| | | | | President Donald Trump on Friday talks to the press in the Oval Office before a signing ceremony for the Criminal Justice Reform Bill. Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images | | | Shutdown Showdown: Back at a stalemate, President Trump tries to push the new spending bill, or else his vacation isn't happening -- oh, and the government shuts down.
Mattis Says Buh-Bye: And with his resignation comes concern the country's military status is in a bad place.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Cancer Scare: The Supreme Court announces the justice underwent surgery today. | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump this morning met with GOP leaders at the White House to try to prevent a partial government shutdown. He signed the "First Step Act," and "Juvenile Justice Reform Act," and has another signing ceremony later, for "The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act."
He and first lady Melania Trump were then supposed to leave for Mar-a-Lago for the Christmas and New Year's holiday, but that now hangs in the balance as a possible shutdown looms.
If it happens, Sarah Sanders has said the President will not go to Palm Beach.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
(Whispers: Is today going to be like yesterday?)
🚨 Ruth Bader Ginsburg has surgical procedure:
The 85-year-old Supreme Court justice had cancerous nodules removed from her lung -- nodules that were discovered thanks in part to her accident last month in which she fractured her ribs, requiring scans of her body. Doctors are confident they have gotten all of the cancer out of Ginsburg's lung, and she is "resting comfortably," according to a statement released by the Supreme Court.
Shutdown Showdown:
The House last night passed a spending bill that does include Trump's desired $5 billion for the border wall (or slats, which he called it yesterday) -- and now the Senate is considering the bill. If the Senate passes it, which they likely will not, then, cool, Palm Beach here Trump comes. If they don't, vacation's off, and shutdown commences.
If a partial shutdown *does* happen, here's a good take on the numbers and who will be affected and how.
Trump told reporters today, "We are totally prepared for a very long shutdown."
Mattis Falls Out, Fallout:
Everyone was surprised by yesterday's resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, but I feel like if anyone in the administration was going to actually *do* something about their conflicted feelings about Trump, it would be the general. This is a great tick-tock from our CNN team -- led by Barbara Starr -- behind the scenes of how the Mattis-Trump relationship crumbled to disrepair. The White House says the President will pick a new Sec Def by the end of the year, but there is a lot of fear and concern and distress about Mattis' departure, and about who Trump will choose. And, generally, the anxious murmurs over the state of the country's military presence without someone like Mattis at the helm are growing. Next up for U.S. troop departure? Afghanistan.
Stephen Miller Doubles-Down on Syria:
Miller was on "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer last night and, as he often does, became impassioned about his talking points, including the President's sudden decision to pull troops out of Syria. "ISIS is the enemy of Russia, ISIS is the enemy of Assad, ISIS is the enemy of Turkey," Miller said. "Are we supposed to stay in Syria for generation after generation, spilling American blood to fight the enemies of all those countries?" There was a lot of that kind of talk, at a volume that Wolf didn't particularly appreciate, so he told Miller there was no need to yell, which is proof that Wolf Blitzer is a national treasure.
Morning Tweets:
For your reading pleasure, I have just rounded them all up and put them in one conscious stream of thought.
@realdonaldTrump Senator Mitch McConnell should fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he fought for anything. He will need Democrat votes, but as shown in the House, good things happen. If enough Dems don't vote, it will be a Democrat Shutdown! House Republicans were great yesterday! @realdonaldTrump The Democrats are trying to belittle the concept of a Wall, calling it old fashioned. The fact is there is nothing else's that will work, and that has been true for thousands of years. It's like the wheel, there is nothing better. I know tech better than anyone, & technology..... @realdonaldTrump .....on a Border is only effective in conjunction with a Wall. Properly designed and built Walls work, and the Democrats are lying when they say they don't. In Israel the Wall is 99.9% successful. Will not be any different on our Southern Border! Hundreds of $Billions saved!
@realdonaldTrump No matter what happens today in the Senate, Republican House Members should be very proud of themselves. They flew back to Washington from all parts of the World in order to vote for Border Security and the Wall. Not one Democrat voted yes, and we won big. I am very proud of you!
@realdonaldTrump The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don't want Open Borders and Crime!
