| | | | | A woman shouts to President Trump as he steps off the stage during a campaign rally for Marsha Blackburn and other Tennessee Republican candidates on Sunday in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images | | | But, Like, What Happens After: The White House could see staff changes after the midterms
Rihanna Would Like to Stop the Music: She endorsed Gillum in Florida and doesn't want Trump playing her music
Farewell, "House of Cards": The final season is out, and there was a whole lot of Melanabe | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump holds three rallies today in Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri, leaving the White House at 12:40 p.m. and returning at 1:20 a.m. Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh join Trump for his final midterm rally in Missouri tonight.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
The final countdown. Also, run-throughs and rehearsals about how tomorrow night is going to go because nothing is predictable.
MIDTERM MANIA (Mania Mania...):
You're supposed to read that like it's a WWE announcer for a championship. Guys, it's all midterms all the time up in here and we're covering it like crazy. Follow here for all the live updates from around the country.
Ten Races to Watch:
I found this piece especially helpful because with all of the conversations about races, I've sort of managed to lose focus on which ones are particularly meaningful in a sea of meaningfulness.
More than 20 million early votes have been cast so far.
If You're Stressed on Election Night, You Can Hold Puppies:
Because DC is going to DC, there are a bunch of places having election specials -- at the Hamilton Hotel you can hold puppies to calm you down. They will also have a bunch of games for distraction purposes. It's also a good night to eat out, or get something sweet because there are lots of fun Election Day deals on food, like all-day happy hours and free cookies. The Washingtonian has compiled a solid list of options here.
If you just feel like having a cocktail or two, might I suggest this list of election-themed drinks, such as The Mr. President, complete with cotton candy "hair." | | Credit: The Bird
Trump Calls Supporters:
The President this morning had a conference call with GOP supporters where he said tomorrow's election is "very vital." It's clear he is feeling the pressure, but he's also doing that thing where he fixates on what the media is doing. "Many of them are saying it's a referendum on what we've done. I don't know about that...but that's how they're going to play it," Trump said. "If we don't have a good day they will make it like it's the end of the world. Don't worry if we do have a good day they won't give us any credit."
His prediction? Republicans will do "pretty well" -- not exactly a strong vote of confidence.
Trump has also spent the past couple of days using his Twitter feed to endorse candidates. This one for Florida's Rick Scott, who apparently did great on hurricanes. | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
But, Like, What Happens After?:
The Washington Post has a great take today on what is going to possibly happen at the White House within Trump's administration *after* midterms are over. There's likely to be some major staff departures, and wide turnover, something that makes Trump uncomfortable, says the Post, whose reporters spoke with 14 White House senior aides and Republican advisers for the story.
At His Rallies, Trump is Basically a Rock Star for Some Women:
I was engrossed in this story about the women who attend Trump's rallies, many of whom wave and scream -- and sometimes cry -- like they were at an old Beatles concert or something. It's pretty wild. One says, "I have an infatuation and a love for this man that's not normal." And here's a shot of some of the regulars at a Trump rally last week, used in the story, and some of the same women at a Trump rally a full two years ago. | | Credit: @rerutled/Twitter
The Magic Wall, Revealed:
John King reveals the secrets behind what it's like to wield CNN's "Magic Wall" on election night. "It's a breathtaking tool for me," King says in this super-cool story about the ins and outs of the giant screens and maps and interactive doodads that networks use with abandon when it's time for election results to come through. | | Don't Want to Close on a Sad Note:
But I ultimately find the message of this brave hero's final Facebook post before he was killed in action in Afghanistan this weekend to be the most important to think about this election eve. If you haven't yet had a chance to read about Brent Taylor, I encourage you to do so. It's important. He was important. | | What America is Talking About: - There's an election tomorrow.
- Michael Bloomberg is out with his third national ad of the midterms and it's the first he appears in.
- A white supremacist group behind racist robocalls in Florida is now targeting Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
- Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp launched an investigation into Democrats connected with an alleged hack of voter registration systems. Democrats deny the accusations, and Kemp has provided no evidence or explanation why Democrats are being investigated.
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" was the No. 1 movie in theaters this weekend, bringing in $50 million at the domestic box office.
- This video of a baby bear climbing up a steep snowy hill to reach its mother.
