| | | | | Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at a conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, in July 2017. Credit:Drew Angerer/Getty Images | | | Javanka Under Pressure: Their international business deals are facing scrutiny and an FBI investigation
"Something Is Very Wrong": What one presidential ally said about Trump's lashing out this week
30 Seconds With ... MPAA President Charles Rivkin: Movies, Muppets, and who he's wearing to the Oscars | | | | Kate Bennett is off. Her section will return Tuesday. | | What Washington is Talking About:
Congress is leaving town for the weekend without progress on a gun proposal, despite the Trump administration's end-of-the-week deadline for having something (blame President Trump's confusing meeting Wednesday), and everyone's also worried about the possibility of a trade war after Trump proposed tariffs.
What America is Talking About:
Watching the stock market. The Dow dropped 420 points Thursday after Trump said he'd put a tariff on imported steel and aluminum, and opened down 280 points today.
Poll of the Day:
For all the boasting Trump does about hiring the best people, a majority of Americans don't buy it. According to a CNN poll released today, the percentage of Americans who believe Trump has done a poor job assembling a team of top advisers to work in the White House: | | Credit: CNN
Javanka Under Pressure:
The couple have had a rough week. In the past 24 hours alone: - CNN reported FBI counterintelligence is investigating Ivanka's business deal for the Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver
- CNN also reported the FBI has been keeping an eye on other international Javanka business deals to see if they've left the couple open to pressure from foreign countries, including China
- The Intercept reported weeks before J-Kush supported a blockade of Qatar, his family's company pursued a financing deal from that Persian Gulf country for their 666 Fifth Avenue property that fell through
Add to that everything else that happened to the couple this week: - Ivanka called a question from NBC about the sexual harassment accusations against her father "inappropriate"
- CNN reported chief of staff John Kelly privately characterizes Ivanka as "playing government" and trying to have it both ways, as a daughter and staffer
- Their communications aide Josh Raffel resigned
- Sources told CNN the reason J-Kush didn't have a full security clearance was because of the Mueller investigation
- J-Kush's security clearance was downgraded
- Officials from at least four countries have discussed how to manipulate J-Kush through his inexperience, money problems, and international business deals
"Something is Very Wrong":
That's how one presidential ally described Trump's reaction this week to recent events to our Gloria Borger. "The source says this past week is 'different,' that advisers are scared the President is spiraling, lashing out, just out of control."
Bleak Post-White House Jobs Prospects:
A former White House staffer told BuzzFeed current staffers looking for a different job are having a hard time. "I've talked to several people in the last week trying to find a way out, but they can't get out because no one is really hiring people with Trump White House experience," the source said.
US Laughs Off Putin's Missile Threats:
During Vladimir Putin's announcement about Russia's "unlimited" range missiles Thursday, footage was shown of missiles heading to Florida. But US officials don't seem worried. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called the video "cheesy" and State officials said the US is "fully prepared" for any threats.
The End of Millennials:
Pew, which tracks trends by generation, announced yesterday that 1996 was the cutoff for being a millennial. Anyone born between 1981 and 1996, currently ages 22 to 37, will be classified as millennials, and those born in 1997 and after are post-millennials (they don't have a name for that generation yet).
Speaking of Millennials...:
This should worry Republicans. After years of growing increasingly Republican during midterm election years, 62% of millennials now identify as Democrats, a reversal that coincides with Trump taking office, per Pew. The Silent Generation is now the only one in which Repubs outnumber Dems. | | Credit: Pew
30 Seconds With ... MPAA President Charles Rivkin:
Ahead of the Oscars Sunday, COVER/LINE spoke with Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America about movies, Muppets, and who he's wearing to the Oscars. Here's my email Q&A with him:
All-time favorite movie: "It's a Wonderful Life"
Go-to movie theater snack: Jujubes
You were CEO of the Jim Henson Company. What, in your opinion, is the most underrated Muppet: Janice, the lead guitar player in Electric Mayhem
You were also an ambassador to France. What French food that you can't get in the US do you miss most?: Oysters from Brittany -- nothing like them anywhere
You gave former French President Nicolas Sarkozy a framed poster of Rita Hayworth. What actor or actress would be in a poster you would give to President Emmanuel Macron?: James Dean
What's your favorite movie by James Dean?: "Giant"
What lesson should Hollywood learn from the success of "Black Panther"?: Embrace diversity in film and in all business. And cool superhero costumes always help.
You recently called piracy an "existential threat" to the entertainment industry. What can lawmakers do to stop it?: Put themselves into the shoes of a writer, musician, or filmmaker -- and treat creativity like the national and economic treasure it is.
How many of the 2018 nominees for Best Picture have you seen?: I will have seen all of them before Sunday!
Who are you wearing to the Oscars?: Isaia
"Respect The Flag":
Utah artist Jon McNaughton, whose work is known for mixing conservative politics with religion, is out with a portrait of Trump clutching a frayed, distressed American flag on a football field. McNaughton said he painted it because he wanted to show how he feels about the flag. The prints sell from $29 for a small litho to $285 for a 20x24 canvas giclée. | | Credit: jonmcnaughton.com
Street Art Sighting:
Artists Plastic Jesus and Ze Ginger posted photos of "Casting Couch," a collaboration they did of a robed, golden Harvey Weinstein holding an Oscar statuette. Plastic Jesus said the piece took two months to complete. | | Credit: @plasticjesus/Instagram
If you spot political street art, I'd love to see it. Here's how you can reach me:
1. Tweet me @hunterschwarz
2. Tag me on Instagram @hunterschwarz
3. Email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com | | | | | | |
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