| | | | | The sun rises behind the US Capitol building on January 25. Credit: Adam Gray/Barcroft Media via Getty Images | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump tonight delivers the State of the Union address.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
The State of the Union, which the administration has teased will be about "unity" and working together. But, but, but, Trump spent part of the morning on Twitter, attacking Sen. Chuck Schumer ...
SOTU Prep:
According to Kellyanne Conway, Trump intends to use his speech to call for comity -- not comedy. "C-o-m-i-t-y," Conway spelled out during a press gaggle yesterday. (I looked it up so you don't have to: "courtesy and considerate behavior towards others." You're welcome.) Seems a -- how do I put this -- diametrically opposed philosophy for this president, who really actually likes to use name-calling and bluster and intimidation in his daily governing. So I guess we'll see! 🍿🍿🍿
SOTU Guests:
The White House last night announced the 13 special guests who are attending and were specially invited by the President and first lady Melania Trump. Among them are Alice Marie Johnson, the formerly incarcerated woman that Kim Kardashian helped to be released from jail. And a 6th grade boy named Joshua Trump who has been mercilessly bullied by classmates for having the same last name as modern history's most controversial president. Additionally, there will be a recovering opioid addict and young mother, a little girl who is fighting cancer, two survivors of the horrific Tree of Life Synagogue massacre, and the father of a Navy seaman killed in the USS Cole terrorist attack. Read about all of the guests here.
SOTU Our Daily Melania:
Melania will again tonight take her own motorcade to the Capitol from the White House, as she did last year, breaking the tradition of the first couple riding together. Last year, her decision was somewhat scandalous, considering the headlines were filled with the Stormy Daniels story, which broke just two weeks prior. At the time, her spokeswoman told me the first lady was just going early to spend more time with her special guests, but it was still a very strong example of Melania's independent streak. She's doing it again this year, although again Stephanie Grisham says it has to do with one-on-one time with the guests sitting with her in the Capitol: "Mrs. Trump knows this is an important night, and wants to ensure the experience of her guests is special, and that they feel comfortable."
SOTU Memories:
Tonight's Trump team seating area will look, well, different than it did last year -- mainly because a lot of the people who worked for him then simply aren't there anymore. CNN did this handy explainer story, and the photo is stunning: | | Credit: cnn.com
US Arms to Saudi Arabia End Up In the (Very) Wrong Hands:
This is such an important and terrifying story; I hope you have time to read it today, or at least watch the accompanying piece. CNN did a great investigation, in dangerous circumstances, to reveal that arms sent to Saudi Arabia made by the United States (as Trump called them, America's "beautiful military equipment,") have fallen into the hands of extremists and terrorists. I learned so much about what really happens to our weapons, and how the black market deals of guns and other assault rifles have a terrifying trickle-down effect on the Middle East region writ large.
"This Isn't A Dumpster Fire Anymore Because That Would Be Unfair to Dumpster Fires":
Thus is the scene in Richmond, Virginia, according to our Ryan Nobles and Dan Merica, who were told this quote by an insider source working the front lines of the Gov. Ralph Northam racist photo story. Northam is still hoping (begging, according to our reporting) he can have more time before being forced to step down. Guys, it's crazy. The man should resign. He just should. But you have to read this because the story has taken all sorts of bizarre and convoluted twists, expertly captured in the piece. | | DC Gonna DC:
Washingtonian has put together its usual handy guide of places to watch the State of the Union tonight, with all the drink and food specials. Enjoy, kids! But make sure you tune in to CNN tonight because you know we've got it covered... | | What Washington is Talking About:
The State of the Union will be President Trump's first address to Congress with a Democratic Speaker seated behind him, so that will be fun, then responses will be given by Stacey Abrams in English and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra in Spanish. Bernie Sanders will also give a response.
What America is Talking About:
"Young & the Restless" star Kristoff St. John died at the age of 52; Super Bowl ratings this year were down; and Charlotte Russe announced it's closing nearly 100 stores.
RBG's Return to Public:
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg yesterday made what's believed to be her first public appearance since surgery in December when she attended "Notorious RBG in Song," a concert performed by her daughter-in-law and other musicians at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The court hasn't said whether Ginsburg will be at SOTU tonight, but don't hold your breath: She hasn't been to one since Obama was president.
Beto's Big Oprah Interview is Today:
Betomania has cooled a little since 2018, but a talk with Oprah could be just the thing to jump-start enthusiasm. Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke sits down with Oprah today in New York City as part of her "SuperSoul Conversations from Times Square." The interview will air on Oprah's network on February 16.
Who Says Dems and Repubs Can't Get Along?:
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst shared a photo this morning with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and said they started off the day in spin class.
US Freedom in Decline, Report Says:
In its 2019 Freedom in the World report, Freedom House President Mike Abramowitz wrote especially about the US, which has an 86 score on the group's 100-point rating system. Abramowitz notes that that things like government surveillance and crackdowns on press leaks predate the Trump administration, but writes that Trump is straining America's "core values."
"Trump has assailed essential institutions and traditions including the separation of powers, a free press, an independent judiciary, the impartial delivery of justice, safeguards against corruption, and most disturbingly, the legitimacy of elections," he wrote. "Congress, a coequal branch of government, has too frequently failed to push back against these attacks with meaningful oversight and other defenses." | | Credit: Freedom House
Reviews for "Ivanka Vacuuming" Are Rolling In:
Surprise, surprise, people who haven't been to the exhibit but read a press release about it have a lot of feelings! The Federalist falsely claims the exhibit invites people to "throw trash" while Gateway Pundit calls the piece "violent." Artist Jennifer Rubell responded to Gateway Pundit on Instagram, calling her piece "disturbing, difficult, and critical of us all," but she said "tossing featherweight breadcrumbs onto a carpet most definitely does not quality as violence."
I tuned in to the livestream last night to watch what the crowds were like after the show's first wave of press. Most viewers don't actually throw breadcrumbs onto the carpet, and those who do toss it like they're throwing pennies into a fountain. The gallery staff throw some on every so often. | |
Ivanka herself responded to the exhibit this morning, tweeting a link to the Hill story and writing, "Women can choose to knock each other down or build each other up. I choose the latter." Rubell invited her to visit the exhibit for herself and "form your own direct response." "Not knocking anyone down," Rubell tweeted. "Exploring complicated subjects we all care about."
Street Art Sighting:
An election poster of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Trump that reads "Netanyahu, in another league" has gone up in Tel Aviv. Trump shared a photo of the billboard that Netanyahu posted on his Instagram account. | | Credit: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images
Tag or DM me your political street art sightings @hunterschwarz on Twitter or Instagram, or email me at coverlinehunter@cnn.com. | | | | | | |
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