Companies Cut Ties With NRA: One way to judge the power of a political movement is to watch corporate America

Companies Cut Ties With NRA:
One way to judge the power of a political movement is to watch corporate America. When big companies that serve customers across the political spectrum cut ties with political causes or organizations or take a stand on an issue, it often shows they've made a calculation that, sure, they might upset some customers, but ultimately, it's in their best interest to take a stand. Since Thursday, a wave of companies, including major car rental companies and airlines, have ended discount programs they had with the NRA. They include:

• The First National Bank of Omaha
• Enterprise Holdings car rental brands Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent a Car, National Car Rental
• Symantec
• Hertz
• MetLife
• SimpliSafe
• Avis Budget Group car rental brands Avis and Budget Rent a Car
• Sirva, the parent company of moving-van lines Allied and North American
• TrueCar
• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines
• Paramount RX
• Starkey, a hearing aid company

Omarosa Says Trump Could Come After Her:
Just when you were starting to get used to bombshell revelations about the Trump White House coming in the form of hidden camera reality show confessionals, "Celebrity Big Brother" has come to an end. Omarosa did not win (that honor went to actress Marissa Jaret Winokur, with Ross Mathews coming in second), but she did say she's thinking of spilling more. Omarosa said she's thinking of writing a tell-all, but if she does, she expects Trump will "come after me with everything he has." "I'm going up against a kazillionaire," she said. "So I'll probably end up in court for the next... but I have to tell my truth." She compared leaving the White House to being "freed off a plantation."

Michelle Obama's Memoir Has a Release Date: It's called "Becoming" and it's set to be released November 13. Obama's publisher, Penguin Random House, called the book "an unusually intimate reckoning from a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations -- and whose story inspires us to do the same." It will be published in 24 languages and sell for $32.50 in the US. Tiffany Trump, Hockey Fan: Ivanka isn't the only winter sports enthusiast in the family, it seems. While her half sister was in PyeongChang, Tiffany was at Saturday's Capitals-Sabres game, but it doesn't appear she was cheering on the home team. Tiffany tagged Sabres' player Evander Kane in one ringside video posted on her Instagram story, and posted a photo with Kane and fellow Sabre Robin Lehner.

Ivanka Trump Thinks It's "Inappropriate" to ask Her Questions: She doesn't want to talk about allegations against her father

What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump this morning met with governors to talk about a host of issues, including public safety. Later he has a string of meetings which are closed to the press. 

What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Different stuff, all over the map, but mostly still guns. Sarah Sanders will give an on-camera press briefing at 3 p.m. 

Our Daily Melania:
Big day for the first lady, who gave official remarks at the luncheon for a group of governors' spouses at the White House. It's the first big speech of 2018 for Melania, and she touched on gun control and the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. "I have been heartened to see children across this country using their voices to speak out and try to create change. They are our future and they deserve a voice."

This is worth noting because the first lady has typically not waded into policy issues, especially those as hot-button as guns are right now. She also told the governors' spouses that adults should help young people by limiting the time they spend online and by teaching them about the dangers of drug abuse and addiction. 

Meanwhile, all of this is happening as Melania takes the spotlight in the wake of a pretty debilitating 2018 for her so far -- it's hard to say what goes on inside a marriage, but I tried today to take a fair and detailed look at what things have been like under the microscope for the first couple. 

Trump's Poll Numbers Slip:
A new CNN poll has Trump's approval rating back down to 35%, matching the lowest it's been during his presidency, which was back in December. He's down five points since last month's high, which appeared to be a boost that resulted from strong economic numbers and tax reform. The most interesting part, to me, is how much he's disliked by women and young people -- pretty staggering margins. 

Ivanka Trump Thinks It's "Inappropriate" to ask Her Questions: 
On the heels of her visit to PyeongChang to support American athletes at the Winter Olympics, Ivanka Trump sat down for an interview with Peter Alexander of NBC News -- and she said some stuff. The thing that really got me was the part where she told Alexander it was "inappropriate" of him to "ask a daughter" about allegations of sexual misconduct against her father. So, she's also a senior adviser to the President of the United States who handles a lot of women's issues, including helping women in the workplace, as well as supporting families.This is clearly where it gets dicey to make a family member a top-ranking adviser. Ivanka's already getting hammered for her comments, and justly so, in my opinion. You can't use the daughter card when this issue continues to play out publicly -- and you can't use it and completely ignore what your role is in the administration. 

Lewinsky Drops a Fascinating and Insightful Essay:
Omg the opening of this Monica Lewinsky first-person story in Vanity Fair's March issue is a doozy. My jaw dropped at the telling of her first personal encounter with Ken Starr, the former special prosecutor who basically eviscerated Lewinsky, and her entire family, while investigating Bill Clinton's relationship with the then-24-year-old White House intern. Spoiler: Starr actually *went up to her at a restaurant on Christmas Eve last year*. Also in here, great insight from a woman who has essentially been a living, breathing example of workplace misconduct, cyberbullying, slut-shaming and now, finally, the #MeToo movement. And no better revenge than looking good doing it, am I right  . 

