Slot Machines for Sale - Texas Slots and Gaming Inc.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s when I was a young teen growing up in far North Austin, it was a popular custom for many boys in the neighborhood to assemble at the local Stop-N-Go after school on a regular basis for some Grand Champion level tournaments in Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat. The collective insistence of our mothers and fathers to get out of the house, get some exercise, and refrain from playing NES or Sega on the television only led us to seek out more video games at the convenience store down the road. Much allowance and lunch money was spent as well as hours that should have been devoted to homework among the 8 or 9 regular boys in attendance, often challenging each other to 'Best of 5' matches. I myself played Dhalsim and SubZero, and not very well, so I rarely ever made it to the 5th match. The store workers frequently kicked us out for the day only to have us return when they weren't working the counter anymore if not the next day.
There is something about that which has been lost in the present day. While people can today download the latest games on Steam or PSN or in the app store on your smartphone, you can't just find arcade games in stores and restaurants like you used to be able to. And so the fun of a spontaneous 8 or 10 person multiplayer video game tournament has been confined to places like bars, pool halls, Pinballz or Dave&Busters.
But in truth it was that ubiquity of arcade video games, how you could find them in any old 7-11 or Laundromat, which is what killed the original arcades of the early 1980s before the Great Crash of 1983 when home video game consoles started to catch up to what you saw in the arcade.
I was born in the mid 1970s so I missed out on Pong. I was kindergarten age when the Golden Age of Arcade Games took place in the early 1980s. There used to be a place called Skateworld on Anderson Mill Road that was primarily for roller skating but had a respectable arcade in its own right. It was there that I honed my skills on the original Tron, Pac Man, Galaga, Pole Position, Defender, and so many others. In the 1980s I remember visiting all the same mall arcades as others in my age group. There was Aladdin's Castle in Barton Creek Mall, The Gold Mine in Highland, and another Gold Mine in Northcross which was eventually renamed Tilt. Westgate Mall also had an arcade but being a north austin kid I never went there until later in the mid 1990s. There were also places like Malibu Grand Prix and Showbiz Pizza and Chuck-E-Cheeze, all of which had fairly large arcades for kids which were the secondary attraction.
If you're of a certain age you will remember Einsteins and LeFun on the Drag. They were there for a few decades going back way before the Slacker era. Lesser known is that the UT Student Union basement used to have an arcade that was comparable to either or both of those places. Back in the pre-9/11 days it was much easier to sneak in if you even vaguely looked like you could be a UT student.
But there was another place I was too young to have experienced called Smitty's up further north on 183 at Lake Creek in the early 1980s. I never got to go there but I always heard about it from older kids at the time. It was supposed to have been two stories of wall to wall games with a small snack bar. I guess at the time it served a mostly older teen crowd from Westwood High School and for that reason younger kids my age weren't having birthday parties there. It wasn't around very long, just a few years during the Golden Age of Arcades.
It is with almost-forgotten early arcades like that in mind that I wanted to share with y'all some examples of places from The Golden Age of the Video Arcade in Austin using some old Statesman articles I've found. Maybe someone of a certain age on here will remember them. I was curious what they were like, having missed out by being slightly too young to have experienced most of them first hand. I also wanted to see the original reaction to them in the press. I had a feeling there was some pushback from school/parent/civic groups on these facilities showing up in neighborhood strip malls or next to schools, and I was right to suspect. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First let's list off some places of interest. Be sure to speak up if you remember going to any of these, even if it was just for some other kid's birthday party. Unfortunately some of the only mentions about a place are reports of a crime being committed there, such as our first few examples.
Forgotten Arcade #1
Fun House/Play Time Arcade - 2820 Guadalupe
June 15, 1975

ARCADE ENTHUSIASM
A gang fight involving 20 30 people erupted early Saturday morning in front of an arcade on Guadalupe Street. The owner of the Fun House Arcade at 282J Guadalupe told police pool cues, lug wrenches, fists and a shotgun were displayed during the flurry. Police are unsure what started the fisticuffs, but one witness at the scene said it pitted Chicanos against Anglos. During the fight the owner of the arcade said a green car stopped at the side of the arcade and witnesses reported the barrel of a shotgun sticking out. The crowd wisely scattered and only a 23-year-old man was left lying on the ground. He told police he doesn't know what happened.

March 3, 1976

ARCADE ROBBED
A former employee of Play Time Arcade, 2820 Guadalupe, was charged Tuesday in connection with the Tuesday afternoon robbery of his former business. Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Ronnie Magee, 22, of 1009 Aggie Lane, Apt. 306. Arcade attendant Sam Garner said he had played pool with the suspect an hour before the robbery. He told police the man had been fired from the business two weeks earlier. Police said a man walked in the arcade about 2:45 p m. with a blue steel pistol and took $180. Magee is charged with first degree aggravated robbery. Bond was set on the charge at $15,000.

First it was called Fun House and then renamed Play Time a year later. I'm not sure what kind of arcade games beyond Pong and maybe Asteroids they could have had at this place. The peak of the Pinball craze was supposed to be around 1979, so they might have had a few pinball machines as well. A quick search of youtube will show you a few examples of 1976 video games like Death Race. The location is next to Ken's Donuts where PokeBowl is today where the old Baskin Robbins location was for many years.
Forgotten Arcade #2
Green Goth - 1121 Springdale Road
May 15, 1984

A 23-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to a January 1983 murder in East Austin and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Jim Crowell Jr. of Austin admitted shooting 17-year-old Anthony Rodriguez in the chest with a shotgun after the two argued outside the Green Goth, a games arcade at 1121 Springdale Road, on Jan. 23, 1983. Crowell had argued with Rodriguez and a friend of Rodriguez at the arcade, police said. Crowell then went to his house, got a shotgun and returned to the arcade, witnesses said. When the two friends left the arcade, Rodriguez was shot Several weeks ago Crowell had reached a plea bargain with prosecutors for an eight-year prison term, but District Judge Bob Perkins would not accept the sentence, saying it was shorter than sentences in similar cases. After further plea bargaining, Crowell accepted the 15-year prison sentence.

I can't find anything else on Green Goth except reports about this incident with a murder there. There is at least one other report from 1983 around the time of Crowell's arrest that also refer to it as an arcade but reports the manager said the argument started over a game of pool. It's possible this place might have been more known for pool.
Forgotten Arcades #3 & #4
Games, Etc. - 1302 S. First St
Muther's Arcade - 2532 Guadalupe St
August 23, 1983

Losing the magic touch - Video Arcades have trouble winning the money game
It was going to be so easy for Lawrence Villegas, a video game junkie who thought he could make a fast buck by opening up an arcade where kids could plunk down an endless supply of quarters to play Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Asteroids. Villegas got together with a few friends, purchased about 30 video games and opened Games, Etc. at 1302 S. First St in 1980. .,--.... For a while, things, went great Kids waited in line to spend their money to drive race cars, slay dragons and save the universe.
AT THE BEGINNING of 1982, however, the bottom fell out, and Villegas' revenues fell from $400 a week to $25. Today, Games, Etc. is vacant Villegas, 30, who is now working for his parents at Tony's Tortilla Factory, hasn't decided what he'll do with the building. "I was hooked on Asteroids, and I opened the business to get other people hooked, too," Villegas said. "But people started getting bored, and it wasn't worth keeping the place open. In the end, I sold some machines for so little it made me sick."
VILLEGAS ISNT the only video game operator to experience hard times, video game manufacturers and distributors 'It used to be fairly common to get $300 a week from a machine. Now we rarely get more than $100 .
Pac-Man's a lost cause. Six months ago, you could resell a Pac-Man machine for $1,600. Now, you're lucky to get $950 if you can find a buyer." Ronnie Roark says. In the past year, business has dropped 25 percent to 65 percent throughout the country, they say. Most predict business will get even worse before the market stabilizes. Video game manufacturers and operators say there are several reasons for the sharp and rapid decline: Many video games can now be played at home on television, so there's no reason to go to an arcade. The novelty of video games has worn off. It has been more than a decade since the first ones hit the market The decline can be traced directly to oversaturation or the market arcade owners say. The number of games in Austin has quadrupled since 1981, and it's not uncommon to see them in coin-operated laundries, convenience stores and restaurants.
WITH SO MANY games to choose from, local operators say, Austinites be came bored. Arcades still take in thousands of dollars each week, but managers and owners say most of the money is going to a select group of newer games, while dozens of others sit idle.
"After awhile, they all seem the same," said Dan Moyed, 22, as he relaxed at Muther's Arcade at 2532 Guadalupe St "You get to know what the game is going to do before it does. You can play without even thinking about it" Arcade owners say that that, in a nutshell, is why the market is stagnating.
IN THE PAST 18 months, Ronnie Roark, owner of the Back Room at 2015 E. Riverside Drive, said his video business has dropped 65 to 75 percent Roark, . who supplied about 160 video games to several Austin bars and arcades, said the instant success of the games is what led to their demise. "The technology is not keeping up with people's demand for change," said Roark, who bought his first video game in 1972. "The average game is popular for two or three months. We're sending back games that are less than five months old."
Roark said the market began dropping in March 1982 and has been declining steadily ever since. "The drop started before University of Texas students left for the summer in 1982," Roark said. "We expected a 25 percent drop in business, and we got that, and more. It's never really picked up since then. - "It used to be fairly common to get $300 a week from a machine. Now we rarely get more than $100. 1 was shocked when I looked over my books and saw how much things had dropped."
TO COMBAT THE slump, Roark said, he and some arcade owners last year cut the price of playing. Even that didn't help, he said. Old favorites, such as Pac-Man, which once took in hundreds of dollars each week, he said, now make less than $3 each. "Pac-Man's a lost cause," he said. "Six months ago, you could resell a Pac-Man machine for $1,600. Now, you're lucky to get $950 if you can find a buyer." Hardest hit by the slump are the owners of the machines, who pay $3,500 to $5,000 for new products and split the proceeds with the businesses that house them.
SALEM JOSEPH, owner of Austin Amusement and Vending Co., said his business is off 40 percent in the past year. Worse yet, some of his customers began returning their machines, and he's having a hard time putting them back in service. "Two years ago, a machine would generate enough money to pay for itself in six months,' said Joseph, who supplies about 250 games to arcades. "Now that same machine takes 18 months to pay for itself." As a result, Joseph said, he'll buy fewer than 15 new machines this year, down from the 30 to 50 he used to buy. And about 50 machines are sitting idle in his warehouse.
"I get calls every day from people who want to sell me their machines," Joseph said. "But I can't buy them. The manufacturers won't buy them from me." ARCADE OWNERS and game manufacturers hope the advent of laser disc video games will buoy the market Don Osborne, vice president of marketing for Atari, one of the largest manufacturers of video games, said he expects laser disc games to bring a 25 percent increase in revenues next year. The new games are programmed to give players choices that may affect the outcome of the game, Os borne said. "Like the record and movie industries, the video game industry is dependent on products that stimulate the imagination," Osborne said "One of the reasons we're in a valley is that we weren't coming up with those kinds of products."
THE FIRST of the laser dis games, Dragonslayer and Star Wan hit the market about two months ago. Noel Kerns, assistant manager of The Gold Mine Arcade in Northcross Mall, says the new games are responsible for a $l,000-a-week increase in revenues. Still, Kerns said, the Gold Mine' total sales are down 20 percent iron last summer. However, he remain optimistic about the future of the video game industry. "Where else can you come out of the rain and drive a Formula One race car or save the universe?" hi asked.
Others aren't so optimistic. Roark predicted the slump will force half of all operators out of business and will last two more years. "Right now, we've got a great sup ply and almost no demand," Roark said. "That's going to have to change before things get- significantly better."

