The Point: Donald Trump should probably stop talking now

View this email in your browser October 4, 2019  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski Donald Trump should probably stop talking now It seemed like every time you turned your TV on this week, Donald Trump was talking about Ukraine. That's an exaggeration, but not much of one. Trump held court twice on Thursday -- once at a photo availability with the Finnish President and once in a more formal press briefing -- and then worked the media rope line outside the White House for more than 20 minutes Friday morning before heading to Walter Reed hospital. The President talking to the media is a good thing! For the media and the American public! But man oh man, is it a bad thing for this President -- especially as he tries to downplay the potential damage the ongoing impeachment inquiry in the House could do him. Why? Because Trump has a habit of saying the quiet part out loud. Like on Thursday, when he said this about his desire for the Ukrainians to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter: "Well I would think that if they were honest about it, they'd start a major investigation into the Bidens. It's a very simple answer. They should investigate the Bidens. Likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine. So, I would say that President Zelensky, if it were me, I would recommend that they start an investigation into the Bidens." (Sidebar: Trump almost certainly added China into that quote because he was aware of a story, first reported by CNN, that he had raised Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in a June phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping.) Trump's open urging that foreign countries open investigations into his primary rival for the presidency in 2020 led the New Yorker's Susan Glasser to wonder "Did Donald Trump just Self-Impeach?" Trump's loquacity is born of two interconnected realities: 1) he believes himself to be his own best advocate and messenger and 2) when he feels back into a corner or in peril, his natural tendency is to unleash a series of verbal onslaughts at all available targets. The problem for Trump here is that the more he talks, the more fodder he gives Democrats in their ongoing impeachment inquiry. It's not all that different from Trump's repeated public attempts to get in the way of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe -- moves that led Mueller to make clear in his final report that he could not rule out the idea Trump had purposely obstructed the probe. The Point: Trump has never understood that silence can be golden. And he won't suddenly realize it now. But the more he talks, the more trouble he courts. -- Chris Below, the week in 39 headlines: Monday Freewheeling Trump was often unprepared for foreign leader calls, had to be coached by staff Trump pressed Australian Prime Minister to help with Justice review of Russia probe origins CNN Poll: Support for impeaching Trump rises among independents and Republicans Ukrainians named in whistleblower report say Trump's lawyer was clear about his hunt for dirt on Bidens Trump is using Facebook to run thousands of ads about impeachment McConnell: Senate would 'have no choice but to' take up House's impeachment of Trump Trump circulates quote invoking 'civil war-like fracture' if he's removed from office Tuesday Federal judge blocks California law requiring Trump to release tax returns to appear on ballot FBI investigating alleged hacking attempt into mobile voting app during 2018 midterms New York Times: Trump suggested shooting migrants in the legs Deposition for House impeachment investigation delayed Federal judge blocks Georgia's controversial abortion ban Rudy Giuliani hires Watergate prosecutor as attorney in impeachment inquiry Justice Department told to produce 500 pages of interview memos from Mueller investigation Robert Mueller returns to private law firm  Pompeo accuses House Democrats of intimidation and bullying over Ukraine Wednesday Trump sought to use new allies in debunking Russia investigation Kurt Volker: Diplomat never 'fully on the Trump train' set to appear as as first witness in Ukraine probe Trump's private fury over impeachment spills into the public Whistleblower went to Intelligence Committee for guidance before filing complaint Justice Department tells White House to preserve notes of Trump's calls with foreign leaders Democrats plan to subpoena White House for Ukraine documents Bernie Sanders off campaign trail 'until further notice' after being treated for artery blockage Putin jokes that Russia will meddle in 2020 US elections Thursday Trump says he has 'absolute right' to ask 'other Countries' to investigate corruption New York Times: Trump envoys pressed Ukraine to commit to Investigate US political rivals Washington Post: IRS whistleblower report