| | | | | President Trump gestures to South Korea's President Moon Jae-in after making a statement for the media at the Palace Hotel during the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images | | | Melania Still the Most Popular Trump: CNN poll finds she's more popular than POTUS or Ivanka
Tom Price's Private Flights Now Up to 24: And that's just since May
'Dotard' vs. 'Rocket Man': International relations conducted through name calling | | | What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump is still in Bedminster, but this evening he'll make a quick trip to Huntsville, Alabama, to stump for Sen. Luther Strange, who is in a Republican primary runoff with Roy Moore.
Last night the two candidates, both of whom support Trump's agenda, had a debate where they basically used their individual relationships with the President as part of their sales pitch to voters. "We've developed a close, personal friendship ... We've sort of bonded," said Strange. Moore meanwhile said: "I can't tell you what the President thinks. I can't tell you every move he makes -- when he goes to the bathroom, when he doesn't."
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
An early morning on Twitter for POTUS, who fired off a few doozies.
Here they are, feel free to pick a favorite:
| | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Trump calls Kim Jong Un a madman, but that's in response to Un calling Trump a dotard. "Dotard," by the way, got looked up a lot yesterday, so don't feel bad if you don't know what it means.
New Poll Numbers:
However, the President is back up to 40% approval, from 38% last month, in a CNN poll conducted by SSRS last week, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. The American people were also impressed with how the Trump administration handled the hurricanes. | | Melania Still the Most Popular Trump
That same poll says what's been true for a while: Melania Trump is the public's most popular Trump. She's at 44% approval rating in this new poll, down from April's 45% and March's 52%, but still higher than her husband. Ivanka Trump's numbers, on the other hand, dipped from 46% in April, to 41% now, just a point higher than her dad. Back to Melania, though, this stat is particularly interesting: in January, just before Trump's inauguration, her approval/disapproval was pretty even at 36%/35%, respectively, but those who had no opinion of her was a whopping 23%. Now that number stands at 14%. #progress?
Undecided About Health Care?:
Don't feel bad, so are a lot of people -- including some of our lawmakers. To get right with what's up, and to understand a bit more about the Graham-Cassidy bill that could get passed before the end of the month, CNN's whipped up a Town Hall with Sens. Graham and Cassidy, who will debate Sens. Klobuchar and Sanders. It's Monday night at 9 p.m, moderated by Dana Bash and Jake Tapper.
Our Daily Melania:
As we go to post, the first lady is scheduled to be at the White House kitchen garden, for an event with 10- and 11-year-olds from local Boys and Girls Clubs. Her office gave me this list of what they're going to harvest, and what they're going to plant -- because I know you want to know.
Harvesting:
- Arugula
- Peas
- Radishes
- Swiss chard
Planting:
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Turnips
- Carrots
- Kale
- Spinach
- Lettuce
I, of course, want to know what Melania is going to wear for this garden excursion. Hi, I'm Kate. | | Tom Price's Private Flights Now Up to 24:
Since May, people. The HHS Secretary has taken at least 24 private charter jet flights at a cost to taxpayers. They flights, according to Politico's excellent reporting, total in excess of $300,000. Price's office is spinning that the secretary used the charter flights because he had a lot of travel, and that he is "focused on hearing from Americans across the country," so he needs to go see them ... in a private jet. Price had a Wednesday news conference in Oklahoma, which his staff cut short when he was asked about spending taxpayer money.
TGI Fashion:
Yesterday I showed you that bizarre (but beautiful?) Bugs Bunny look from Gucci's Spring-Summer 2018 presentation in Milan, Italy. Today I'm showcasing another. Here's supermodel du jour GiGi Hadid on the runway yesterday for the fashion house Moschino, dressed literally as a bouquet of flowers. Stay awesome, fashion. | | Credit: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
Kate's Canadian Adventure!:
Well, it's probably Melania's Canadian adventure, but it's also mine, too. Make sure you're following me on Twitter (@katebennett_DC) and on our COVER/LINE Instagram (@CNNCoverline) to see my updates as I travel to see the first lady on her first solo international trip -- also PRINCE HARRY WILL BE THERE. | | What Washington is Talking About:
All eyes are on Sens. Lisa Murkowski and John McCain and what they'll say about the Graham-Cassidy health care bill. One senior Republican aide told our Phil Mattingly "quiet is good," and the longer neither announces public opposition to the bill, the longer it stays alive.