Well there is a lot to take from that long article, among other things, that the author confused "Dragonslayer" with "Dragon's Lair". I lol'd.
Anyone who has been to Emo's East, formerly known as The Back Room, knows they have arcade games and pool, but it's mostly closed when there isn't a show. That shouldn't count as an arcade, even though the former owner Ronnie Roark was apparently one of the top suppliers of cabinet games to the area during the Golden Era. Any pool hall probably had a few arcade games at the time, too, but that's not the same as being an arcade.
We also learn from the same article of two forgotten arcades: Muthers at 2522 Guadalupe where today there is a Mediterranean food restaurant, and another called Games, Etc. at 1302 S.First that today is the site of an El Mercado restaurant. But the article is mostly about showing us how bad the effects were from the crash at the end of the Golden Era. It was very hard for the early arcades to survive with increasing competition from home game consoles and personal computers, and the proliferation of the games into stores and restaurants.
Forgotten Arcades #5 #6 & #7
Computer Madness - 2414 S. Lamar Blvd.
Electronic Encounters - 1701 W Ben White Blvd (Southwood Mall)
The Outer Limits Amusements Center - 1409 W. Oltorf
March 4, 1982

'Quartermania' stalks South Austin
School officials, parents worried about effects of video games
A fear Is haunting the video game business. "We call it 'quartermania.' That's fear of running out of quarters," said Steve Stackable, co-owner of Computer Madness, a video game and foosball arcade at 2414 S. Lamar Blvd. The "quartermania" fear extends to South Austin households and schools, as well. There it's a fear of students running out of lunch money and classes to play the games. Local school officials and Austin police are monitoring the craze. They're concerned that computer hotspots could become undesirable "hangouts" for students, or that truancy could increase because students (high-school age and younger) will skip school to defend their galaxies against The Tempest.
So far police fears have not been substantiated. Department spokesmen say that although more than half the burglaries in the city are committed by juveniles during the daytime, they know of no connection between the break-ins and kids trying to feed their video habit But school and parental worries about misspent time and money continue. The public outcry in September 1980 against proposals to put electronic game arcades near two South Austin schools helped persuade city officials to reject the applications. One proposed location was near Barton Hills Elementary School. The other was South Ridge Plaza at William Cannon Drive and South First Street across from Bedlchek Junior High School.
Bedichek principal B.G. Henry said he spoke against the arcade because "of the potential attraction it had for our kids. I personally feel kids are so drawn to these things, that It might encourage them to leave the school building and play hookey. Those things have so much compulsion, kids are drawn to them like a magnet Kids can get addicted to them and throw away money, maybe their lunch money. I'm not against the video games. They may be beneficial with eye-hand coordination or even with mathematics, but when you mix the video games during school hours and near school buildings, you might be asking for problems you don't need."
A contingent from nearby Pleasant Hill Elementary School joined Bedichek in the fight back in 1980, although principal Kay Beyer said she received her first formal call about the games last Week from a mother complaining that her child was spending lunch money on them. Beyer added that no truancy problems have been related to video game-playing at a nearby 7-11 store. Allen Poehl, amusement game coordinator for Austin's 7-11 stores, said company policy rules out any game-playing by school-age youth during school hours. Fulmore Junior High principal Bill Armentrout said he is working closely with operators of a nearby 7-1 1 store to make sure their policy is enforced.
The convenience store itself, and not necessarily the video games, is a drawing card for older students and drop-outs, Armentrout said. Porter Junior High principal Marjorie Ball said that while video games aren't a big cause of truancy, "the money (spent on the games) is a big factor." Ball said she has made arrangements with nearby businesses to call the school it students are playing the games during school hours. "My concern is that kids are basically unsupervised, especially at the 24-hour grocery stores. That's a late hour for kids to be out. I would like to see them (games) unplugged at 10 p.m.," adds Joslin Elementary principal Wayne Rider.
Several proprietors of video game hot-spots say they sympathize with the concerns of parents and school officials. No one under 18 is admitted without a parent to Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre at 4211 S. Lamar. That rule, says night manager David Dunagan, "keeps it from being a high school hangout. This is a family place." Jerry Zollar, owner of J.J. Subs in West Wood Shopping Center on Bee Cave Road, rewards the A's on the report cards of Eanes school district students with free video games. "It's kind of a community thing we do in a different way. I've heard from both teachers and parents . . . they thought this was a good idea," said Zollar.
Electronic Encounters in Southwood Mall last year was renovated into a brightly lit arcade. "We're trying to get away from the dark, barroom-type place. We want this to be a place for family entertainment We won't let kids stay here during school hours without a written note from their parents, and we're pretty strict about that," said manager Kelly Roberts. Joyce Houston, who manages The Outer Limits amusements center at 1409 W. Oltorf St. along with her husband, said, "I wouldn't let my children go into some of the arcades I've visited. I'm a concerned parent, too. We wanted a place where the whole family could come and enjoy themselves."

Well you can see which way the tone of all these articles is going. There were some crimes committed at some arcades but all of them tended to have a negative reputation for various reasons. Parents and teachers were very skeptical of the arcades being in the neighborhoods to the point of petitioning the City Government to restrict them. Three arcades are mentioned besides Chuck-E-Cheese. Electronic Encounters in Southwood Mall, The Outer Limits amusements center at 1409 W. Oltorf, and Computer Madness, a "video game and foosball arcade" at 2414 S. Lamar Blvd.
Forgotten Arcade #8
Smitty's Galaxy of Games - Lake Creek Parkway
February 25, 1982

Arcades fighting negative image
Video games have swept across America, and Williamson and Travis counties have not been immune. In a two-part series, Neighbor examines the effects the coin-operated machines have had on suburban and small-town life.
Cities have outlawed them, religious leaders have denounced them and distraught mothers have lost countless children to their voracious appetites. And still they march on, stronger and more numerous than before. A new disease? Maybe. A wave of invading aliens from outer space? On occasion. A new type of addiction? Certainly. The culprit? Video games. Although the electronic game explosion has been mushrooming throughout the nation's urban areas for the past few years, its rippling effects have just recently been felt in the suburban fringes of North Austin and Williamson County.
In the past year, at least seven arcades armed with dozens of neon quarter-snatchers have sprung up to lure teens with thundering noises and thousands of flashing seek-and-destroy commands. Critics say arcades are dens of iniquity where children fall prey to the evils of gambling. But arcade owners say something entirely different. "Everybody fights them (arcades), they think they are a haven for drug addicts. It's just not true," said Larry Grant of Austin, who opened Eagle's Nest Fun and Games on North Austin Avenue in Georgetown last September. "These kids are great" Grant said the gameroom "gives teenagers a place to come. Some only play the games and some only talk.
In Georgetown, if you're from the high school, this is it." He said he's had very few disturbances, and asks "undesirables" to leave. "We've had a couple of rowdies. That's why I don't have any pool tables they tend to attract that type of crowd," Grant said.
Providing a place for teens to congregate was also the reason behind Ron and Carol Smith's decision to open Smitty's Galaxy of Games on Lake Creek Parkway at the entrance to Anderson Mill. "We have three teenage sons, and as soon as the oldest could drive, it became immediately apparent that there was no place to go around here," said Ron, an IBM employee who lives in Spicewood at Balcones. "This prompted us to want to open something." The business, which opened in August, has been a huge success with both parents and youngsters. "Hundreds of parents have come to check out our establishment before allowing their children to come, and what they see is a clean, safe environment managed by adults and parents," Ron said. "We've developed an outstanding rapport with the community." Video arcades "have a reputation that we have to fight," said Carol.
Kathy McCoy of Georgetown, who last October opened Krazy Korner on Willis Street in Leander, agrees. "We've got a real good group of kids," she said. "There's no violence, no nothing. Parents can always find their kids at Krazy Korner."
While all the arcade owners contacted reported that business is healthy, if not necessarily lucrative, it's not as easy for video entrepreneurs to turn a profit as one might imagine. A sizeable investment is required. Ron Smith paid between $2,800 and $5,000 for each of the 30 electronic diversions at his gameroom.
Grant said his average video game grosses about $50 a week, and his "absolute worst" game, Armor Attack, only $20 a week. The top machines (Defender and Pac-Man) can suck in an easy $125 a week. That's a lot of quarters, 500 to be exact but the Eagle's Nest and Krazy Korner pass half of them on to Neelley Vending Company of Austin which rents them their machines. "At 25 cents a shot, it takes an awful lot of people to pay the bills," said Tom Hatfield, district manager for Neelley.
He added that an owner's personality and the arcade's location can make or break the venture. The game parlor must be run "by an understanding person, someone with patience," Hatfield said. "They cannot be too demanding on the kids, yet they can't let them run all over them." And they must be located in a spot "with lots of foot traffic," such as a shopping center or near a good restaurant, he said. "And being close to a school really helps." "Video games are going to be here permanently, but we're going to see some operations not going because of the competition," which includes machines in virtually every convenience store and supermarket, Hatfield said.

