| | | | Democrats just called Trump's 'investigations' bluff |  | | In his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, President Donald Trump minced no words when it came to the ongoing -- and planned -- investigations into him and his Cabinet.
"If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation," Trump said, to murmurs of disapproval from many Democrats in the House chamber.
The message was simple: If you like the current run of economic prosperity and (relative) peace in the world, then you had better end the special counsel investigation being run by Robert Mueller and stop before you start any congressional investigations. If you don't, bad -- if amorphous -- things will happen to the country.
That threat didn't hold for 12 hours. By Wednesday morning, House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (California) announced he was launching a wide-ranging inquiry into Trump's finances and whether financial considerations were driving decisions made by the administration.
The investigation will "allow us to investigate any credible allegation that financial interests or other interests are driving decision-making of the President or anyone in the administration," explained Schiff.
Also on Wednesday, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler (New York) forewarned acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker that he would be expected to answer questions -- and not simply cite executive privilege -- in a hearing scheduled for this Friday. Nadler has gone so far as to issue a subpoena to compel Whitaker to testify in the event the acting AG chooses not to answer questions Friday.
Trump whacked the ball into Democrats' court on Tuesday night. And they whaled it right back at him today.
The Point: There'll be no retreat and no surrender in this fight between House Democrats and the Trump administration. I can make that promise.
-- Chris | | "It's a mess."
-- Virginia state Sen. Lionell Spruill, a Chesapeake Democrat, on the latest allegations roiling the Virginia state government. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, the third in line to the governorship, admitted today to wearing blackface at a party while dressed as rapper Kurtis Blow when he was 19.
Can't keep up with what's going on in Virginia?
We don't blame you -- Follow CNN.com's live updates. | | | BIDEN'S POLLERCOASTER RIDE | | CNN has a new poll out on 2020 (spoiler alert: people are very interested in a Joe Biden candidacy), and we wanted to highlight two specific data points. - Most Democrats (49%) say they want a 2020 candidate with a good chance of beating Donald Trump.
- And for the Democrats prioritizing a candidate's ability to beat Trump, Biden and Kamala Harris reign supreme right now.
Biden performs better among voters who prioritize a candidate's ability to beat Trump, capturing support from roughly 50%. For voters who are less interested in a candidate's ability to beat Trump, only 38% support Biden.
Harris has a similar split -- for voters who prioritize Trump beat-ability, 38% back Harris, while those less interested in beat-ability back Harris by 25%. | | | I've loved Beirut since "Gulag Orkestar." His new one -- "Gallipoli" -- is worth a listen. | |  | | Today's topic: Elizabeth Warren's Native American problem just got worse. | | COHEN'S COMPLICATED SCHEDULE | | Michel Cohen's congressional testimony is still happening, just not this week (as planned).
This is the second time Cohen's scheduled appearance has been pushed back -- Trump's former attorney is now slated to appear before a House Intelligence panel on February 28.
What's with the delay? It's not totally clear, but House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff cited the "interests of the investigation" in pushing the date back again.
⏰ Remember: The clock is ticking on Cohen's testimony -- he's scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence on March 6. | | Donald Trump: The President is hitting the campaign trail for a rally in El Paso, Texas, on Monday.
Howard Schultz: The potential independent presidential contender will participate in a CNN-hosted town hall in Texas on Tuesday, February 12.
Amy Klobuchar: The Minnesota senator says she will announce her 2020 decision on Sunday at Minneapolis' Boom Island.
Beto O'Rourke: The former Texas congressman told Oprah yesterday he'll make a decision on a 2020 run by the end of the month.
Mitch Landrieu: The former New Orleans mayor sure sounds like he's moving away from a presidential bid, telling CNN this morning, "I never say never, but at this point in time I don't think I'm going to do it." | | Nancy Pelosi's State of the Union clap -- basically instantly memed around the world (and, below, today's GIF of the day) -- felt awfully familiar to Pelosi's daughter.
Christine Pelosi tweeted: "#waybackwednesday - oh yes that clap took me back to the teen years. She knows. And she knows that you know. And frankly she's disappointed that you thought this would work. But here's a clap. #youtriedit" | | | | | | |
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