involves Treasury political appointee trying to interfere with presidential tax audit Source: Bias cited by intel watchdog was that whistleblower is a registered Democrat Mitch McConnell raises money vowing to stop impeachment Trump spends official event attacking Democrats and floating a conspiracy Bernie Sanders to take part in next debate and plans to leave hospital in coming days, campaign says Trump now says both China and Ukraine should investigate Bidens Twitter removes Trump's Nickelback video after copyright complaint  Friday Treasury Inspector General launches probe into how Treasury handled request for tax information  Iranian hackers targeted presidential campaign and US government officials Volker: Trump said Ukraine 'tried to take me down' and was influenced by negative information from Giuliani  Supreme Court says it will consider Louisiana abortion access law Trump promised Xi US silence on Hong Kong democracy protests as trade talks stalled Ukraine will review probe into gas company linked to Biden's son QUOTE OF THE DAY "I don't care about politics. I don't care about anything." -- President Donald Trump, asserting that his conversations with the Ukrainian President were not about politics.  💰QUARTERLY CAMPAIGN CASH LATEST💰 More candidates have released their Q3 fundraising numbers! Here's a ranking of the top fundraisers that we know so far (of the candidates who have released data): Bernie Sanders: $25.3 million Elizabeth Warren: $24.6 million Pete Buttigieg: $19.1 million Joe Biden: $15.2 million Kamala Harris: $11.6 million Andrew Yang: $10 million Cory Booker: $6 million Marianne Williamson: $3 million Michael Bennet: $2.1 million And then there's Trump -- he raised $125 million. CHRIS' GOOD READS Trump has an impeachment polling problem, via Harry Enten Four Pinocchios for Adam Schiff The medical mystery surrounding Bernie Sanders Senator Sam Power? Le Creuset, but Star Wars Vulture has a list of the best albums of 2019 (so far) MUSICAL INTERLUDE The Avett Brothers make a lot of music -- most of it outstanding. Their new one "Closer than Together" is out today. Chris is still listening, but it's clearly their most political record yet. LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST Coming over the next week: Bernie Sanders' heart procedure has him off the campaign trail for now -- we still don't know if he's participating in Thursday's LGBTQ forum, but he vows to be on the debate stage next week. And for those who didn't make the debate cut, they're not letting that keep them from the campaign trail.    Saturday, October 5 Steve Bullock: Kicks off two days in South Carolina Marianne Williamson: Holds a morning meditation and discussion on the power of peace during a multi-day swing through New Hampshire  Sunday, October 6 Amy Klobuchar: Makes her 14th campaign visit to New Hampshire  Beto O'Rourke: Holds two town halls in Arizona, his first time visiting the state on the trail Tulsi Gabbard: Participates in a Pints & Politics in South Carolina, hosted by the Post & Courier newspaper Monday, October 7 Michael Bennet: Kicks off three days in New Hampshire with four town halls Kamala Harris: Holds her second town hall of her three-day Iowa swing, this time in Ankeny Cory Booker: Spends two days campaigning in Iowa, including two town halls. Tuesday, October 8 Marianne Williamson: Attends a Post & Courier Pints & Politics sit-down in South Carolina   Wednesday, October 9 Cory Booker: Finishes four days in Iowa, including a town hall with JD Scholten, a challenger to Rep. Steve King Joe Biden: Holds town halls in Rochester and Manchester, New Hampshire  Thursday, October 10 LGBTQ Town Hall: The LGBTQ-focused town hall sponsored by CNN and Human Rights Campaign Foundation will focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues, with attendees including Cory Booker, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Beto O'Rourke, Amy Klobuchar, Julian Castro and Tom Steyer. (FWIW: It's unclear if Bernie Sanders will attend in light of his hospitalization and recovery) ONE BIG HELPFUL THING Want every single CNN Fact Check on the Ukraine controversy and impeachment inquiry? We've got you covered.  We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. Follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter. Subscribe to The Point unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences  Copyright © 2019 Cable News Network, LP, LLLP. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved., All rights reserved. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Our mailing address is: Cable News Network, LP, LLLP. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved. One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303 Add us to your address book Sign up to get updates on your favorite CNN Original Series, special CNN news coverage and other newsletters.​