This article talks about three arcades. One in Georgetown called Eagles Nest, another in Leander called Krazy Korner, and a third called Smitty's Galaxy of Games on Lake Creek Parkway "on the fringes of North Austin". This is the one I remember the older kids talking about when I was a little kid. There was once a movie theater across the street from the Westwood High School football stadium and behind that was Smitty's. Today I think the building was bulldozed long ago and the space is part of the expanded onramp to 183 today. Eventually another unrelated arcade was built next to the theater that became Alamo Lakeline. It was another site of some unrecorded epic Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat tournaments in the 90s.
But the article written before the end of the Golden Era tell us much about the pushback I was talking about earlier. Early arcades were seen as "dirty" places in some circles, and the owners of the arcades in Williamson County had to stress how "clean" their establishments were. This other article from a couple of weeks later tells of how area school officials weren't worried about video games and tells us more arcades in Round Rock and Cedar Park. Apparently the end of the golden age lasted a bit longer than usual in this area.
At some point in the next few years the bubble burst, and places like Smitty's were gone by the late 80s. But the distributors quoted earlier were right that arcade games weren't going completely away. In the mid 1980s LeFun opened up next in the Scientology building at 2200 Guadalupe on the drag. Down a few doors past what used be a coffee shop and a CVS was Einsteins Arcade. Both of those survived into the 21st century. I remember the last time I was at Einsteins I got my ass beat in Tekken by a kid half my age. heheh
That's all for today. There were no Bonus Pics in the UT archive of arcades (other than the classical architectural definition). I wanted to pass on some Bonus newspaper articles (remember to click and zoom in with the buttons on the right to read) about Austin arcades anyway but first a small story.
I mentioned earlier the secret of the UT Student Union. I have no idea what it looks like now but in the 90s there was a sizable arcade in with the bowling alley in the basement. Back in 1994 when I used to sneak in, they featured this bizarre early attempt at virtual reality games. I found an old Michael Barnes Statesman article about it dated February 11, 1994. Some highlights:

Hundreds of students and curiosity-seekers lined up at the University of Texas Union to play three to five minutes of Dactyl Nightmare, Flying Aces or V-Tol, three-dimensional games from Kramer Entertainment. Nasty weather delayed the unloading of four huge trunks containing the machines, which resemble low pulpits. Still, players waited intently for a chance to shoot down a fighter jet, operate a tilt-wing Harrier or tangle with a pterodactyl. Today, tickets will go on sale in the Texas Union lobby at 11:30 a.m. for playing slots between noon and 6 p.m.
Players, fitted with full helmets, throttles and power packs, stood on shiny gray and yellow platforms surrounded by a circular guard rail. Seen behind the helmet's goggles were computer simulated landscapes, not unlike the most sophisticated video games, with controls and enemies viewed in deep space. "You're on a platform waiting to fight a human figure," said Jeff Vaughn, 19, of Dactyl Nightmare. "A pterodactyl swoops down and tries to pick you up. You have to fight it off. You are in the space and can see your own body and all around you. But if you try to walk, you have to use that joy stick to get around."
"I let the pterodactyl carry me away so I could look down and scan the board," said Tom Bowen of the same game. "That was the way I found out where the other player was." "Yeah, it's cool just to stand there and not do anything," Vaughn said. The mostly young, mostly male crowd included the usual gaming fanatics, looking haggard and tense behind glasses and beards. A smattering of women and children also pressed forward in a line that snaked past the lobby and into the Union's retail shops.
"I don't know why more women don't play. Maybe because the games are so violent," said Jennifer Webb, 24, a psychology major whose poor eyesight kept her from becoming a fighter pilot in real life. "If the Air Force won't take me, virtual reality will." "They use stereo optics moving at something like 60 frames a second," said computer science major Alex Aquila, 19. "The images are still pretty blocky. But once you play it, you'll want to play it again and again." With such demand for virtual reality, some gamesters wondered why an Austin video arcade has not invested in at least one machine.

The gameplay looked like this.
Bonus Article #1 - "Video fans play for own reasons" (Malibu Grand Prix) - March 11, 1982
Bonus Article #2 - "Pac-Man Cartridge Piques Interest" - April 13, 1982
Bonus Article #3 - "Video Games Fail Consumer" - January 29, 1984
Bonus Article #4 - "Nintendoholics/Modems Unite" - January 25, 1989
Bonus Article #5 and pt 2 "Two girls missing for a night found at arcade" (truly dedicated young gamers) - August 7, 2003

Wrestling Observer Rewind ★ Nov. 27, 2000

Going through old issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and posting highlights in my own words. For anyone interested, I highly recommend signing up for the actual site at f4wonline and checking out the full archives.
PREVIOUS YEARS ARCHIVE:
1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999


1-3-2000	1-10-2000	1-17-2000	1-24-2000
1-31-2000	2-7-2000	2-14-2000	2-21-2000
2-28-2000	3-6-2000	3-13-2000	3-20-2000
3-27-2000	4-3-2000	4-10-2000	4-17-2000
4-24-2000	5-1-2000	5-8-2000	5-15-2000
5-22-2000	5-29-2000	6-5-2000	6-12-2000
6-19-2000	6-26-2000	7-3-2000	7-10-2000
7-17-2000	7-24-2000	7-31-2000	8-7-2000
8-14-2000	8-21-2000	8-28-2000	9-4-2000
9-11-2000	9-18-2000	9-25-2000	10-01-2000
10-09-2000	10-15-2000	10-23-2000	10-30-2000
11-6-2000	11-13-2000	11-20-2000

Survivor Series is in the books and ended with a Wile E. Coyote finish of Austin dropping a car with Triple H in it from a forklift, in a spot that basically looked like Austin murdered him. The angle was done to give Triple H time off to rest his back and hip injuries. The Angle/Undertaker WWF title match also had a wacky finish, with Angle's brother Eric getting involved and doing the whole Twin Magic Bella twins gimmick. Dave is pretty "ehhh..." about screwjob finishes in main event matches on a PPV and he heard a lot of complaints from fans live who paid a lot of money for tickets and were upset that half of Triple H/Austin happened backstage and they had to watch it on the video screens.

WATCH: Steve Austin murders Triple H

Other notes from the show: Molly Holly made her PPV debut, pinning Trish Stratus in their match. K-Kwik (Ron Killings, aka R-Truth) also made his PPV debut but didn't look very good and didn't get much time. He looked green and blew a spot before getting pinned by Benoit. Lita got legit busted open over her left eye in her match with Ivory and required stitches after and had half a crimson mask for most of the match. Dave mocks Undertaker's unbelievably bad new ring gear, especially the pants (I think it came out later that Undertaker's luggage got lost or something and he was wearing Godfather's pants). And that's about it. Nothing much notable from the show.

