| | | | | Flowers sit at the base of a statue of President George H.W. Bush near downtown Houston Sunday. Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images | | | Special Air Mission 41: Air Force One renamed for George H.W. Bush's memorial
"Becoming" Tour Postponed: Michelle Obama cuts European leg short to attend funeral
There Are Two New Marlon Bundo Books on the Way: And second lady Karen Pence will illustrate both | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump has no public events on his schedule today, however, he will meet with HUD Secretary Ben Carson.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Preparing for this week's burial of former President George H.W. Bush
But Is It Witness Tampering, Tho?
Kellyanne Conway's husband George Conway seems to think Trump's string of tweets this morning, specifically one focused on Roger Stone (he has "guts!") could be an issue in terms of messaging a possible witness. Conway retweeted it referencing the US code for tampering with a witness, victim or informant. Whether it is or not, legally, Trump was clearly sending a message to Stone, who over the weekend said in an interview he will not testify against Trump. Clearly, the Robert Mueller investigation is still very much on the president's mind, even as he returns from the G20 in Argentina, and has a week centered on the State Funeral of a former President. (Also, please note use of "Scott Free.") | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Xi Also on the Brain:
Trump awoke today also clearly having read the news about his two-hour meeting in Argentina with Chinese President Xi Jinping. They covered several topics, but the 90-day extension of trade regulation decisions was top of the leader board. This morning Trump tweeted lots of thoughts about his relationship with Xi, with plenty of Fun and interesting! capitalizations and exclamation points.
Special Air Mission 41:
The body of former President George H.W. Bush arrives this afternoon at Andrews Air Force Base, aboard Air Force One, which for this trip is called "Special Air Mission 41." The former President will lie in state in the Capitol rotunda this evening through tomorrow, and then on Wednesday, he will be transported to the National Cathedral for the memorial service with family and invited guests -- including President Trump and first lady Melania Trump, as well as all of the other living former presidents and first ladies, with the exception of Rosalynn Carter. On Tuesday, the Trumps are scheduled to privately express their condolences to the Bush family at Blair House.
This morning, Bush's body was driven in a motorcade to the airport in Houston, and some were curious about the Secret Service presence. In the motorcades to all the ceremonies, the second vehicle following the hearse will be President George H.W. Bush's protective detail of Secret Service agents. His Secret Service detail will be with him until he is interred. The Secret Service agents will also act as honorary pallbearers in Texas at the funeral home and Ellington Field. In Washington for all ceremonies, the Rotunda and National Cathedral, the honorary pallbearers will be Navy captains and admirals who have commanded the USS George HW Bush and members of the carrier strike group.
Former President George W. Bush will be one of four people to eulogize Bush at Wednesday's service at National Cathedral, along with former Canadian PM Brian Mulroney, former Sen. Alan Simpson, and historian and author Jon Meacham.
Sully, Bush's beloved service dog who worked with him this summer following Barbara Bush's death in April, is on the flight from Houston to Washington today, his last act of service to the former President before returning to duty at Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland to help injured veterans. Sully is a very, very good dog. | | Credit: @jgm41/Twitter
Michelle Obama Has Advice for Meghan Markle:
In the British magazine, "Good Housekeeping," (one of several magazine interviews she's done while promoting her memoir, "Becoming") Michelle Obama said Meghan Markle should pick a platform that resonates with her personally, but that there's no need to rush into anything. "Like me, Meghan probably never dreamt that she'd have a life like this, and the pressure you feel -- from yourself and from others -- can sometimes feel like a lot," said Obama. "I spent the first few months in the White House mainly worrying about my daughters, making sure they were off to a good start at school and making new friends before I launched into any more ambitious work. I think it's okay -- it's good, even -- to do that."
Egg on His Face:
Washingtonian's new cover and cover story are, imho, excellent. (I alllllmost said "eggscellent" but I refrained.) Writers and food editors Jessica Sidman and Anna Spiegel spent months investigating the downfall of celebrity chef Mike Isabella, and the aftermath of what remains of his restaurant empire. Spoiler: not much. Worth the read! | | What Washington is Talking About:
The remains of former President George H.W. Bush will arrive in Washington today; his casket will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda from 5 p.m. today to Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.; and with five days to go until a possible government shutdown, lawmakers are considering a temporary spending bill to avoid a face-off until after the funeral.