What America is Talking About:
Josh Duhamel and Fergie's split was reportedly connected to her career. Duhamel felt she was back to her "old ways" of partying and being a "rock star," and focused on her upcoming "Double Duchess" album, her first solo album in 11 years, per Page Six.
Poll of the Day:
Nearly half of Americans -- 49% -- believe global warming is a major cause of the recent hurricanes, while 28% say it's not a cause at all, according to a CNN poll. The percentage who believe global warming is a major cause is up from 36% in 2005, when CNN last polled on it.
'Dotard' Vs. 'Rocket Man':
President Trump has his nickname for Kim Jong Un, and yesterday, the North Korean leader hit back with his own, calling Trump a "dotard." He used the word twice in a statement, saying "Action is the best option in treating the dotard who, hard of hearing, is uttering only what he wants to say," and, "I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire."
"Dotard" is defined by Merriam-Webster as someone in a state of senile decay. The dictionary said the word was first used in the 14th century as a term for "imbecile." | | Credit: Merriam-Webster
Facebook is Handing Over the Russia Ads:
On Thursday, Facebook said it will hand over the ads it sold Russian-linked accounts to the House and Senate Intelligence Committee "in a matter of days," and Mark Zuckerberg said in an awkward Facebook Live that the company is taking steps to combat election interference.
"I don't want anyone to use our tools to undermine democracy," he said. "That's not what we stand for." Facebook will soon show what pages political ads come from, and all ads a page runs will be publicly visible, Zuck said.
Can we stop for a second and think about the fact that a social network that began as a Harvard hot-or-not-style website is now talking about preserving the integrity of democratic republic elections throughout the world? We live in uncommon times.
Anyways, here's nine seconds of Zuck awkwardly waiting for the livestream to end, if you want to feel uncomfortable/relieved that ending these things is as bad for him as it is for the rest of us. | | Credit: Mark Zuckerberg/Facebook
Kimmel's a Man on a Mission:
Jimmy Kimmel delivered his third straight monologue about health care during last night's show. This is a campaign. In it, he responded to critics who think comedians shouldn't weigh in on health care.
"I see these comments from these angry people. They say, 'What qualifies you to talk about this stuff? You're a comedian, go back to being not funny.' And I feel like it's my duty to remind these people who are so concerned about my qualifications, the guy you voted for for president, his job qualification was ... (plays clip of Trump firing Meatloaf on "The Apprentice") he fired Meatloaf on television."
Stephen Colbert weighed in as well. | | Credit: @StephenAtHome/Twitter
The Steve Bannon Shirt Challenge:
New York Magazine had foodies put on multiple button-up shirts in honor of Bannon's multi-layered shirt style. It's kind of the perfect time of the year for that, when it's officially fall and you're ready to wear sweaters and jackets, but it actually still feels like summer outside. Breitbart aggregated the video, characterizing NYMag's fascination with Bannon's style as an obsession.
Tebow Joins in Irma Recovery Efforts:
Tim Tebow was in the Keys with Marco Rubio Thursday helping to hand out food and ice at a drive-thru distribution center. Tebow, who is 30, isn't constitutionally eligible to run for president until the 2024 election. | | Credit: @TimTebow/@marcorubio/Twitter
Scooter Braun Says He's Not Running for California Gov.:
He told "CBS This Morning" he is, however, "thinking about getting more involved with our leadership," and "thinking about what can I do to help as a citizen, and what can I do with the platform I've been given." The music manager, who works with artists including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, said he's proud of the One Love Manchester benefit concert after the attack there at Ariana's show. "I take pride in the fact that we defeated the idea that we should be afraid to live their lives," he said.
Has Any Man in History Stretched a Meager 10 Days in the White House Into More Than Anthony Scaramucci?:
Nay, I say unto you. Today he's co-hosting "The View." | | Credit: @Scaramucci/Twitter
HBD 'The West Wing':
The show's first episode aired on this day in 1999. Wrote The Hollywood Reporter in its review of the episode: "There isn't a mediocre performance in the entire show." | | | | | | |
