Read more here or watch the "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" clip here (about 14 minutes in). | |  | | H/T Brenna | | | Speaking of Marlon Bundo, he stopped by Fox News on Monday, giving us a very fun GIF. Hop to your email inbox and 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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