| | | | | President Donald Trump smiles during a meeting with governors-elect in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Thursday, December13, 2018. Credit: Al Drago/Bloomberg for Getty Images | | | Cohen says he's done with loyalty: To Trump, that is. His new loyalty appears to be to prosecutors
Is Trump walking back his shutdown pride?: According to his social media feeds, probably
RBG sips Champs: The Supreme Court Justice is doing the DC holiday social scene with gusto | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump has no public events on his schedule today, save for two private holiday receptions he is hosting with first lady Melania Trump at the White House later this evening.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Michael Cohen's interview with George Stephanopoulos.
And a brief press gaggle from deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley this morning where he said this about Trump's chief of staff status:
"The President said yesterday has about five names in the hopper, we expect him to make an announcement pretty quickly. Obviously if the President and the Chief of Staff will make out another deal and extend it, they can do that, it's their prerogative to do so. Right now currently, John Kelly is expected to leave the first of the year. The President is also expected to make an announcement imminently. I'm not going to tell you who that's going to be, I definitely don't have any tips for you right now."
"I'm Done Being Loyal":
Cohen served up some spicy accusations against his former boss this morning, saying Trump knew about the hush money to Stormy Daniels and AMI for Karen McDougal, and that the timing of the payments was meant to protect then-candidate Trump from damage before the election. "He knew it was wrong," said Cohen.
Stephanopoulos asked Cohen why -- since he is now a convicted felon, likely trying to garner public sympathy and perhaps a shorter sentence than the three years he was handed down earlier this week -- he should be believed. Cohen: "Because the special counsel stated emphatically that the information that I gave to them is credible and helpful. There's a substantial amount of information that they possess that corroborates the fact that I am telling the truth." That juicy nugget is an indicator that Robert Mueller and the SDNY investigations have something that could ultimately be very damaging to Trump...
Trump Was in the Room:
When he and Cohen met with David Pecker in 2015 to hatch a plan to protect Trump from salacious headlines concerning alleged affairs, and whatever else might pop up. It's an important piece of the story considering the news yesterday that federal prosecutors announced they wouldn't prosecute AMI (Pecker's American Media Inc) for campaign finance violations, essentially securing a deal for Pecker's cooperation.
Trump Inaugural Committee Now Under Investigation:
File under "more parts of Trump's orbit now facing criminal investigation." The Wall Street Journal yesterday with a solid scoop that federal investigators are taking a look at Trump's inauguration funds to see whether illegal contributions were made in order to gain favorable access to and/or influence the President and his administration.
Understand Campaign Finance Laws:
I mean, you can stick with the Rudy Giuliani line of "nobody got killed, nobody got robbed," or you can read this and get a better grasp on what's really at stake with campaign finance laws and what they can or can't mean when they are violated, especially to the degree that Trump and his past associates may have violated.
So ... A Look Ahead To 2020:
New polling from CNN today indicates the top choice for a 2020 candidate on the Democratic side is still very much Joe Biden. Biden has publicly stated he hasn't made a decision on whether to run or not and will discuss it with his family over the holidays. The numbers here are pretty indicative that he is a strong favorite.
Let's Pause to See Melania's Stylist at the White House Christmas Decorations:
I have a mild obsession with Hervé Pierre, the designer, who also acts as Melania's stylist and couturier. Pierre is a very nice man, and I just love how he always has a scarf around his neck and a flower in his lapel -- and Converse sneakers on his feet. He posted pics from his visit to the White House from New York yesterday to see the Christmas decorations. | | Credit: @herve_pierre_creative_director/Instagram
Our Daily Melania:
After her interview with Sean Hannity this week, people got a clearer picture (a tad) of what is going on in Melania's head in terms of her politics and her alignment with the President. Spoiler: she is a lot like him in her beliefs. I also think it's worth reading this opinion piece by Kate Andersen Brower, who writes Melania is like Trump in another way: she is focused on herself. Brower goes so far as to say the first lady "doesn't understand what it means to be first lady." It's a very good read -- whatever your feelings about Melania, I encourage you to give it some time and thought.
Let's Pause to See Tiffany Trump at the White House Christmas Decorations:
Tiffany went to the White House last night, too, according to her Instagram. She's looking very sleek and "cocktail party chic" here, IMO. | | Credit: @tiffanytrump/Instagram
Dress Like the First Lady:
Yesterday, Melania upheld a tradition that's gone on for more than six decades, since Bess Truman. She went to Children's National Medical Center and visited with sick kids and their families, stopping at the NICU, and ultimately gathering in the main atrium, with Santa, to read "Oliver the Ornament." First ladies have had a special relationship with Children's for many, many years, but the holiday visit tradition is a big one. Michelle Obama used to do it each year, and she would sometimes bring Bo and Sunny, the Obama's dogs.
