| | | | | The American flag over the White House flies at half staff Thursday following the shooting in Thousand Oaks, California. Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images | | | Acting AG Has Some Interesting Thoughts: What Matthew Whitaker said about the Mueller investigation
Feel Better, RBG: Supreme Court Justice at GWU Hospital after breaking ribs in fall
A Peek Behind the Republican Curtain: What it's really like for some Repubs in Congress, per an outgoing congressman | | | What the White House is Talking About:
This morning, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump went to the investiture ceremony of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Later, Trump has a meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Jeff Sessions getting fired, what it means for the Robert Mueller investigation.
Spotted: Sen. Lindsey Graham entering the White House with the Trumps upon their return from the Supreme Court ceremony.
Also: Trump is considering Chris Christie as AG replacement.
Acting Attorney General Has Interesting Thoughts:
Matthew Whitaker was Sessions' chief of staff, so it must have been awkward to say the least when he bid his boss farewell from the Department of Justice yesterday, and then took his spot. Whitaker was a CNN legal contributor, and last year to Don Lemon he said some interesting things about what Trump could or might do with the Mueller investigation; he also wrote a CNN Opinion piece stating the Mueller investigation was going too far.
Whitaker was spotted at the White House just after 11 a.m. today.
We Had a Feeling The Season Finale Could Include Roger Stone:
Perhaps the most important/mysterious/interestingly dressed character in all of the Russia investigation is Trump loyalist Roger Stone, who, it appears via our reporting, has come under more scrutiny from Mueller and his team as they head toward the finish line.
It's the Final (Mueller) Countdown, Trump Prepping:
It seems the end is near for the special counsel investigation. CNN is reporting Mueller is nearing the end of his investigation, and that the President and his legal team are reviewing their answers to the special counsel's questions. It's sort of like getting to take the test questions home with you.
Asylum Changes Could Come This Week:
Trump is also preparing to go ahead with imposing stricter immigration rules, via executive action, as he promised he would do during midterm campaigns. He could be issuing a presidential proclamation as early as tomorrow ...
Feel Better, RBG!:
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fell in her office last night, fracturing three ribs. This morning, she's at George Washington University Hospital for observation.
Our Daily Melania:
Here's an image of Melania at the Kavanaugh event this morning, wearing gloves. Now I'm not sure if it was chilly in there, or if she was paying homage to RBG (who is a glove-wearer), but it is a look to wear leather gloves indoors. | | Credit: supremecourt.gov
Note To Sessions, Go to Old Ebbitt For a Cocktail:
Washingtonian did a fun thing where they went to three bars in town and told the bartender they got fired, or dumped, or their dog died. It's quick and witty, take a peek.
This Is Very Disturbing:
No matter what your politics inspires you to do, please let it not be this. It is scary, it is uncalled for, and it is not helping the current climate.
And This is Very, Actually Great:
As I finish up a huge writing project I've been working on for months and months, I've found procrastination tactics provided by the internet are a helpful part of life. Please enjoy today's, with this amazing illustration -- "The 31 Best Dance Scenes in Movies." You're welcome. | | | Credit: washingtonpost.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
Following Jeff Sessions' firing, Democrats say Robert Mueller's investigation must be protected and called on acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to recuse himself from the probe. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said it would be a "constitutional crisis" if the investigation was ended or limited. In all, Republicans have been less vocal (see further below).
What America is Talking About:
Twelve people were killed in a shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California.
Poll of the Day:
The religious makeup of the electorate is changing. Pew found Wednesday the percentage of Protestant and other Christian voters has fallen from 55% in 2006 to 47% this year, while the religiously unaffiliated vote rose from 11% to 17% in the same period. | | Credit: Pew
Republicans React to Sessions' Firing: - Sen. Lindsey Graham told CNN last year there would be "holy hell to pay" if Sessions was fired, but Graham isn't making Trump pay for anything now. He said in a statement he looks forward to finding a "confirmable, worthy successor" for AG.
- Sen. Tim Scott said he hopes Trump nominates a successor who is "invested in criminal justice reform" (cc: Kim Kardashian).
- Sen.-elect Mitt Romney tweeted that it was "imperative" that Mueller's investigation "proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded."
- Outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake called on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring legislation meant to protect Mueller, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, to the Senate floor.
- McConnell released a statement wishing Sessions well and praising him for being "steadfast in his commitment to the rule of law and his love of our great nation."
Flake's Warns of Trump Cult of Personality in Op-Ed:
In a Washington Post editorial published in today's paper, Flake wrote that Republicans must believe in "something greater than President Trump again."
"If I were 18 today and had to say what conservatives now believe in, and my only evidence was the campaign now concluded, I would have to say that the conservative party in the United States seems to be the party that scares you into supporting it. I would have to say that it is the party fueled by anger, by racial and cultural resentments, by outlandish conspiracy theories and by what can only be described as an irrational fear of immigration."
A Peek Behind the Republican Curtain:
Outgoing Rep. Ryan Costello, a Pennsylvania Republican, provided a glimpse of what life and work have been like for some Republican lawmakers under Trump, and it's the type of thing you hear off-the-record, but not publicly.
Upset over Trump trashing Republicans who lost their races at his press conference yesterday, Costello told our Kate Bolduan that the Republicans Trump mocked, "are hard-working, independent-minded, center-right Republicans who woke up every single day and got angry phone calls and protests and unending amounts of criticism, not for anything they particularly did, but because they're Republicans and there's such angst and anger against the President." They lost because of Trump, Costello said.
You can watch the segment here. | | Credit: CNN
Turn Down For Who?:
Trump was asked at yesterday's press conference about accusations that he's made racist comments -- allegations from people once close to him, including Michael Cohen, Omarosa, and Lil Jon. Trump denied the accusations and claimed to not know who Lil Jon was.
The rapper was a contestant on Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice." His winnings in a 2011 season included $40,000 for the United Methodist Children's Home in Georgia, a charity he picked because his family took in foster kids when he was growing up.
Lil Jon hasn't publicly commented on Trump's "I-don't-know-her" moment and doesn't seem to be bothered. He's currently in Australia for RNB Fridays Live, a tour with Usher, Salt N Peppa, and others, and he's been instead posting up about Stacey Abrams, who has yet to concede her race for Georgia governor, and Sessions' firing: | | Credit: @liljon/Instagram story
Time Taps Edel Rodriguez For Post-Election Cover:
The artist illustrated the issue dated November 19, 2018. | | Credit: Time
Street Art Sighting:
Here's Trump as Elvis in Melbourne, Australia's street art district Hosier Lane, by artist Headache Stencil. | | Credit: @headache_stencil/Instagram
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.
Correction: In Wednesday's issue I indicated the wrong offices Marsha Blackburn and either Kyrsten Sinema or Martha McSally would become the first women to hold. They were candidates for Senate. | | | | | | |
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