| | | | | President Trump answers questions from the press as he departs the White House Monday. Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump today travels to New Orleans to give remarks at the annual America Farm Bureau Federation convention. Later, he welcomes college football champions the Clemson Tigers to the White House.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Trump is not traveling to Nashville today, which is what he tweeted. And then deleted.
Everything is fine. | | Credit: screenshot of now-deleted @realDonaldTrump tweet
Shutdown Day 24:
Since most of Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, literally left town on Friday afternoon and didn't even put on a pretense of trying to work on a solution and instead were like, see ya, I thought I would re-up this piece from Saturday with 81 direct effects of the government shutdown, now the longest in America's history. As always, you can follow along for live updates on shutdown news here.
On his way to New Orleans this morning, Trump said to reporters, "I don't know if we're close to a deal." So, that doesn't sound good. But he also said he's not interested in calling for a national emergency, saying, "I'm not looking to do that."
"I Never Worked for Russia":
Welp, I think it's going to be a Week, if this is an actual quote from the President before 10 a.m. on a Monday, amirite? On his way out of the White House, Trump was asked about the recent reporting that there were discussions among federal law enforcement that he might have been working to help the Russians. He said that was false, and called the whole Russia investigation a "hoax."
There's also more news today about how the FBI was connected to trying to understand how Trump was connected to the Russians, and whether he was providing them with information they would find beneficial. There were top-ranking FBI discussions involving whether Trump was, "acting at the behest of and somehow following directions, somehow executing their will," according to transcripts obtained by CNN. Ok. Just let that sink in. Agents were actually holding meetings to figure out if the man who is president of the United States was working with Russians to help them. The FBI discussions began after Trump fired James Comey, which of course kicked off all sorts of inquiries and theories and ensuing investigations. This whole "was Trump working for the Russians?" conversation, however, to me is so bizarre. But instead of just denying it and putting it to rest, Trump went on Fox News on Saturday night and when asked about it, didn't deny it, but said he was offended by the insinuation. "I think it's the most insulting thing I've ever been asked."
Trump also tried to defend his actions with Russia, saying, "I've been tougher on Russia than anybody else -- any other -- probably any other president, period, but certainly the last three or four presidents." | | "You're Effing it All Up, Mick":
Ah, the awkward times behind closed doors in the West Wing. Take this one, earlier this month, when the President, in talks with Congressional leaders at the White House to discuss ending the shutdown, told his chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to basically shut up. A White House official confirms Trump told Mulvaney to "stop, stop, stop" when Mulvaney started to throw out scenarios for compromise on the billions Trump wants for his border wall -- and then he said in more colorful language that Mulvaney was messing things up. People in the room found the encounter so uncomfortable they had trouble watching the exchange.
Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump Take Snow Pics, Just Like Us:
Melania posted two of my favorite kind of FLOTUS shots that she does, from the inside of the White House looking out. One was of the South Lawn and the other was overlooking the Rose Garden. The caption was simply: ❄️❄️❄️ @whitehouse. Ivanka opted to Instagram story her snow times, posting a pic of her backyard jungle gym, covered in the six or more inches of snow we got yesterday, and another shot of her standing in the middle of a snowy street in what looks to be her neighborhood of Kalorama. | | Credit: @FLOTUS/Twitter, @ivankatrump/Instagram
Running For President, A Fit Person's Game:
The diners, the fast food, the state fairs ... running for president can be a weight-gain smorgasbord. And that's apparently why some 2020 candidates (or, potential candidates) are getting in shape for the road. I enjoyed reading this piece from the New York Times today, because it was another way to think about what a toll running for the White House can actually take on your body.
Dress Like the Duchess of Sussex:
Guys, since we haven't seen Melania in public in over two weeks I have to focus my fashion sleuthing to Meghan Markle, who is a worthy sub, IMHO. Today, she and Prince Harry made their first public appearance as a couple in 2019. She wore a truly fabulous outfit that was so chic in its simplicity. It was essentially a no-frills coat, dress, heels and a purse, but the mix of red and purple made it happen. The coat was by Canadian-based design house, Sentaler, and is available here (for pre-order, ships in March) for $1,395. The dress is by Babaton at Aritzia, and was available in the Acai color for $138, but now is only in stock in a pretty floral, here on sale for $49.99. As an aside, the new Aritzia store in Georgetown is one of my favorite places to shop -- check it out if you haven't yet. Her purse is the "Nina" bag by Gabriela Hearst, and one Meghan has carried in public at least once before, which is probably why there is now a WAIT LIST to purchase one. | | | Credit: Richard Martin-Roberts/AFP/Getty Images, sentaler.com, aritzia.com, gabrielahearst.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
Reacting to reports the FBI opened an investigation into whether President Trump was taking orders from Russia. Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff tweeted, "Shouldn't we find out whether our president is really putting America first," while Sen. Lindsey Graham said he doesn't trust the FBI "as far as I can throw them." And Rep. Steve King is getting a talking-to about his white nationalist comments. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is set to meet with him today and Speaker Nancy Pelosi said "there is interest" in taking action against King.
