| | | | Trump's 'fake news' attack is fake news | | At a signing ceremony at the White House on Monday afternoon, CNN's Jim Acosta asked President Trump if he was planning on giving the press conference today that he had promised last week.
"We had a press conference," Trump said, apparently referring to the signing ceremony -- where he took no questions. "We just had a press conference."
Acosta pushed the point. "I like real news, not fake news, you are fake news," Trump responded.
This attack, of course, is not new. Trump popularized the idea of "fake news" during the 2016 campaign -- much to the delight of his supporters, who hate the media almost as much (more?) than they love Trump.
(A search through the invaluable Trump Twitter Archive reveals that Trump has used the phrase "fake news" 87 times in tweets in 2017 alone.)
Trump clearly believes that the more he says "fake news," the more people believe it. And he may be right. But, that doesn't make him, well, right.
It's important to understand what Trump means when he says something is "fake news." He means, paraphrasing, "News that isn't 'nice' about Trump."
Trump splits the world into two categories -- people who love Trump and people who hate Trump. The media, all of it, is in the "hate" category because they, collectively, don't write enough nice things about the President.
The job of the working press isn't, of course, to say nice things about the President simply because he is the President. The media's job is to offer context and fact-checking for what the President -- and any other politician -- says. Sometimes that means "good" or "nice" coverage. Sometimes it means "bad" or "not nice" coverage.
That is, of course, not the point. Trump -- whether purposely or not -- misunderstands what the relationship should be between a president and the press who cover him. Whether it's intentional or not doesn't really matter -- it serves Trump's purpose, which is throwing red meat to a base starving for it.
None of that makes news "fake." No matter how many times Trump says it.
--Chris | | "Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists," President Donald Trump said in a speech at the White House on Monday, two days after a Charlottesville, Virginia, "Unite the Right" rally led to one death and a handful of injuries.
But for some, particularly those in marginalized communities targeted by white supremacists, Trump's words on Monday were too little, too late.
"This acknowledgment does not even begin to make up for President Trump's years of riling up white nationalists," Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates, a national legal advocacy and educational organization, told Saba. "What speaks louder than his words are the deaths and the universal nationwide condemnation it took to get these crumbs of acknowledgment."
Read Saba's full story here. | |  | | It takes a village to keep the White House in good shape. NBC News' Kelly O'Donnell tweeted out this image earlier today of a glimpse at someone power washing the West Wing. | | CNN's Ryan Struyk writes:
There's more bad news for President Donald Trump in today's new Gallup daily tracking approval numbers. His approval has sunk to just 34% — the lowest of his presidency. And his disapproval is now 61% -- that's worse than all modern presidents except Truman, Nixon and Bush Jr. ever had. And who's making the difference? Nonwhites. Both Obama and Trump had a 46% approval among whites at this point in their presidency. But 73% of nonwhites supported Obama vs. only 15% who say they approve of Trump. It's unclear whether Charlottesville is the reason for the sinking numbers, but about half the Gallup interviews came after Saturday afternoon. | | | Radiohead's "A Moon Shaped Pool" album served as the perfect Monday back-in-the-office jam. | | "We don't tell people to shut up on this show"
-CNN's Chris Cuomo to former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli after he told CNN contributor Symone Sanders to "shut up" | | | | Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is at the center of a "merchandising empire," POLITICO's Lauren Dezenski reports. Fans of the progressive presidential prospect can buy merch inspired by her, including prayer candles, action figures, temporary tattoos and coloring books. "Elizabeth Warren is an increasingly popular brand that people want to associate with," Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told POLITICO. "She's the Apple of politics." | | Speaking of presidential prospects, the New York Post on Monday reported that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is "putting out feelers" for 2020.
"The rumor is, he is setting up fundraisers across the country after the election," a veteran political consultant told Post columnist Richard Johnson.
A longtime pol-watcher also told the Post: "De Blasio is putting all his chips on the 2020 race. That's why, instead of staying in the city to comfort the children of assassinated police officer Miosotis Familia, he jetted to Germany to join the anti-Trump rioters who were smashing store windows." | |  | | Tonight is the night! Short-lived White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci is making an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." To tease it, he posted this photo of himself on Instagram outside the show's "guest bathroom" (he even uses the hashtag #guestbathroom). The Mooch is loose. | | Shondaland is ditching ABC for Netflix. On Sunday evening, the Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint broke that showrunner Shonda Rhimes has inked a deal with the streaming giant to create shows. Rhimes' current shows -- including the final season of "Scandal" and a spin-off for "Grey's Anatomy" -- will remain on ABC.
CNN's Brian Stelter has more details in his story here. | | | Mondays come at ya fast. Thanks for reading! Remember to tell people to subscribe. | | 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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