What America is Talking About:
President Trump has called for flags to be lowered to half-staff for Bush for the next 30 days; the Dow climbed more than 300 points today after the US and China reached a temporary truce in their trade war; and Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra married in a ceremony in Jodhpur, India.
Reminder:
Rent is due.
Poll of the Day:
Gallup looked back at Bush's approval rating during his time as president. In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, his approval reached 89%, the record highest presidential approval rating recorded until his son hit 90% after the 9/11 attacks. The elder Bush's approval dropped near the end of 1991, hitting a low of 29% following the DNC that summer. He left office with a much improved 56% approval rating. | | Credit: Gallup
November 2018, a Retrospective :
Believe it or not, the midterms were just last month. Here's your recap of the month in news, politics, and pop culture: | | Credit: Hunter Schwarz
Harris to Reportedly Decide on 2020 Over Holidays:
Sen. Kamala Harris calling a presidential run "a family decision" and said she plans to make a decision about running in 2020 with them over the holidays, according to Politico.
"Becoming" Tour Postponed:
Michelle Obama is cutting her European trip short to attend Bush's funeral, she announced Sunday. "I hope readers and ticket holders will understand my decision regarding my desire to attend President Bush's funeral, and join me in paying tribute to him and his tremendous contributions to our world," Obama tweeted.
"Becoming" has now sold at least 1,122,618 hardcover copies, compared to the No. 2 best-selling book of the year, "Fire and Fury," which has sold 1,008,088 hardcover copies. And at her Brooklyn book tour stop, she used some profanity to criticize Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In" philosophy. "I forgot where I was for a moment," she said.
Even the Grammys Rescheduled Their Nominations:
Nominees for the 61st Grammy Awards were originally scheduled to be announced Wednesday, the day of Bush's funeral, but the Recording Academy said today they're pushing it back to Friday.
An Evening with Stormy and Sally Quinn:
Stormy Daniels is in town for a performance at Cloakroom, but before she strips, she's sitting down for a conversation with Quinn at Politics and Prose's Northwest book store at 6 tonight. Quinn told Washingtonian she was tipped off that Stormy would be in Washington from her astrologer and called the porn star "a really interesting person—very smart, very funny. I read her book. It's hilarious. She's clever, and I think she's got a lot of insight. And she's unbelievably honest."
There Are Two New Marlon Bundo Books on the Way:
Regnery Publishing announced today it will publish two new books about the Pences' rabbit Marlon Bundo written by Charlotte Pence and illustrated by second lady Karen Pence. "A Day in the Nation's Capital" is set for a spring 2019 release date, and "Best Christmas Ever" for fall.
Like the first Bundo book, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to charities: A21, a group that fights slavery and human trafficking, and the Riley Hospital for Children and Tracy's Kids. Whether they'll be outsold by John Oliver parody versions is tbd. | | Credit: Regnery Publishing
Cartoonist Shares Bush Cartoon:
Jackson Mississippi's Clarion Ledger published a cartoon by Marshall Ramsey showing Bush greeting his wife and daughter Robin, who died at age 3. Ramsey started his career in 1988 and Bush was the first president he ever drew, he said. He made a cartoon showing former first lady Barbara Bush greeting Robin at the pearly gates after her passing in April, and donated the original to Bush's presidential library. | | Credit: @MarshallRamsey/Twitter
Street Art Sighting:
To mark the passing of the 41st president, the National Portrait Gallery placed black fabric over his official portrait. The portrait was painted in 1994 by Ronald N. Sherr, an artist from New Jersey who also painted the official Supreme Court portrait for Justice Anthony Kennedy, and did a portrait of both Presidents Bush, for which they posed at Camp David. | | Credit: Oliver Contreras/The Washington Post via 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. | | | | | | |
