| | | | Trump plays the provocateur in first news conference | | It's been nearly six months since Donald J. Trump has been at the podium taking questions from reporters. But his bravado, tart taunts of reporters and his creative use of the facts were as dominant today as they were throughout his campaign, writes CNN's Maeve Reston.
Where to begin with Trump's news conference? Here are the highlights:
"I think it was Russia." With that, Trump acknowledged for the first time that he believes Russia was responsible for hacking ahead of the election -- even as he contemptuously rejected allegations that Moscow mounted a campaign to compromise him.
Obamacare repeal plans: Trump vowed to press ahead with a near simultaneous repeal and replacement of Obamacare, rejecting the approach of some Republicans on Capitol Hill who worry that rushing could create problems. "It will be repeal and replace. It will be essentially simultaneously," he said, saying the two goals would be accomplished in the same week, day or even hour.
About the border wall: "We are going to build a wall," he said, adding that he didn't want to wait a year and a half to finish negotiating how Mexico would pay for it. "Mexico, in some form ... will reimburse us." More on the news conference from CNN's Stephen Collinson.
Trump also announced his plan to separate himself from his business interests while in office, and the government's ethics chief ripped it as insufficient. | | "It's really about political power and racial division and what I've referred to on occasion as the 'war on whites.'" -- Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, on Democrats' criticism of Donald Trump attorney general pick Jeff Sessions. | | | | Before his news conference, President-elect Donald Trump's aides brought in stacks and stacks of manila folders that were initially thought by reporters to be his tax returns -- but were purportedly business documents he was handing over to his adult sons. After the news conference, his team didn't allow reporters to go through the documents. | | Tillerson's bumpy confirmation hearing | | President-elect Donald Trump's choice for secretary of state, former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, is a political newcomer -- and it showed in his confirmation hearing today. Tillerson split with the boss on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Vladimir Putin's complicity in Russian election-related hacks, arming Ukraine and more. CNN's Nicole Gaouette has the story.
But as The Washington Post's Paul Kane shrewdly pointed out, Tillerson really had an audience of one -- Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, whose vote he needs to get out of committee -- and he might have fallen flat. Just check out this exchange:
Rubio: "Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal?"
Tillerson: "I would not use that term. Those are very, very serious charges to make, and I would want to have much more information before reaching a conclusion."
Tillerson hasn't talked to Trump about Russia. Pressed by Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, Tillerson said he and Trump had talked about world issues "in a broad construct and in terms of the principles that are going to guide that." But when Menendez said he assumed "Russia would be at the top of that, considering all of the actions that are taking place," Tillerson said, "That has not occurred yet, senator." Menendez shot back: "That's pretty amazing."
The Exxon lobbying falsehood: Tillerson made a claim about ExxonMobil's lobbying activities that public records prove is false. "I have never lobbied against sanctions, personally," Tillerson said. "To my knowledge, Exxon never directly lobbied against sanctions. Not to my knowledge." Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin later put into the record documents showing Exxon had spent $3.4 million lobbying against the Iran Sanctions Act.
In other confirmation news...
Booker's 2020 launchpad? New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker gave an impassioned and unprecedented plea to the Senate on Wednesday to vote against Trump's nominee for attorney general and his fellow senator, Jeff Sessions. Later in the day, pressed by CNN's Manu Raju, he wouldn't rule out a 2020 run for the Democratic nomination. CNN's Tal Kopan has the story.
Is Mattis in trouble? House Democrats are fuming after Ret. Gen. James Mattis abruptly canceled his appearance before the House Armed Services Committee slated for Thursday. The move is triggering a backlash from top House Democrats, who say without hearing directly from Mattis they will oppose legislation paving the way for his confirmation. More from CNN's Deirdre Walsh.
On the road to confirmation: Trump's nominee to run the Department of Transportation, Elaine Chao, testified before a Senate panel Wednesday en route to what is expected to be an easy confirmation, reports CNN's Rene Marsh. Chao has a long track record in Washington and is widely respected on both sides of the aisle. She was deputy secretary of transportation under George H.W. Bush, labor secretary under George W. Bush and she's the wife of one of the nation's most powerful Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Trump vs. his Cabinet: Trump's Cabinet picks are dropping some of his signature policy positions under the scrutiny of Senate confirmation hearings. Here's Eric's story. | | | One of today's many controversies: Donald Trump made a comparison to Nazi Germany on Twitter. | | Out-of-power Democrats plot redistricting focus | | The New York Times' Alex Burns and Jonathan Martin have a really sharp story on how out-of-power Democrats are thinking about the future: "As he prepared last week to deliver his farewell address, President Obama convened a trio of Democratic leaders in the White House for a strategy session on the future of their party. The quiet huddle included Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the top Democrats in Congress, and Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia. One topic of urgent concern, according to people briefed on the meeting: how to break the Republican Party's iron grip on the congressional map."
The key player: Former Attorney General Eric Holder is leading the effort -- and preparing to hit the campaign trail -- with the hope that Obama's fundraising muscle and Marc Elias' legal efforts will help.
Details of the strategy: "Mr. Holder said his initiative would unfold on three fronts: In court, where Democrats will challenge Republican-drawn maps they see as violating the law; on the campaign trail, where they will seek to win offices that influence redistricting; and through ballot referendums in states that allow voters to give direct approval to laws mandating new procedures for legislative apportionment. Mr. Holder said he was also prepared to take an unaccustomed leap into electoral politics, campaigning for candidates around the country who can affect the redistricting process."
A super-important element, because it would help Democrats overcome the massive geographic burden of being concentrated in urban areas: "Mr. Holder even said bluntly that black congressmen should be willing to run in districts that are not necessarily majority-minority seats."
Where your host Eric Bradner will be this weekend: Phoenix, where the Democratic National Committee holds its first forum as the party begins the process of selecting a new national chair. | | | Meet Dina Powell, Ivanka Trump's woman in the White House. ... Morgan Lewis, a law firm representing President-elect Donald Trump, was named the "Russia Law Firm of the Year" last year. ... A minute-by-minute look at Trump's press conference today. | | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Check out Five Things for Your New Day, CNN's morning newsletter. Give us five minutes, and we'll brief you on all the news and buzz people will be talking about. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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