| | | | 'No collusion ... No collusion ... No collusion ... No collusion ... No collusion' | | On Wednesday night at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago, Bloomberg's Jennifer Jacobs asked President Donald Trump a simple question: Had he decided, in light of recent events, that it no longer was advantageous for him to sit down for an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller?
What came next was a word salad that amounted to a on-the-fly mashup of Trump's greatest hits when it comes to the ongoing Russia probe.
Trump said the phrase "no collusion" three times in the first sentence he uttered as an answer. He went on to say it twice more.
Trump also called the Mueller probe a "hoax" cooked up by Democrats to cover for their embarrassing election loss at least twice, and noted that Democrats had a tremendous built-in advantage in the Electoral College.
Abe, showing this isn't his first political rodeo, simply stared into space as Trump talked.
None of this is new rhetoric from Trump. And therefore it shouldn't be surprising.
And yet, the whole thing felt jarring and hugely out-of-place. An American president insisting that a special counsel probe being run out of his Justice Department and being spearheaded by a former FBI director appointed by a Republican president is a sham created by his political opponents? Really?
The Point: Trump has one gear. Whether he is speaking at a campaign rally or taking questions at a joint press conference with a foreign leader. Full speed ahead. Always.
-- Chris | | Barbara Bush, Republican matriarch and former first lady, died at age 92 on Tuesday night. From CNN's obituary: "Only the second woman in American history to have had a husband and a son elected President (Abigail Adams was the first), Bush was seen as a plainspoken public figure who was instantly recognizable with her signature white hair and pearl necklaces and earrings. She became a major political figure as her husband, George H.W. Bush, rose to become vice president and president. After they left the White House, she was a potent spokeswoman for two of her sons -- George W. and Jeb -- as they campaigned for office."
For more context on Barbara Bush and her role in American politics, Chris reached out to Kate Andersen Brower. Brower, a CNN contributor, wrote "First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies" and has a new book out June 5. Read their Q&A here.
President Donald Trump late Tuesday ordered flags lowered to half-staff through Saturday night in memory of the former first lady. First lady Melania Trump, along with several ex-presidents, will attend the funeral for Bush in Texas on Saturday. Here's CNN's roundup of all the condolences and reactions to Bush's passing. | | | Today's topic? Mitch McConnell's odd comments that he made Tuesday in an interview with Fox News Channel. | | BERNIE S AND CARDI B AGREE | |  | Last month, rapper Cardi B complained about her taxes in an Instagram video. "So you know the government is taking 40% of my taxes. And, Uncle Sam, I want to know what you're doing with my f—ing tax money," she said.
Earlier this week, during "Last Week Tonight," host John Oliver answered Cardi's question. WaPo's Philip Bump also addressed Cardi's rant in an explainer published last month.
Now, Sen. Bernie Sanders is weighing in. "Cardi B is right," the Vermont senator tweeted. "If we are really going to make America great we need to strengthen Social Security so that seniors are able to retire with the dignity they deserve."
Read more in CNN's story by Donald Judd here. | | CNN's Caroline Kenny reports: "In an interview with 'Colorado Politics,' Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper ramped up talk suggesting he might seek the Oval Office in 2020 after an event on Tuesday in the District of Columbia.
" 'At some time I want to sit down and spend some time to think about it,' Hickenlooper said in the interview about running for president. But, like many others considering a run, the Colorado governor says it's too soon to make a decision. 'Maybe this summer,' he added.
"This isn't the first time speculation about a Hickenlooper 2020 run has arisen. He traveled to Des Moines earlier this month to speak at the Governor's 2018 Future Ready Iowa Summit. He's also been appearing at bipartisan events with his friend, Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and the two have been discussed as running on a potential unity ticket." | | EMILY'S LIST CONFERENCE IN DC | | Saba went to the Emily's List conference in Washington on Wednesday, where the organization's president, Stephanie Schriock, outlined their strategy for helping Democrats win back the House and Senate in 2018. - On the House: "In the House, our philosophy has been in a moment where so many women are stepping up to run, it is our job to deliver the House majority. We need 23 seats. ... We have recruited not just to hit 23 but we are actively engaged in 30 red-to-blue seats."
- On what she tells House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: "We'd like to deliver the majority, so we can do that. Some of the men, they can be like the icing on the cake ... it's time for the women to do this."
- Senate race priorities: Emily's List is focusing on four states: Arizona, Nevada, Missouri and Wisconsin. "We'll be very active in those states," Schriock said. "Our main focus thus far is ensuring the re-election of Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin. ... For the Democrats to take back majority they have to win all the incumbents' races. Then we gotta pick up two."
| | 🚨TOM STEYER ENDORSES DE LEON🚨 | | The LA Times reported Wednesday that billionaire Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de León and not Democratic US Sen. Dianne Feinstein in California's Senate race.
"I think he's the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally," Steyer told LAT.
As CNN's Eric Bradner reported earlier this year, Steyer is "the largest individual donor in Democratic politics. The 60-year-old began amassing a net worth -- which Forbes now estimates is $1.6 billion -- in 1986, when he launched Farallon Capital, a hedge fund that ultimately managed $20 billion while Steyer was there. Steyer told reporters in Washington in January that he is not running for office this year. Instead, he said, he'll spend $30 million on House races, attempting to unseat Republicans in 10 states. He said he'll also 'double' his Trump impeachment push." | | | From Brenna: "UN Ambassador Haley gave a thumbs up when asked about her relationship with Donald Trump. This came a day after her epic clapback after Larry Kudlow said she was confused when talking about Russian sanctions. Nothing to see here, folks!" Hope you had a great Wednesday. 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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