| | | | | First Lady Melanie Trump addresses other spouses of world leaders at a United Nations luncheon Wednesday in the United Nations Mission in New York. Credit: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images | | | Melania's Big Global Coming Out: FLOTUS speaks about children at UN luncheon
Spicey Can't Get a TV Job: CNN already preemptively said he wouldn't be a paid contributor, and other networks have reportedly passed
Kris Jenner Giving Off Trump Vibes: Is it just me or does her bit in the KUWTK promo feel like "Apprentice"-era Trump? | | | What the White House is Talking About:
Busy day at UNGA for President Trump as he meets with leaders of Jordan, Palestine, Africa, the UK and Egypt.
What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Another day at UNGA and the fallout from Trump's Tuesday speech -- "Rocket Man," "going to hell," "totally destroy," etc.
Meanwhile, John Kelly ... :
As Trump continues to Trump, CNN checks in with what's been happening since Gen. John Kelly assumed his perch as chief of staff. The consensus in Washington is that he's been an influential presence in the administration, weeding out staff and cracking down on access to POTUS. It's a great read on how things are changing inside the West Wing and the ripple effect that's having beyond the beltway. Still, much ado was made about Kelly's viewing of Trump's 41-minute UN speech yesterday, which appeared to be sort of uncomfortable.
Price-y Planes for HHS Secretary:
See what I did there? Politico's scoop last night about HHS Secretary Tom Price's penchant for flying on private jets was 😳. Last week alone, he took five trips on private jets. He even took one for a flight from DC to Philadelphia, which is literally like an hour -- his trip cost roughly $25,000 for the plane. | | Our Daily Melania:
This is Melania Trump's big global coming out -- sort of. The world has seen her, and heard from her, when she was traveling in Europe with the President earlier in the summer, but she hasn't given a major public speech on policy issues really since March, when she talked about human trafficking at the State Department. Today, as we go to post, she's speaking at a UN luncheon for spouses and community leaders about children. Here's a sampling of her remarks: "Whether it is drug addiction, bullying, poverty, disease, trafficking, illiteracy, or hunger, it is the children who are hit first and hardest in any country. And as we all know, the future of every nation rests with the promise of their young people."
It's a good time for FLOTUS to get back on the public stage -- she heads to Toronto on Saturday to kick off the Invictus Games with Prince Harry and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. I'll be there to cover it, so make sure you tune in ...
New: Trump Doesn't Put Ketchup on His Steak:
David Burke, the chef at BLT Prime inside the Trump International Hotel in Washington, says the President in fact does not dip his steak in ketchup, as has been rumored, and that any ketchup on his table was for french fries, which Trump digs. Burke tells EaterDC that Trump doesn't even normally have steak when he comes in for frequent-ish meals -- he orders the Dover sole. (Reading that was an a-ha moment for me because I was wondering why that was the entree for a black-tie dinner last Thursday at the White House for the White House Historical Association. Mystery solved.) | | Nikki Haley Does Glamour:
The UN Ambassador speaks to Ashley Parker for an interview in Glamour, where she says so far Trump hasn't curtailed her influence and opinions about Russia, and other stuff, and that she's getting used to the fast-paced and complicated world of diplomacy. Haley, who's wearing a Teri Jon dress, even got the Glamour glamour shot: | | Credit: Annie Wu for Glamour, glamour.com
Dress Like the First Lady:
Today for her big UN luncheon/speech, Melania once again went with Delpozo, the Spanish design house she's worn a couple of times already, most noticeably in Poland, and again upon return from Bedminster last month when she opted for that eclipse-ish sundress. Today's look was a bold, neon pink -- a jacket of some bulk in the sleeves. It was pre-fall 2017 so it's no longer available as far as I can tell. I get the look, because I get the avant garde nature of Delpozo, but I'm not sure if it will play well in fashion circles - not that Melania cares. And, of course, she's also sporting her favorite Christian Louboutin heels, in matching pink -- they're $675 here. Louboutin was recently interviewed for Harper's Bazaar where he defended Melaina's choice of footwear, saying she's been a longtime client of his and, "I love her, she's a beauty, and that's all there is to it." | | | Credit: Don Emmert/Getty Images; delpozo.com | | What Washington is Talking About:
The last-ditch Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal bill. A score from the Congressional Budget Office wouldn't be ready until after the September 30 deadline, meaning a vote would have to take place before it came out. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of 10 governors, including Ohio Gov. John Kasich, signed a letter opposing the bill.
