| | | | James Comey is going to war with Donald Trump | | No one -- probably not even Donald Trump -- expected former FBI Director James Comey's memoir about his life and times with the President who fired him was going to be a fun read for the man who calls 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home.
But if the early reports of Comey's "A Higher Loyalty" are any indication, the fired FBI director decided to take on Trump with both barrels -- delivering an absolutely unsparing and embarrassing portrait of the most powerful person in the country.
In an excerpt of the book obtained by the New York Post, Comey recounts that at a dinner with Trump early in his presidency, the conversation turned to the possible existence of a salacious tape involving the president of the United States and urination.
Writes Comey, according to the Post:
"He brought up what he called the 'golden showers thing. It bothered him if there was 'even a one percent chance' his wife, Melania, thought it was true. ... He just rolled on, unprompted, explaining why it couldn't possibly be true, ending by saying he was thinking of asking me to investigate the allegation to prove it was a lie. I said it was up to him."
That revelation landed like an atomic bomb in political Washington.
While the rumored existence of the so-called "pee tape" had been swirling in Washington since BuzzFeed published the full dossier on Trump prepared during the 2016 election by former British spy Christopher Steele, most news organizations -- including CNN -- had avoided reporting on it. BuzzFeed News published the full, unverified dossier that included the infamous claim that Russian authorities had evidence of Trump watching prostitutes urinate in a hotel suite.
While portions of the dossier had been confirmed by the US intelligence community, other pieces of it -- including the most salacious details -- had not.
That Trump raised the specter of Comey using federal funds and time to prove to Melania Trump that the tape didn't exist is absolutely stunning. It is yet more proof that Trump's understanding of or care for the idea that the Justice Department doesn't work directly for him is limited, at best. And that he viewed (and views) lines between the professional and personal as largely meaningless.
Then there is the fact that Comey chose to write about it. And not just write about the questions over the "pee tape" but also broader allegations that Trump frequented prostitutes. [Trump] "strongly denied the allegations, asking — rhetorically, I assumed — whether he seemed like a guy who needed the service of prostitutes," writes Comey in an excerpt obtained by The Washington Post.
Trump and his allies will seize on Comey's willingness to write about these salacious details as evidence that he is nothing more than a self-promoter focused on selling books. And that everything in the book should be dismissed as a result.
Whether or not you buy that line, what is without question is that Comey isn't pulling punches. He is aiming to tear the hide off Trump and expose what he views as a President who is unfit for the office.
The Point: Buckle up.
-- Chris | | "We're the same as Iowa."
- Los Angeles mayor and 2020 presidential hopeful Eric Garcetti, ahead of his trip to Iowa later this week (per the Los Angeles Times) | | | POMPEO HEARING: EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED | | CIA director Mike Pompeo, the Trump administration's nominee to lead the State Department, had his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations committee on Thursday. Here are some major takeaways: - He has cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. "I spoke with special counsel Mueller, who interviewed me, requested an interview, I cooperated," he said.
- Pompeo was asked whether he agrees with President Trump that the Michael Cohen office and hotel search represents an "attack on the country." Pompeo hedged a bit by not taking on Trump's comments directly, but asserted that he "always believed that the rule of law matters," and "absolutely" thinks that includes respect for the execution of search warrants.
- He is on the same page with President Trump when it comes to a first strike against North Korea.
- He still opposes same-sex marriage, but added that he respects straight and gay people the same.
Read Chris' take on the hearing here. | | Washington Post's really important investigative report -- a must-read for dog lovers: Dog rescuers, flush with donations, buy animals from the breeders they scorn.
Danielle Tcholakian for The Cut on What It's Like to Know You'll Be on Antidepressants for Life.
Why America's Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis, by NYT's Linda Villarosa
NPR correspondent Leila Fadel traveled across the country to chat with young Muslims about how they are expressing themselves in new ways.
The Hollywood Reporter released its list of the 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media in 2018. Congrats to our CNN colleagues who are on there! | | | Drake's "Nice For What." Issa Rae, Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, Tiffany Haddish, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Letitia Wright, Rashida Jones, Michelle Rodriguez, Syd, Emma Roberts and Misty Copeland all make cameos in the music video, which debuted last week. | | | Today's topic: Mike Pompeo not remembering anything from his meeting with President Trump. | | CNN's Sophie Tatum reports: "Marine Corps Col. Lorna Mahlock has been nominated to serve as the first black female brigadier general, the Marine Corps media office said.
"Mahlock was nominated by President Donald Trump, and Defense Secretary James Mattis announced the nomination on Tuesday. According to his announcement, Mahlock is currently the deputy director of the Operations, Plans, Policies, and Operations Directorate at the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington."
Read more here. | | BACKLASH TOWARD GREITENS GROWS | | From CNN's Veronica Stracqualursi: "Two top Missouri Republicans are calling for the resignation of their state's GOP governor, Eric Greitens, following the release of a graphic report that includes allegations that Greitens engaged in nonconsensual sexual activity and violence against a woman with whom he had an affair.
"'The transcripts paint the picture of a vulnerable woman and a man who preyed on that vulnerability. I am disgusted, disheartened, and I believe Governor Greitens is unfit to lead our state,' Rep. Ann Wagner, who is one of two GOP congresswomen from Missouri, wrote on Twitter.
"The state's other GOP congresswoman, Rep. Vicky Hartzler, wrote in a Facebook post that Greitens' alleged behavior was 'disgusting' and 'not behavior befit for a leader in Missouri or anywhere else for that matter.'"
Read more here. | | SiLENCING TRUMP'S ACCUSERS | | Chris points out that there's a very disturbing pattern of silencing Donald Trump's accusers emerging. The latest evidence came Thursday when news broke that the National Enquirer's parent company American Media Inc. reportedly paid a doorman at Donald Trump's old building to ensure he not speak about the rumor that the then-real estate mogul had fathered a child out of wedlock.
"This establishes a pattern now," said Ronan Farrow, the reporter who broke the news of the latest alleged payoff -- it's not clear when in 2015 it occurred or whether Trump was officially a candidate -- in the pages of the New Yorker. Chris' take touches on why Farrow was right. Read more here. | | Kansas: Those evading child support payments have nowhere to hide. The state plans on posting mug shots of those who owe more than $5,000. More than $800 million was owed at the end of the last federal fiscal year.
The Wichita Eagle has more here. | | Here's why Brenna chose this GIF: "Rep. Conor Lamb made it official today, taking his place in the House. And when he stepped up in the building, everybody's (his and Paul Ryan's) hands went up! Also, apologies to the good people of West Virginia for my assessment that pepperoni rolls sounded to me like Hot Pockets. Tweet me the best place to get them while I'm there this summer!"
As always, thanks for reading! A reminder to please 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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