| | | | | The most interesting part of the Nunes memo? Trump's reaction | | On Friday, we finally got the much-promised memo crafted by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) that allegedly blows the top off of the "deep state" conspiracy within the Justice Department aimed at discrediting Donald Trump's presidency.
It was, um, less than promised. There were any number of allegations in it, but very few indisputable facts.
What was more interesting to me was how Trump reacted to the memo.
"I think it's a disgrace," he said. "What's going on in this country, I think it's a disgrace." He added, "A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that."
In case you were wondering who Trump meant about being "ashamed of themselves," he made himself very clear soon after.
Asked whether he had confidence in Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in the wake of the memo -- it showed that Rosenstein had approved at least one FISA warrant aimed at surveilling one-time Trump aide Carter Page -- Trump responded: "You figure that one out."
As CNN's Kevin Liptak reports: "One official said the President blames Rosenstein for the current state of the Russia probe and "is unlikely to ever get beyond it."
So, let's review. Trump has fired one FBI director. He has repeatedly bad-mouthed his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions. He is vague about whether to keep Rosenstein on but almost certainly won't forgive the deputy attorney general. He publicly pressured deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe to resign. He rejected the advice of Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray, Trump's handpicked replacement for Comey, not to release the Nunes memo.
The Point: It's not too much to say that Trump is at open war with his own Justice Department. And we've never seen anything like that before.
--Chris | | Reporter:
"Do you still have confidence (in Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein)?"
President Donald Trump:
"You figure that one out." | | | | The Spice Girls reunited (!) but, no, there wasn't music involved. Just a lot of social media pics and hints at maybe a future. Anyway, in honor of that, here's "Spice Up Your Life." | | | Photo courtesy: Screengrab/Funny or Die | | Funny or Die is teaming up with Billy Eichner to "glam up the midterms" -- or, as Eichner describes it, to "turn the midterms into the hottest, sexiest event of the entire year."
The group told POLITICO Playbook it will spend $8 million on the most competitive congressional districts. They hope to use online mobilization tactics and an analytics program, coupled with live comedy events, to engage younger voters.
"Sadly, the former host of 'Celebrity Apprentice' won't return our phone calls. But we'll be working with artists across the country to increase the number of Americans -- especially young people -- who vote in 2018," David Litt, head writer of Funny Or Die DC and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, said in a statement.
Others involved in the initiative -- who are in Funny or Die's promo video -- include Sarah Silverman, James Corden, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'Brien, John Oliver, Chelsea Handler, Robin Thede and Andy Cohen. | | MICHELLE'S FIRST SPEECH SINCE LEAVING OFFICE | | Former first lady Michelle Obama made her first major speech since leaving office, speaking Friday at the Kennedy Center's School Counselor of the Year ceremony. CNN's Betsy Klein reports:
Obama spoke to the school counselors during her time in office and hosted the School Counselor of the Year celebration at the White House beginning in 2015. The American School Counselors Association did not reach out to the Trump administration to continue the event at the White House, opting to continue the tradition with Obama, a source familiar said. Last year, the 2017 School Counselor of the Year event was Obama's final White House speech, marked with emotional remarks.
"I'm back!" she said while taking the stage at the Kennedy Center. Before introducing the school counselor of the year, Obama addressed the current political climate, telling school counselors "at times like this, the work you are all doing is even more urgent. You all have the power to teach our kids what it means to go high when others go low."
Read more in Betsy's story here. | | ICYMI: THE MOOCH INTERVIEW WITH VF | | Before #MemoDay, former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci sat down for -- as described by author William D. Cohan -- "a series of three epic interviews" with Vanity Fair. Chris highlighted the 33 most over-the-top "Moochisms" from the interview, including: - "I'm not gonna be this gold-chain-adorned guy driving around as a Long Island guido."
- "He's the creature from the Black Lagoon, Bannon. He acts more swamp-like than any person that's ever become a Washingtonian."
- "I learned that the swamp is probably a gold-plated cesspool with no drain. You understand what I'm saying?"
| | CNN Money's Danielle Wiener-Bronner reports: "After she leaves the Federal Reserve on Saturday, Janet Yellen will join the Brookings Institution as a distinguished fellow in residence with the economic studies program.
Her first day at the office is Monday. And she already knows one of her new coworkers: Ben Bernanke, who preceded her as Fed chairman and joined the think tank in 2014. Jerome Powell, appointed by President Trump, takes over as Fed chairman on Saturday."
Read more here. | | | Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means -- unfortunately for us -- there will be six more weeks of winter. Cool (literally). Happy Friday! Tell 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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