Wednesday, July 26, 2017

White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci speaks on a morning television show, from the north lawn of the White House Wednesday. Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

What the White House Press Corps is Talking About: The president announces stance on transgender people in the military

Anthony Scaramucci Has Zero Chill: We see you, Mooch

The Great American Road Trip: Hunter's tour takes him to Provo, Utah

Kate Bennett

What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump continues his public appearances today with remarks at the Boys and Girls American Legion Nation gathering at 3 p.m. at the South Portico and at 5 p.m., when he'll make a "jobs announcement" in the East Room.

What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Trump's morning tweets stating his decision not to allow transgender people to serve in the military, citing "tremendous medical costs and disruption."
Briefing: Back on camera today, with Sarah Huckabee Sanders at 2 p.m.

But First, Tweets:
Just when we thought Trump might be done with the attack tweets against Attorney General Jeff Sessions ... he isn't. Thus continues the game of governmental chicken happening between the two.

Today is Also Health Care Battle Day:
Lawmakers continue to duke it out tooth and nail regarding health care in the wake of yesterday's forceful speech by Sen. John McCain.

Anthony Scaramucci Has Zero Chill:
Ok, we see you, you're on Air Force One. Be cool, Mooch. Note: these pics were tweeted in a 24-hour window.

Also, This Mirrored Mannerisms Situation:
It's a couple of days old, but still funny -- and scary?

Credit: @TheDailyShow/twitter

Good News!:
This release from MedStar Washington Hospital at 11:45 a.m. today:
Congressman Steve Scalise has made excellent progress in his recovery from a life-threatening gunshot wound six weeks ago. Yesterday, he was discharged from MedStar Washington Hospital Center and is now beginning a period of intensive inpatient rehabilitation. He is in good spirits and is looking forward to his return to work once he completes rehabilitation. He and his family are grateful for the care he received from the trauma team as well as the other doctors, nurses, and staff of MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The family also appreciates the outpouring of prayers and support during this time.

Imma Leave This Here:
That time the Secretary of Energy talked on the phone to someone he thought was the Prime Minister of Ukraine, but it wasn't. At all.

Our Daily Melania/Dress Like the First Lady:
Melania Trump has reemerged! Speaking last night to introduce Trump at his Ohio rally (sample: "Washington has fought him every step of the way, but I know my husband, and he will never give up"), the first lady appears to be back from a week or so of relative seclusion. Today a source tells me she is leading a full day of meetings at the White House with her staff.

As for the dress she wore yesterday, it was a lacy, bold pink Monique Lhuillier from a couple of seasons ago. It's no longer for sale anywhere, but it once retailed for $1,795 at Neiman Marcus.

Credit: Justin Merriman/Getty Images

Here's a similar(ish) frilly floral Lhuillier from this season, for $2,295. Or you can just rent one that looks like it from Rent the Runway for $50. You're welcome.

Credit: renttherunway.com

Hunter Schwarz

What Washington is Talking About:
The Senate today votes on an Obamacare repeal-only bill, which is expected to fail.

What America is Talking About:
The "Tinder couple" who finally met after messaging for three years with jokes about why they were slow to respond.

Poll of the Day:
CNN's director of polling and election analysis Jennifer Agiesta hasn't seen any public polling on transgender people serving in the military, but a May 2016 CNN poll found 75% of Americans supported laws guaranteeing equal protection for transgender people in jobs, housing, and public accommodations.

I'm driving cross-country for COVER/LINE. You can read about it every day in the newsletter and follow along on Instagram, at @cnncoverline and @hunterschwarz. To read about past stops on the trip, click here.

~The Great American Road Trip 2017~ Stop No. 7: Provo, Utah:

Credit: Hunter Schwarz

What day is it? What time zone am I in? Where am I going right now again? The daily grind of "drive > do journalism > sleep > repeat" has taken its toll, and the further west I go, the earlier I have to wake up to file by Eastern Time. But my trip is coming to a close. California is closer than ever, and Politicon is three days away. My Monster energy drink and sunflower seed consumption is reaching record levels.

It's 1,067 miles from El Paso to Provo, Utah, and the drive has produced some of my favorite views of the trip. From the New Mexico desert (below) and an Arizona sunset to the mountains of Utah, the American West is gorgeous, a 10 out of 10.

Credit: @hunterschwarz/Instagram

What Provo is Talking About:
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has endorsed Provo Mayor John Curtis in the US House race for former Rep. Jason Chaffetz's seat.

Provo's Must-See Political Spot:
So it's technically not a spot, it's a day. I made it to Utah for the 24th of July, AKA Pioneer Day. It's an official state holiday commemorating the Mormon pioneers arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 and it's kind of like a second 4th of July here (there are fireworks and you'll see a lot of people dressed in red, white, and blue) but with more bonnets and handcarts. For those who are unfamiliar, the whole reason Mormons are in Utah is because they faced persecution and were driven from their homes (in Missouri in 1838, the governor literally put out an Extermination Order against them). So they drove wagons and walked across most of the continent and settled in what was then Mexico. There are Pioneer Day rodeos (some instead celebrate "Pie and Beer Day") and a big Days of '47 parade in nearby Salt Lake. Utah's history of being settled by religious migrants is why some Republicans here, including the governor, have been supportive of refugees and opposed to President Trump's proposed Muslim ban. I spied this "Refugees of Utah" float that said "Welcoming New American Pioneers" on its side.

Credit: Hunter Schwarz

Meet Kendall Wilcox, co-founder of Mormons Building Bridges:
One group that wasn't in the Days of '47 parade was Mormons Building Bridges. Founded in 2012, they march in Pride parades in Salt Lake City and across the country wearing traditional Mormon Sunday clothes -- white shirt and ties for men and dresses for women.

It was started when Erika Munson, a Mormon mother of five, thought "let's make a show, let's make a gesture to the LGBT community that Mormons don't hate them," co-founder Kendall Wilcox says.

Credit: @cnncoverline/Instagram/Ryan Alexander

The first year, they thought maybe 20 people would show up, but 350 people came. "It has been ever since then the biggest entry into the Utah Pride parade," he says.

They've applied to march in the Days of '47 parade for five years but have so far been denied. Wilcox says if they get in, the reaction would be positive. "The community of Mormons Building Bridges are not trying to be apologists for the church, nor are they trying to be apostates. They're just good old-fashioned, good-hearted Mormons trying to build the middle ground."

Shoutout to Kate:
You might have spotted a familiar face on the Hill's 2017 50 Most Beautiful list this year. It's Kate! (Her text this morning: "This is the worst day.")

Update from Kate: "The only thing that is even remotely ok about being on this list is that I'm in the click chart on the same row as Melania. That is all."

COVER/LINE is where politics meets pop culture. From CNN's Hunter Schwarz and Kate Bennett, this daily newsletter is the must-read lunch date in Washington and beyond.