PHOTO: Undertaker's pants

At the first night of the latest AJPW tour, Motoko Baba announced that Stan Hansen, the most popular foreign wrestler in the history of Japanese wrestling, will be retiring. Hansen is expected to wrestle one final match, at AJPW's Jan. 28th Tokyo Dome show (didn't happen. Unbeknownst to everyone, Hansen has already wrestled his final match by this point). At 51 years old, Hansen is banged up after years of crippling injuries and it's been obvious for awhile that it's time. Dave recaps Hansen's career as a top star in Japan, starting in the late 70s as Inoki's biggest rival before making the surprise jump to AJPW in one of the most famous angles in company history. Hansen is also famous for being the guy who broke Bruno Sammartino's neck when Bruno landed wrong on a Hansen bodyslam. He's also the only foreign wrestler to ever beat Andre The Giant in Japan. Legendary feuds and matches with Baba, Kawada, Misawa, Kobashi, and a famous match with Vader that nearly cost Vader his eye. During the 80s, he was part of one of the greatest tag teams of all time with Bruiser Brody. He's a 4-time Triple Crown champion and also held the AWA title before famously refusing to lose it to Nick Bockwinkel in a story that was huge at the time (Dave doesn't mention that Hansen literally ran over the belt with his truck before sending it back to Verne Gagne, half mangled and destroyed).
Observer Awards season is coming up and it's been a unique year. WWF has dominated the industry. WCW and ECW are in disarray, AJPW is clinging to survival after the NOAH split, and while still the clear #2 promotion in the world, NJPW still had a pretty bad year. Anyway, Dave breaks down all the categories, what they mean, how to vote, who's eligible, etc.
WWF released its quarterly financial report and yada yada numbers revenues, something something operating income, rights fees, blah blah licensing projections, so on and so forth. There actually is some interesting stuff here. Profits were down from this same quarter last year. The big reasons were due to the $7 million that WWF had to pay as their share of the Owen Hart settlement (insurance paid the other $11 million), another $6.5 million in costs associated with XFL startup expenses, and finally, they lost a bunch of money on expenses related to the WWF New York restaurant in Times Square. House show revenue increased, not because they sold more tickets, but because they increased ticket prices. PPV revenue was up 35% due to Steve Austin's return doing big numbers on the Sept. and Oct. PPVs. Hell, everything is up. TV rights fees are up 165% due to the switch over to Viacom and that number will be substantially higher next quarter. Merch revenue is up 10%. Publishing up 17% due to increasing WWF Magazine prices. Home videos up 12%. Internet revenue up 56%. But the Owen Hart lawsuit and XFL costs are huge hits and because of that, WWF is expected to fall short of their year-end projections.
WCW ran a PPV in Germany called Millennium Final. Dave didn't see it, but has a report from someone he knows in Germany who did. A lot of people missed the first hour of the show due to PPV technical problems. It was interesting because they also were broadcasting 2 separate feeds, one showing the main show and another feed showing the backstage area and featuring a lot of interviews. Konnan and Rey Mysterio both cut promos saying a lot of negative things about WCW and Konnan even hinted at wanting to go to WWF. This isn't new, everyone in WCW hates it and wants out, but it was strange to hear someone say it on an official WCW broadcast. Kronik beat Kidman and Mysterio and they were basically treated like jobbers. Dave says call him crazy, but he's starting to think that just maybe the Hogan feud didn't do Kidman any favors after all. They did a Royal Rumble-style battle royal with a new guy entering every 45 seconds, which was won by Mike Awesome. Alex Wright and General Rection won the tag team titles. It was supposed to be Disco Inferno instead, but he got injured and Rection took his spot. The win was mostly just to pop the German crowd since Alex Wright (German) was so hugely over during the show. They immediately lost the titles on Nitro as soon as they got back to the U.S. which pissed off a lot of German fans who saw it for the meaningless cheap pop it was. Dave thinks that'll probably hurt business whenever they return to Germany next time (spoiler: there's no next time). German boxer Axel Schulz refereed the Sting/Kevin Nash main event and at one point when Nash was in the scorpion deathlock, he tried to make a 3 count before realizing that this was a submission hold and that Nash was face down on the mat (this is one of the few WCW PPVs that isn't available on the WWE Network for whatever reason. You can find bits and pieces of it online. Here's the main event).

