| | | | | Aerial view of President Trump's border wall prototypes as seen from Tijuana, Mexico, on Monday. Credit: Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump will address the nation from the Oval Office tonight at 9 p.m.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Shutdown Day 18.
Whether or not networks should carry the President's remarks -- and giving equal time to Democratic leadership. Also the sad irony of a President who calls the media "fake news," but then needs and wants the media to cover his live remarks without question.
Trump in Primetime:
The issue, of course, is that the government shutdown/border funding issue are politically charged, and as such giving television air time feels, well, weird. I believe CNN is doing the right thing by allowing Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer coverage as well, but the problem for me falls into the category of facts and truth, both of which the President has been wishy-washy about in recent days. From stating a grossly misleading figure to insinuate the number of terror watch-list members who have come through the Southern border, to stating that former President Barack Obama has a 10-foot wall around his DC home (he does not), Trump has played fast and loose with facts on this.
What we can do, and what anyone can do, no matter their political beliefs, is make sure to check (and re-check and check again) the statements that are issued tonight. Do homework, learn what's true and what is bluster, figure out the right way to take in the correct information and then figure out where you land. We intend to do this at CNN tonight, and I hope you watch. CNN's Oliver Darcy this morning reports most broadcast networks and cable news outlets will be carrying the Democratic response, including ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC.
Twisted Statements, Like This One ... :
In his Rose Garden remarks last week, Trump said that he had heard from former presidents and they backed his idea for a border wall: "This should have been done by all of the presidents that preceded me. And they all know it. Some of them have told me that we should have done it." So. There are four living ex-Presidents. None of them, I repeat, none of them, appear to have discussed the issue with Trump. "I have not discussed the border wall with President Trump, and do not support him on the issue," said Jimmy Carter. "The answer is no," said Angel Urena, speaking for Bill Clinton. "In fact, they've not talked since the inauguration." George W. Bush has not discussed the wall with Trump, said spokesman Freddy Ford. Obama didn't respond directly, instead his office released some of his remarks on the topic, such as this one from 2016: "Suggesting that we can build an endless wall along our borders, and blame our challenges on immigrants — that doesn't just run counter to our history as the world's melting pot; it contradicts the evidence that our growth and our innovation and our dynamism has always been spurred by our ability to attract strivers from every corner of the globe." | | Kellyanne Conway Corrects the Record 😳 :
It's unusual when a member of the administration admits a falsehood has been issued, which is why it's notable -- and commendable -- that Kellyanne Conway on Fox News admitted Sarah Sanders was wrong when she said 4,000 terrorists got through the border. "That was an unfortunate misstatement ... "
But, Vice President Mike Pence has not been publicly corrected -- he said it, too.
Because It was Really ABOUT A DOZEN:
The number of actual terror suspects who came through the southern border between 2017 and 2018 was more like 12, according to an administration official. So, definitely not 4,000.
Know Your National Emergencies:
Just in case the President announces a national emergency tonight in his remarks, which some experts think he might do in order to get the funding he wants for the border wall/barrier, here's a super handy explainer on national emergencies in America. For instance, I had no idea there are already 31 active national emergencies, ranging on the scale of actual *emergencies,* IMO. | | Also, The Russia Investigation is Still Happening:
Remember the Russia investigation? We were all talking about it before the President shut down the gov--wait a minute. I see what he did there. Anyway, this morning the Russian lawyer who was in the Trump Tower meeting with Donald Trump Jr. and others in June 2016 was charged with obstruction of justice by the New York District Attorney in a separate case. This is interesting because now the special counsel could have some legal leverage. | | Update to Booker/Dawson Maybe-Are-A-Couple Story:
Yesterday, Page Six did an item on Senator Cory Booker and actress Rosario Dawson taking in a movie together in New York on Thursday, and now they've been seen together at the Broadway show "Dear Evan Hanson," where Dawson maybe used the l-word.
