| | | | | President Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Monday. Credit: Oliver Contreras/Pool | | | FLOTUS Recovering: Melania is doing well after yesterday's surprise surgery
Amy Sherald's New Show: The artist's new self-titled exhibit
"This Is America" Goes No. 1: It's the most explicitly political No. 1 song since "Born This Way" | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump this morning went to Capitol Hill to give remarks at the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service. After, he has a lunch with Senate Republicans.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Leaky Leak Town.
CNN's Kaitlan Collins has this insightful piece about the efforts the West Wing has made to try to prevent the leaks that continue to pour out of the White House. Here's one of the ways that the ban on staff members' personal cell phones is being enforced: "men dressed in suits and carrying large handheld devices have been seen roaming the halls of the West Wing, moving from room to room, scouring the place for devices that aren't government-issued. If one is detected, one of the men will ask those in the room if someone forgot to put their phone away." Yikes. Also, there are lockers where staff are supposed to keep their phones for storage during work hours, but no one really abides by leaving them there. "Sources said it's common to find several staffers huddled around the lockers throughout the day, perusing their neglected messages. The lockers buzz and chirp constantly from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday." In short, as the leaks continue, there's been little in the way of success, despite these intense measures.
Our Daily Melania:
After her surprise surgery for a benign kidney issue yesterday, the first lady is doing well today, according to a tweet this morning from the President. Trump added Melania could be out of the hospital in 2-3 days, which is shorter than anticipated. Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, just confirmed to me that Melania is doing well, but when I pressed her for more details on the first lady's condition, this is what I got:
"I am not going to expand beyond the statement I put out. The First Lady is in good spirits and she is resting. There are HIPAA laws to consider, but she also deserves personal privacy."
Struggle in Gaza:
The deadly fighting in Gaza continued today after the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. More than 50 Palestinian protesters have been killed by Israeli security forces in the wake of yesterday's embassy celebrations. The White House has not placed any blame on Israel for the deaths, instead placing responsibility squarely on Hamas.
New York Daily News Cover:
The New York City tabloid paper is certainly not mincing words when it comes to how it feels about Ivanka Trump and the role it believes she played in the protests as the death toll rises. The accompanying story refers to yesterday as a "major diplomatic fiasco." | | Credit: nydailynews.com
I'm off to Windsor!:
Fam! I'm off to Windsor to cover the Royal Wedding! Feel free to watch all of the coverage on CNN on Saturday morning, beginning at 4 a.m. EST. Seriously, it's going to be awesome. And, no, I'm not going to be wearing a fascinator. I'll send Hunter dispatches to include in this space once I'm there and in the thick of Meghan and Harry hysteria ... | | What Washington is Talking About:
The Senate Judiciary committee is holding a hearing on music licensing and federal copyright laws for music. Smokey Robinson will be there. And Barbra Streisand spoke before the National Institute of Health for Women's Health Week.
What America is Talking About:
It's an Election Day, with primaries in Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon and Pennsylvania, and journalist and author Tom Wolfe has died at 88.
Poll of the Day:
A report from the National Center for Education Statistics released today found 94% of teachers spend their own money buying school supplies, and the average amount spent by teachers is $479 a year.
Gaza Protests Extend to Second Day:
They're smaller than yesterday, however. Shops are closed for three days to mourn the dead, the UN Security Council is holding an emergency session over the violence, and medical resources are stretched thin. "Doctors are overworked. Nurses are overworked. We are running out of stock," said Dr. Srihari Cattamanchi, who works with the Red Cross in Gaza.
Harry Reid Undergoes Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer:
The former Senate majority leader had surgery Monday and will undergo chemotherapy, his family said. John McCain tweeted, "From one cantankerous senator to another, sending my prayers & best wishes to @SenatorReid as he recovers from a successful surgery."
Avenatti Threatens to Sue Daily Caller:
Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti threatened to sue the Daily Caller and its reporter Peter Hasson after this story was published, in an email that read in part, "If you and your colleagues do not stop with the hit pieces that are full of lies and defamatory statements, I will have no choice but to sue each of you and your publication for defamation." Sounds kind of Trumpy, no? Hasson tweeted the email, which Avenatti called off the record but Hasson never agreed to being off the record. | | Credit: @peterjhasson/Twitter
Avenatti told our Don Lemon last night, "My e-mail is no different than a cease-and-desist or a retraction type e-mail or letter that is received by numerous media organizations on a consistent basis."
Amy Sherald's New Show:
It's the artist's first show since her official portrait of Michelle Obama was unveiled in February. The self-titled exhibit opened last week at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and includes "A Clear Unspoken Granted Magic" (left) and "What's Precious Inside of Him Does Not Care To Be Known by the Mind in Ways That Diminish Its Presence (All American)" (right), with which I'm particularly obsessed. She told the Washington Post her feelings were hurt for the criticism her Obama portrait received, but that she moved on the next day. "I'm continuing to do what I did before," she said. "I just get paid a bit more." | | Credit: via Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Street Art Sighting:
A mock gun-share station has been put up in Chicago's Daley Plaza by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Escape Pod, a Chicago ad agency that has worked with clients including Whole Foods, Toys 'R' Us, Wheat Thins and Lunchables. The station includes 10 replica AR-15s (you can't actually take them out) and is meant to send a message about how easy it is to get a gun. | | Credit: Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
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.
P.S.:
Childish Gambino's "This Is America" is the No. 1 song in the country. The track debuted at the top slot of this week's Billboard Hot 100, replacing Drake, who's spent 15 weeks there. I spent some time going back through No. 1s to see the last time we had a hit that was this explicitly political. It's been seven years since Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" hit No. 1 in 2011, the first chart topper to include the word "transgendered." | | | | | | |
