| | | | | First lady Melania Trump and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrive Wednesday for a working dinner in Brussels, Belgium. Credit: Benoit Doppagne/AFP/Getty Images | | | Trump Wants a Makeover for Air Force One: The powder blue and gold isn't working for him
Avenatti Calls Stormy Daniels' Arrest "Politically Motivated": The adult film star was arrested this morning at an Ohio strip club
Ariana Grande Is Not Going to Stop Talking Politics: "There's a lot of noise when you say anything about anything" | | | What Washington Is Talking About:
FBI agent Peter Strzok is testifying today at a joint hearing of the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, Brett Kavanaugh is on the Hill for the third straight day to meet with lawmakers, and senators voted 88-11 Wednesday on a measure that calls for President Donald Trump to get their approval before imposing tariffs for national security reasons. And Britney Spears is in town for her two performances at MGM National Harbor in Maryland.
What America Is Talking About:
Forbes is being criticized for calling Kylie Jenner "self made," Papa John's founder John Schnatter has stepped down as chairman over his use of the N-word on a conference call, and Emmy nominations are out.
Poll of the Day:
More Americans say Barack Obama is the best President of their lifetime than any other, according to a Pew poll released Wednesday. Obama came in first with 31%, followed by Ronald Reagan at 21%. Below is the breakdown, by generation. Obama led millennials, but Reagan was the top pick for Gen X, baby boomers and the silent generation: | | Credit: Pew Research Center
Trump Euro Tour 2018 Day 2:
Donald and Melania Trump landed at London Stansted Airport earlier today and headed to Winfield House, the official residence of the US ambassador to the UK, where they met Woody Johnson, the US ambassador and New York Jets owner.
Trump claimed Wednesday that NATO members had agreed to increase their defense spending, but French President Emmanuel Macron later denied that and invited Trump to read the communiqué that said otherwise. Trump also showed up about half an hour late to a meeting with Georgia and Ukraine, which have both been invaded by Russia in recent years. | | Credit: Benoit Doppagne/AFP/Getty Images
On Wednesday evening, the Trumps attended a working dinner at Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels and afterword watched a performance that included a woman hanging from blue balloons and floating around a bit in the air, like an actual Olympics opening ceremony. | | Credit: Benoit Doppagne/AFP/Getty Images
Trump Wants Makeover for Air Force One:
He'd rather it be red, white and blue instead of the current color scheme, per Axios. An official familiar with the project told CNN that Trump is closely involved in the redesign but no final decisions have been made on the new AF1, originally scheduled to be used by 2024. | | Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Facebook Doesn't Have a Good Answer on Why InfoWars Isn't Banned:
At an event Wednesday with press in New York, Facebook touted its efforts to fight fake news on its platform. CNN's Oliver Darcy asked why InfoWars still has a page despite posting conspiracy theories.
"I guess just for being false that doesn't violate the community standards," said John Hegeman, the head of Facebook's News Feed. "I think part of the fundamental thing here is that we created Facebook to be a place where different people can have a voice. And different publishers have very different points of view."
Obama Would Appreciate It if We Stopped Gerrymandering:
The former President stars in a video for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, released Wednesday. In it, Obama says gerrymandering is "how a party gains more seats while winning fewer votes, which isn't fair," and he ties gerrymandering to protections for tax breaks for the wealthy, the gun lobby and polluters. The committee is chaired by Obama's former attorney general, Eric Holder. | | Credit: National Democratic Redistricting Committee/YouTube
Avenatti Calls Stormy Daniels' Arrest "Politically Motivated":
Daniels was arrested early today at a strip club in Columbus, Ohio, over allegedly violating a state law that bars those who work nude or seminude from touching people they aren't related to at a sexually oriented business. Daniels allegedly fondled the breast of women and shoved officers' faces between her breasts, per a probable cause affidavit obtained by CNN affiliate WSYX. Daniels attorney, Michael Avenatti, tweeted that his client would plead not guilty and that she was "performing the same act she has performed across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs. This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges." Here's Daniels' mug shot: | | Credit: Franklin County, Ohio, Sheriff's Office
Ariana Grande Is Not Going to Stop Talking About Politics:
In an interview with Elle, Grande said she's received blowback for her politics, including her support of Black Lives Matter and March for Our Lives. "There's a lot of noise when you say anything about anything," she said. "But if I'm not going to say it, what's the f***ing point of being here? Not everyone is going to agree with you, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to shut up and sing my songs. I'm also going to be a human being who cares about other human beings; to be an ally and use my privilege to help educate people."
She also said "everything is different" since last year's attack at her concert in Manchester, England. Grande was photographed for the magazine by Alexi Lubomirski, who recently shot the engagement and wedding photos for Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan. | | Credit: Alexi Lubomirski for Elle
That Balloon, Man:
There are few pieces of political art I've seen that generated the level of interest as the baby Trump balloon going up over Parliament Square in protest of Trump's visit to London. Personally, I'm kind of mehhhh when it comes to inflatable political art (I'm more a murals and wheat paste guy), but I think being oversize and movable makes it an effective medium for attracting eyeballs. Organizers requested to take the balloon up to the Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, where Trump will spend the weekend, but were denied. Trump told reporters earlier today he's aware of the protests and he thinks it's "fine. "I think they like me a lot in the UK," he said. | | Credit: Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty Images
Street Art Sighting:
Artist and activist Alessandra Mondolfi makes protest signs that she photographs and turns into street art. Her latest series, which she put up in Miami, shows green and red signs. Most are about family separations at the border, and there's this F̶a̶s̶c̶i̶s̶m̶ Democracy one. | | Credit: @alessandramondolfi/Instagram
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. | | | | | | |
