| | | | | The crowd at Barack Obama's inauguration watches Aretha Franklin perform on January 20, 2009. Credit: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images | | | Aretha Franklin Has Died at 76: Say a little prayer
Politicians Remember Aretha: "Aretha helped define the American experience"
Newspaper Editorial Boards Back First Amendment: More than 300 papers publish editorials in support today | | | What Washington is Talking About:
The jury in Paul Manafort's case will begin deliberating today, lawmakers are weighing in on President Trump's decision to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan's security clearance, and immigration officials are testifying before the Senate Homeland Security subcommittee about unaccompanied migrant children.
What America is Talking About:
Aretha Franklin has died at 76.
The Queen of Soul was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She performed at inaugurations for three US presidents -- Obama, Clinton, and Carter. She had 73 songs that appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, including two at No. 1 -- "Respect" in 1967 and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" with George Michael in 1987. She won 18 Grammys, including a 1994 Lifetime Achievement Award, and awards for "Respect," "Chain of Fools," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and "Amazing Grace."
"Respect" became a civil rights anthem, and in 2014, Franklin told the Toronto Star why the song resonated with so many people: "We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white," she said. "It's our basic human right. That's why people still relate to that song so much."
Politicians Remember Aretha:
President Trump: "The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!"
The Obamas: "America has no royalty. But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha Franklin grew up performing gospel songs in her father's congregation. For more than six decades since, every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine. Through her compositions and unmatched musicianship, Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.Aretha may have passed on to a better place, but the gift of her music remains to inspire us all. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. Michelle and I send our prayers and warmest sympathies to her family and all those moved by her song."
Bill Clinton: "Hillary and I mourn the loss of our friend Aretha Franklin, one of America's greatest national treasures. For more than 50 years, she stirred our souls. She was elegant, graceful, and utterly uncompromising in her artistry. Aretha's first music school was the church and her performances were powered by what she learned there. ... She will forever be the Queen of Soul and so much more to all who knew her personally and through her music. Our hearts go out to her family and her countless fans."
Hillary Clinton: "Mourning the loss today of @ArethaFranklin who shared her spirit and talent with the world. She deserves not only our RESPECT but also our lasting gratitude for opening our eyes, ears and hearts. Rest in eternal peace, my friend."
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder: "The world has lost an incredible talent and musical icon. One of Detroit's greatest residents, Aretha will long be remembered as the 'Queen of Soul' and her presence will be missed dearly."
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan: "She was a performer without peers. Throughout her extraordinary life and career, she earned the love - and yes, the respect - of millions of people, not just for herself and for women everywhere, but for the city she loved so dearly and called home." | | Franklin sings in front of the Lincoln Memorial on January 17, 1993, ahead of Bill Clinton's inauguration. Credit: Cynthia Johnson/Liaison
Poll of the Day:
Dems have a 52%-41% advantage on a nationwide generic Congressional ballot, according to a CNN poll released this week. Interestingly, however, the same poll found more people believe Republicans will still have control of Congress after the midterms (48%) than Democrats (40%) or split chambers (3%). | | Credit: CNN
Newspaper Editorial Boards Back First Amendment:
More than 300 newspaper editorial boards across the country -- from big city papers like the New York Times to regional papers such as the Ames Tribune in Iowa and the Whitman-Hanson Express in Missouri -- published editorials today in support of the free press. You can see a list of participating papers here, and the Boston Globe mapped out where all the papers were located. | | Credit: CNN
Trump tweeted about the editorials this morning, saying that "the Globe is in COLLUSION with other papers on free press. PROVE IT!" Ahh, yes, newspapers colluding to support ... the First Amendment. Lol, ok.
Brennan Calls Trump's No Collusion Claims "Hogwash":
The White House ended up adding a briefing to the schedule yesterday afternoon, where press secretary Sarah Sanders read a statement from Trump saying Brennan's security clearance had been revoked and that the President was considering revoking clearances for what amounts to a Trump enemies list -- people like former FBI Director James Comey and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. Brennan responded in a New York Times op-ed. The former CIA director wrote that Trump has "become more desperate to protect himself and those close to him" and that his revoked security clearance was "an attempt to scare into silence others who might dare to challenge him."
"While I had deep insight into Russian activities during the 2016 election, I now am aware — thanks to the reporting of an open and free press — of many more of the highly suspicious dalliances of some American citizens with people affiliated with the Russian intelligence services," he wrote. "Mr. Trump's claims of no collusion are, in a word, hogwash."
Cuomo Walks Back America "Was Never That Great":
Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a bill signing Wednesday that America "was never great," and we'll reach greatness fully "when every American is fully engaged ... when discrimination and stereotyping of women, 51% of our population, is gone." Cuomo's comments drew the attention of Trump, who tweeted that Cuomo was "having a total meltdown." Eric Trump said it was "among the dumbest things ever said by a politician" and "Fox & Friends" host Ainsley Earhardt listed America's defeat of "communist Japan" as proof that America is great (Japan was never communist, but I can see where she was trying to go with this).
Cuomo press secretary Dani Lever attempted some damage control, saying in part in a statement, "The Governor believes America is great and that her full greatness will be fully realized when every man, woman, and child has full equality. America has not yet reached its maximum potential."
Street Art Sighting:
This mural of Trump building a wall out of toy blocks was spotted in the San Ysidro district of San Diego near the US-Mexico border. | | Credit: @plasticine.star/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.:
When Aretha Franklin performed "My Country 'Tis of Thee" at Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009, she wore a glorious hat by Luke Song, a Detroit hatmaker and the son of South Korean immigrants who worked with Franklin for about two decades and made hats for women in Detroit to wear to church, per NPR. You can watch her historic performance here. | | Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Kate Bennett is off. | | | | | | |
