| | | | From pardons to Pruitt: Another long, busy week in the Trump White House | | This week began with news of President Donald Trump canceling the Philadelphia Eagles' visit to the White House, and ended Friday with news of him congratulating the Washington Capitals on their Stanley Cup win.
On the same day Trump declared the Philadelphia team wouldn't be coming to DC, he also asserted he has the "absolute right" to pardon himself. Pardons then became somewhat of the theme of the week; Trump later announced he will commute the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, the 63-year-old first-time nonviolent drug offender whom Kim Kardashian advocated for during her White House visit last week. That's right: Kim K's efforts worked (she talked to CNN's Van Jones about the experience). Sources told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that Trump has considered dozens more pardons. Trump even said Friday he is considering posthumously pardoning boxer Muhammad Ali -- unnecessary, considering the Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1971.
Meanwhile, away from the White House, Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt continued to make headlines for a growing list of scandals. Trump expressed confidence in Pruitt, saying he believes Pruitt is "doing a great job."
Now, all eyes are on the G7 summit as the world watches Trump meet with fellow global leaders after saying he thinks Russia should be reinstated to the leading group of industrialized nations.
Check out this week's 30 big headlines, rounded up by CNN's Brenna Williams, below.
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: | | "Mr. Speaker, there is joy in the Washington capital region today."
-Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer, celebrating the Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup win on the House floor by sporting Caps gear and holding up today's front page of The Washington Post. | | | CNN's Anthony Bourdain, the gifted chef, storyteller and writer who took TV viewers around the world to explore culture, cuisine and the human condition for nearly two decades, has died. He was 61. CNN confirmed the cause of Bourdain's death on Friday was suicide.
As Chris tweeted today, "the suicides of Bourdain and Kate Spade earlier this week are a reminder: No matter how successful, wealthy or seemingly happy you are, we all battle our own demons. Reach out to one another. Destigmatize depression, addiction and anxiety. We are all in this together."
And for those who are suffering and need help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. | | | Today's topic? Chris' question of the week -- answered! Special shoutout to reader JoAnne Gatti-Petito, who asked "What's with all of Trump's pardons?" Watch the full answer on CNN Politics' Instagram story today. Keep the questions coming, Chris will answer another one next week! | | | HOUSE TO VOTE ON BILLS TO HELP COMBAT OPIOID ADDICTION | | CNN's Daniella Diaz reported Friday: "The House is set to vote on more than two dozen bills next week aimed at fighting the opioid crisis, including policy changes to educate pharmacists, coordinate a national response and empowering the federal government to create a program to test alternative treatments.
"The House will vote individually on dozens of bills over the weeks of June 11 and June 18, a Republican aide on the House committee on Energy and Commerce told CNN. It's the latest effort to tackle the crisis following the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and the 21st Century Cures Act, as well as the $4 billion appropriated in the omnibus this year. While the final details are still being worked out, the House will combine most of the bills into a more streamlined package before sending it over to the Senate for consideration, the aide said."
Read more here. | | | CNN's Caroline Kenny writes: Ohio Gov. John Kasich has written five op-eds for different newspapers in the past 11 days, and many of them have been flagged on this email listserv. Each one of them criticizes Republicans -- mostly Trump, but also those in Congress -- on policy grounds, with the term-limited Kasich advancing his own ideas. Buzzfeed noticed this and broke down what it believes that means for a potential 2020 bid. Read more in the story here. | | KIM KARDASHIAN WEST OPENS UP ABOUT TRUMP MEETING | | Kim Kardashian West talked to CNN's Van Jones about her meeting with President Donald Trump, which led to the President's decision to commute Alice Johnson's sentence. Here are some things we learned from the interview: - The meeting came about after Kardashian West called Ivanka Trump. The President's daughter connected Kardashian with her husband, Jared Kushner, who took an interest in Johnson's case.
- The White House had rescheduled the meeting and the new date happened to fall on Johnson's birthday.
- Kardashian West said she was "starstruck over the Oval Office."
- Kardashian West broke the ice with the President by joking with Trump about why he kicked her sister Khloe off of "The Apprentice."
- When asked whether she felt Trump used her as a "political pawn," Kardashian West said: "I think Kanye's already given him legitimacy on that way. I was working on this before. I don't think I would be used. At the end of the day, he heard me out. We got the job done."
- When Trump called the reality TV star to tell her his decision, she was on the phone with husband Kanye West. "I knew it had to be some news. I was always really hopeful. He called my cell phone, he said that he's really investigated this case ... spoke to just everyone and everyone had a unanimous -- from the people he reached out to -- unanimous feeling about Alice that she will live a great life and that she has done her time."
- Kardashian West broke the news to Johnson in a tearful call. "We cried, maybe, on the phone for like three minutes straight."
Read and watch more from Jones' interview with Kardashian West here. | | | From Brenna: "President Trump is at the G7 summit today. Because nothing is better than a Friday filled with important meetings. If you like GIFs like these, check out my quick roundup of the political GIFs of the week. Also, tell your squad 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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