ESPN's new prez!

Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, is the new president of ESPNeffective immediately. He was Burbank-based in his last job, but he'll be in Bristol in the coming days. Recode's Peter Kafka had the jump on the news... After he called for comment, Disney confirmed the hire in a Mondayafternoon statement...

The Full Nunberg

Sam Nunberg likes to talk with reporters. Talk and talk and talk. "Sam is a character. He's always been a character inside Trumpworld," Katy Tur said on MSNBCMonday night. Tur said the same thing Ryan Lizza said on CNN: Nunberg is helpful to reporters, but "he is not someone you would trust without confirming, let's just say."

Nunberg was interviewed by Robert Mueller's office late last month. Then he went on Ari Melber's MSNBC show and said he was "happy to cooperate with them."

That interview was on February 28. At some point afterward, Mueller's office sent Nunberg a subpoena. Nunberg or someone close to him leaked the subpoena over the weekend. Axios and NBC published stories about it. Tur said she spoke with Nunberg about the subpoena on Sunday night, "and he said he was going to comply with it. He never gave any indication that he would not comply with it. I was talking to him at about 10:3011 o'clock last night."

Then something happened. "Starting Monday morning," Nunberg told friends that he was going to refuse to cooperate, The Daily Beast reported. Some of those friends "worried Nunberg had been drinking."

The interview circuit

Nunberg spoke with the WashPost's Josh Dawsey, the NYT's Maggie Haberman and others. His first TV interview was with Tur around 2:45pm. He called in to Tur's show... then taped an interview with CNN's Gloria Borger... then Jake Tapper... then NY1's Josh Robin... and I'm sorry if I missed other interviews. He went on camera with Melber at 6pm and Erin Burnett at 7pm. By the end of the Burnett interview, camera crews were camped outside CNN's NYC bureau. At the moment, more interviews are possible on Tuesday morning... I called Nunberg to find out, but his voice mailbox is full...

Where things stand now

In the 7pm hour, he suggested to Burnett that he'd be willing to cooperate. In the 8pm hour, off-camera, Nunberg told Tur and the AP's Jill Colvin and The Atlantic's McKay Coppins that he'll probably eventually cooperate with Mueller. "He just doesn't want to make it easy," Tur tweeted...

Have you EVER seen anything like this?

A witness handing his subpoena to a news anchor on live TV?

"Sam Nunberg seemed to be imploding before everyone's eyes," Hadas Gold writes in this CNNMoney story. She points out that Nunberg even asked anchors for legal advice...

 --> Per Jill Colvin's Monday night story, "Nunberg appeared pleased by his performance, telling the AP that he was 'doing something I've never seen...'"

"Nunberg TV is guaranteed to do two things"

NYT's Maggie Haberman tweeted: "Nunberg TV is guaranteed to do two things -- aggravate Mueller and infuriate Trump."

The meltdown

Now an ethical debate is raging in journalism circles. If your source seems drunk or drugged or just plain out of his mind, what is your responsibility? Several of the interviewers expressed concern about Nunberg's personal welfare on Monday... asking if he wanted to reconsider his position... asking if he'd consulted his lawyer... asking about his family... and, in Burnett's case, even asking if he was under the influence. She said at the end of the interview that she smelled alcohol on his breath. But he denied drinking and said "anti-depressants" were the only meds he was on.

What do you think? Where's the line in a breaking news situation like this? Here are a few of the reactions I've spotted on social media:

Rick Wilson: "Nunberg is building an insanity defense."

Jody Avirgan: "I think the networks should stop putting Sam Nunberg on television."

Tom Nichols: "He's being subpoenaed by a grand jury looking into the president, shows up at their doorstep, and wants to talk. What are they supposed to say? No?"

Kai Ryssdal: "Cable news is debasing itself today."

Paul Farhi: "Unless they had clear indications that the dude was impaired somehow, a live interview is kosher. It's not like he didn’t agree to be interviewed. He did. So bring on the questions."

Meanwhile, over on Fox...

Fox's newscasts covered the Nunberg news, but the pro-Trump talk shows in prime time focused on the Oscars instead. Mark Steyn, filling in for Tucker Carlson at 8pm, led with Oscars outrage (of course) and celebrated the award show's ratings decline. Later in the hour, he downplayed Nunberg's claims by saying "nobody's heard of this Mr. Nunberg." (False.)

At 9, Sean Hannity began and ended his show with "HOLLYWOOD HYPOCRISY." Lots of Clinton talk, etc. And Laura Ingraham's lead at 10? "America's resistance media has lost all touch with reality..."

 --> Flashback to Sunday's "Reliable Sources:" The "more Mueller discovers, the more Trump's TV boosters have to deny/deny/deny. The worse things look for Trump's inner circle, the worse the deflections get..".

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Nunberg is stalling

CNN's Chris Cuomo tweeted just now: "Saying you won’t comply with a subpoena is foolish but easy. Actually facing the music is hard. This Nunberg will comply..."

Bob Mueller is "gearing up"

I wonder if President Trump was watching "The Story" at 7pm? If so, he heard Martha MacCallum ask Andrew Napolitano what these developments meant for the Mueller probe. The judge's answer: "It is not going to be over soon. Bob Mueller is not only NOT winding down, he's gearing up. And I think more indictments should be expected."

Trump is holding a joint presser on Tuesday

President Trump will hold a joint news conference with the Swedish prime minister at 3:30pm ET Tuesday...

Late night comics are laughing

Colbert to Nunberg on Monday's "Late Show:" "You know Mueller CAN arrest you, right?" This is "like saying EAT ME to Hannibal Lecter. Doesn't work out well."

Twenty-Five Million Years and Counting

Meet Peter, a giant anteater at the Santa Ana Zoo. Reaching up to 7 feet in length, these guys are the largest of the four anteater species. Without teeth, anteaters use their long tongues to catch and consume their prey. Sadly, overhunting and habitat loss have left the species vulnerable.

Inside Sweden’s Gigantic Solar Egg

Moving homes can be a tough adjustment, but moving an entire town? In Kiruna, Sweden, an entire community is being forced to move due to ground complications caused by a nearby ore mine. During this chaotic time, residents are being brought together by the Solar Egg, a cozy sauna created to serve as a think tank. 

At 74, She Is the Oldest Practitioner of an Indian Martial Art

At the age of 74, Meena Raghavan is the oldest known practitioner of Kalaripayattu, an ancient martial art from southern India. Since she was 7 years old, Raghavan has trained with the best of them. While most girls weren't allowed to practice past the age of 14, Raghavan continued on and has become an expert. 

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 ðŸ™Œ . 

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




The Problem is Not the Problem

"The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem,” so declared Captain Jack Sparrow. To Robert Schuller,...