| | | | | President Donald Trump, with first lady Melania Trump, greets Sen. Ted Cruz Saturday while visiting a volunteer center packing emergency supplies for residents impacted by Hurricane Harvey at the First Church of Pearland in Pearland, Texas. Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images | | | Obama's Letter to Trump: What 44 wrote to 45 in a handwritten letter left in an Oval Office drawer
Louise Linton, Washington Life September Issue Cover Star: Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's wife makes first comments since controversial Insta post
Now Let's Get in Formation: Michelle Obama dresses as "Formation" Beyoncé for singer's b-day | | | | Kate Bennett is off. Her section will return Thursday. | | What Washington is Talking About:
Welcome back, everyone! Congress is back from August recess, President Trump meets today with a group of Repubs to talk tax policy, and the House is expected to vote on a $7.85 billion bill for Harvey on Wednesday.
What America is Talking About:
Kate Middleton and Prince William are expecting their third child, Kensington Palace announced Monday.
What Pyongyang is Talking About:
On Sunday, North Korea tested a hydrogen bomb, and Trump said "we'll see," when asked if the US would attack.
"The Program Known as DACA .... is Being Rescinded":
That's what Attorney General Jeff Sessions said this morning about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, calling it "unconstitutional exercise of authority" by the Obama administration. Responses from Repubs have been mixed, Dems are opposed, and there's a protest outside the White House this morning over it.
Obama's Letter to Trump:
It's traditional for outgoing presidents to leave a note for their successor. The contents of Obama's 276-word letter to Trump -- handwritten, folded into thirds, signed "BO," and left in a top drawer of the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office -- were revealed in full for the first time by CNN Sunday. You can read the full text here, if you haven't already. In it, Obama congratulates Trump and offers some reflections, including a plea to leave America's "democratic institutions and traditions ... at least as strong as we found them."
"This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I don't know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful," Obama wrote. "Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can."
Former Obama photographer Pete Souza shared this photo on Instagram of 44 leaving his letter for 45 on Inauguration Day. | | Credit: @petesouza/Instagram
Our Daily Melania:
With Kate out in Atlantic City as a preliminary judge for Miss America today and tomorrow (check the @cnncoverline Instagram for behind-the-scenes there), I've got you covered on Melania Trump news for the next two days. During the first couple's trip to Texas this weekend, she ditched the black FLOTUS hat for a TEXAS one (it still had FLOTUS stitched into the back, though). Her shirt, per Kate, is a $78 Everyday J.Crew chambray shirt, now on sale for 30% off. | | Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images
Louise Linton is Washington Life's September Issue Cover Star:
"I see the irony of making an apology in a ball gown. But it would be dishonest to proclaim that I'm never going to go to another social function," the wife of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told the DC glossy in an exclusive interview, her first since her controversial Instagram post. COVER/LINE had a first look at the cover, shot by Tony Powell and interview, by Virginia Coyne. | | Credit: Washington Life
Linton called her post, a photo of her walking off a plane with several designer brands tagged, and her snarky response to a comment left on the photo "indefensible."
"I don't have any excuses, nor do I feel any self-pity for the backlash I experienced," she said. "It's clear that I was the one who was truly out of touch and my response was reactionary and condescending. I wish I hadn't spoken in such a patronizing tone."
Team Trump Hits the Speaking Circuit:
The Worldwide Speakers Group announced Sean Spicer as an exclusive speaker. His bio put out by the group, which also represents such political stars as Newt Gingrich and Carly Fiorina as exclusive speakers, emphasizes his pre-press secretary work; "Everybody knows Sean Spicer," the bio reads. "At least, polls show, they know his name and his trademark style behind the White House podium. But before the former White House Press Secretary made his mark as one of the most recognized staffers in the Trump administration, he built a decades-long career in Republican politics." Of the four speech topics listed on the site, only one is Trump-specific.
As for how much getting Spicer to speak in front of your event will set you back, WWSG did not respond to an inquiry from CNN, and their site only says "inquire for details." | | Credit: wwsg.com
In other paid, public-speaking gig news, Donald Trump Jr. will be receiving $100,000 to speak at the University of North Texas next month, according to the university's student newspaper, North Texas Daily (shoutout to student journalist Sarah Sarder for breaking the story). A UNT spokesperson said the cost will be covered with money from donors and not student tuition or fees. DJTJ's speech is scheduled for October 24 at AT&T Stadium.
Here's the first page of an eight-page contract signed by DJTJ and UNT's Vice President for finance & administration Rob Brown, published by the North Texas Daily: | | Credit: North Texas Daily/Issuu
Clinton Takes on Bernie and his Bros in Upcoming Book:
Hillary Clinton's upcoming book "What Happened" includes swipes at Bernie Sanders -- whose attacks on her she says caused "lasting damage" -- and Bernie Bros -- some of whom "took to harassing my supporters online" -- according to excerpts posted online by Twitter user @HillaryWarnedUs. Here's what she said about Obama's advice on how to deal with her Dem primary rival: | | Credit: @HillaryWarnedUs/Twitter
Now Let's Get in Formation:
Beyoncé turned 36 Monday, and to celebrate, her website posted photos of some of her famous friends and family members -- including the former First Lady of the United States of America -- dressed like the singer did in her "Formation" music video. | | Credit: beyonce.com
Others to have their own "Formation" pic included the singer's daughter Blue Ivy Carter, former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, and tennis star Serena Williams.
"Look What You Made Me Do" Dancer: Don't Assume Taylor Supports Trump:
Taylor Swift's lack of endorsement during the 2016 campaign has led to some online speculating she was a secret Trump supporter, but now, Todrick Hall, who appears as a dancer in her latest music video, is calling that a "huge assumption."
"Taylor has never to my knowledge come out and said anything about her being pro-Trump," he told Yahoo!. "But people would still rather believe that she is the one who is pushing Trump's agenda. That was one of the major things that was tweeted at me, and I'm like, 'So you are mad that you think she might support Donald Trump? But you're not mad that Kanye has been very openly pro-Trump?' I don't understand that." | | Todrick Hall, left, in the "Look What You Made Me Do" music video. Credit: Big Machine Label Group/YouTube
So while we still don't know if T Swift is a D Trump fan, his family appears to be fans of hers. A 2014 video posted on Facebook by Melania appears to show the future president driving with son Barron in the passenger seat while her "Blank Space" plays. And the unapologetic, score-settling grievance pop that is "Look What You Made Me Do" feels vaguely Trumpian, no?
Street Art Sighting:
As seen around Dupont Circle, these vintage-inspired anti-Trump posters: | | Credit: @hunterschwarz/Instagram
The posters all include a URL for a site by the group Creative Majority that describes the street art project as "a curated collection of resistance art for the modern era."
Send me your pics of political street art to coverlinehunter@cnn.com, tweet me @hunterschwarz or tag @cnncoverline on Instagram. | | | | | | |
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