Please Watch This Clip of Michael Wolff:
Michael Wolff, you ol' son of a gun. Check out this clip of Wolff on the Australian "Today Show" as he totally pulls a fake I-can't-hear-you with the host when he's asked about whether he is sure the President is having an affair, as Wolff recently said on Bill Maher's HBO program. Hahahahaha. 

Videos Are Mostly Better with Foo Fighters:
This is a generally true statement, but confirmed when the clip of this dude destroying a DC speed camera began making the rounds. Slow clap to you, sir.

Please Watch This Clip of Michael Wolff:
Michael Wolff, you ol' son of a gun. Check out this clip of Wolff on the Australian "Today Show" as he totally pulls a fake I-can't-hear-you with the host when he's asked about whether he is sure the President is having an affair, as Wolff recently said on Bill Maher's HBO program. Hahahahaha. 

Videos Are Mostly Better with Foo Fighters:
This is a generally true statement, but confirmed when the clip of this dude destroying a DC speed camera began making the rounds. Slow clap to you, sir.


Dress Like the First Daughter: 
I got a lot of questions about the red and blue striped outfit Ivanka Trump wore to watch the Olympics over the weekend. It was ... eye-catching? It's actually a top and a skirt, both by Altuzarra. The skirt is $595 and available here, and the top is $695 and you can get it here. Barneys shows the pieces as separates, but Ivanka put them together.

What Washington is Talking About:
An assault weapons ban bill is expected to be introduced in the House today by Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Dem. And in the Senate, Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Dem, will read George Washington's farewell address, an annual tradition dating back to 1892. 

What America is Talking About:
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students returned to campus yesterday for the first time since the shooting to get information about the phased reopening of the school. Teachers are returning to work today and tomorrow, and students will return for classes Wednesday.

Poll of the Day:
The percentage of Americans who support stricter gun laws, according to a CNN poll released Sunday

That's the highest level since 1993, and up from 52% in October after the Las Vegas shooting.

What PyeongChang is Talking About:
Norway ended the Games as the medal leader, with 39. The US came in fourth, with 23 medals, nine of them gold. It was the worst showing for the US at a Winter Olympics since 1998.

Olympic Athletes from Russia won the gold medal in men's hockey, and they sang the Russian national anthem during the medal ceremony, in violation of the neutrality rules under which they were competing. Gus Kenworthy called their victory Russia's biggest win since the 2016 US presidential election.

US intelligence says a cyberattack on Olympics officials during the opening ceremony came from Russia and they made it look like it was from North Korea, two US officials told the Washington Post.

Goodbye, PyeongChang, and goodbye PyeoungChang's Trump and Kim Jong Un impersonators, it's been weird

What Washington is Talking About:

White House comms director Hope Hicks is expected to appear before the House Intel Committee in a closed session. And movement on gun legislation appears to be stalled after the background check Fix NICS bill was blocked from being fast-tracked in the Senate yesterday. What America is Talking About: IHOP is giving away free pancakes today for National Pancake Day. Poll of the Day: The percentage of Americans who say they're confident President Trump is doing enough to prevent foreign countries from influencing future US elections, according to a CNN poll:

Meanwhile, 60% say they're not confident. In related news, NSA director Mike Rogers told the Senate Intel Committee today Trump hasn't told him to confront Russia's cyber operations, and said, "we have not opted to engage in some of the same behaviors we are seeing" with Russia and, "they have not paid a pricethat is sufficient to change their behavior." Trump Org Says It's Donated Foreign Profits: The Trump Organization's chief compliance counsel George A. Sorial said Monday the company has donated profits made in the past year from foreign governments to the US Treasury. "Although not a legal requirement, this voluntary donation fulfills our pledge to donate profits from foreign government patronage at our hotels and similar business during President Trump’s term in office," Sorial said. The company declined, however, to detail how much money was donated, which foreign governments it came from, and from which Trump properties the donations came. The District of Columbia Attorney General's office said it violates the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. "Whether the Trump Organization donated the proceeds from those foreign emoluments is irrelevant to our case, but we would certainly be interested in learning more about which foreign governments have paid the President," the AG's spokesman Rob Marus said, per the Washington Post.

