| | | | | President Donald Trump greets attendees Thursday during a White House reception in honor of National African-American History Month. Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images | | What the White House Is Talking About:
President Donald Trump meets today with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at the White House to discuss tariff negotiations. Later, he gives a closed door speech to the Republican Governors Association at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington.
What the White House Press Corps Is Talking About:
"Mueller Watch." It's Friday, and the special counsel's report is reportedly coming out soon. Press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters today that the White House isn't worried about the Mueller report. 👌, sure.
Manafort Memorandum Might Mark Mueller Machinations:
Seriously though, before midnight tonight, Robert Mueller must submit his sentencing memorandum for Paul Manafort to a federal judge. In doing so, the special counsel could reveal what he and his team have been investigating, because the memorandum must outline all the facts the judge needs to consider before sentencing Trump's ex-campaign chairman. It's a tip of the hand, if you will. Manafort is scheduled to be sentenced March 13 for his charges in Washington, and he will also be sentenced for his Virginia-based crimes March 8.
And if, just if, after all of the sentencing, Trump pardons Manafort -- New York state prosecutors reportedly have a plan.
Pelosi Set to Move Against Trump's National Emergency Plan:
House Democrats introduced a resolution this morning intended to block Trump's proposal of a national emergency to get funding for border security. Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that the House will vote on the resolution Tuesday.
Per CNN's Phil Mattingly: "We will pass the resolution in the House and send it over to the Senate," Pelosi said on a conference call. The decision to move within days of the resolution's introduction -- and skip the option to send the resolution through committee first, underscores the speed with which Democratic leadership wants to move to block the declaration. As it stands, the resolution has 226 co-sponsors, Rep. Joaquin Castro, the Texas Democrat who drafted the resolution, said. Of that group, there is one Republican, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan. Castro said he and his team are continuing to work to add co-sponsors from both parties before the vote."
Roger Stone Caught a Break:
But the one thing he loves to do -- taunt the public about his case and the charges against him -- he can do no longer. After a dust-up with the judge in his case after posting a photo of her to Instagram with what appeared to be cross hairs, Stone lost any privilege he had to stretch the gag order.
In court Thursday, Judge Amy Berman Jackson said the following after Stone apologized for his behavior:
"Thank you, but the apology rings quite hollow," she said.
"No, Mr. Stone, I'm not giving you another chance," she added.
If Stone violates her order again, Jackson said, he could be detained.
"This is not baseball," she added. "There will not be a third chance."
Biden Keeps Doin' the Dance:
I've stopped caring whether or not former Vice President Joe Biden runs for president, but in case you haven't, here's an excellent piece by CNN's Arlette Saenz about why Biden's experience could end up hurting his chances. If he runs. And that's still a big IF.
Ranch Girl T-Shirt That I May or May Not Buy:
I'm most proud of CNN's DJ Judd, who so brilliantly captured "ranch girl" trying to move the political situation out of the way in Iowa so she could get some ranch dressing. Here's the original tweets that spawned this week's best meme: | | Credit: @DJJudd/Twitter
So now, of course, Raygun has made a T-shirt. I'm not going to lie. I will probably buy this -- I love a campaign side story and I really love ranch dressing. Don't @ me. You can buy it, too, if you want for $23. | | Credit: raygunsite.com
The Oscars Are This Weekend:
Whether you care or not, you might watch -- that's sort of how I feel this year. I mean, I'll watch because, well, the fashion, but I'm not super-invested in the movies. I really only saw "A Star Is Born" this year, and I thought it was great. However, I am going to play Oscar bingo with my kid while we watch, using these seriously fun and handy CNN bingo cards (one card example below), which you can download and print out. You're welcome! | | What Washington Is Talking About:
Governors from across the country are in town for the National Governors Association annual winter meeting that runs through Monday; Rep. Steve King of Iowa said he's running for re-election and has nothing to apologize for despite his comments on white supremacy; and in anticipation of the end of Robert Mueller's investigation, US Rep. Adam Schiff wrote a Washington Post op-ed calling on Republicans to speak out publicly about the "deep misgivings" they have over Trump that they share in "quiet conversations."
What America Is Talking About:
The North Carolina Board of Elections has called for a new election following a fraud inquiry over the election in the state's 9th Congressional District; Jussie Smollett's character has been removed from the current season's final two episodes of "Empire" following his arrest; and Duke's Zion Williamson was diagnosed with a Grade 1 sprain in his right knee after one of his Nike shoes split, and Nike stock fell 1% following his injury.
Trump's Approval by State:
Trump had a 2018 approval rating of 50% or higher in 17 states, according to Gallup. Here's a map of those states shaded in deep green: | | Credit: Gallup
Here are the states where Trump's approval was highest: - West Virginia: 62%
- Wyoming: 61%
- North and South Dakota: 58%
And here are the states where it was lowest: - Hawaii: 26%
- Vermont: 28%
- Massachusetts and California: 29%
How 2020 Democrats Responded to Smollett's Arrest:
Democratic presidential candidates backed off from their previous statements of support for Smollett following his arrest. Sen. Kamala Harris said false claims make it "more difficult for other victims of crime to come forward," and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said she hoped it didn't "diminish the real crisis that people face when they are discriminated against" for their sexuality or race.
Obama Helps Launch Anti-Gerrymandering Campaign:
Former President Barack Obama has folded his Organizing for Action organization into former Attorney General Eric Holder's National Redistricting Action Fund group for a new campaign called All on the Line to combat gerrymandering. Obama shared a video from the campaign Thursday, framing the gerrymandering battle as a fight for issues ranging from health care and climate change to voting rights and immigration reform. The campaign is targeting 10 states.
Obama's Bomber Is Sold Out:
The Rag & Bone bomber jacket Obama wore to Wednesday's Duke-University of North Carolina game is sold out across the internet, including from the brand itself, which is now offering it for pre-order for $595.
Space Force for Hats:
The Trump campaign's rollout of Space Force-themed merchandise continues with two new Space Force-themed hats for $35. | | Credit: Trump campaign store
Street Art Sighting:
Saturday will mark the anniversary of six Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. The moment was captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal five days after Marines landed on the Pacific island, and it won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for photography. The image is one of the most famous in American iconography and has been used in a war loan poster, for the US Marine Corps War Memorial, a postage stamp, swapped out for a rainbow flag in a controversial re-creation, and in this mural in Miami's Wynwood district. | | Credit: Hunter Schwarz
Tag or DM me your political street art sightings @hunterschwarz on Twitter or Instagram, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com. | | | | | | |