@realdonaldTrump Shutdown today if Democrats do not vote for Border Security! | | Michelle Obama Goes for the Gold:
Footwear, that is. The former first lady closed out her #IAmBecoming book tour on Wednesday night in Brooklyn wearing head-to-to Balenciaga gold -- including the house's famous "Knife" super-high boots. Well played, Michelle. Although, the credit goes, as it usually does for the past many years, to Meredith Koop, Michelle's longtime stylist and outfit guru. Koop is the mind behind Wednesday's glam. But it was Michelle who WORE IT. I loved Robin Givhan's take in the Washington Post: "Used with skill, fashion can help craft a public image that is magnetic. It's akin to having your own personal spotlight or an ever-present drumroll. Fashion announces one's relevance in the popular imagination — not just in the history books. It transforms a famous person into a celebrity, which carries greater value in the broader culture. There was a time when Mrs. Obama — or at least her East Wing staff — chafed at the designation "celebrity." Now, she is wrapping herself in its warm embrace." | | Credit: @valeriejarrett/Twitter
Dress Like the Former First Lady:
Figured you'd also want the deets. The dress is new, from Summer 2019 for Balenciaga; here's how it showed on the runway. And the boots are from a year prior, Summer 2018, and here's how they showed on the runway. They're still available for sale but as of today they're selling out fast -- they're available here for $3,900 (what? You thought they would be less?!). | | | Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images, balenciaga.com | | Credit: matchesfashion.com
CNN New Year's Eve:
I'll still be here next week, writing the Cover/Line, but mark your TV calendars for New Year's Eve with Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper -- because it is always fun! | | What Washington is Talking About:
Lawmakers of both parties are worried and even scared about about Defense Secretary James Mattis' resignation. Even Majority Leader McConnell expressed his concern. And the House passed a spending bill with $5 billion for President Trump's border wall that heads to the Senate, where it's expected to fail. We're heading toward a government shutdown, just in time for Christmas.
What America is Talking About:
The Dow dropped 464 points Thursday, and today is the Winter Solstice, the darkest, shortest day of the year.
Poll of the Day:
President Trump's approval rating during his first two years in office has been historically low, but you can't say it's not incredibly stable. Trump's 10-percentage point range from his high mark -- 45% -- to low -- 35% -- is the smallest of any president since at least Harry Truman, according to Gallup. | | Credit: Gallup
Obama's Taking on Gerrymandering:
Former President Obama's community organizing group, Organizing for Action, is being folded into the National Democratic Redistricting Committee to tackle gerrymandering reform. On a call with supporters Thursday, Obama talked about issues with wide support that Congress ignores, such as gun and immigration reform. "The single-most important thing that could be done at the grassroots level over the next few years is to make sure the rules of the road are fair," he said.
...And Also Hamilton:
Obama is featured on "One Last Time (44 Remix)," a remix of the "Hamilton" track, giving a spoken word interlude reading a George Washington speech.
There's Going to be a Whole Lot of Democratic Debates:
The DNC announced preliminary plans Thursday for 12 debates during its primary. The first is scheduled for June 2019, the last in April 2020, and none of the debates held next year are expected to be held in states with early primaries or caucuses.
You'll remember during the 2016 cycle, Republicans would often hold two debates, top-tier and undercard, determined by polling, to make room for everyone running. DNC chair Tom Perez said Democrats are open to dividing their debates at random, saying, "random assignment is the fairest way to give everybody that opportunity to make their voices heard and articulate what they are standing for."
The Guy Who's Crowdfunding the Border Wall Ran Fake News Sites:
Brian Kolfage, the Florida veteran whose GoFundMe to build a border wall has raised more than $11.5 million as of this morning, previously ran Right Wing News and a group of affiliate sites that sometimes posted conspiracy theories, per NBC. Right Wing News was among the pages Facebook took down in October that were either ad farms or which used fake accounts to drive traffic. Kolfage's fund seeks to raise $1 billion.
Street Art Sighting:
"Our Flag Unfurled" is a mural in Philadelphia by Meg Saligman that was created in 2001. I caught it as the sun was on its way down earlier this year, and it's probably the most gorgeous piece I've seen in all my street art hunting. | | Credit: Hunter Schwarz
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.
Today is my final issue of 2018. Kate will see you through the rest of the year, and I'm off to unplug and recharge over the holidays. I just wanted to thank you for reading, for sharing Cover/Line with your friends, and for emailing in and sending your street art sightings. I'd love to hear from your thoughts on the newsletter. What do you like most? What could you do without? How can we better serve you? Email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com. It's truly been a privilege to share 2018 with you. Thank you, and see you in the new year. | | | | | | |
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