WATCH: Sting vs. Kevin Nash - WCW Millennium Final

Nitro this week did a 2.27 rating which is the lowest rating in the history of the show in its regular time slot. Thunder did a 2.32 which is higher than normal but the rating plummeted throughout the show so the extra viewers clearly didn't care much for what they saw.
At the latest NOAH show in Japan, Kenta Kobashi teamed up with rookie wrestler Kenta Kobayashi. Dave still thinks the new kid desperately needs a new ring name to avoid the obvious confusion (he eventually shortens it to just KENTA before changing it again to Hideo Itami).
Tatsumi Fujinami has decided not to step down as NJPW president, which he was considering when he was outvoted on firing Shinya Hashimoto. Instead, Fujinami met with Antonio Inoki, who talked him into staying. Dave also mentions that Inoki is trying to get more NJPW guys to work PRIDE shows.
The NJPW/AJPW relationship is still shaky. It was announced that a show next month will have NJPW's G1 tag team tournament winners facing an AJPW team. In the meantime, Fujinami is still saying that he wants someone from NOAH to wrestle in the Jan. 4th Tokyo Dome tournament for the IWGP title, which Motoko Baba is not happy about. She has threatened to pull out of the partnership if NOAH is involved, but to be honest, AJPW needs this relationship a lot more than NJPW does so it's kind of an empty threat.
Japanese women's wrestler Yumi Fukawa has been forced to retire at age 24 due to brain injuries. She suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was told one more bad shot to the head could be fatal, similar to the injury that killed Masakazu Fukuda earlier this year.
Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, will be attending an LLPW women's wrestling show with the idea she may face Shinobu Kandori in a boxer vs. wrestler match in the future (I think she does attend the show but the match never happens).
That show from Australia several months ago that featured Dennis Rodman vs. Curt Hennig will be airing as a PPV next month under the name iGeneration Wrestling, and they plan to run several more events in the future. On one hand, this pretty much sounds like it's gonna be a bust. But on the other hand, with WCW and ECW in worse shape than ever, this might not be the worst time to start a new promotion. WCW is cutting people left and right and ECW is behind on paying everybody, so there's a lot of free agents on the market right now, and there may be more soon if things keep getting worse. So hey, who knows? But this PPV is going to live or die on the drawing power of Dennis Rodman, and he's nowhere near the media superstar he was 2 years ago. His last appearance in WCW did fuck all for them so Dave doesn't have high hopes for this.
Bret Hart was scheduled to appear on Good Morning America last week, but due to "all the hoopla" surrounding the finish of the Presidential election, he was bumped from the show. An in related news, Bret's column in this week's Calgary Sun was also pulled, due to apparently being too controversial. Probably something to do with the Owen Hart lawsuit settlement/Hart family drama. Speeeeeeeaking of...
Martha Hart did a lengthy interview on the Vicki Gabereau Show in Canada. Martha didn't have much nice to say about the rest of the family, but said that Bret Hart is one of her best friends and that during the entire lawsuit, he supported her and all the decisions she made. She said Owen would have been proud of how Bret handled it. When asked about the rest of the family, she said there would never be any repairing the relationship. She specifically blamed Diana Hart Smith and Ellie Neidhart for looking out for their own self-interests and for trying to sabotage her case against the WWF. She said she's still on good terms with several other members of the family, but they also have contact with Diana and Ellie and it's just an awkward situation so she tries to avoid it. She also said Stu and Helen have always been good to her. She said she didn't want to sling any mud, but there's plenty of it to sling if she wanted to. She thanked wrestling fans who had already raised more than $100,000 for a Calgary children's hospital in Owen's name. She said that every morning when she wakes up with Owen not there, she feels like she's living a nightmare, but she's trying to move on with her life. She said she'd never want her children to get into wrestling and says Owen would have never wanted them to.
There's a lot of questions over the future of Rob Van Dam in ECW. It was initially reported (by the Observer itself, on their website) that RVD had quit. Turns out that wasn't true and Dave made sure it was corrected immediately and apologizes for the mistake. But even though RVD hasn't officially quit, there are big-time money issues between the two sides which is why RVD hasn't been working shows lately. Every wrestler in the company is owed money, at the very least one month's pay, and some are owed a lot more. Plus no one has received any PPV bonuses in ages. Fortunately for ECW right now, they're in a position where WWF isn't hiring anyone new and WCW can't afford to hire anyone due to cost cutting, so most of the ECW roster isn't leaving because they have nowhere else to go. But RVD's situation was serious enough that they didn't mention his name at all during the PPV and they're not planning any storylines for him right now, so they seem to be under the impression that he's at least not going to be around for a little while. Neither RVD or ECW would go on the record with Dave to discuss the issues, other than to say as of this week, RVD isn't booked for any upcoming ECW shows and they're still negotiating (he ends up making one final appearance at ECW's very last PPV in January, but otherwise, that's it for RVD and ECW).
ECW only has 2 shows left on the schedule for the rest of the year. The PPV on Dec. 3rd and an ECW Arena show on Dec. 23rd. There are 2 TV tapings scheduled for Texas next month but as of press time, they are almost certain to be cancelled. If so, they'll have to tape extra matches at the PPV in order to fill TV time for the rest of the year.
On ECW TV this week, they pretty much dropped the angle of the FBI cutting off Jim Mitchell's fingers after the almost universally negative response they got last week for showing the footage of Mitchell being legit treated for the injury.
Vampiro did an interview on Insane Clown Posse's website claiming that he is leaving WCW, due in part to concussions he suffered at Halloween Havoc and Nitro the next night. There's skepticism within WCW over the legitimacy of his injuries. Vampiro just had a new baby and a lot of people believe he's faking the concussion symptoms so he can stay home with his child, despite the fact that the WCW doctors did diagnose his concussions as legit. It's not just Vampiro though, there's people in WCW who are doubtful of Bret Hart's concussions as well. On the ICP Hotline (yes they have a hotline), Vampiro talked about having permanent speech impairment, a possible broken neck, and brain damage. He was adamant about never going back to WCW and ripped on the company as well as Terry Taylor and Vince Russo. He said the only wrestling he's going to be doing from now on is for ICP's JCW promotion and that he also plans to go on tour with ICP to play bass (indeed, he never stepped foot in WCW again).
Sting is dealing with an elbow injury and will miss all of December. If he ends up needing surgery, he may be out 3-6 months (Sting doesn't wrestle again until the final Nitro).
Notes from Nitro: Dave says the show has gotten better in the last few weeks that Russo hasn't been around because a lot of the illogical wacky shit is gone. But they're drastically overexposing the younger stars, especially Mike Sanders. Pushing new stars is great, but taking totally green Power Plant guys and making them the focus of the show is over-correcting. They brought out Alex Wright and Disco Inferno as the new tag team champions, saying they won them in Germany. They showed footage of Wright getting the win and edited it so that you didn't see that Disco wasn't in the match and that actually General Rection was the partner. Then they were booked to defend the titles, but Disco got taken out of the match (still injured) and replaced by Elix Skipper and they lost the tag titles. Dave mentions that Disco Inferno is the first wrestler "since the immortal Judy Bagwell" to hold the tag team titles while not being involved in the match to win it or lose it. Kevin Nash cut a promo saying he has 13 months and 10 days left on his contract and that he wants to have fun. Dave admits that this is actually kinda brilliant because Nash has set himself up an angle where he can possibly jump to WWF while hyping it up in WCW, or at the very least, pressure WCW into spending big money to re-sign him. Dave says you can't fault a guy for playing the game smart, but it sucks that WCW is the kind of place where a guy can go on TV and say whatever he wants with no consequence, even to the detriment of the team he's supposed to be playing for. Mike Sanders cut a promo on Nash, joking about Nash not getting first class flights and breach of contract. Apparently on the trip to Europe recently, Nash was complaining loudly about not having first class seats on the flight to Europe because that's apparently part of his contract, and was claiming it was a breach, so Sanders was busting his balls over that. DDP already feels like just another guy after returning to a huge pop just last week. Dave says that's because WCW did nothing to make it feel special. The single best thing the company (well, Nash) has promoted in the last six months is the return of Scott Hall and that's not actually happening. The crowd still chants for Hall every week, while guys like DDP get no build up at all and the crowd doesn't care that he's back.
All the stuff with the Battledome guys was put together by Eric Bischoff and basically none of the other writers or bookers are allowed to change any of it, only him. Dave mentions that Ed Ferrara is basically the head writer at the moment, although everyone is still under the impression that Russo will be back soon. Russo is still at home, saying he hasn't recovered from the concussions he suffered, and just like Hart and Vampiro, a lot of people backstage doubt how legit this is, especially since he's not a wrestler so it's not like they're asking him to come back and take bumps. Plus the timing made people suspicious, since it was when the WWF sale rumors were happening and Russo decided to take time off right around the time that allowed him to skip both the Australia and Europe tours. But Dave says, to be fair, Russo really did take several hard shots to the head during the couple of matches he did, so who knows.
Speaking of the European tour, Midajah was upset about having to go. Her father-in-law is very ill and she wanted to stay home to be near her family for that, but WCW wouldn't let her skip the tour so she had to go or lose her job.
Hey, we're back to ICP's website again. According to a story posted on ICP's site, several of the Nitro Girls approached ICP about forming a Spice Girls-like musical group for their Psychopathic Records label. I feel like these ladies might not quite be familiar with ICP's audience...
The episode of the sitcom "Nikki" which features Kevin Nash in a guest starring role will be going head-to-head with WCW's Mayhem PPV. Whoops.
Tickets for Starrcade went on sale last week and the first-day sales were disastrous. They only sold 926 tickets, for a building that holds around 20,000 for basketball. Dave says that's worse than scary for a building that large.
Dave gives notes from the latest NWA Wildside indie show in Georgia and the only thing of note is they have a rookie there who's a former NFL player named Bob Sapp. Word is he has a monster look and can move quickly and has potential (he'll be IWGP heavyweight champion in less than 4 years).
Only thing really notable from Raw was the main event of Austin vs. Benoit. It was by far the best match that Austin has had since returning and he looked to be completely back to his old self. He was wrestling pretty fearlessly, taking german suplexes and back suplexes and everything in between in a pretty great match. Speaking of, Benoit and Rock had a great match on Smackdown the next night. I think this Benoit kid might be a pretty decent 'rassler.
WWF signed a new deal to have Smackdown and the XFL broadcast on The Score network in Canada. Smackdown didn't previously air in Canada until now. Score is in a similar situation as UPN was when they first got Smackdown. It's a struggling network that is hoping WWF will give it a much-needed boost.
Speaking of the XFL, they made huge news this week by announcing Governor Jesse Ventura has been hired as an an announcer for the Saturday night NBC games. Once again, it's led to controversy over whether a sitting governor should be getting paid all this money to do these outside gigs and whether he's using the power and celebrity of his office for private gain. For what it's worth, Ventura does have experience broadcasting football games, as he has done radio announcing for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.
Vince McMahon himself also made waves with an interview in ESPN Magazine where he spoke about some of his XFL plans. McMahon said the cheerleaders may have some announcing duties and that they would be encouraged to date the players. "When the quarterback fumbles or the wide out drops a pass, and we know who he's dating, I want our reporters right back in her face on the sidelines demanding to know what they were doing the previous night." The quote led to a ton of criticism, forcing McMahon to actually walk it back and say he was just joking. But c'mon, we all know Vince McMahon...
Christopher Daniels has had talks with WWF about a developmental deal but nothing signed yet. In the meantime, he's planning to return back to Michinoku Pro and bring back his goofy Curry Man gimmick which made him a cult favorite in Japan.
Triple H did an interview with the Observer website and talked about a lot of things. In regards to his injuries, he said a powerslam fucked up his spine and coccyx bone and screwed up a bunch of hip ligaments and back discs and whatnot, leading to spasms. In regards to being heel or face, he said he loves being a heel more than anything else and added, "The hardest thing in this business is to stay one way or the other. If you're a babyface, if you're not creative enough, people start to dislike you." When asked about rarely doing clean jobs, he argued that none of the top guys do (Dave disputes that with plenty of examples). He said the famous Kliq curtain call back in 1996 was approved by Vince and if he knew he was going to get in trouble, he wouldn't have done it and blamed the backlash on old agents backstage who found it disrespectful but that Vince didn't have a problem with it until those people got into his ear. When asked about Scott Hall potentially coming to WWF, he said it basically depends on Hall proving that he's staying on the right path with his personal problems.
Kid Rock's sidekick Joe C passed away in his sleep at age 26. Joe C had celiac disease and lived a very difficult life, taking 60 pills a day and being monitored by machines when he slept at night. He had made several WWF appearances over the years and had hoped to do more with wrestling. He really wanted to work with ECW and was friends with RVD and Sabu. He was also an avid wrestling tape collector. Dave reveals he was also a long-time subscriber to the Observer until his death and offers his condolences.
Now that WWF's move to Viacom has passed the 8 week mark, Dave decides to compare ratings from before and after the move. Raw on USA was averaging a 5.94 and is averaging a 5.21 now, which is a pretty significant 12.3% drop, although some of that can be attributed to Monday Night Football starting back at around the same time that they switched to TNN so that was kind of a double-whammy. Smackdown ratings are up and PPV buyrates are also up, so it's not like interest in WWF has declined recently, so the blame is pretty obviously due to the TNN move and the NFL starting back. Livewire and Superstars (which also moved to TNN) suffered similar ratings drops, while Sunday Night Heat, which moved to MTV, suffered a 17% drop.
Kurt Angle's brother Eric Angle has appeared on PPV and Smackdown in the last week but isn't signed. But there's said to be interest in maybe giving him a developmental deal.
Ticket sales for Wrestlemania 17 are now at more than 52,000 sold and still climbing. The first day sales (where they moved almost 49,000) shattered virtually every company ticket sales record there is. (Has there ever been a more appropriate side-by-side example of how far ahead WWF was at the end? WCW's biggest PPV of the year sold 926 tickets on the first day while WWF's biggest PPV of the year sold 49,000 on the first day).
The promo posters for the Royal Rumble say "30 men....1 will become champion" which would seem to indicate that the WWF title will be vacated at some point before then. But Dave says that the marketing side of the company usually doesn't consult with the creative side and often they just come up with phrases and taglines like that which don't have anything to do with what's going to happen. Plus, the way plans change and the way everything is booked on the fly these days, this could mean nothing (yeah, this meant nothing).
Letters section: someone writes in about the story of Chris Candido collapsing backstage at an indie show a couple weeks ago and says it's true, Candido had a seizure and was taken away in an ambulance. Tammy Sytch was with him and the letter writer asks how many more near-tragedies is it going to take for these 2 to address their obvious drug problems?

MONDAY: ECW in complete turmoil, RVD files breach of contract, Scott Hall arrested, WCW Mayhem PPV fallout, and more...