FedEx Keeps NRA Discounts, Delta Faces Backlash for Cutting its Ties : In a statement, FedEx said although it "opposes assault rifles being in the hands of civilians," it doesn't set or change rates based on their political beliefs and won't end its discounts for NRA members. Meanwhile, Georgia state lawmakers are threatening to kill a measure that would save Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines tens of millions of dollars in jet fuel taxes over its severed ties with the NRA. US Women's Hockey Team Visiting Washington Friday: The gold medalists will visit the State Department, a senior official tells our Michelle Kosinski. No word yet if they'll also hit up the White House. The Warriors Heading to African-American Museum Today: Guard Klay Thompson said the Golden State Warriors will visit the National Museum of African-American History and Culture with students today in lieu of visiting the White House for the traditional NBA champs visit. He said: "The White House is a great honor, but there are other circumstances that we felt not comfortable going. We’re not going to politicize anything. We’re just going to go hang out with some kids and take them to the African-American Museum and teach them things we learned along the way, life lessons and hopefully give them some great memories." You Can Finally Get Your Hands on a Pair of Equality LeBron15s: Nike is giving away 400 pairs of the shoes -- 200 in white and 200 in black -- through an online drawing. You can enter for free for the chance to get a pair, or donate $10 for a pop for unlimited entries. All donations will go to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. Just What the House Needs, a "Clueless" Congresswoman: Stacey Dash has filed to run for Congress in California. Also, Another Sanders: Bernie Sanders' son Levi Sanders is running for Congress in New Hampshire. Dolly in D.C.: Dolly Parton was at the Library of Congress this morning to commemorate the 100 millionth book donated by her nonprofit, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The milestone book was "Coat of Many Colors," which she wrote, and she read/sang it to the kids there. What an icon and national treasure. Fun fact: Dolly said she reads 52 books a year (!) and singled out the Bible as a favorite. "That was the first book that we had in our home and the one that meant the most and one that has followed me more through my life," she said.

Trump struck a deal with Boeing for not one, but two new Air Force Ones

What the White House is Talking About:
President Trump today meets with Republicans on trade and renewable fuel, both are closed to the press. At 4 p.m. we're scheduled to see the President when he makes an announcement regarding additional leadership in the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 

What the White House Press Corps is Talking About:
Drudge's big red siren post about Trump being set to announce that he's running for re-election in 2020 -- but he already did that on the day he was inaugurated, so. 
Sarah Sanders is scheduled to do the briefing at 2 p.m.

The 2020 Trump "News":
The Drudge announcement really only had one interesting news nugget, which CNN's Dana Bash quickly confirmed, that Brad Parscale will be the campaign manager. Parscale was Trump's 2016 campaign digital media director.

If It's the Morning, It's Executive Time: 
The President was clearly watching the television this morning, specifically Fox News. He tweeted a few choice thoughts. 

The Plane! The Plane!: 
Trump has struck a deal with Boeing for two new Air Force One planes for $3.9 billion. The one caveat is that he wants them ready by 2021, three years ahead of schedule, so that he can fly in them if he wins re-election. The current AF1s have been in service since George H.W. Bush was president. Here's a rendering from Boeing of what the new ones will look like -- which is essentially the exact same?

No Drama for Obama:  In a private speech to a sports policy industry crowd last week in Boston, Barack Obama touted his administration's lack of drama: "We didn't have a scandal that embarrassed us... Generally speaking, you didn't hear about a lot of drama inside our White House." Yeah, it was pretty boring tbh. Our Daily Melania: Melania Trump has severed ties with the senior adviser who pocketed $1.62 million from helping Trump inauguration festivities, and whose firm, in total, was paid $26 million. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former events planner who worked for several years with Vogue magazine, was a good friend of Melania's in New York City, and when Trump won the election, Wolkoff was tapped as a FLOTUS senior adviser. However, Wolkoff's work on the inauguration was not overseen by the first lady, and she had nothing to do with how funds were distributed, according to her spokeswoman. Dress Like the First Lady: Today's DLTFL file is interesting. Yesterday, for her first public remarks in months, Melania Trump wore a pale pink dress by designer Gabriela Hearst. Trump has worn Hearst several times before, but I think it's interesting because as Hearst's two-year-old label has gained popularity, the designer has become more and more outspoken about her feminist ideals, and her disapproval of Donald Trump. Her Twitter feed is peppered with political posts and support for Democratic leaders. When asked in an interview with the Wall Street Journal last year if she would ever dress Melania Trump, Hearst said: "If they want to wear the clothes, they can buy the clothes." Anyway, I'm not saying Melania was necessarily making some sort of statement by wearing Hearst -- she probably just liked the dress, as simple as that -- but I do think it's worth pointing out. The pastel pink, cap-sleeve dress is available here for $1,995.

Merp:  Vanity Fair's Jennifer Lawrence cover for its March issue looks a lot like last December's Hollywood Reporter Jennifer Lawrence cover, at least that's the buzz going around media world -- and it's not great for VF, since its February cover had that goof with Oprah's three hands and Reese Witherspoon's three legs. Also, the story is ok, but can we be done with Jennifer Lawrence?