| | | | | President Trump speaks at a "Salute to the Heroes of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection" event at the White House Monday. Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images | | | Melania's Heading to Africa: FLOTUS announces her first big solo international trip
One Year Later, How're His Eyes?: Today is the anniversary of the eclipse
Hi, Yes, Michael Avenatti Was at the VMAs: The most surprising part of the show | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump today has a lunch with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the White House. This afternoon he also meets with labor union leaders in a closed press event. Later, Trump departs for Charleston, West Virginia, for a Make America Great Again rally.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
The newsy bits of the Reuters interview with President Trump. Also, for the reporters waiting out a Manafort jury decision today, whether it's going to rain.
No plan for a White House briefing today, but there could be a gaggle with the press on the way to Charleston.
The Perjury Trap:
It is clear from the interview Trump did yesterday with Reuters that he is nervous about getting tangled up in a perjury trap if he talks with special counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia investigation. "Even if I am telling the truth, that makes me a liar," Trump said. His concern is he doesn't know what others have already testified to, which could make him vulnerable to not matching up with what Mueller has already heard. On CNN this morning, Jeff Mason, who has interviewed Trump a number of times, said his mood was slightly more guarded, and he even said the words "no comment" a couple of times, a rarity for him. He also didn't "press the secret button" for a butler to come and offer Mason a soda, something the President has done in the past for him and other reporters during Oval Office interviews. Trump added he's decided he will "stay out" of the Mueller investigation, but: "Now, I don't have to stay out, as you know. I can go in and I could... do whatever, I could run it if I want." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Manafort, Day Four:
What's going on over there in that Alexandria jury room? That's the big question as day four of deliberation got underway today in the Paul Manafort trial. Just before noon, the jury sent a note to the judge asking how to handle it if they're hung on one charge. CNN's Shimon Prokupecz explains: the jury asked in a note: "If we cannot come to a consensus for a single count, how can we fill in the verdict sheet?" The jury note also said they needed a new verdict sheet, and they asked what not coming to a conclusion would mean for the "final verdict." Manafort has been charged with 18 counts of tax evasion, bank fraud, and hiding money in illegal accounts.
Trump's Security Clearance Revoking on Clearance:
You don't get a pass! And you don't get a pass! There's a growing fear among the national security folks that the President is about to go on a revoking-of-security-clearances bonanza. Last night he tweeted about CNN contributor Phil Mudd's heated exchange with Paris Dennard last week, and questioned Mudd's "mental condition." Trump questioned whether to revoke Mudd's security clearance, earned over his lengthy career at the CIA and FBI. This morning, the President was upset about a New Yorker story suggesting Trump was possibly considering denying Barack Obama clearance for intelligence briefings that all living presidents are able to access. | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Our Daily Melania:
Yesterday Melania Trump announced her first big solo international trip and it's .... Africa! She's going in October and will visit several countries during the trip, and she'll talk up Be Best while learning about local programs helping children. I think it's forever interesting to think about whether Melania chooses to do and/or say things that appear to be intentionally/coincidentally antagonizing something her husband has said/done in the past. This time, to pick Africa, the place he reportedly associated the term "shithole countries" with, is pretty compelling. I'm scheduled to tag along on the trip and report -- can't wait to share it all with you guys. And to also share with you the song in my head that's been playing for the past 16 hours since the trip was announced: "Africa," by Toto. Now you have to hear it all day, too. You're welcome.
One Year Later, How're His Eyes?:
Today is the anniversary of one of my top ten favorite moments of the Donald Trump presidency so far: the time he looked up at the sun during the solar eclipse without wearing the special glasses. It was, in a word, spectacular. Let's remember: | | Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Guys, there it is. Right there. | | Credit: Nicholas Kamm/Getty Images
Yep, stilllll looking. | | Credit: Nicholas Kamm/Getty Images
Dress Like the First Lady:
Yesterday, I was in Rockville covering Melania's attendance at an anti-cyberbullying summit. She wore a Michael Kors Collection pantsuit, pants are $695 and jacket is $1,395. Note FLOTUS did her signature no-arms-through-sleeves. The interesting part for me is that she still loves to rock a pussy-bow blouse, and yesterday was no exception. She was wearing this Chloé light lavender number, on sale here at 50% off for $473. For the uninitiated, the term "pussy bow" comes from the style of neck wear on a blouse, which became popular in the 1930s and '40s, reminiscent of the bows that people used to tie around the necks of their kittens and cats. | | | Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, farfetch.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is holding a hearing on US-Russia relations, the Senate Banking Committee is holding a hearing on Russian sanctions, and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is meeting with lawmakers including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
What America is Talking About:
Microsoft announced Russian hacking attempts (more on that below), protesters at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill toppled a Confederate statue last night, and Madonna's tribute to Aretha Franklin at the VMAs was mostly about Madonna.
Poll of the Day:
President Trump has said he hires the best people, but most American adults disagree, according to a Monmouth poll released Monday. The poll found 58% believe Trump does not hire the best people, while 30% believe he does. | | Credit: Monmouth
Russia's Latest Hacking Attempt:
Microsoft said today it found six websites created by the group Fancy Bear, which hacked the DNC in 2016 and takes orders from GRU, the Russian military unit. The sites were made to look like sites for conservative think tank the Hudson Institute, the International Republican Institute, and sites used by Senate staffers, and they could have been used to trick users into handing over information. Microsoft said it found no evidence the sites were successful.
David Hogg Says He's Running For Congress As Soon As He Can:
Hogg is already thinking about the 2026 midterms. In his New York magazine cover story, Hogg said he plans on running for Congress when he's 25, which is as soon as he's constitutionally old enough. Hogg also said he believes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is "a future president of the United States," there should be age limits for politicians ("Older Democrats just won't move the f*ck off the plate and let us take control. Nancy Pelosi is old."), and he doesn't have many political idols. Bernie Sanders is "a great guy, terrible on guns" and Barack Obama "increased drone warfare and killed a lot of civilians." "Honestly, they all kind of suck," he said. | | Credit: New York Magazine
Hi, Yes, Michael Avenatti Was at the VMAs:
That was perhaps the most surprising part of the show. He tweeted about the youth voter registration campaign MTV launched last night and told Variety he was at the VMAs because he got an invite and decided to show up. And yes, he's serious about running for president, he said (fun fact: before he was president, Donald Trump also attended the VMAs). | | Credit: Paul Zimmerman/WireImages
There was also a "Make America Gay Again" jacket worn by Bobby Lytes. | | Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV
And Logic wore a "F**k The Wall" tee and brought on members of immigration groups wearing shirts that read "We Are All Human Beings" during his performance of "One Day." | | Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImages
I'd have to say my personal favorite performance last night was Nicki Minaj's.
MTV Shares Palin-Filled "Teen Mom" Promo:
MTV promises an "all-new 'Teen Mom'" in a 15-second ad for the new season. In it, Bristol says her life is "not perfect at all," and gets an "amen" from her mom. The new season premieres October 1. | | Credit: MTV
Street Art Sighting:
This will likely be the most KAG thing you see all day. Artist Scott LoBaido created a massive, buff Trump 2020 display for a yard in Long Island. LoBaido previously made a giant Trump "T" yard display in 2016 that was burned down, so he made another. | | Credit: Scott LoBaido
If you spot political street art, tweet me @hunterschwarz, tag me on Instagram @hunterschwarz, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com with your sighting so I can feature it in COVER/LINE. | | | | | | |
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