| | | | | The "Trump Baby" balloon flies above the Houses of Parliament today in London before an anti-Trump demonstration. Credit: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images | | | 12 Russians Indicted in Mueller Investigation: What Washington is talking about
Stormy Daniels Charges Dismissed: "These crimes were not committed," Columbus, Ohio, city attorney says
How Reality Television Took Over Politics: It's become a force in America, and it's more than just Trump | | | What Washington Is Talking About:
Robert Mueller's investigation announced indictments for 12 Russian nationals and accused them of a hacking campaign against Hillary Clinton's campaign, the DNC, and DCCC. The GOP-majority House will vote on a Democratic bill to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a move Democrats are calling a "political stunt" since it doesn't have the votes to pass. And woof, what about that nearly 10-hour grilling of FBI agent Peter Strzok on Thursday?
What America Is Talking About:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning consumers not to eat Honey Smacks, a cereal that has been linked to a salmonella outbreak. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released a report admitting it was unprepared for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and 58 children under 5 who were separated from their families at the border have been reunited.
Poll of the Day:
Ahead of President Donald Trump's summit Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, most Americans don't think Trump is tough enough. According to a Fox News poll released Thursday, 53% of registered voters believe Trump's not tough enough on Russia, 35% believe he's about right, and 5% think he's too tough. | | Credit: Fox News
The poll also found approval of Robert Mueller's Russia investigation is down from 55% to 48% since last month.
Trump Euro Tour 2018 Day 3:
The Trump kicked off their visit to the UK with a black-tie dinner with British Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband, Philip, at Blenheim Castle Thursday. As the dinner was ending, the Ruport Murdoch-owned Sun published an interview with Trump in which he criticized May's "soft' Brexit plan, and boosted former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to take her job. Awkward. | | Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Then at a press conference today, Trump denied saying the things he can be heard on tape saying, calling them "fake news." 🤔
Meanwhile, First Lady Is Out Doing "Be Best" International:
While her husband was attending a bilateral meeting today with the Prime Minister, Melania Trump headed to Royal Hospital Chelsea, a home for retired soldiers, with Philip May. They visited with children (one asked the first lady why she named her platform "Be Best," and she said, "I want to help children be best in everything that they do, to be best at whatever your passion is, where you're focused -- everything in life, really ... and be best with each other, to be kind."). She also made poppy pins and did some lawn bowling. Read our Betsy Klein on the first lady taking the Be Best campaign to the UK here. | | Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Oh, And They Met the Queen:
Literally at the same time as the new Mueller indictments were coming out. What a time to be alive. | | Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Kushner Reportedly Lacks Top Security Clearance:
Jared Kushner's security clearance has been downgraded and restored, and in the latest plot twist, The Washington Post reports Kushner lacks the clearance level to review "sensitive compartmented information," or some of our government's biggest secrets.
Stormy Daniels Charges Dismissed:
Less than 24 hours after being arrested at an Ohio strip club, misdemeanor charges against Stormy Daniels have been dropped. Authorities "determined that these crimes were not committed, based on the fact that Ms. Clifford has not made regular appearances at this establishment as required under the law," Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in a statement. Daniels returned to performing Thursday night at Vanity Gentlemen's Club, a different Columbus club from the one at which she was arrested earlier. "The owners were too fearful to have me back," she tweeted.
The President's Former Campaign Chairman's Mug Shot:
In case you missed it Thursday, Daniels wasn't the only person from the Trump saga who had a mug shot released. Paul Manafort was transferred to a jail in Alexandria, Virginia, and US District Judge T.S. Ellis wrote that the staff there is "very familiar with housing high-profile defendants including foreign and domestic terrorists, spies and traitors." Oof. Manafort's trial over alleged financial crimes will be held later this month just blocks away. The mug shot below was released. | | Credit: Alexandria Detention Center
How Reality Television Took Over Politics:
Reality television isn't taken seriously, but it's become a force in American politics, particularly on the right. In my latest story, I look at how reality TV created a parallel class of celebrities for conservatives, who have long been outmatched by liberals when it comes to the wattage of their side's stars. We saw it play out in the 2012 campaign when President Barack Obama received endorsements from a who's who of A-listers, while Republicans got the Duggars, or in Mitt Romney's case, the star of "The Apprentice" and the future President of the United States. Read my full story here. | | Credit: D Dipasupil/WireImage
A Reminder That There Are A Lot of Good People Working in Our Government, Too:
Washington gets a lot of grief for being swampy, and it's easy to forget how many hard-working, earnest and completely ~govster~ people come to Washington because they want to make a difference in their government and serve their country. The Congressional Management Foundation recently awarded eight congressional offices in their first Democracy Awards. Offices applied to be considered, and a committee that included former staffers and members of Congress evaluated finalists. Congrats to the winning offices. 👏👏👏 - Constituent service: Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, and Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Arizona
- Transparency and accountability: Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, and Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Virginia
- Innovation: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon
- "Life in Congress" -- workplace environment: Reps. Dave G. Reichert, R-Washington, and Susan Davis, D-California)
Obama's Book Club:
Ahead of his first trip to Africa since leaving the White House, Obama has released a list of summer reading recommendations that includes African authors such as "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela and "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (who was featured in Beyoncé's "***Flawless") as well as "The World as It Is" by Ben Rhodes, his former deputy national security adviser. The former President said the authors on the list "illuminate our world in powerful and unique ways."
Street Art Sighting:
The mural-covered alley next to Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington got a new addition. Artist Aniekan Udofia, who also painted the Obamas on the side of the famed U Street restaurant, painted two Negro League baseball stars -- Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, the first female pitcher in the league, and Josh Gibson, who was named a league all-star 12 times, per the MLB. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called the players "trailblazers." | | Credit: @MayorBowser/Twitter
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.:
Ariana Grande's new single, "God Is a Woman," is out today, and I'm digging it. Her manager, Scooter Braun, said the song and its forthcoming video will "take it to a whole other level." "She is here to stay and is a fierce female who is making all females feel like the goddesses they are," Braun tweeted.
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In the words of first daughter Tiffany Trump's latest Instagram caption, "Don't tell people your plans. Show them your results." Have a good weekend, I'll see you back here Monday. Schwarz out. | | | Credit: @tiffanytrump/Instagram | | | | | | |
