Trump’s initial one hundred days with ABC’s RICK KLEIN and SHUSHANNAH WALSHE
Day No. 39
The big story: Of all the bubbling questions and prospective scandals of the early Trump administration, the one that now appears likely to hold is about Trump campaign contacts with Russians. There are enough inquiries surrounding these communications to merit a critical investigation, many in Washington believe. There are also questions about no matter if such an investigation can be performed independently inside the Justice Division thinking about White Home attempts to influence reporting on the matter. Now, with GOP Rep. Darrell Issa’s endorsement of appointing a unique prosecutor, there’s enough political momentum to preserve these concerns swirling for a fantastic extended although. Issa’s opinion is major, considering that it opens the door for the question to be posed to any other Republican. “This is the greatest time to show leadership,” Issa told Politico. Of course, he has a political motivation to show that leadership. But he is not most likely to be alone in that realm.
The sleeper story: Price range outlines are specifically useless affairs, much more so than the actual presidential budgets that promptly get torn apart by Congress – which may well or may well not truly pass a budget into law. But the White House appears poised to supply an opening bid with stark priorities that incorporate a huge increase to defense spending, no main modifications to Social Safety or Medicare and deep cuts practically everywhere else, according to The New York Times. This is critically crucial stuff for this next phase of the Trump presidency, where congressional acquire-in will no longer be optional. Beginning with Tuesday’s speech prior to Congress, the president demands to place legislative meat on his rhetorical bones. That is when senators and House members get to take into consideration if they want to be on board this train that’s leaving the station.
The shiny story: Diversity made its Oscars comeback, and politics did, also – from host Jimmy Kimmel to Meryl Streep, proper by means of Viola Davis and a pointed boycott by an Iranian winner. Somehow, the president resisted the urge to tweet, even when the mother of all screw-ups gave him an opening for higher snark. Hollywood has made its collective views known. But it is not like Hollywood was subtle about those views throughout the election. Tinseltown’s fancy awards season was not and never was going to be about representing the men and women who place their hopes and expectations into a vote for Trump – millions of whom go to movies without the need of being influenced by stars’ politics. For a night, America put a unique face forward to the planet. But that is not an productive gauge of movement or moderation in the country. Trump will surely discover a way to weigh in – in a feud that will be as meaningless as that in between Kimmel and Matt Damon.
TLDR: Now that Rep. Darrell Issa has backed the need to have for a specific prosecutor to investigate Russian meddling into the election and doable contacts among the Trump campaign and Russian officials, it opens the door for other Republicans to also get in touch with for an independent investigation. The question is, "Will they?"
Photo of the day: There was plenty of politics and no shortage of presidential jokes in the course of Hollywood's biggest night, but this photo is not about that, though it certainly is the photo of the day. Here's the moment when Warren Beatty shows the envelope with the actual right winner for best picture last night. Of course that winner was "Moonlight," not "La La Land" as initially announced. (Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Notables
--White Home spokesperson on get in touch with for unique prosecutor in Russia probe: A White House spokesperson pushed back on calls for a specific prosecutor to investigate Russia's alleged interference in the presidential election, suggesting such speak is premature, according to ABC’s NICKI ROSSOLL. "I don't assume we're there yet," said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House's deputy principal press secretary, stated on "This Week" Sunday. "Normally, you go by way of a congressional oversight assessment. We're carrying out that. Let's not go to the incredibly finish of the intense. Let's let this play out the way it should. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-spokesperson-contact-special-prosecutor-russia-probe/story?id=45736118
--GOP congressman says particular prosecutor required to investigate Russia election meddling: California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa mentioned a special prosecutor is required to investigate Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Bill Maher asked Issa throughout an interview on his show "True Time" about reports that members of President Trump's campaign had speak to with Russian officials. Maher presented the GOP representative with a hypothetical situation -- if Russians had hacked the campaign of Mitt Romney in 2012 and if there had also been contacts between the Obama administration and the Russians. "You are going to let that slide?" Maher asked Issa. "No," Issa mentioned. When Maher then pushed Issa on the will need for an independent investigation, Issa agreed that a particular prosecutor is important, notes ABC’s JORDYN PHELPS. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gop-congressman-unique-prosecutor-required-investigate-russia-election/story?id=45733670
--Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez elected DNC chair: Former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez was elected Saturday the new chair of the Democratic National Committee, grabbing the reins of the the party and emerging as a key figure in channeling Democrats' opposition to President Donald Trump's agenda, ABC’s RYAN STRUYK and MARYALICE PARKS report. More than 400 party insiders gathered in Atlanta to cast their ballots after four months of debate. Perez, who fell 1 ballot shy of victory in the first round of voting, promptly appointed Ellison deputy chair of the DNC after it was announced that he had clinched it on the second round of voting. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-democrats-poised-choose-party-chair/story?id=45728911 What you want to know about new DNC chair Tom Perez. Here's every thing you need to know: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dnc-chair-tom-perez/story?id=45734565
--Progressives fear Democrats' option of Perez means the party hasn't learned its lesson: When the announcement came that party officials had elected Tom Perez chair of the DNC more than Keith Ellison, chants and protests broke out in the back of the space. "Celebration of the people today, not major revenue! Celebration of the persons, not massive money!" a compact, but loud group yelled, standing with their fists in the air. For the duration of an interview with ABC News, Perez said he and Ellison had "identical values." "We have been pals for a long time. We are united ... We want to make positive every person has a fair shake," he said on "This Week." But is that adequate? And how many persons at household do those still-reeling, angry and chanting protesters represent? ABC’s MARYALICE PARKS has a lot more. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/progressives-fear-democrats-decision-perez-signifies-celebration-learned/story?id=45749165
Speed Study
President Trump, initial lady host ball at White House. Even though Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for the Oscars last evening, the president and 1st lady hosted a night of glamour of their own. But instead of movie stars, the guests at the White Residence have been the nation's governors. It's an annual tradition for the president to invite the nation's governors to the White Residence for a dinner, notes ABC’s JORDYN PHELPS. Final night’s Governor's Ball was a very first for President Trump and 1st lady Melania Trump in acting as host and hostess of the White House for a gala-style event. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-lady-host-governors-dinner-white-house/story?id=45753442
GOP congressman says no space for compromise in repealing Obamacare. The founder of the conservative Home Freedom Caucus stated the Republican Party cannot compromise on its promise to fully repeal and replace the Reasonably priced Care Act identified as Obamacare, ABC’s NICKI ROSSOLL writes. "We didn't inform the American individuals we're going to repeal it -- except we're going to retain the Medicaid expansion," Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan said on "This Week" Sunday. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gop-congressman-room-compromise-repealing-obamacare/story?id=45736187
Democrats' new chair on electoral blunders. The new chair of the Democratic National Committee acknowledged the celebration made errors in its past election tactic and has perform ahead to win far more seats at all levels of government. “We didn't invest adequate in our state party infrastructure,” newly-elected DNC Chair Tom Perez told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos on “This Week” Sunday. “We didn't invest sufficient in grassroots organizing. We ignored rural swaths of America.” ABC’s HAYLEY WALKER has much more. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democrats-chair-electoral-blunders-rural-swaths-america/story?id=45738510
Pelosi: President Trump 'has practically nothing to show' for 1st month in workplace except 'fear.' Home Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi stated that President Trump will have no optimistic achievements to point to when he offers his initial address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday evening, notes ABC’s ALI DUKAKIS. "He has absolutely nothing to show for it but fear in each and every way," Pelosi mentioned Sunday on "This Week." "To persons who are sick -- fear, to persons who are immigrants -- fear, to people who are concerned about the greed on Wall Street -- taking us back to exactly where we had been." http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pelosi-president-trump-show-1st-month-workplace-worry/story?id=45735916
In case you missed it
Trump says he won't attend White Residence Correspondents Dinner. President Trump will not attend this year's White Property Correspondents' Dinner, he announced on Twitter Saturday. "Please want everyone nicely and have a terrific evening!" the commander-in-chief added, according to ABC’s ERIN DOOLEY and JORDYN PHELPS. The WHCA responded that the group "takes note" that Trump won't attend the dinner, scheduled for April 29, and stated the dinner "has been and will continue to be a celebration of the Initially Amendment and the essential part played by an independent news media in a healthy republic." http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-attend-white-house-correspondents-dinner/story?id=45738228
Who's tweeting? ? @rickklein: far more surprising - Oscars screw-up, or Trump's Tweet silence despite it?
@jimrutenberg: For press and Trump, it's War of The Roses, @MaureenDowd weighs in on our crazy presidential media saga https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/25/opinion/sunday/trump-vs-press-crazy-stupid-appreciate.html?smid=tw-share
@anniekarni: Sean Spicer does telephone checks on employees to crack down on leaks: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/sean-spicer-targets-own-staff-in-leak-crackdown-235413
@abbydphillip: A lot more from @axios on the WH & Sean Spicer's efforts to push back on Russia reports by means of lawmakers and Intel officials https://www.axios.com/exclusive-spicer-arranged-sat-in-on-cia-gop-intelligence-push-back-2288082248.html
@jpaceDC: New target date for Trump's revamped refugee and immigration EO looks to be Wednesday, after the address to Congress
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