| | | | | President Trump speaks about the government shutdown Friday from the Rose Garden. Credit: Alex Edelman/AFP/Getty Images | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump has no public events on his schedule today.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
The shutdown being over -- for now.
So, You're Telling Me There's a Chance:
Trump told the Wall Street Journal he is not particularly optimistic a deal will be made to prevent another government shutdown in three weeks when the current Band-Aid situation expires. He put the odds of getting his desired border wall funding at "less than 50-50." Here's a handy explainer of where things stand now in Shutdown Land.
Meanwhile, Morale at the White House Is Not Good:
Headlines screaming that their boss caved, a wasted month of shutdown, no movement on border security, a moody President -- the staff at the White House is reeling. "A humiliating loss for a man that rarely loses," one Trump adviser said about the past few weeks. "I miss winning." This story is a good take on where the administration goes from here.
State-ing the Obvious: No SOTU:
An aide to Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirms to CNN the State of the Union address will not take place tomorrow night, even though the shutdown is over. I'm not going to rehash the whole back and forth, because we all lived through it, but it's clear the speech is not happening. Today in a brief gaggle with the press, White House strategic communications director Mercedes Schlapp said plans are underway for a new date: "Our offices are in contact with the Speaker's office and so we should have a response soon. They have been in discussions. I really don't have an update other than the President looks forward to addressing the American people directly."
Chris Christie's Book Seems Like a Fun Read:
"Let Me Finish" is out this week and from the excerpts released -- including those in the New York Times last night -- I think it's going to be a good time. Christie writes about Trump's posse of advisers, many of whom he claims were vastly inexperienced and unprepared for the job of working in the White House. | | Tom Brokaw Said What Now?:
Guys, sometimes I think it's best that these older guys just admit they are well past out of touch and should just pack it in. Case in point, NBC News veteran Tom Brokaw, who yesterday on "Meet the Press" went more than a smidge past out of touch and into xenophobic territory with his comments about "brown grandbabies" and Hispanics needing to "assimilate" into America. Um. No. NBC News, somewhat alarmingly, has yet to release a statement on Brokaw's comments and what his future is with the network.
The Annual Alfalfa Dinner Was Lit:
But apparently it also hit a serious note when former Secretary of Defense James Mattis gave a speech honoring the military -- which earned him a standing ovation, according to a source. The Alfalfa Club dinner has been happening for decades, and it is supposed to be super-secret. Basically, a bunch of rich and powerful men (and some women) dress up in tuxedos and hold a fancy dinner where people from both sides of the political aisle roast one another. John Kerry had some good jokes, including this one: "I think we've all noticed, there's been a lot of turnover in this administration. Secretary (Ryan) Zinke was fired. Reince Priebus was fired. Rex Tillerson, Gen. McMaster, Jeff Sessions -- all fired. One thing you can say about the Trump people -- they're not quitters. Wilbur Ross is here. I want to thank him for taking care of dessert. He went to the kitchen and said, 'Let them eat cake.'" | | Hope Hicks, Gone Hollywood:
Ever wonder what Hope Hicks is up to now? I did, which is why this Emily Jane Fox piece in Vanity Fair was an insightful and well-reported look at Hicks' new life in Los Angeles, where she is still trying to fit in and leave behind the stigma of being a Trump White House alumna in uber-liberal Hollywood. Also, she apparently still talks to Trump.
Street Art Sighting, FLOTUS Edition:
One of my favorite [solidcore] instructors -- if you don't follow me on Instagram, I am a [solidcore] addict -- saw this mural of Melania Trump and Michelle Obama embracing on a wall in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami. The word on Melania's arm, "Priseljenec," means "immigrant" in Slovenian. I dig it. | | Credit: Jo Gomez
Literally Want to Know:
And why is a "tall" the shortest cup? | | | Credit: @scottlincicome/Twitter | | What Washington is Talking About:
The 116th Congress returns to work today for the first time with open government, but with the clock already counting down to February 15, when the temporary spending bill runs out; and lawmakers are finally able to turn to their legislative and oversight priorities.