Final Mock Draft w/ first round explanations

Final Mock Draft 2018 First Round

Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold QB USC The Browns have chosen not to take potential franchise quarterbacks in the last two drafts in Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson. They make sure not to make that same mistake this year by choosing their quarterback of the future in Sam Darnold. His ability to carve the middle of the field with anticipation and touch combined with his off-schedule playmaking ability will translate in the Browns offense. Dynamic players in the middle of the field like Jarvis Landry and David Njoku will fit perfectly with Darnold’s skillset.
New York Giants: Josh Rosen QB UCLA Despite rumors swirling around Saquon Barkley and Bradley Chubb, the Giants take Eli Manning’s successor in Josh Rosen. Described as the most polished passer to come into the league since Andrew Luck, Rosen can make every throw on the field. His accuracy and mechanics will unlock the Giants’ pass catchers (Odell Beckham Jr., Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard). There are concerns with his lack of mobility and durability, so the Giants will have to further improve their offensive line in order to protect their quarterback.
New York Jets: Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma Baker Mayfield is not viewed in the same prototypical mold as Darnold and Rosen because he is short and played in a scheme that made it easy to post gaudy numbers. That being said, he has a live arm and is able to keep plays alive in the pocket. His skeptics don’t believe he can carry a team, but the Jets are building a strong defense that can help him win games.
Cleveland Browns: Bradley Chubb EDGE North Carolina St. The Cleveland Browns pass on Saquon Barkley a second time, this time to take another valuable position that their analytics might point to instead of a running back. Bradley Chubb would form one of the best defensive end duos in the NFL with last year’s number one overall pick Myles Garrett. Chubb has prototypical size, sound technique, and a high motor. The Browns can take pride in having blue chip players at the two most important positions as a result of this draft.
Denver Broncos: Saquon Barkley RB Penn St. While John Elway has stated that this pick is for sale, in this scenario they stay at 5 and take the best playmaker in the draft. Saquon Barkley has a combination of size and athleticism that is extremely rare. He is a versatile player that can run routes out of the backfield and split wide. If the Broncos can continue to build their offensive line, Barkley can put them back into Super Bowl contention.
Indianapolis Colts: Quenton Nelson GUARD Notre Dame After trading back three spots, the Colts are still able to take a blue-chip prospect in a position of need. Quenton Nelson is a nasty, mauling guard that can blow open holes in the run game and keep Andrew Luck upright. He can slot in at left guard, while incumbent Jack Mewhort can shift outside to right tackle to improve two spots on the offensive line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama Minkah Fitzpatrick personifies Nick Saban’s attitude in the defensive backfield with elite technique and athleticism. He can easily play every position on the back end, and in this scenario plays one of the safety spots in Tampa Bay’s base defense and can play nickel in their sub packages. Fitzpatrick (along with offseason addition Jason Pierre-Paul) will change the defensive culture and improve the players around him.
Chicago Bears: Harold Landry EDGE Boston College While this may seem like a reach to some, Harold Landry is a natural stand-up pass rusher in a three-man front. His bend and burst coming off the edge can pair with Leonard Floyd to give the franchise quarterbacks of the NFC North fits for the next decade. This pick matches need, scheme fit, and positional value in the top ten for a rising Chicago Bears team.
San Francisco 49ers: Roquon Smith LB Georgia Few players had an end of the season as impressive as Georgia’s Roquon Smith. His sideline-to-sideline range and pursuit would fit in any teams front seven, and the 49ers get to add him to theirs. After adding defensive linemen in the first round three years in a row, San Francisco’s front can free up Smith to make plays all over the field. If Reuben Foster can solve his disciplinary issues, they can form a linebacker duo reminiscent of Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman.
Oakland Raiders: Connor Williams TACKLE Texas With Jon Gruden’s first pick during this tenure in Oakland, he goes offense to take the best tackle in the draft. After playing injured and not looking his best during the 2017 season, Derek Carr needs to be protected. Connor William’s athleticism will allow him to transition to the right side of the line. In a few years, when Donald Penn retires, Williams can move back to his natural position protecting Carr’s blindside.
Miami Dolphins: Tremaine Edmunds LB Virginia Tech After letting go of a good portion of their talent this offseason, the Dolphins could go in a few directions with this pick. Although some may prefer a quarterback to signal the end of the Ryan Tannehill era in Miami, they choose to build around their franchise quarterback. Tremaine Edmunds has elite size and athleticism for an off-ball linebacker and is still very young at 19 years old. He could pair with Kiko Alonso to wreak havoc in the middle of this defense.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen QB Wyoming The Bills will continue their pursuit of a franchise quarterback by trying to trade up further in the draft. In this mock there are no trades, but Buffalo lucks into one of the top four quarterbacks falling to 12. Josh Allen is tall and has rare arm strength that can allow him to succeed in the tough Winters of Buffalo. However, he is very inaccurate and does not read blitzes well; he will need to refine these areas before he sees the field.
Washington Redskins: Vita Vea NT Washington Vita Vea is a monster of a man at 6’4 and 347 pounds, but he moves like a much smaller player. He has rare agility and burst for a man his size that can translate into pass rushing skills at the next level. Even if Vea’s disruption against the pass doesn’t develop, he will command double teams to free up Jonathan Allen and the rest of Washington’s front seven to stop the run.
Green Bay Packers: Denzel Ward CB Ohio St. The best cover corner in the draft, Ward slips because the teams early in the draft chose to draft for need rather than take the best player available. Despite concerns about his height, Denzel Ward can play press man coverage to try to take away a team’s best receiver. As the Packers continue to push for another Rodgers’ led Super Bowl run, they need to improve the back end of their defense. Ward can team up with Kevin King to create a lockdown cornerback duo to stop the passing attacks of the NFC North.
Arizona Cardinals: Derwin James S Florida St. A top 10 player in many scouts’ eyes, Derwin James plays an undervalued position and slips to the Arizona Cardinals. His versatility and athleticism can improve the Cardinals’ entire young defense as they try to build their way back into contention. James’ presence at strong safety allows Budda Baker to move to free safety. This young safety duo will team up with Patrick Peterson to prevent the quarterbacks of the NFC West from picking Arizona apart.
Baltimore Ravens: James Daniels CENTER Iowa With a strong defense and a franchise quarterback in Joe Flacco, the Ravens believe they aren’t far away from competing for a Super Bowl. After adding multiple dynamic receivers in free agency, Baltimore’s offense could become a strength as well. A polished and athletic interior offensive lineman like James Daniels can help push this unit over the top. Daniels comes from an Iowa program proven at producing quality linemen.
Los Angeles Chargers: Da’Ron Payne DT Alabama The Chargers have one of the best pass rushing duos in the NFL in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. Adding a powerful and athletic nose tackle will only improve these two and allow them to beat tackles one on one on the edge. Da’Ron Payne had an electric college football playoff, even scoring an offensive touchdown. His best football is ahead of him as he hones his ability to get after the quarterback from the interior.
Seattle Seahawks: Josh Jackson CB Iowa The Legion of Boom has begun its disassembly after the departures of Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett. However, with Russell Wilson at quarterback and Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner still on defense, Seattle can still compete. Josh Jackson helps Seattle restock the cornerback room with a similar player to Sherman. While not as long, Jackson is a ball hawk in zone coverage that can excel in this defense.
Dallas Cowboys: Calvin Ridley WR Alabama One of the reasons (besides the massive cap number) Dallas decided cut Dez Bryant was his inability to separate from defensive backs, hoping to out-jump them instead. Calvin Ridley is the opposite style of wide receiver; he is the most refined route runner in the draft and has great quickness. This style of player fits with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ run-based offense as he will face single coverage often with eight-man boxes. This pick improves the Dallas Cowboys’ offense and puts them squarely back into super bowl contention.
Detroit Lions: Marcus Davenport EDGE UTSA Detroit had success in taking a long, athletic but raw edge rusher when they took Ezekiel Ansah early in the draft a few years ago. Marcus Davenport is a very similar style of player that could become an elite edge rusher if developed correctly. Bookends this athletic on the defensive line should strike fear into offensive tackles everywhere and give new head coach Matt Patricia ammunition to rush the passer.
Cincinnati Bengals: Billy Price CENTER Ohio St. An offensive line that was one of the strongest units in the league just a few years ago has since been decimated by free agency departures and draft picks not panning out. After trading for a quality tackle in Cordy Glenn, they take another quality lineman in Billy Price. Price, despite tearing his pectoral muscle at the combine, is the best interior lineman in the draft.
Buffalo Bills: Isaiah Wynn GUARD Georgia Isaiah Wynn had a great season at left tackle paving the way for Georgia’s dynamic rushing attack that culminated in an appearance in the national championship. In the NFL, he likely moves from tackle inside to guard due to a lack of length. This isn’t a negative; he might end up as an all-pro inside. The Bills lost a starting guard and center to retirement in the offseason, so they need a miniature rebuild on the offensive line.
New England Patriots: Lamar Jackson QB Louisville This pick should strike fear into the entire league. As Tom Brady (and possibly Bill Belichick) enter the twilight of their careers, a young quarterback to develop appears to be a need. While he is flawed as a passer, Jackson is the most athletic quarterback to enter the league since Robert Griffin III. Allowing him to learn under the most successful quarterback ever and play for a creative offensive coordinator could do damage.
Carolina Panthers: DJ Moore WR Maryland While not the biggest need on the team, DJ Moore would be a great value at this point in the first round as other needs can be addressed later in the draft. Moore has the size, speed, and overall athleticism to become a number one wide receiver in Carolina’s offense. He can become Cam Newton’s favorite target early with his ability to make tough catches and make plays with the ball in his hands.
Tennessee Titans: Leighton Vander Esch LB Boise St. Leighton Vander Esch has great size and athleticism and can fit perfectly in the middle of Tennessee’s defense. He can be a tackling machine in the NFL and produce big numbers just like he did at Boise St. with players like Jurrell Casey in front of him. New head coach Mike Vrabel can see a younger version of himself in this player.
Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan DT Florida While Taven Bryan didn’t produce at the level his athleticism and skillset might suggest, his best football is ahead of him. A player with his motor and athleticism can be coached and molded into a force, especially when surrounded by other dynamic pass rushers (Vic Beasley, Grady Jarrett, and Tak McKinley can all get after the quarterback). Bryan can help push the Falcons back into the Super Bowl, only this time, he can help stop the pass to close the deal.
New Orleans Saints: Dallas Goedert TE South Dakota St. As the Saints load up for one last run with Drew Brees under center, they need players that can help them win a Super Bowl. Brees has a proven track record with athletic tight ends and can turn Goedert into a star like he did with Jimmy Graham. Despite playing at a lower-level FCS school in South Dakota St., Goedert is ready to contribute on day 1 and will open up even bigger holes for Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram by threatening the seam.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans ILB Alabama The Steelers are another team with very few holes that feels like it is a piece away from winning a championship. After losing Ryan Shazier to an unfortunate injury, inside linebacker is suddenly a need. Enter Rashaan Evans; while not as athletic as Shazier, he brings a well-coached and dynamic presence to the middle of the defense. If he pans out, the Steelers could take the torch from New England as the class of the AFC.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike McGlinchey TACKLE Notre Dame The Jaguars are committed to running the football with a star running back in Leonard Fournette and a capable but below average quarterback in Blake Bortles. After adding Cam Robinson a year ago to pave the way on the left side of the line, they pick McGlinchey to blow open holes on the right. He has the size, strength, and technique to play for a decade or more in the league.
Minnesota Vikings: Malik Jefferson LB Texas The Vikings are probably the most complete team in the league, so Malik Jefferson is a luxury pick late in the first round. Jefferson’s production didn’t match his five star pedigree or his elite athleticism, but he is still a quality player. A linebacker corps of Jefferson, Anthony Barr, and Eric Kendricks combined with an elite line in front of them will destroy offensive game plans. The Vikings defense was rich, and it gets richer.
New England Patriots: Kolton Miller TACKLE UCLA Kolton Miller is an incredibly athletic offensive lineman that stands at a towering 6 foot 8 inches. While his tape doesn’t match this level of talent, he is a moldable player that could turn into a very good left tackle. The Patriots just lost another tall left tackle in Nate Soldier, so Miller can slot into his vacated position. New England’s track record of developing offensive linemen bodes well for his success.
Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Hughes CB UCF The Super Bowl champions have a team with almost no holes and it showed when they were successful despite losing an MVP candidate in Carson Wentz. One spot where they could use an infusion of talent is nickel corner, and Mike Hughes has the athleticism to transition inside easily. Despite character concerns, Hughes is worth a look at the end of the first round because of his coverage skills and ability to contribute as a returner.

