| | | | Donald Trump, explained in 1 sentence | | | In this terrific New York Times piece on Donald Trump in the White House, one line stood out to me as absolutely critical to understanding how the 45th President of the United States approaches the job. Here it is: "Before taking office, Mr. Trump told top aides to think of each presidential day as an episode in a television show in which he vanquishes rivals."
There's so much to unpack there.
Start with the fact that TV is the frame through which Trump sees not only his presidency but his broader life. If something or someone is on TV, it matters. If not, then not. The equation for Trump is that simple. "Look at all those red lights," Trump said when he was in Alabama earlier this year to campaign for appointed Sen. Luther Strange. "Ay yai yai. It's always fun to see a red light."
"It's always fun to see a red light."
Now, take a step back. It's not just that Trump judges success or failure via TV. It's deeper than that. It's that he views his entire presidency as one big reality TV show in which the goals are only: a) to be perceived as "winning" in the eyes of the audience and b) to keep people watching.
Go back and read that sentence from the Times' piece. "Before taking office, Mr. Trump told top aides to think of each presidential day as an episode in a television show in which he vanquishes rivals." (Italics are mine.)
The key for Trump is to win the day in the eyes of the people watching on TV. But it's more than that. It's also to vanquish his political enemies. To be seen as the victor, the tough guy, the winner. It's like he sees the presidency as a daily singing competition where he always wants to win the people's vote.
What's important about Trump's view of the presidency is that winning a cable news cycle -- or a daily singing competition -- is, at best, a tactic. It's nothing close to a strategy.
The Point: The secret strategy is that there is no secret strategy. Trump acts and reacts. He says stuff. He parries and jabs. He tries to win the minute-by-minute news cycle with little concern about any sort of long-range plan. That's it.
-- Chris | | WOMEN DETAIL SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TRUMP | | | CNN's Dan Merica reported Monday: "A group of women who have publicly accused President Donald Trump of sexual harassment and assault detailed their accounts of being groped, fondled and forcibly kissed by the businessman-turned-politician at a news conference on Monday. " 'This was serial misconduct and perversion on the part of Mr. Trump. Unfortunately, this behavior isn't rare in our society, and people of all backgrounds can be victims. The only reason I am here today is that this offender is now the President of our country,' said Rachel Crooks, a former Bayrock Group receptionist who accused Trump of kissing her on the mouth without her consent in 2005.
"Samantha Holvey, the former Miss North Carolina 2006 who has accused Trump of inspecting beauty pageant contestants, and Jessica Leeds, who has accused the President of grabbing her chest and attempting to move his hand up her skirt on a flight, also sat with Crooks at Monday's event."
Read more in his full story here. | | VOTERS WEIGH IN: ROY MOORE V. DOUG JONES | | | Photo courtesy: Cassie Spodak/CNN | | | CNN's Cassie Spodak went to Fairhope, Alabama, to talk to voters about the election tomorrow, in which they vote for who will be their next US senator. Here's her reporter's notebook for The Point: Fairhope is an area where voters tend to be wealthier and with higher levels of education, exactly the kind of moderate Republican voters Democrat Doug Jones has to cut into if he hopes to win on Tuesday. There were only a few voters who actually said they'd vote for Jones. The rest were split between people who said they'd vote for Roy Moore, and those who said they didn't know what they'd do, if they voted at all. The biggest takeaway for me was the political identity crisis that most of them were struggling with, whether it started in 2016, or if this was the first time they'd ever vote for a Democrat. One voter told me he didn't think either party was relevant anymore. At the same time, I believed one of the women I talked to when she said she felt like more people would end up voting for Moore than would admit it.
When I talked to the voters at Moore's event in Fairhope last Tuesday, they were steadfast in their support, bristling at the idea that "outsiders" would tell them how to vote. I talked to one woman who said she wasn't sure about the accusations against Roy Moore, but she was sure Moore would align with her anti-abortion beliefs and that's ultimately what decided her vote, a reminder of how important the abortion issue is for many voters in Alabama. Read Cassie and Jeremy Moorhead's full story and check out her video/voter slideshow here. You should also check out Chris' story on 5 reasons why you need to pay attention to the Roy Moore race. | | CNN's Jeff Zeleny on Monday was the first to report that former President Barack Obama is adding his voice to the Alabama Senate race, imploring voters to go to the polls Tuesday to reject the candidacy of Roy Moore.
"Doug Jones is a fighter for equality, for progress," Obama says in a recorded phone message, according to two Democratic officials familiar with the Alabama race. "Doug will be our champion for justice. So get out and vote, Alabama."
Obama does not mention Moore by name in the recording. Read more in Jeff's story here. | | From CNN's Caroline Kenny:
"A special election to fill the seat vacated by Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks will be held next year, with a primary February 27 and the general election April 24.
"Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced the election dates Monday morning in an official state proclamation.
"Franks said in a statement Thursday night he would resign from Congress after the House Ethics Committee said it would investigate allegations against him of sexual harassment.
"Franks originally said he would resign on January 31, 2018, but on Friday, after additional alleged details of his behavior became public, he said his resignation would take effect immediately. The seat is now vacant and will remain so until the special election in April."
Read more in Caroline's story here. | | During a book tour stop in Madison, Wisconsin, former Vice President Joe Biden said he would probably decide in about a year whether he will run for president in 2020.
Per the Wisconsin State Journal, Biden "said his unwillingness to decide sooner is rooted in realism about how much the political landscape can change in the space of a year.
" 'I'm not playing games,' Biden said. 'It's just too early for me to make that decision.' " | | From Brenna: On the fourth day of GIFmas, 2017 gave to me -- this amazing photobomb. During an April appearance on Fox News, Kellyanne Conway had to contend with a street sweeper cleaning the pavement outside the West Wing. Poor Conway was pushing through the noise like a champ, discussing the possible government shutdown and President Trump's proposed border wall. The idea of the street sweeper had been looming over the interview, much like the shark in "Jaws." And the reveal was just as amazing.
"Here he comes. Watch behind me," Conway said, waving as the sweeper went by. Dude just drives through the back of her picturesque White House backdrop. The best part? He did it again two minutes later.
"Keep America beautiful!"
"Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. That guy has a job this morning," the hosts said in succession.
Life is sometimes hilarious and amazing and you just need to embrace it. On that note: Please remind everyone you know to subscribe to 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. | | | | | | |
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