What America is Talking About:
Hurricane Maria has made landfall in Puerto Rico. The size of its cloud shield is about 600 miles, the distance from Washington, DC, to Chicago, and winds reach 155 mph.
Poll of the Day:
The percentage of teenagers who have a driver's license, ever date, tried alcohol, and worked for pay is down from 1976, according to data from Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan. | | Credit: The Washington Post
Kimmel v. Cassidy:
Jimmy Kimmel came for Sen. Bill Cassidy during his show last night over his Obamacare replacement bill. You'll remember Cassidy went on the show in May to say any replacement bill should pass the "Kimmel Test" ("Would the child born with a congenital heart disease be able to get everything she or he would need in that first year of life ... even if they go over a certain amount?").
"This guy, Bill Cassidy, just lied right to my face," Kimmel said. "He got a lot of credit and attention for coming off like a rare, reasonable voice in the Republican Party when it came to health care," but "he wasn't very honest." Last night, Kimmel tweeted the number for the Capitol switchboard, which has racked up more than 42,000 RTs, including one from @hillaryclinton. | | Credit: @jimmykimmel/Twitter
Cassidy was on CNN's "New Day" this morning and said, "I am sorry he does not understand." "More people will have coverage and we protect those with pre-existing conditions," he said.
Coming Soon: a New Beast?:
Car and Driver says they have pics of the Cadillac limo that will become Trump's new ride out testing on public streets in Michigan, covered in a what appears to be a camo wrap. The exterior is a mix of the Cadillac Escalade SUV and CT sedan, per the magazine.
Spicey Can't Get a TV Job:
Sean Spicer hasn't yet lined up a paid TV contributor gig three weeks since he left the White House. Back in July, CNN preemptively said he wouldn't be working here, and now ABC News, CBS News, Fox News and NBC News have also all passed on him, per NBC: "A number of network insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect their business relationships said none of the networks were interested in hiring Spicer due to a 'lack of credibility." So I guess there are consequences for telling the press falsehoods?
In other Spicer news, his old boss didn't seem too happy about the awards show he made a cameo on. Trump, whose "Apprentice" franchise was nominated for nine Emmys but never won, tweeted about the show. | | Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter
Ed Sheeran's Private Washington Concert:
The singer is playing a private show today in a Washington home as part of a refugee solidarity concert series from Amnesty International and Sofar Sounds. The exact location is not public. Sheeran will play alongside Jean-Jean Bashengezi, a signer, guitarist and refugee who fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1994 following the Rwandan genocide and now lives in Washington. Sheeran was spotted at Mastro's Steakhouse downtown Monday, per the Washington Post. If you're going or spot pics and videos of it on social, hit me up at coverlinehunter@cnn.com.
Drake Makes New York City Parks & Rec Proposal Cameo:
On page 52 of NYC Parks' proposal about improvements to Fort Greene Park, including making the park more accessible, they put an image of Jimmy Brooks, the character Drake played in "Degrassi" who was in a wheelchair. The Easter egg was first noted by Pitchfork. Amazing. | | Credit: NYC Parks
Is it Just Me or Is Kris Jenner Giving Off Trump Vibes:
I see reality stars in helicopters and I get "Apprentice"-era Trump vibes, I can't help it. The promo for the 10th anniversary season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" is out and it's amazing (it belongs in the Smithsonian). It features Kris Jenner in a chopper hovering over the Los Angeles hills before zooming off, a lot like "Apprentice" promos that showed Trump inside his Trump chopper above the New York skyline. Watch it here and tell me, does it not feel Trumpy?! Jenner 2020, baby! | | | Credit: NBC/@krisjenner/Instagram | | | | | | |