Second Round

Cleveland Browns: Bryan O’Neill TACKLE Pittsburgh
New York Giants: Will Hernandez GUARD UTEP
Cleveland Browns: Jaire Alexander CB Louisville
Indianapolis Colts: Derrius Guice RB LSU
Indianapolis Colts: Courtland Sutton WR SMU
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sony Michel RB Georgia
Chicago Bears: Anthony Miller WR Memphis
Denver Broncos: Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado
Oakland Raiders: Carlton Davis CB Auburn
Miami Dolphins: Christian Kirk WR Texas A&M
New England Patriots: Ronald Jones II RB USC
Washington Redskins: Ronnie Harrison S Alabama
Green Bay Packers: DJ Chark WR LSU
Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Gesicki TE Penn St.
Arizona Cardinals: Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma St.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jessie Bates S Wake Forest
Indianapolis Colts: Arden Key EDGE LSU
Dallas Cowboys: Lorenzo Carter LB Georgia
Detroit Lions: Nick Chubb RB Georgia
Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Lauletta QB Richmond
Buffalo Bills: Martinas Rankin OL Mississippi St.
Kansas City Chiefs: Anthony Averett CB Alabama
Carolina Panthers: Sam Hubbard EDGE Ohio St.
Buffalo Bills: Justin Reid S Stanford
Tennessee Titans: Josh Sweat EDGE Florida St.
Atlanta Falcons: Austin Corbett GUARD Nevada
San Francisco 49ers: Dante Pettis WR Washington
Pittsburgh Steelers: Donte Jackson CB LSU
Jacksonville Jaguars: Hayden Hurst TE South Carolina
Minnesota Vikings: Jamarco Jones TACKLE Ohio St.
New England Patriots: Jerome Baker LB Ohio St.
Cleveland Browns: BJ Hill DT North Carolina St.

TexasRL Presents the Dallas Open - $1000+ LAN Event featuring full production, professional commentary and fun for all skill levels!

-Start Time-	-Round of Play-	-Pool or Phase-
09:00	Player Setup	all
10:00	Swiss 1	A
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12:00	Swiss 3	A
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14:00	buffefood	all
14:45	Quarterfinals	Top8
16:15	Semifinal 1	Top8
17:00	Semifinal 2	Top8
17:45	Grand Finals	Top8

