| | | | What Trump didn't do before he left on vacation | | President Donald Trump left Washington today for a 17-day working vacation at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. And he jetted out of town without taking questions from the reporters assigned to cover him.
The pre-August vacation press conference is a bit of a tradition for presidents. President Obama held an hourlong presser with the White House press corps on August 4, 2016. In 2015, he held one in mid-July. It was early August in 2014. And 2013. George W. Bush did a news conference in mid-July 2008. And one on August 9, 2007. (All stats courtesy of the amazing American Presidency Project.)
You get the idea. It's a thing. Presidents like to frame the first eight months of the year before they go off the grid -- or at least take on a lower profile -- for a few weeks.
Not Trump. Which is in keeping with his broader refusal to subject himself to questions in a press conference format. As President, Trump has held exactly one solo press conference to date -- on February 16, 2017. (He has held a handful of so-called "two and two" press conferences with foreign leaders; usually the American press gets two questions and the foreign press get two in that sort of format.)
That puts Trump well behind the pace set by Bush and Obama in their first eight months in office. In 2001, Bush had held three solo press conference by early May. Obama had held nine (!) by August 2009.
Trump has now gone 170 days without a solo press conference. The last time he answered questions from the full White House press corps, James Comey was still the FBI director, Attorney General Jeff Sessions hadn't recused himself in the Russia investigation and the words "special counsel" hadn't entered our lexicon.
In other words, it's not only been a long time but a time in which a number of major developments that go to the heart of the Trump presidency have occurred. And yet, radio silence.
Why? Probably because Trump knows the sorts of questions he would likely get and simply doesn't want to face them. Still: For someone whose salary is paid by taxpayers -- and is also the most powerful person in the country -- this is a long time to go without taking any sustained number of questions.
CNN senior media correspondent and host of "Reliable Sources" Brian Stelter noticed, too, and offered this comment on Trump's apparent disdain for the press -- when he doesn't feel like it's aiding his agenda -- and why it matters.
Also, behold this nugget (via Brian) from CNN's Tom Kludt, who recently observed: "The last time President Donald Trump gave a solo press conference, Michael Flynn's resignation as national security adviser was only three days old. James Comey was still in charge of the FBI (and) the Republican bill to repeal and replace Obamacare had just been unveiled in the House of Representatives."
-- Chris | | Gone, but not forgetting
It's finally summertime, as far as Congress is concerned, so legislators are returning home from Washington to spend some quality time with their constituents. But even while mostly physically absent, Congress will be keeping an eye on the White House. CNN's Ashley Killough explains here:
"Using a procedural tool often invoked by senators in the past, the Senate has set up a series of pro forma sessions. Essentially, they'll gavel into session every few days -- perhaps even for just minutes at a time -- through Labor Day to keep the lights on."
Why do that, Ashley?
"Concerns arose last month that the President might attempt to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions and appoint a replacement of his choosing while the upper chamber was out during the August recess."
Right, but Sessions and Trump seem to be mending fences. Why the concern?
"The new attorney general would then be in charge of federal investigations into the 2016 presidential election and would have the power to fire special counsel Robert Mueller."
Read the rest of Ashley's story right here, including an important riff on the (very recent) history of this kind of maneuver.
| | | LOSING THAT LOVING FEELING? | | As Trump's approval ratings plumb historic lows, Trump loyalists and political pundits have made a habit of pointing out the undying affection from his base. As long as the base stands its ground, the logic goes, Trump can never fall too deep under water. Which brings us to this latest nugget highlighted by CNN's Ryan Struyk, who explained to me (this is Greg typing here) that even the diehards are now going just a bit wobbly. Ryan explains it better:
"Trump supporters just aren't quite as optimistic as they were in November. That's according to a new Quinnipiac poll out this week. Not only is optimism in the future of Trump's presidency slipping among all voters -- from 59% in November to 52% in March to 43% today -- it's sliding even more among Trump's base. Three in four whites without a college degree were hopeful about Trump's future in November, but now it's only half. And among Republican voters, it's dropped from a nearly-unanimous 96% to 84%, leaving one in six Republicans saying they're pessimistic about the future with Trump."
Here! Look:
 | | The STATE of policing in America | | 
The August edition of CNN's "State" magazine dropped this morning. It's a doozy. Luckily, you have a whole weekend to read the whole thing. But if you need to prioritize, it is my humble opinion that you should start with this taut triptych -- three gripping stories on American policing -- from the singular Thomas Lake. "State" chief Steven Sloan offered this preview in his editor's note:
"In 'The Endless Death of Kyle Dinkheller,' Lake examines the 1998 traffic stop on a country road in Georgia that is used to this day as a warning to officers against being too cautious. In 'Ferguson, Affected,' he revisits the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer that sparked a national discussion on race and policing. And in 'City of Good Neighbors,' Lake looks at how the Buffalo Police Department avoided fatal shootings for 1,613 consecutive days."
Additional note (from Greg, again): Such is the embarrassment of riches in this magazine that I need to flag this piece from Maeve Reston, who needs no flagging, on the uncertain fate of GOP Rep. Mike Coffman. The Colorado congressman will run for re-election in 2018 in a district won by Hillary Clinton in 2016, but with no small share of Trump supporters. If his comments here are any indication, Coffman has yet to crack the code. | | | NPR Music is a national treasure. And so is John Prine. Combine them and you get magic. Here's Prine's set at this year's Newport Folk Festival -- that includes guest appearances by Margo Price, Justin Vernon, Jim James and Roger Waters among others. It's awesome. | | Has Barack Obama chosen a candidate for 2020? And is his name not "Joe Biden?"
Here's CNN's Eric Bradner from his indispensable #2020 Vision column:
Barack Obama and several of his closest political advisers want the next president to come from Bain Capital? That's what Politico's Edward-Isaac Dovere reports, noting that Obama has urged former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to consider running in 2020.
Two things you need to know about Patrick: 1) He's a managing director at Bain Capital -- yes, that Bain Capital, the one where Mitt Romney worked -- where Patrick oversees investments in companies that address social problems. It's the kind of job you take if you don't want to run for office again. 2) Obama world knows this is a political liability if Patrick does want to run for office again, but loves him anyway and would line up to work for him.
"It's true. We all love Deval," one senior Obama veteran told me. "I think he is exactly the right kind of candidate and someone who I truly admire and think has what it takes to win. And I agree that the Bain resume is far from ideal. His other corporate work will also be a tough sell. But he would be top tier right away and attract the best campaign talent." | | THE BEST NATIONAL HOLIDAY. BELIEVE ME. | | Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. This guy wanted to make sure you knew.
 | | 
Uncle Joe celebrated his former ticket-mate's 56th birthday on Friday with this snap of the two men yucking it up. Which is cool and all. But, it's no BFD.
Speaking of BFD's, this newsletter is one. So, subscribe -- or else. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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