What America is Talking About:
Government employees across the country return to their jobs today, and many of them have a lot of work to get to; "Black Panther" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" were among the SAG winners; and the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams arrived in Atlanta Sunday ahead of the Super Bowl.
Your 2020 Pronunciation Guide:
It's Kamala like "comma-la" and Buttigieg like "Buddha judge." Read our Veronica Stracqualursi (Strack-kwa-LUR-see) on how to pronounce the names of 2020 candidates and hopefuls and impress your friends.
Harris Formally Launches Campaign:
Sen. Kamala Harris officially announced her presidential campaign Sunday at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, California. She vowed to "always speak with decency and moral clarity and treat all people with dignity and respect," and in a swipe at President Trump, said, "we have foreign powers infecting the White House like malware."
Harris walked out to Mary J. Blige's "Work That." I've added the song to the Cover/Line 2020 Announcement Walk-Out Songs playlist -- you can listen and subscribe to here. Harris will be on CNN tonight at 10 p.m. ET for a town hall event. | | Credit: Noah Berger/AFP/Getty Images
Starbucks' Schultz Says He's Thinking of Running:
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told CBS Sunday he's considering running as a "centrist independent" in 2020. The news set off all sorts of reaction, from Trump who tweeted this morning that Schultz "doesn't have the 'guts' to run" to Democrat Julián Castro who told our Jake Tapper Sunday it could have a negative impact on the election.
I'm currently most interested with how you brand an independent candidate previously associated with one of the most iconic corporate brands in America.
Third Time's the Charm?:
Hillary Clinton's telling people she's not closing the door on a 2020 run, three sources close to her told our Jeff Zeleny. Recent indictments, particularly Roger Stone's, have factored into her keeping the door open, he said.
One thing Clinton hasn't been doing is publicly gloating about Stone's arrest. Her Twitter account since Friday hasn't mentioned it, but instead has focused on the Clinton Foundation's work helping with recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. The foundation is holding their Action Network meeting through Wednesday there, where they just saw "Hamilton."
Tomi's Not OK with Trump Caving:
Add Tomi Lahren to the list of conservatives upset over the shutdown ending with no wall funding. "I'm happy federal workers will be paid but @realDonaldTrump just allowed Nancy to walk all over him," she tweeted Friday. "It's President Trump, not President Pelosi. Act like it. #BuildThatWall".
Khloe Sports "Kanye For President" Hat:
Khloe Kardashian was spotted last week at the Topanga Canyon Mall with a grayish tan "Kanye For President" baseball cap. I wonder whether Ye's Yeezy line will start selling them...
Rubio Posts His Own #GuaidoChallenge:
You'd be forgiven if you saw the photo of Sen. Marco Rubio wearing a hoodie on Instagram this weekend and thought he was doing his best Jeb Bush impression. Instead, Rubio was making a foreign-policy-statement-through-meme.
The #GuaidoChallege is a reference to the claim Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido was spotted wearing a hoodie as a disguise to meet with a ruling party official in Caracas. Guaido said the meeting never happened, and to mock it, some are posting photos of themselves wearing a hoodie. Rubio, who's been among the Senate's most vocal Guaido supporters, posted a photo of him doing the challenge in a US Senate hoodie. Fellow Floridian Rep. Matt Gaetz and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also posted their own photos. | | Credit: @marcorubiofla/Instagram
Rubio told our Jake Tapper Sunday on "State of the Union" that his support for Guaido was supporting democracy in Venezuela and their constitution. He said he doesn't "know of anyone who is calling for a military intervention" there, but added, "the United States always retains the right, always, anywhere in the world, in any instance, to protect its national security."
Street Art Sighting:
Graffiti depicting former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Maduro alongside the words "Abajo Trump," or "Down with Trump," was spotted last week in Caracas. | | Credit: Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images
Tag or DM me your political street art sightings @hunterschwarz on Twitter or Instagram, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com. | | | | | | |