RIP, One of Fashion's Greatest Ever:
As a former fashion and magazine editor, I always loved Babs Simpson, the uber-chic and revolutionary fashion editor who was a Vogue legend for 25 years. Simpson passed away yesterday at the age of 105. It's totally worth the time to read this terrific Hamish Bowles obituary, and I couldn't recommend more that you watch the 2012 documentary, "In Vogue: The Editor's Eye," to learn more about Simpson and Vogue's other legend fashion editors. It also helps explain what a fashion editor actually does, which most people don't actually know. Here's a terrific Irving Penn photo of Simpson from 1949, and an Annie Leibovitz portrait of all of Vogue's most famous fashion editors from the documentary -- Simpson is in the pink pants, naturally. | | What Washington is Talking About:
Whether Republicans will cross party lines to support a budget deal with Democrats to end the shutdown (Vice President Mike Pence and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen are meeting with House Republicans tonight to shore up support to try to avoid that); Democrats are introducing legislation today that would require background checks on private gun sales; and Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will give the joint Democratic response to President Trump's address tonight.
What America is Talking About:
No. 2 Clemson defeated No. 1 Alabama for the College Football Playoff championship; clemency has been granted to Cyntoia Brown, a woman serving a life sentence after she killed a man who had bought her for sex at the age of 16; and Colton Underwood's season of "The Bachelor" premiered, with one contestant who dressed as a sloth and another who faked an Australian accent.
Some Lawmakers Are Going Without Pay:
As a show of solidarity with federal employees not getting paid during the shutdown, some members of Congress -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- are delaying their paychecks. At least 48 House and Senate members are doing so, per a Washington Post analysis. That's far from the 248 who did so during the 16-day partial shutdown in October 2013.
Most members of Congress make an annual salary of $174,000, but some get a raise being in leadership. House and Senate majority and minority leaders and the President pro tempore of the Senate make $193,400, while the House Speaker makes $223,500.
Coming to a Dem Debate Near You...:
Supporters of Green New Deal, the policy initiative to reach 100% renewable energy, have plans to force a conversation on climate change in the upcoming Democratic primary. Groups backing GND, including Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats, plan to train volunteers, hold a "Road to GND" Tour to pressure lawmakers and conduct a large-scale demonstration outside an early Democratic presidential debate. | | Sunrise Movement protesters demonstrate in favor of the Green New Deal on Capitol Hill in December. Credit: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Tired: Live Streaming From The Kitchens, Wired: Live Streaming From a Road Trip:
Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke is reportedly planning a solo road trip beginning in El Paso that would take him to places "such as community college campuses" around the country, a person familiar with his plans told the Wall Street Journal.
O'Rourke's trip would take him outside of Texas while avoiding Iowa and other early-voting states, and there would be no staff or press with him, "though he may document the trip on social media." If I was a betting man I'd put my money on O'Rourke definitely documenting the trip on social media. Politicians live streaming from their kitchens may already feel a touch passé, so maybe live streams from the road is where it's headed.
Planned Parenthood's New President Plans Pivot:
Dr. Leana Wen is the first Planned Parenthood president in nearly 50 years to be a physician. She plans to steer the organization away from advocacy and to expand services beyond abortion.
"People aren't coming to Planned Parenthood to make a political statement," she told BuzzFeed. "They're coming because they need their vaccinations. They need their well woman exams. They're getting HIV tests." Wen is embarking on a five-month listening tour of PP facilities tomorrow to learn how to expand non-abortion services.
Street Art Sighting:
The south side of the US-Mexico border wall near Tijuana and San Diego has become a canvas for artists an activists. We've seen several examples of that in this space. The latest sighting is "EMPATHY," spotted Sunday. | | Credit: Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images
Tag or DM me your political street art sightings @hunterschwarz on Twitter or Instagram, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com.
P.S.:
The first new No. 1 hit of the year goes to Halsey's "Without Me," which replaces Ariana Grande's "Thank U Next" at the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100. It's Halsey's second No. 1 and first as a lead artist after "Closer" with the Chainsmokers. | | | | | | |
