Insights, analysis and must reads from CNN's Fareed Zakaria and the Global Public Square team, compiled by Global Briefing editor Chris Good.

February 1, 2019

Fareed: Is the World Order Really Broken—and Are Elites to Blame?

Elite-bashing populism is en vogue on both the left and right, Fareed writes in his latest Washington Post column: "On one side, President Trump and Fox News hosts slam the out-of-touch establishment that, according to them, has run things into the ground. On the other side, left-wingers decry the millionaires and billionaires who, in one author's phrase, 'broke the modern world.'"

But is this view—of "dysfunctional global order, producing stagnant incomes, rising insecurity and environmental degradation"—really accurate? Recent history is filled with progress, as more than 1 billion have risen from extreme poverty since 1990. While inequality is a concern, it's worth remembering that rights have expanded.

"After 400 years of slavery, segregation and discrimination in the United States, blacks have been moving up. After thousands of years of being treated as structurally subordinate, women are now gaining genuine equality," Fareed writes. "Once considered criminals or deviants, gays can finally live and love freely in many countries. The fact that these changes might cause discomfort to some is not a reason to pause, nor to forget that it represents deep and lasting human progress that we should celebrate."

Venezuela's 'Game of Thrones'

Opposition leader Juan Guaido has declined to rule out accepting US military support, which would only seem to highlight what The New York Times' Interpreter columnists had to say about Venezuela: that however the political crisis shakes out, it's not about democratic legitimacy, but rather about convincing the key players, inside and outside the country, to take sides.

That makes Venezuela sound more like a "Game of Thrones" power struggle than a constitutional dispute.

Speaking of outside actors, Russia has made a power play in Venezuela, propping up Maduro (and before him Chavez) with billions in investment, oil-and-gas partnerships, and nuclear-capable bombers flown there as a show of support. But that shouldn't worry the US too much, Latin America experts Brian Fonseca, David J. Kramer, Frank O. Mora write for CNN: Venezuela is not Syria, and while it's offered Russian President Vladimir Putin a chance to needle the US in its own hemisphere, a military standoff there wouldn't be worth it for him.

The End of Nuclear De-escalation?

For decades, world powers have mostly agreed nuclear de-escalation is a good. It's been a rare point of compromise between the US and Russia on ICBMs and stockpile reduction, for instance.

No more. The US announced it will suspend participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which it accuses Russia of violating. Russian development of nuclear-capable intermediate-range missiles, and shorter-range systems have been a concern for some time. One question is: Was withdrawing the right move? "When someone breaks the law you don't repeal the law," nuclear nonproliferation expert and advocate Joe Cirincione, of the Poughshares Fund, tweeted.

President Trump's nuclear goals seem essentially different from his predecessors'—he has warned the US would build up its arsenal, breaking from tradition—and after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would not be "constrained" by a treaty with Russia as China develops weapons banned under it, it's possible the long trend of nuclear de-escalation between the US and Russia has simply reversed.

Europe Defies Trump on Iran—But It's a Small Start

After President Obama's administration worked to get Europe, Russia, and China on board with the Iran nuclear deal, Europe simply hasn't bought President Trump's complaints about it—and has worked to preserve the deal after Trump pulled out.

The UK, France, and Germany have taken a major step toward that end, unveiling a financial workaround—effectively, a credit clearinghouse that will allow business with Iran while avoiding the US sanctions Trump slapped back into place. But it's less ambitious than some had imagined, Foreign Policy's Keith Johnson writes, noting that initially it will only apply to trade in humanitarian goods. With major French expansions into Iran pulled back—Peugot and Total each canceled major projects there—it appears Trump's sanctions are holding the line economically, even if his rhetoric isn't.

For China's Economy, the Hits Keep Coming

China's GDP growth already clocked in at its lowest rate since 1990 earlier this month, and The Wall Street Journal reports today that Chinese companies are facing a wave of losses—possibly over $43.1 billion spread among 395 companies. Trade tensions were a factor, but so was an overvaluing of assets, the Journal reports.

China still trails only India in GDP growth among large economies, per IMF data, but with the EU lagging and the US turning toward protectionism, China's fluctuations are as key to watch as ever.

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President Trump speaks during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office Thursday. Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Kate Bennett

What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump and Melania Trump later this afternoon depart for Mar-a-Lago.

What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Trump's interview with the New York Times.

"I Think I've Set the Table Very Nicely":
Trump told the New York Times he thinks continuing to talk with congressional leaders about funding for a border wall is "a waste of time," and that he's done what he can for Democrats to come to the table. In other words, he's ready to put the wheels in motion to declare a national emergency in order to try to get the billions he wants for a border wall, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now not in his equation. "I've actually always gotten along with her, but now I don't think I will any more," Trump told the Times.

Russia Deal? What Russia Deal?:
Also in the NYT interview, Trump was pressed on his business dealings regarding the construction of a Trump Tower property in Moscow, something he played down, dramatically: "I had no money invested. It was a letter of intent, or option. It was a free option. It was a nothing. And I wasn't doing anything. I don't consider that even business. And frankly, that wasn't even on my radar." In other words: move along, nothing to see here ...

