| | | | | President Trump boards Marine One upon departure from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, after his physical on Friday. Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump this afternoon heads to El Paso, Texas, for a campaign rally.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Back to the whole shutdown thing and whether we can avoid another.
It's Like Déjà Vu All Over Again:
Today is a big day if Democrats and the White House really want to try to hash out some sort of deal to prevent a second government shutdown -- they have until the 15th. This a great explainer about what round two of talks consists of, what issues remain for border funding and potential points of compromise.
Trump's Biggest Fan is Still Trump:
In case you were concerned, the President's cheerleader (himself) is still taking the time to make sure his self-esteem is fine. "No president ever worked harder than me (cleaning up the mess I inherited)!"
He also had some sage advice this morning for his political foes: "The Democrats are so self righteous and ANGRY! Loosen up and have some fun. The Country is doing well!"
"Also Known As Slavery":
Guys, in a CBS interview this weekend, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam tried to get away with saying "indentured servants from Africa." But Gayle King was not having it, and interjected, "also known as slavery." It was just one of King's amazing statements/questions in this interview with Northam, who, quite honestly, just does not get it. This exchange sort of blew my mind, and also when he said there's a "learning curve" to understanding that blackface is offensive. Wut? Here's what he said when King asked Northam what he has learned after the past couple of weeks:
"Well, several things, starting with I was born in white privilege and that has implications to it and it is much different the way a white person such as myself is treated in this country ..." Northam said. "Did you not know that you were born into white privilege?" King asks, cutting off the governor. "I knew I was, Ms. King, but I didn't realize, really, the powerful implications of that. And again, talking to a lot of friends, that has come crystally clear to me this week. I've also learned why the use of blackface is so offensive," he replied. "And yes, I knew it in the past, but reality has really set in." Northam says he won't resign. But I still really think he should. He sounds like an imbecile. Sorry.
Amy Klobuchar in the Snow:
The best part of watching Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar officially announce her candidacy for President yesterday was all of the snow that fell on her while she did it. I mean, there were other more important policy parts, of course, and there are the questions about how she treats her staff to consider, but the snow had me captivated. Here's what she looked like when she started her speech, and what she looked like when she finished. | | Credit: Kerem Yucel/AFP/Getty Images
On Twitter afterwards, Trump mocked Klobuchar's timing for announcing in a snowstorm, which is dumb considering the other more cerebral arguments he could make, but whatever. In response, Klobuchar pondered what the President's hair would look like in a blizzard ...
Trump is Exercise-Shmexercise, Basically:
According to this deep-dive on where the President's healthy habits are (non-existent) since his physical exam a year ago, sources say he has never set foot in the White House gym. Also, he's not really changed what he eats. But, come on, did we think he would? Trump's four-hour physical for this year happened on Friday afternoon at Walter Reed Military Medical Center and his doctor declared him in good health anyway.
Michelle Obama Does the Grammys:
Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance last night at the Grammy Awards (which were awesome, btw) and she did it wearing a sick custom made Sachin&Babi metallic pantsuit. Per their Instagram accounts, which I stalk on the regular, Michelle brought with her to Los Angeles her stylist, Meredith Koop, and her makeup artist, Carl Ray.
Here's Michelle onstage with Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Alicia Keys and somewhere under that hat is Jennifer Lopez. | | | Credit: Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic/Getty Images | | What Washington is Talking About:
Negotiations on border security to avoid another shutdown beginning Friday have reached an impasse, and Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina died Sunday at 76.
What America is Talking About:
Childish Gambino's "This Is America" became the first rap song to win record and song of the year at the Grammys and Cardi B's "Invasion of Privacy" was the first album by a solo woman to win best rap album. Kacey Musgraves' "Golden Hour" won album of the year and Dua Lipa won best new artist. The Dolly Parton tribute was amazing and in case you missed the Trump-inspired outfits on the red carpet, you can see them here.
The New Rules of Political Design:
Political design trends are changing. Presidential campaign logos today look more like those from 2018 midterm candidates than the corporate-style marks like Barack Obama's "O" and Hillary Clinton's "H." In fact, the only candidates using letter logos so far this cycle are the two who announced way back in 2017: John Delaney and Andrew Yang.
I spoke to O designer Sol Sender and H designer Michael Bierut for my piece, which you can read here. | | Counter-Programming:
Tonight while Trump rallies in El Paso, Beto O'Rourke will be speaking across the street as part of a one-mile "March for Truth: Stop the Wall, Stop the Lies." The march and rally are being organized by Women's March El Paso. He may even play with some of the bands scheduled to perform, organizer Lyda Ness-Garcia said.
And Yes, She Inhaled:
Sen. Kamala Harris was asked on "The Breakfast Club" whether she had ever smoked pot. "I did inhale. It was a long time ago, but yes," she said. "I just broke news." Harris admitted she smoked a joint and added, "I think that it gives a lot of people joy and we need more joy in the world." She said one of the reasons she believes marijuana should be legalized is so the effects of weed on a developing brain can be researched.
Buttigieg Says the Word "Socialism" Has Lost Meaning:
South Bend, Indiana, mayor, Democratic presidential candidate and millennial Pete Buttigieg spoke with our Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" Sunday and offered an interesting theory on why he thought President Trump's State of the Union promise that America won't become socialist doesn't pack the same punch for younger voters.
"I think [Trump's] clinging to a rhetorical strategy that was very powerful when he was coming of age 50 years ago, but it's just a little different right now," he said. "If you grew up during that Cold War period, then you saw a time in politics when the word 'socialism' could be used to end an argument. Today I think a word like that is the beginning of a debate, not the end of a debate. Look, America is committed to democracy, and we're essentially a market-based economy. But you can no longer simply kill off a line of discussion about a policy by saying that it's socialist."
Tiffany at NYFW:
Tiffany Trump sat front row at the Taoray Wang show Saturday in New York City with mom Marla Maples, boyfriend Michael Boulos, and Kimberly Guilfoyle (Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend). | | Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Taoray Wang
Street Art Sighting:
"Walls of Demand," an exhibit marking the one-year anniversary of the Parkland shooting, opened this weekend at the Center for Contemporary Political Art in downtown Washington. Among the work on display is "Home on the Range" (below left) and "Don't Shoot Gun-Birds" (below right) by Margi Weir.
The exhibit goes through March 15, and I'll have photos of additional pieces from the exhibit in this space tomorrow. | | Credit: Hunter Schwarz
Tag or DM me your political street art sightings @hunterschwarz on Twitter or Instagram, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com.
P.S.:
We had two announcement rallies this weekend, and boy, they were something. Elizabeth Warren announced at an actual mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts and walked out to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5." And Amy Klobuchar announced outside in the snow in Minneapolis and walked out to "The Bullpen" by Dessa, a Minnesota hip-hop artist.
I've added both songs to the 2020 walk-out playlist. You can spin and subscribe here. | | | | | | |
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