| | | | | Kendrick Lamar performs Sunday during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS | | | Trump Responded to Jay-Z's Criticism in Less Than 24 Hours: Meanwhile, it's been 111 days since Eminem criticized him and Trump hasn't said anything
Our Daily Melania: WSJ reports 21 flights for FLOTUS before she moved into the WH cost $675,000
Trump's Empty and Expensive Hotel: How the Trump International, D.C. compares with other Washington luxury hotels | | | What Washington is Talking About:
The House today is scheduled to vote on the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act. And some Dems are calling for legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by President Trump. Repub Sen. Susan Collins told our Jake Tapper on Sunday that such an "extra safeguard" "wouldn't hurt."
What America is Talking About:
Last night's Grammys, where Bruno Mars took home the award for album of the year for 24K Magic.
The Grammy's "Fire and Fury" Audiobook Tryouts:
Hillary Clinton had the biggest cameo at last night's show, trolling Trump by "trying out" for the part of narrator to the "Fire and Fury" audiobook. She read an excerpt about how Trump likes his McDonald's. | | Credit: CBS
But tbh, my favorite was Cardi B. Imagine hearing that whole book with her commentary interjected in. "I can't believe this I can't believe that he really ... this is how he lives his life?" Allegedly, Cardi, allegedly. | | Credit: CBS
Joy Villa Hits Red Carpet With Yet Another Not-At-All Subtle Dress:
Last year, the pro-Trump singer wore a custom MAGA dress to the Grammy red carpet, this year; she dressed to express her stance against abortion. She hand-painted the fetus on her dress and her "Choose Life" purse herself, telling Fox News, "I'm a pro-life woman. This year I chose to make a statement on the red carpet like I always do. I'm all about life." | | Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NARAS
The Grammys' Other Most Political Moments:
ICYMI, Kendrick Lamar opened the show with a politically charged medley of hits, U2 performed "Get Out of Your Own Way" with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop, Camila Cabello introduced U2 by saying the US "was built by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream," and Kesha sang "Praying," which was a #metoo anthem before the hashtag became a political movement, with a chorus of female singers backing her up.
A Tale of Trump's Beefs with Two Rappers:
It's been 111 days since Eminem criticized Trump in his rap at the BET Hip Hop Awards and Trump has still not responded. Less than 24 hours after Jay-Z talked with our Van Jones about Trump, Trump had a tweet. Jay-Z said a good economy doesn't excuse Trump's "shithole" comments. He also had some pretty compassionate thoughts on how to handle racism in America:
"There was a moment when [former Los Angeles Clippers coach] Donald Sterling had been exposed as this racist on a private phone conversation that he was having and they took his team from him. And it's like, OK, that's one way to do it. But another way would have been, let him have his team and then let's talk about it together. ... Maybe some penalties. Because once you do that, all the other closet racists just run back in the hole."
And this is what he said about why he thinks Trump acts the way he does:
"Donald Trump is a human being, too. Somewhere along his lineage something happened to him ... and he's in pain and he's expressing it in this sort of way." | | Credit: CNN
Our Daily Melania:
The Wall Street Journal is out with a look at just how much it cost to fly Melania around before she moved into the White House last year. The bill: $675,000 for 21 flights between New York, Palm Beach, Florida and Joint Base Andrews. For comparison, Michelle Obama's travel costs came out to about $350,000 a year.
Russia is Rubber and the US is Glue:
Russia is accusing the US of meddling in its election this year, pointing to extended sanctions it could face from the US in response to interference in the 2016 campaign. The Treasury has a deadline today to send Congress a list of wealthy Russians and their connections to Vladimir Putin. Russia's election is March 18.
Trump's Expensive and Empty Hotel:
An analysis by CNN found the Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C., had an average monthly occupancy rate of roughly 50% from January 2017 to November 2017. That's about one-third lower than the industry average for luxury hotels in Washington during the same time period. The Trump also charged an average daily room rate of $559, about 40% higher than other Washington luxury hotels (an average of $334 per night). | | Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Street Art Sighting:
As seen in Columbia Heights on Sunday: a lock-him-up DJTJ for Jail sticker: | | Credit: Hunter Schwarz
If you spot political street art, I'd love to see it. Here's how you can reach me:
1. Tweet me @hunterschwarz
2. Tag me on Instagram @hunterschwarz
3. Email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com | | | | | | |