🚨 Trump Suspends INF Treaty:
This morning, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the United States would be pulling out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a cornerstone anti-nuclear pact with Russia that has been in place since the end of the Cold War. While not unexpected, the suspension has caused a ripple of concern throughout Europe, with worries a newly emboldened arms race could emerge. Here's the statement released by Trump today:

"Tomorrow, the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty, which will be completed in 6 months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment. Our NATO Allies fully support us, because they understand the threat posed by Russia's violation and the risks to arms control posed by ignoring treaty violations."

President Says He "Wants to Be" Better Protector of Free Press:
New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger also sat in on the Trump interview in the Oval Office, along with reporters Maggie Haberman and Peter Baker. Sulzberger pressed the President on his attitude toward the media and the rapid expansion of the term "fake news," not just in the Untied States, but in other parts of the world. Trump said he did coin the term -- and seemed pleased about it -- but he said he "didn't like that" when told other countries now use it when attempting to suppress a free press. Sulzberger did a little shaming of POTUS, telling him that historically, occupants of the Oval Office have been the most stringent defenders of a free press. "And I think I am, too," Mr. Trump interjected. "I want to be. I want to be." I want to be a supermodel, but, alas, I am not.

Mar-A-Lago, Baby!:
This weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago marks Trump's first visit there in two months -- a remarkably long time for him to be away from his posh Palm Beach club. He will likely play golf for the first time in that stretch, which has been the longest he has gone without hitting the green since becoming president. Melania has been there a bunch since December, of course, spending most of the Christmas and New Year's holiday there with their son, Barron, and returning for the long Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

I should note, today's departure from the White House, which is open to the press, will produce the first official public photographs of Melania Trump taken since December 27th, more than one month ago, when she and Trump returned from their surprise visit to troops in Iraq. A gentle reminder of what she looked like then, in case you forgot:

Credit: Nicholas Kamm/Getty Images

Dress Like the Duchess:
In lieu of Melania and/or Ivanka Trump photos to dissect, I'm still going with the Duchess of Sussex (aka and always Meghan Markle) who for a public event today in Bristol, England, wore this silk chiffon, animal-print Oscar de la Renta dress, available here for $1,035. Also, this adorable pic of Meghan and Prince Harry, amirite?

Credit: Marc Giddings/AFP/Getty Images; mitchellstores.com

Hunter Schwarz

What Washington is Talking About:
Records given to the Senate Intelligence Committee show the call Donald Trump Jr. made before the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer was to business associates and not to his father, sources tell CNN; and the Senate passed an amendment against President Trump's desire to remove US troops from Syria and Afghanistan.

What America is Talking About:
The extreme cold weather that swept parts of the country this week will ease into the weekend, although 15 million people remained under wind chill alerts this morning; the New York Attorney General's office reached a settlement with a company that created fake likes and engagement on social media; and it's the first day of Black History Month.

Reminder:
Rent is due.

January 2019, a Retrospective:
I forgot about Trump serving fast food to Clemson in the White House and I loled when I remembered.

Credit: Hunter Schwarz

It's so hard sometimes trying to fit a month's worth of news in a single screenshot. Is there a politics or culture story I left out that you would have added? Email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com with your suggestion.

Booker Brings Back the Red, White, and Blue:
Sen. Cory Booker announced he's running for president today in a video, and unlike many of the Democrats he's running against, he's sticking with traditional campaign colors, as well as adding black and white. Booker used a number of different fonts in his announcement video and website (including Dapifer and Source Sans), but the typeface he's using for his logo is Conductor. It was created by Nina Stössinger and Tobias Frere-Jones, the type designer responsible for Gotham, which Barack Obama used in his presidential campaigns.

Credit: corybooker.com

How Abrams is Prepping for Her SOTU Response:
No Rubio-water-bottle moments for her. Stacey Abrams told the audience at a tech conference in California the first thing she's going to do is "hydrate," per Axios.

"Trump stands as a proxy for what has gone on by many others for so long," she said. "My responsibility is to not only give voice to those who don't believe they've been seen or heard but to offer remedies ... and do that all in 10 minutes."

Mariah Performs in Saudi Arabia:
Mariah Carey performed last night at King Abdullah Economic City in front of a mixed-gender audience alongside Sean Paul and DJ Tiesto. Her performance was controversial because of allegations of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.

The brother of Loujain Alhathloul, a women's rights activist who's been jailed since May 2018 and allegedly tortured and sexually abused, wrote a CNN op-ed asking Carey to use her stage to speak out.

"This concert is a pathetic attempt to show that the country is becoming more tolerant toward women," Walid Alhathloul wrote. "But there are many women languishing in Saudi prisons, simply for campaigning for the better treatment of women." A publicist for Carey told the AP she "accepted the opportunity as a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation."

Street Art Sighting:
"The Blind Patriot" is a multi-story mural in downtown Miami by Irish artist Conor Harrington made during Art Basil 2017. I couldn't find an address for it, so I wandered around in hopes I could find it before sundown, and luckily, I did (it's at 48 E. Flagler St., btw, if you want to go see it for yourself). I kid you not, I got there and "Amazing Grace" started playing on church bells in the distance. It's currently fenced in and has a skateboard ramp in front of it, which is a shame.

Credit: Hunter Schwarz

Tag or DM me your political street art sightings @hunterschwarz on Twitter or Instagram, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com.

Have a good weekend, enjoy the Super Bowl if you're watching, and we'll see you on Monday!

COVER/LINE is where politics meets pop culture. From CNN's Hunter Schwarz and Kate Bennett, this daily newsletter is the must-read lunch date in Washington and beyond.

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