Poll of the Day:
Democrats hold a double-digit lead over Republicans in CNN's final poll asking respondents which candidates they'd select in their congressional districts:
The Democratic Party's candidate: 55%
The Republican Party's candidate: 42%
Neither/Other candidates: 1%
No opinion: 1%
Democrats' lead is similar to the one Republicans held in 2010, but smaller than the lead Democrats held in 2006. You can read more about the poll here.
Rihanna Would Like to Stop the Music:
Rihanna endorsed Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum on Instagram Sunday. "The US has only had four black governors in its entire history, and we can help make #AndrewGillum the next one and Florida's first!" she wrote.
Rihanna also RTed Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker, who noted that her song "Please Don't Stop The Music" was played at Trump's rally in Chattanooga. She did not approve. "Not for much longer," she tweeted. | | Credit: @rihanna/Twitter
Kanye Gives $126K More to Chicago Mayoral Candidate:
It appears Kanye West was mostly serious when he said he wanted to focus on his creative work over politics. The day after his tweets bowing out of politics, West donated $126,460 to Friends of Amara Enyia, a PAC supporting the Chicago mayoral candidate he's backed, Amara Enyia, according to records with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Pete Davidson Jokes on SNL About Vet Candidates' Injury:
In a sketch Saturday, Davidson mocked Dan Crenshaw, a Republican running for US House in Texas, who wears an eye patch because he lost an eye in an IED blast while serving as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan.
"You may be surprised to hear he's a congressional candidate from Texas, and not a hit man in a porno movie," Davidson said. "I'm sorry, I know he lost his eye in war, or whatever."
Crenshaw called the sketch "dark" in an interview with CNN this morning. "We have thick skin, but as veterans, it's hard for us to understand why war wounds would elicit such raucous laughter from an audience," he said.
But This SNL Sketch...:
Their "Midterm Ad" sketch about how Democrats are trying to ignore their nerves and tell themselves everything will be fine perfectly captured the vibe of many voters right now. Spot on.
Roethlisberger Pays Tributes to Pittsburgh Victims:
In the game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wore cleats with a star of David in the Steelers logo and the words "Stronger Than Hate" to honor the victims of the synagogue shooting. Here's a snap from ESPN's Adam Schefter: | | Credit: @adamschefter/Instagram
Farewell, "House of Cards":
I binged the final season this weekend, and to be honest, I haven't figured out my final thoughts about it yet. It was filled with completely insane plot points and others that may have seemed insane a few years ago but now feel well within the realm of possibilities, from (minor spoiler alert) talk of the 25th Amendment to a sinister app that could track users. The world of Season 6 felt smaller, set often at donor parties and inside the White House residence. It was perhaps a necessity after having to refilm after Kevin Spacey was booted from the show, but it also focused the season on the role the ultra-wealthy play in politics.
Diane Lane played Annette Shepard, one-half of a wealthy donor brother-sister duo who was the epitome of a Melania wannabe, AKA, Melanabe, with her bell sleeves, defined shoulders, and belted tops. | | Credit: Netflix
If you watched the final season, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Did you love it or hate it? Email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com.
Street Art Sighting:
In all my time street art sighting, I've never seen a message as consistent as the one to vote in street art pieces and outdoor ads in the final days of the 2018 campaign. In New York City, "vote" has turned into a tag, written and spray-painted across surfaces, like this one in red added below a Mickey Mouse mural by street artist Jerkface. Patagonia put up signs like this one in South Lake Tahoe announcing its closure to let employees vote. | | Credit: Hunter Schwarz, Juan Ortega
Some pieces are explicitly Democratic or in favor of a particular candidate, like this mural of Beto O'Rourke in Houston by Anat Ronen. | | Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
While others were non-partisan calls to vote, like this "I'm Voting" sticker or this billboard spotted in Mesa, Arizona. | | Credit: Hunter Schwarz, Joan Schwarz
You can see more GOTV street art efforts here.
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.:
Ariana Grande may have just snatched the crown for singing about exes. Right before SNL went on the air Saturday, she dropped "Thank U Next," a song where she names names, thanking ex-boyfriends for what they've taught her before the chorus: "thank you next/I'm so f***ing grateful for my ex." Rough day to be Pete Davidson. | | | | | | |
