| | | | Donald Trump is (probably) healthier than you |  | | The results are in! And Donald Trump is in "very good health overall."
That's according to Sean Conley, physician to the President, in his memorandum on the results of Trump's yearly physical conducted earlier this month at Walter Reed. (You can read the whole report -- it's one page long -- here.)
The report is short on details about Trump's health but, from what is in there, it does appear that, for a 72-year-old man, Trump is quite healthy.
Consider:
* His blood pressure is 118/80. That's good!
* His resting heart rate is 70 beats per minute. Also good!
* His LDLs (bad cholesterol) went from 143 in 2018 to 122 in 2019. Good!
There's one sprinkle of rain on Trump's health: His weight. At 6'3" and 243 pounds -- he was 239 last year -- he has a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 31 and is considered clinically obese.
That may have something to do with the fact that Trump is legendarily averse to exercise, believing that it drains one's life battery unnecessarily. "The President received a diet and exercise plan last year after his annual physical, but the President admits he has not followed it religiously," said Hogan Gidley, the principal deputy White House press secretary, earlier this month.
Trump, despite his distaste for exercise and his taste for fast food, takes an acute interest in his health -- especially as a means to tout his "good genes." In fact, Trump's longtime personal doctor, Dr. Harold Bornstein, said in a letter during the 2016 presidential campaign that if the billionaire businessman won, he would be "the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency."
Bornstein later admitted that Trump dictated that letter.
The Point: As the oldest person ever elected to a first term as president, Trump's health could well be an issue in the 2020 campaign. According to his doctor, at least, there's no issue there.
-- Chris | | "You have to be tough to make it in New York City. ... If Amazon can't recognize what that's worth, its competitors will."
-- New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, responding to Amazon's abrupt breakup with its planned HQ2 in New York. | | | We're on the cusp of having a 32nd national emergency declaration.
President Trump now plans to sign off on legislation to fund border security and avert another shutdown, even though it lacks the $5.7 billion he requested for his border wall. The bill headed to Trump's desk only has $1.375 for 55 miles of border barriers. (Chris explains why this is a massive capitulation.)
But Trump will also declare a national emergency -- "delivering on his promise to build the wall, protect the border, and secure our great country," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said today.
By doing both, the President is planning to have his cake and eat it, too (just like Chris predicted he would).
For what it's worth, an emergency declaration is pretty unfavorable among most Americans (66% say Trump should not declare the emergency), recent polling from CNN and SSRS shows. But among conservatives, the move is well-received: 72% are largely in favor. | | THE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL DEBT | |  | The US owes a whopping $22 trillion. It's getting worse | | America's massive national debt has reached staggering heights. In his latest video, Chris explains how we got here -- and what we can do about it.
One thing you can do right now: Subscribe to The Point's YouTube page! | | | Sick of the Valentine's sap? Ariana Grande comes to the rescue with "NASA." | | WHERE THE NATION STANDS ON GUN LAWS | | It has been one year since the Parkland High School shooting that claimed 17 lives. Polling pro Grace Sparks helps break down the latest polling on guns for The Point:
Over a quarter of parents with K-12 students said their child knows someone who has been the victim of gun violence, according to a new poll by NPR/PBS/Marist, a year after the deadly shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Since Parkland, the gun control debate hasn't changed significantly -- though now fewer people think the teenage activists in Parkland have had a major impact on the gun control debate (down from 33% in April 2018 to 18% now).
Partisanship and gender both still strongly predict views on gun control and concern for violence in the community. Democratic women are the most likely to have said they were worried "a great deal" about the issue (32%), over Democratic men (20%), Republican men (8%) and Republican women (17%).
A huge majority support requiring background checks for gun purchases -- 82% thought it'd make a difference in reducing gun violence -- though that number was smaller among gun owners, 68% of whom thought it would make a difference. | | The Democratic debates: CNN will host the second of the first two presidential primary debates this spring. NBC/Telemundo will host the first. The DNC also released the requirements for candidates to make it onto the debate stage, which rely on breaking the 1% threshold in three different quality polls OR receiving campaign contributions from at least 65,000 unique donors, and a minimum of 200 unique donors per state in at least 20 states. There's also a 20-candidate cap for the debate stage. If more than 20 qualify, the selection would prioritize those who met both thresholds, followed by those who met just the polling threshold, and then grassroots fundraising.
Kamala Harris: Just got a major boost from Rep. Barbara Lee's endorsement. Lee previously headed up the Congressional Black Caucus and will now co-chair Harris' campaign.
Joe Biden: Met with Dianne Feinstein, who believes the former vice president will run in 2020, CNN's Manu Raju reports. Biden has been huddling with allies as he makes up his mind. If/when he does run, Feinstein has said she will back him.
Beto O'Rourke: Is planning to travel to the University of Wisconsin - Madison for a meet and greet with faculty and students on Friday. Politico separately reports O'Rourke was approached by Chuck Schumer to challenge GOP Sen. John Cornyn in 2020, should he not run for president.
Michael Bennett: The Colorado senator will meet with Iowa Democrats later this month as he considers jumping into the 2020 fray. | |
PRESIDENTIAL LOVE LETTERS 💘 | | What better way to mark the Valentine's Day holiday than to peruse the amorous missives of some former presidents?
Like this sweet note from Ronald Reagan to wife Nancy Reagan: "Feb. 14 may be the date they observe and call Valentine's Day but that is for people of only ordinary luck. I happen to have a 'Valentine's life' which started on March 4, 1952 and will continue as long as I have you."
John Adams and Abigail Adams exchanged more than 1,100 letters throughout their relationship, like this one John sent to Abigail in December 1782: "Ever remember me as I do you; with all the tenderness which it is possible for one object to feel for an other; which no time can obliterate no distance alter, but which is always the same in the Bosom of Portia."
George H.W. Bush sent this letter to then-fiancee Barbara Bush while he was serving in the Navy during World War II: "I love you, precious, with all my heart and to know that you love me means my life. How often I have thought about the immeasurable joy that will be ours some day. How lucky our children will be to have a mother like you."
And because Lauren is a complete sucker for this, enjoy this bonus line from Bush's letter: "Goodnite, my beautiful. Everytime I say beautiful you about kill me but you'll have to accept it." | | | | | | |
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