Anyhoo, Melania was wearing a very holiday-esque red and white mini-stripe coat by Tomas Maier, which was literally available for $700 until right up until I wrote this and now it's sold out! | | Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images/net-a-porter.com
RBG, She's Just Like Us!:
Well, not like me because I worked a 13-hour day yesterday and bailed on the party at the French Ambassador's Residence -- but, if I had rallied, I, too, would have spied Supreme Court Justice and eternal badass Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the parlor, next to the chocolate tray, sipping Champagne. Joyeux Noel! | | | Credit: @mariatrabocchi/Instagram | | What Washington is Talking About:
California Democrat and expected House Intel Committee chair Rep. Adam Schiff said the Justice Department should re-examine its opinion that a sitting president can't be indicted or else it "may mean that person escapes justice"; the Senate passed a resolution Thursday to condemn the Saudi crown prince for his role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi; and Rolling Thunder, the annual Memorial Day motorcycle ride in Washington that honors service members captured or killed, announced next year's ride will be its last.
What America is Talking About:
Data from the Commerce Department shows nearly half of all US counties still haven't recovered from the Great Recession; the copyright case over "Blurred Lines" has finally ended with Marvin Gaye's family being awarded nearly $5 million from Robin Thicke and Pharrell; and jazz musician Nancy Wilson has died at 81.
Poll of the Day:
Nearly 60% of Americans say the US response to Saudi Arabia's role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi hasn't been tough enough, per a CNN poll. Here's the breakdown by political affiliation: | | Credit: CNN
Our Grace Sparks noted that those who said they've been following the story closest "have the most critical take on the US response. Seven in 10 who say they've been following closely say the response hasn't been strong enough."
If You're Just Watching Trump on Insta, You Have No Idea the Crisis Facing his Presidency:
Over on Twitter, President Trump mixes what appear to be tweets written by his staff with his own, more colorful tweets, but on Instagram, it seems to be just the staff stuff. It felt especially evident yesterday ahead of the big news about Michael Cohen and the investigation into Trump's inauguration.
On Twitter, Trump claimed he never directed Michael Cohen to break the law, used the phrase "witch hunt" (for the 58th time on the site this year!), and slammed Mika Brzezinski for homophobic comments she made on air. But on Instagram, @realdonaldtrump doesn't talk about Cohen. He wished the National Guard a happy birthday, reposted the FLOTUS Osprey ride video, and posted up a photo of him pointing, with the caption "PROMISES MADE - PROMISES KEPT! #MAGA 🇺🇸" | | Credit: @realdonaldtrump/Instagram
Is Trump Walking Back His Shutdown Pride?:
Speaking of Trump's social media, one of his latest posts reads like a potential walk-back of his claim made during the wild Oval Office meeting with Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer that he'd be proud to shut down the government over the wall. It's a video of Democrats talking about border security and fencing, and Trump says of the wall, "They only don't want to do it because of me." The caption of the video, posted both to his Twitter and Instagram: "Let's not do a shutdown, Democrats - do what's right for the American People!"
How Pelosi Got the Votes:
If you're wondering how Speaker-designate Pelosi put down an intra-party rebellion and secured enough support to become the expected Speaker next year, the Washington Post is out with a behind-the-scenes look. "To nail down the votes, Pelosi deployed the same tactics she used multiple times to muscle hard-fought legislation through the House during her prior tenure as speaker — methodically undermining her opposition, tapping a vast network of allies and relying on a grab bag of political favors."
Warren and Sanders Met:
Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders met at Warren's D.C. condo Wednesday to talk 2020, a source familiar with the meeting told CNN. The meeting was instigated by Warren so the two progressives and Senate allies could talk about how they're both seriously considering presidential runs, but neither offered support or tried to convince the other not to run, a source told The New York Times.
"I talk to Elizabeth Warren every single day," Sanders told MSNBC when asked about the meeting. "The fact that two senators get together to chat becomes a big deal, that's a real problem for the media."
OG GW Heading to Mount Vernon:
The earliest known painting of George Washington, from 1772 and by artist Charles Willson Peale, shows Washington in a Virginia colonel uniform and was commissioned by Martha Washington. Now, after 216 years, it's back at Mount Vernon on loan. It was swapped with Washington and Lee University in exchange for a painting of Washington by Gilbert Stuart, and will be on display for two years. | | Credit: Mount Vernon
Street Art Sighting:
"Ice Watch" is an art installation outside the Tate Modern in London by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson. It's made up blocks of ice from a fjord in Greenland and will be up until the ice melts. The exhibit is meant to draw attention to global warming. | | Credit: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images
If you spot political street art, tweet me @hunterschwarz, tag me on Instagram @hunterschwarz, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com with your sighting so I can feature it in COVER/LINE. | | | | | | |
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