| | | | | President Trump speaks behind a table of fast food as he welcomes the 2018 Division 1 Football National Champions, the North Dakota State Bison, at the White House Monday. Credit: Oliver Contreras/Pool via Bloomberg | | What Washington is Talking About:
Sen. Rand Paul said as many as 10 Republicans could vote for the measure to disapprove of President Trump's emergency declaration. Among the lawmakers who say they're still undecided on it are Sens. Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio, and Josh Hawley; and the House Rules Committee is holding a hearing on the For The People Act, about voting.
What America is Talking About:
"Beverly Hills, 90210" star Luke Perry died at 52; "The Bachelor" star Colton Underwood jumped a fence in Monday's episode; and Starbucks partnered with Ariana Grande for a new drink called the Cloud Macchiato.
Interest in a Third Party Reaches Record High:
A recent NBC-Wall Street Journal poll found 38% of respondents said the two-party system is broken and the US needs a third party. That's the highest figure for the question since the NBC-WSJ poll began asking in 1995.
A New White House Tradition:
When Trump served the Clemson football team fast food back in January, it was during the government shutdown and he said he paid for the spread himself. But even with the government open, Trump stuck to burgers and fast food for the North Dakota D1 football champs Monday. "We could've had chefs, we could've," Trump said. "But we got fast food because we know what -- I know you people very well, okay?" The team was served McDonald's and Chick-fil-A.
Clinton Rules Out 2020 Run:
It's official, Hillary Clinton won't run for president in 2020, although she plans on staying in the public eye. Clinton told a New York TV station, "I'm not running, but I'm going to keep on working and speaking and standing up for what I believe." It will be interesting to see the extent Democratic candidates involve her in the race. | | Credit: News 12
There Aren't as Many Bernie-Trump Voters This Time Around:
Our Grace Sparks looked at polling data to see what happened to the elusive Bernie-Trump voters. Back in May 2016, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found 20% of voters who backed Bernie Sanders also supported Trump, and come Election Day, CNN exit polling found Clinton lost about 10% of liberal voters to Trump.
Bernie-Trump voters are still around, but they appear to be a smaller group this time. A February 2019 CNN poll found that just 5.5% of respondents who said they're very or somewhat likely to vote for Sanders also said the same thing about Trump. | |
Comey Calls for Transparency:
Ahead of special counsel Robert Mueller's expected report, former FBI Director James Comey is calling for transparency, writing in a Washington Post op-ed that "past departmental practices suggest he can release far more details than many people may now realize."
Comey offers examples of recent Justice Department reports including from investigations into Clinton, the IRS, and following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and said transparency is important for Mueller's report. "It is difficult to imagine a case of greater public interest than one focused on the efforts of a foreign adversary to damage our democracy, and in which the president of the United States is a subject," Comey wrote.
Beto Backs Legalized Weed:
Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke outlined a criminal justice reform platform in an email to supporters Monday. In the email, O'Rourke voiced his support for legalizing marijuana and expunging the records of those incarcerated over marijuana possession, and his opposition to a "school-to-prison pipeline" and private prisons.
"Giving low-level offenders a second chance no matter the color of their skin or the economic status they hold can create opportunity for all of us," O'Rourke wrote. "It will help build a future that is more just, more fair, and more prosperous for every single person in this state and this country."
Bryce Harper's Phillies Jersey is Selling Fast:
It looks like things are going well for Harper since leaving Washington. According to Fanatics, his new No. 3 Phillies jersey is their No. 1 selling jersey of all time in any sport in its first 24 hours.
Street Art Sighting:
This "Impeach" sticker mashing up the logos for Trump's campaign and Blockbuster was spotted near Lafayette Square in front of the White House: | | Credit: Hunter Schwarz
Tag or DM me your political street art sightings @hunterschwarz on Twitter or Instagram, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com.
P.S.:
For the first time since 2011, Lady Gaga has the biggest song in the country. Her song with Bradley Cooper, "Shallow." jumped from No. 21 to No. 1 on this week's Billboard Hot 100 after its Best Original Song win at the Oscars. It's Gaga's fourth No. 1 and first since "Born This Way."
Kate Bennett is off. Her section will return Wednesday. | | | | | | |
