| | | | The myth of Republican unity | | On Monday, shortly after lunching together, President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell emerged from the White House to insist they really were the best of friends.
"We are probably now, despite what we read, we are probably now, I think, at least as far as I am concerned, we are closer than ever before and the relationship is very good," said Trump.
"Contrary to what some of you may have reported, we are together totally on this agenda to move America forward," McConnell agreed.
"Despite what you have read."
"Contrary to what some of you may have reported."
Here's the thing: The rift within the Republican Party isn't some sort of made-up story by the media. Not even close.
"Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldn't get it done," tweeted Trump on August 10. "Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!"
"I'm very disappointed in Mitch," Trump told reporters around that same time. "If he gets these bills passed, I'll be very happy with him and I'll be the first to admit it."
Trump also refused to rule out the possibility of asking McConnell to step down if he couldn't get health care and tax reform passed.
The two men didn't talk for several weeks in the wake of that initial blowup.
The media was responsible for absolutely none of that. And, to pretend that a) they were or b) that everything is totally perfect between the two men now is a total myth.
It's possible -- and maybe even probable -- that personal relations between Trump and McConnell have improved from the lows of August. And, as McConnell and Trump both noted, they are big believers in tax reform/tax cuts, meaning that, at least for now, they are on the same policy page.
But, remember that as recently as Monday -- hours before his press briefing with McConnell -- Trump was quoted saying that he understood where Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist who has declared war on McConnell and the GOP Senate establishment, was coming from.
Then there's the fact that Trump and McConnell are, personality-wise, oil and water. Trump is a brash showman. McConnell is a behind-the-scenes strategist. It's hard to imagine anything McConnell probably hates more than Trump's Twitter feed.
The two men may well have put their differences behind them for the moment as they pursue a shared legislative priority. But, like all truces with Trump, this one is likely to be a temporary one.
-- Chris | | CNN's Laura Jarrett sent us this dispatch from New Jersey, where she continues to cover Sen. Bob Menendez's trial:
A federal judge rejected Sen. Bob Menendez's hope for getting his bribery case thrown out Monday, forecasting how he will likely instruct the jury in the weeks to come. Lawyers for the New Jersey Democrat wanted to use a 2016 Supreme Court decision overturning former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's bribery conviction.
But Judge William Walls -- an 84-year-old judge, with no shortage of rhetorical flourishes each day -- didn't buy it, despite having shown serious skepticism about the prosecution's overall legal theory last week.
Menendez and his friend turned co-defendant, Dr. Salomon Melgen, sat silently in the courtroom as the judge read from what appeared to be a lengthy written opinion he drafted ahead of time.
And despite the trial now stretching into its seventh week, the jury was all smiles and laughter entering the courtroom Monday -- one even loudly exclaiming "yay."
Read more in Laura's story here. | | Buzzfeed followed up with some of the dozen women who publicly accused Donald Trump of groping or kissing them. The result of that reporting? This story: "Watching Harvey Weinstein Fall, Trump's Accusers Feel Frustrated."
CNN's Kevin Bohn added this on Monday: "Lawyers for one of the women who have accused Donald Trump of sexual assault subpoenaed his campaign for all documents relating to her, all communications with or about her and 'all documents concerning any woman who asserted that Donald J. Trump touched her inappropriately.' "This comes in the case of Summer Zervos, a former contestant on 'The Apprentice' who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in 2007. The accusations were made in October of last year at a news conference."
Meanwhile, when asked at a press conference Monday about sexual assault allegations made against him, Trump said: "All I can say is it's totally fake news." | | "What does she weigh? 60 lbs?"
-reportedly President Trump, re: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (see Axios' Jonathan Swan's story here) | | | | Chris is taking the day off (kind of) so here are Saba's reads: | | | Saba's working from the New York office today so...here's to "Autumn in New York." | | BREDESEN EYES SENATE SEAT | | From CNN's Terence Burlij:
Democrat Phil Bredesen, who served two terms as Tennessee governor from 2003 to 2011, is considering a bid for the US Senate seat currently held by retiring GOP Sen. Bob Corker.
Bredesen initially ruled out a Senate campaign in the wake of Corker's announcement, but the former governor says he's reconsidering that decision after being urged to run by "a number of people." He says he will "make a decision quickly." "In the days following Sen. Corker's announcement that he was retiring from the Senate and wouldn't run again, I was frequently asked whether I was planning to run for his seat. My answer each time was an honest 'no,'" Bredesen said in a statement. "Since then, a number of people for whom I have great respect have encouraged me to reconsider, and I am doing so. In the days ahead, I'm going to do some research, talk with people and carefully think this through. There are obvious challenges, including the vast amount of money that has unfortunately become a requirement in such a race. Set against that, I love solving problems and in Washington right now there is plenty of material. I'll make a decision quickly." | | Three noteworthy stories from the Golden State today: - CNN's Maeve Reston had a scoop about how a super PAC has formed to raise money for California Democrat Kevin de León as he prepares to face incumbent Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
- Also in California: Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation that would have forced presidential candidates to make tax returns public. Read a take from CNN's Z. Byron Wolf here.
- Lastly, as CNN reported Monday: Firefighters in Northern California are making progress toward containing the massive blazes that have killed at least 40 people and burned about 5,700 structures.
| | As CNN reported: Mississippi Republican Sen. Thad Cochran remains ill and won't return to his Senate duties Monday as was expected.
The 79-year-old lawmaker's illness? "Another urinary tract infection," per a statement from Sen. Cochran's office.
His absence could derail a budget vote this week. | | Donald Trump's approval rating for handling the federal government's response to recent hurricanes has dropped 20 points in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.
In mid-September, 64% of Americans said they approved of Trump's handling of the hurricane response. That finding followed his administration's response to hurricanes Harvey and Irma hitting the US mainland. Now, as many Puerto Ricans remain without access to clean water or electricity nearly a month after the storm hit, just 44% say they approve.
For more from CNN's polling director Jennifer Agiesta, check out the full story here. | | | Give us a helping hand virtually and spread the word about The Point. | | 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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