What America is Talking About:
This post of an egg surpassed Kylie Jenner's birth announcement to become the most-liked photo on Instagram; Sarah Thompson became the first woman to officiate an NFL playoff game; and Chris Pratt announced he's engaged to Katherine Schwarzenegger.
Trump's Getting the Blame:
A CNN poll out this morning found 55% of Americans blame Trump for the shutdown, 32% blame Democrats and 9% blame both. The poll also found a majority still oppose the wall, 59% to 39%.
The Decade Challenge, but for Politics:
Instagram's hottest trend right now is sharing photos of yourself 10 years apart. I haven't noticed politicians getting in on the action, so I did it for them, with notes below: | |
2009 vs. 2019:
Donald Trump: Host of the eighth season of the "Apprentice" franchise, which Joan Rivers won vs. president of the United States facing unprecedented investigations into his administration during the longest government shutdown in history.
Ted Cruz: lawyer at the firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP vs. bearded senior senator from the great state of Texas.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Student at Boston University vs. youngest-ever member of the US House of Representatives.
Nancy Pelosi: Speaker of the House vs. Speaker of the House again.
Beto O'Rourke: El Paso city council member vs. former-congressman-turned-social-media-influencer.
Note: the AOC dance video is from 2010, per BU Today, and I can't confirm the dates of the Cruz and O'Rourke pics, but you get the point.
The Mooch is Going on "Big Brother":
Following Omarosa's lead, former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci is heading to CBS's "Celebrity Big Brother." The season premieres next Monday, and yes, I'll be tracking how long the Mooch lasts, in increments of Scaramucci.
The Rock Claims "Snowflake" Interview is Fake:
On Instagram Friday, the Rock said the interview of him criticizing the "snowflake generation" "never took place" and that he "never said any of those words."
"You know it's not a real DJ interview if I'm insulting a group or generation," he said. The Daily Star, which published the interview, took the page down without adding a note or offering an explanation about what happened. 🤔
What's In An Accent Mark:
Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro announced his presidential campaign Saturday in San Antonio with a new logo that emphasizes the accent mark. The mark has appeared in logos past, from his city council run to his campaigns for mayor. But for his presidential logo, it's highlighted, set apart from the rest of the ink blue background in a brighter shade. The mark literally breaks outside the box. | | | Credit: Edward A. Ornelas/Getty Images At a time when companies are moving toward simpler logos, accents can complicate that. In September, the fashion label Céline dropped theirs as part of a rebrand. The new logo was a throwback to the 1960s original that typically did not use the mark, the label explained on Instagram. Without the accent mark, the Celine logo had "a simplified and more balanced proportion."
Castro's accent mark certainly doesn't center his logo, it draws the eye slightly to the right. But it does announce itself. It says HOO-lee-AHN, not JOO-lee-UHN.
Castro celebrated his Hispanic heritage throughout his speech. He spoke about his mother, who came to the US from Mexico as a child, and he made his announcement twice, in English and in Spanish. He also gave a shout-out to Puerto Rico, which he's visiting today as part of the Latino Political Summit.
Castro's logo is vaguely reminiscent of an airline logo, the accent mark rising like a plane tail. Air Julián -- One Nation. One Destiny. -- is now departing. Street Art Sighting:
These posters of Castro by artist Cruz Ortiz were spotted at his announcement. Ortiz has made political posters before -- including this letterpress woodcut for O'Rourke's Senate run -- but his Castro design has a different look than much of his recent work.
"I've worked with Julián for years and always understood him as a straightforward statesman who has a big heart," Ortiz told me in an email. "So the design had to reflect that." He said he tried to make a design that reflected a "strong but sincere feeling." There were also versions with a splash of pink. Ortiz said the poster will be available soon and added a Castro letterpress woodcut is also on the way. | | Credit: Credit: Edward A. Ornelas/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.:
Castro walked out to the Byrds' "Turn! Turn! Turn!" at his announcement rally, and it's the first track on my 2020 announcement walkout playlist. I'll be updating as more candidates throw their hats into the ring, so follow here to spin along. | | | | | | |
