| | | | | "Thank You for a Lifetime of Service" reads a sign in Navasota, Texas, for a Union Pacific train carrying former President George H.W. Bush's coffin to its final resting place at his presidential library. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images | | | Trump Family Names Are Up: Ivanka has increased in popularity by 362% since 2015, Melania by 227%
"Vice" Nabs Golden Globe Nominations: Six nods for the movie about Dick Cheney
Behind the Scenes, Democratic 2020 Primary Is Gearing Up: "It's less a fantasy draft and more 'The Hunger Games'" | | |
What the White House Is Talking About:
President Donald Trump receives his intelligence briefing and has lunch with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos today. Later, he will make remarks at two Hanukkah receptions at the White House, which first lady Melania Trump also will attend.
What the White House Press Corps Is Talking About:
What is ahead for Trump in the next few weeks:
Cabinet changes?
Trade war?
Stock market roller coaster?
Russia investigation?
Furiously Googles "Sage Grouse":
This "chicken-like" bird is important because it is protected -- and the land on which it is protected is oil-rich. So Trump reportedly is trying to un-protect the bird. ...
Final Goodbye for George H.W. Bush:
Today's services for the former President are in Houston, with eulogies from James Baker and George P. Bush. Afterward, a special train named "4141" is taking the President's body to a final resting place at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station. The Bush family and close friends are joining the ride, about a 2-hour journey. The locomotive was unveiled in 2005 and is painted in shades of blue and gray, like Air Force One. The car carrying Bush's flag-draped coffin has been outfitted with special transparent sides, so mourners along the way will have a chance to pay final respects. Also, there will be a 21-jet salute flyover from Navy Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-103, the famous "Jolly Rogers," at College Station when the train arrives. The lead jet in the formation has "President George H.W. Bush 41" below the front seat's windscreen and "Barbara First Lady" below the back seat. Here is a photo of the engine of the train, which was made by Union Pacific: | | Credit: courtesy, Union Pacific
Best Take on Trump At Bush Funeral:
This Philip Rucker piece in The Washington Post on Wednesday's uncomfortable-but-can't-look-away front row of former Presidents and first ladies seated with the current President at Bush's funeral is a good review of the moment. Part of the lead passage: "When the others sang an opening hymn, his mouth did not move. When the others read the Apostles' Creed, he stood stoically. And when one eulogist after another testified to George H.W. Bush's integrity and character and honesty and bravery and compassion, Trump sat and listened, often with his lips pursed and his arms crossed over his chest." Whether we tried to ignore it (as I did, just because I didn't want to think of political animosity while watching the service), it was there -- the thought of Trump "now" versus the White House "then." But Wednesday still felt very much like Jimmy Kimmel described it as: "all of America's divorced parents together in the same room for the first time."
This Is Just Lovely:
A reunion of sorts for White House staff who served under Bush. Kate Andersen Brower has said many times, and written in her books, how much the staff adored the Bushes and consider them their favorite President and first lady. | | Credit: @katebrower/Twitter
"Presidential Harassment!":
Trump tweeted a bah-humbug this morning about how his approval rating would be 75% were it not for the Russia investigation. | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Trump Family Names, Melania and Ivanka Are Up:
OK, I totally went down a rabbit hole with this website this morning. You can see how your name has either increased or decreased with popularity over the years. Mine has declined by 73%, while Hunter's increased by 899.9%! But I digress. My point is: They did the Trump family member names, and while Tiffany declined, Ivanka and Melania were up, by 362% and 227%, respectively, since 2015. | | Credit: areavibes.com
Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo Discuss Things:
Each weeknight, as Chris Cuomo signs off and passes CNN's prime-time programming to Don Lemon, the two banter about whatever strikes them -- which Wednesday night happened to be how Trump greeted former President Barack Obama at Wednesday's services for Bush 41. Lemon said he wouldn't have shaken Trump's hand, while Cuomo called that "petty." Watch their exchange -- it's good.
"Vice" Movie Nabs Golden Globe Nominations:
The Dick Cheney satire, "Vice," was a top film at this morning's announcement of the Golden Globe nominations. It got six nods, more than any other film. What's annoying is, it doesn't open in theaters until December 25, so we don't know if it's good enough to be that good. A full list of the nominees is here. | | What Washington Is Talking About:
A group of senators is working on a bipartisan deal to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia and condemn the Saudi crown prince in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; Sen. Jeff Flake's vow to block judicial nominees until Robert Mueller's investigation is protected with legislation has effectively stalled the Senate Judiciary Committee; and the House averted a government shutdown for two weeks with a funding extension.
What America Is Talking About:
Spotify is out with its personalized top songs of 2018 lists (my No. 1 song is a Selena Gomez remix, and I'm just as surprised as you); Pantone announced "Living Coral" -- a color we've seen recently in iPhones and Airbnb's logo -- as its 2019 color of the year; and lame-duck Republicans in Michigan and Wisconsin are working to strip powers before incoming Democrats take office.
Poll of the Day:
Television remains the most popular way Americans prefer to get their news, at 44%, but online saw the biggest jump, from 28% to 34%, according to a Pew survey.
Print is the lowest and fastest-falling, at 7%, to which I ask, do you like only getting bills and junk in the mail? Magazines spice up mailboxes, and giving subscriptions has become my go-to for loved ones, so you should try it. | | Credit: Pew
Behind the Scenes, Democratic 2020 Primary Is Gearing Up:
"It's less a fantasy draft and more 'The Hunger Games.' " That's what one former 2016 Hillary Clinton veteran looking for the next job told CNN about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering to prepare to staff up presidential campaigns.
Aides for Sens. Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren are fielding resumes, Joe Biden's keeping in touch with donors, and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has flown out potential future staffers and aides to Denver for in-person interviews. It's all happening. Read more, from our Dan Merica and Arlette Saenz, here.
Saudi-Funded Lobbyists Big Spenders at Trump Hotel:
Oof, this isn't a good look. Lobbyists working for the Saudi government booked a block of rooms at Trump's Washington hotel shortly after he was elected to put up US veterans who were offered a trip to D.C, where they lobbied on Capitol Hill against a law Saudi Arabia opposed, per The Washington Post.
The Post estimated the lobbyists booked about 500 nights at the hotel over the course of three months. "We've done hundreds of veterans events, and we've stayed in Holiday Inns and eaten Ritz Crackers and lemonade. And we're staying in this hotel that costs $500 a night," Dan Cord, a Marine veteran told the Post. "I'd never seen anything like this."
Amal Clooney: Trump Gives "Green Light" to Regimes:
Clooney was the recipient of the global citizen of the year award at Wednesday night's UN Correspondents Association Awards. In a reference to Jamal Khashoggi specifically, she said, "The US. President has given such regimes a green light and labeled the press in this country the 'enemy of the people.'
Taylor Swift Performs for LGBT Group Benefit:
The singer dropped in for an acoustic performance of "Delicate" with Hayley Kiyoko at a benefit concert Wednesday in New York for Ally's Coalition, an LGBT equality group founded by Jack Antonoff. Lana Del Rey also performed a new song. | | Credit: @planettropico/Twitter
Street Art Sighting:
Following a proposal to rename the street by the Saudi Embassy in Washington after Khashoggi, a mock "Khashoggi Way" street sign was put up outside the embassy. Footage from the group Mad Dog PAC appears to show the sign being taken down by the city. | | Credit: @maddogpac/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.:
Billboard released its 2018 year-end charts, and Drake had the No. 1 song of the year with "God's Plan," and Taylor Swift had the No. 1 album of the year (her third, after Fearless and 1989) with Reputation. | | | | | | |