TRUMP to rollback some of Obama’s Cuba policies -- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Kellyanne complains about West Wing colleagues -- REMEMBERING Zbig Brzezinski -- ASHCROFT hired by Qatar -- KATY TUR profile – B’DAY: Zeleny
by [email protected] (Daniel Lippman) via POLITICO - TOP Stories
URL: http://ift.tt/2s87Nl5
Good Saturday morning. THE BELMONT STAKES is 6:37 p.m. tonight on NBC.
WEHEAR … PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP is going to roll back some of Barack Obama’s changes to Cuba policy next week. He discussed the changes at a dinner with members of Congress earlier this week -- the dinner included Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was sharply critical of Obama’s policy change. The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment, but Marc Caputo and Sergio Bustos -- our POLITICO colleagues in Florida -- report he’ll make the announcement in Miami and also note: “Many expect that Trump will not reverse Obama’s decision to open a U.S. embassy in Havana or reinstate the ‘wet-foot/dry-foot’ policy that allowed Cuban immigrants who touched U.S. shores to become legal residents.” http://politi.co/2rX4B9K
YOUR DAILY HEAD SNAP -- “Trump seems to undercut Tillerson’s remarks on Qatar,” by WaPo’s Karen DeYoung and Sudarsan Raghavan: “Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on a Saudi Arabia-led bloc of Arab nations Friday to immediately ease their blockade of Qatar and urged all involved in the week-long Persian Gulf dispute to quickly resolve their differences, remarks that President Trump seemed to undercut less than an hour later.
“Trump began a Rose Garden news conference with the visiting president of Romania by saying that the Saudi-led action against Qatar was ‘hard but necessary.’ He said he had been consulted in advance by nations that ‘spoke to me about confronting Qatar,’ a country he said historically has been a ‘funder of terrorism at a very high level.’ He said he had decided, along with Tillerson and ‘our great generals and military people, the time had come to call on Qatar to end that funding ... and its extremist ideology.’
“Earlier, in a brief, formal statement at the State Department, Tillerson had called on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to ease their blockade, warning that it was causing humanitarian hardship in Qatar, harming U.S. and international business, and hindering U.S. military actions against the Islamic State.” http://wapo.st/2r549oV
-- ANOTHER STRANGE MOMENT from Friday’s press conference withTRUMP and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. REPORTER: “Thank you. Mr. President, were there any discussion about the Visa Waiver Program for Romania? Is there a time frame for including our country in this program? Thank you.” TRUMP: “We didn’t discuss it --” IOHANNIS: “Yes --”TRUMP: “We didn’t discuss it. But there would be certainly -- it would be something we will discuss. Mr. President.” IOHANNIS: “I mentioned this issue, and I also mentioned it during other meetings I had, because this is important for us, it's important for Romanians who want to come to the United States. And you see more and more people come, President Trump, from Romania to the United States. Some come as tourists. Some come for business. And those who come for business should be encouraged.”
FOR MARC KASOWITZ -- “James Comey is a ‘leaker’ — but that doesn’t make him a criminal,” by WaPo’s Matt Zapotosky: “‘He can fairly be criticized for whether that was the best way for him to address his discomfort with his conversation with the president,’ said Barry J. Pollack, a white-collar criminal-defense attorney at Miller & Chevalier who has been involved in leak cases. ‘But that’s all a matter of how he conducts his job, and what his relationship is with the president is not a legal question.’
“Prosecutors who bring charges against people for sharing informationwith the public can do so only when classified or other national security material is at issue. Material cannot be classified to conceal legal violations or prevent embarrassment, according to an executive order from President Barack Obama. Telling a reporter nonclassified information of public interest is not only legal, but it’s often the right thing to do.” http://wapo.st/2rcaqTH
-- JOSH GERSTEIN: “The FBI’s standard employment agreement reads: ‘I will not reveal, by any means, any information or material from or related to FBI files or any other information acquired by virtue of my official employment to any unauthorized recipient without prior official written authorization by the FBI.’” http://politi.co/2rgDRip
-- A DEFIANT TRUMP, via Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Glenn Thrush: “President Trump on Friday accused James B. Comey, the fired F.B.I. director, of lying under oath to Congress, saying he would gladly provide sworn testimony disputing Mr. Comey’s charge that the president forced him out because of his handling of the investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with Russia. … Asked whether he would be willing to provide his version under oath, Mr. Trump responded, ‘100 percent.’ He said of Mr. Mueller, ‘I would be glad to tell him exactly what I just told you.’” http://nyti.ms/2rXgFrP
-- WHAT’S NEXT: “Comey associate has been in contact with Senate Judiciary about memos,” by Kyle Cheney: “Dan Richman, a longtime friend and adviser to former FBI director James Comey, has been in contact with the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding a series of memos that Comey authored about his private conversations with President Donald Trump from January through April. A source familiar with the discussions says Richman connected with the Senate panel via the office of special counsel Robert Mueller ... The source says the matter will be addressed on Monday.”http://politi.co/2sovUMU
-- BLOCKBUSTER RATINGS: “More than 19 million saw Comey testimony on TV,” by Hadas Gold: “According to Nielsen ratings, ABC topped all networks, bringing in 3.295 million overall viewers, with CBS close behind with 3.286 million viewers. Fox News was next with 3.096 million viewers, followed by CNN with 3.049 million, NBC with 2.723 million viewers and MSNBC with 2.719 million viewers. ... Twitter, which partnered with Bloomberg to stream the hearing, said 2.7 million viewers tuned in.” http://politi.co/2s7XFce
--PER FACEBOOK: There were 89 million views of videos related to Comey’s testimony. Those videos had nearly 8 million comments, reactions and shares. There were also 26 million views of Comey-related live video on Facebook.
ABOUT THOSE TAPES --@tripgabriel: “Personal anecdote: Candidate Trump once said he had taped a call with me, after disputing how he was quoted. I asked to hear it. Never did.” … @mikiebarb replies: “This happened to me as well. He always acted as if he was recording it.”
THROWING SHADE -- @lloydblankfein: “Just landed from China, trying to catch up.... How did ‘infrastructure week’ go?”
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK -- WHO MNUCHIN MET WITH IN CANADA –Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made his first official solo foreign trip yesterday to Canada. Mnuchin, who met with Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau on the one-day trip to Ottawa, was seeking to highlight the importance of the U.S.-Canada strategic and economic alliance, according to Treasury. Deputy national security advisor Dina Powell and Treasury chief of staff Eli Miller accompanied Mnuchin. They also met Canadian foreign minister Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. David Mac Naughton and attended a cabinet meeting with top ministers. They discussed a variety of topics including the upcoming G-20 agenda, trade and economic issues and national security challenges. Mnuchin also met with a group of more than 20 CEOs who do business in both the U.S. and Canada, including the heads of Ford Canada, GE Canada and TD Bank. More foreign trips by Mnuchin are in the works, according to our Treasury source.
DAVID A. FAHRENTHOLD in WaPo, “New York attorney general ‘looking into’ Eric Trump’s foundation”: “New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is ‘looking into’ a charitable foundation founded by Eric Trump, a spokesman for Schneiderman said, after Forbes magazine raised questions about whether President Trump’s son had made misleading statements about how the foundation spent its money. ... One item at issue, the attorney general’s office said, was that the Eric Trump Foundation has rebranded itself ‘Curetivity’ and held a fundraiser under that name. But, after a query from The Washington Post on Friday morning, the attorney general’s office said the charity had not officially changed its name with New York charity regulators.” http://wapo.st/2t5KuWr
ROMNEYSTOCK – ALEX ISENSTADT’S HARDSHIP ASSIGNMENT to Deer Valley, Utah: “Romney reveals that Clinton nudged him to consider Trump’s secretary of state overture”: “Romney, appearing before a group of major Republican Party donors here, said that he reached out to Clinton last year after getting a phone call from then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence informing him that he was on the shortlist for secretary of state. ... Romney ... was golfing in Hawaii when he received the call ... He then turned to former secretaries of state, including the just-defeated Clinton, to ask whether he should consent to the offer. ‘In each case, each of them said, “Please, please take that job if it’s offered to you. We’d very much like to see you serve in that capacity,”’ Romney said.” http://politi.co/2seggUP
--“Biden encourages 2012 foe Romney to run for the Senate”: “During a closed-door appearance with Romney here on Friday evening, Biden said Romney should consider a Senate bid. The remark came during the second day of the E2 Summit, an annual Romney-hosted donor conference. Attendees were gathered to hear a dialogue between the two men, who were on opposite sides of the 2012 election. Romney, according to two sources present, offered little by way of response other than to smile. ... There has been considerable speculation that Romney may seek the seat of longtime Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch should he forego reelection. Neither Romney ... nor his aides have denied interest in the seat should it become open.” http://politi.co/2s7YMbU
MITCH MCCONNELL’S LATEST HEADACHE -- “Conservatives near revolt on Senate health care negotiations,” by Burgess Everett: “As Obamacare repeal talks enter crunchtime with a vote as soon as this month, the Senate bill continues to tilt toward more moderate members of the GOP on keeping some of Obamacare's regulatory structure and providing a more generous wind-down of the law's Medicaid expansion. The movement has made Republicans increasingly pessimistic that two critical conservative senators, Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky, will be able to vote for the GOP's ultimate agreement on healthcare, according to senators and aides.” http://politi.co/2s7Z42l
COMING ATTRACTIONS -- “Trump Will Meet With Tech Leaders To Talk About Emerging Tech Like Drones,” by BuzzFeed’s Ryan Mac: “The White House is planning a second gathering of technology leaders later this month, in which President Donald Trump is expected to meet with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs from emerging tech firms. Three sources confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is organizing the event, scheduled for June 22 — three days after Trump is expected to meet with the likes of Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Oracle co-CEO Safra Catz and technology executives in Washington. ... [T]he second meeting ... will address emerging technologies trends including the Internet of Things, commercial drones and the funding of those companies.” http://bzfd.it/2rgABUf
REMEMBERING ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI -- “Washington Remembers Brzezinski, and a Very Different Era,” by NYT’s Matt Flegenheimer: “One after another, the mourners filed into the stately Cathedral of St. Matthew -- ambassadors, cabinet secretaries, television hosts, a president -- hunkering together behind the grand doors, at least for a little while, to consider a man and a capital from a bygone political moment most seemed to prefer. The occasion was the funeral of Zbigniew Brzezinski ... ‘He was a realistic optimist,’ one eulogizer, the former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, said of Mr. Brzezinski, recalling his commitment to human rights, his belief in the power of considered diplomacy and his fierce wariness of Russia. The crowd nodded. ... [F]or two hours on Friday, the city’s beleaguered establishment seemed to revel in a collective embrace, capping a week in which it rallied to defend some treasured Washington traditions -- congressional oversight, the independence of the F.B.I. -- in the face of persistent executive chaos.” http://nyti.ms/2s8bvLr
-- Hundreds of people attended the funeral, at St. Matthew’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Washington. President Jimmy Carter, Madeline Albright, John Hamre, and Ian, Mark and Mika Brzezinski all gave remarks. Albright read a note from John Kerry and Hamre read a note from Henry Kissinger. SPOTTED: Jonathan Capehart, Chris Licht, Robin Wright, Andrew Schwartz, Al Hunt, Bob Gates, Ambassadors from Finland, China, Japan, Sweden, Italy, and UAE, Carl Bernstein, Kathy Kemper, Maureen Orth, Bob Schieffer, Margaret Carlson, Boyden Gray, Katty Kay, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Susan Rice, Chuck Todd, Ernest Moniz, and Margaret Warner.
TRUMP’S WEEKEND -- The president is at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. PENCE is in Milwaukee, where he’ll talk to small businesses with Gov. Scott Walker and give a speech about Obamacare. He’ll return to D.C. and speak at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Patriot’s Gala.
THE JUICE …
-- @rchammond: “The President has announced his intent to nominate Eric Ueland of Oregon to serve as Under Secretary of State for Management. @StateDept”. Ueland is Republican staff director of the Senate Budget Committee, worked on the Trump transition and earlier in his career was chief of staff to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.
-- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: FROM HADAS GOLD: KELLYANNE CONWAY was overheard Thursday night talking about her West Wing co-workers to fellow revelers at a party. Conway was having an off-the-record conversation with a group of reporters and other attendees at the British Embassy at their election-night watch party. She said President Donald Trump told her to “go out there and say ‘Jim Comey is going to have to wait and see about the tapes.’”
“I mean, that’s basically the same thing as ‘no comment,’” she said. Conway also mimicked Reince Priebus urging White House aides to stop leaking, and wondered aloud what Marc Short -- the legislative director -- does all day. She also said she is “the one catching the slings and arrows in the West Wing.” The source who heard Conway created a Twitter account about the evening, naming it @kellyanneleaks and posting photos and tweets from the event. Two other sources confirmed Conway’s remarks.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Conway disputed the account, explaining that she is very close to Short. Spicer said Conway was not mocking Priebus, but rather reporters for palace intrigue stories “and how wrong they’ve been.” Spicer disputed that Conway had pushed back on the presidents request on how to comment about Comey, saying that she was simply explaining what the lawyers said the White House can say.
JOHN ASHCROFT’S FIRM HIRED BY QATAR – “Singled Out by Trump, Qatar Hires Former Top Law Man to Lobby,” by Bloomberg’s Bill Allison: “Qatar hired Ashcroft Law Firm, LLC for 90 days, agreeing to pay it $2.5 million to help the Persian Gulf nation comply with U.S. money laundering and counterterrorism financing regulations and to stress its efforts to combat global terrorism, according to disclosures filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. ... The contract cites the ‘urgent need to commence work immediately’ which will be ‘a top priority’ for the firm. ...
“Aschroft’s firm promised to provide crisis response and management, program and system analysis, media outreach and advocacy, stressing Qatar’s efforts to combat global terror, according to the contract. As part of that effort, the firm plans ‘a comprehensive legal and government relations strategy,’ one that will communicate broadly and to ‘certain domestic agencies and leaders.’” https://bloom.bg/2rcumWs
WHAT DAN SCAVINO IS READING -- “Inside The Chaotic Battle To Be The Top Reply To A Trump Tweet,” by BuzzFeed’s Charlie Warzel: “[S]econds after the president sounds off to his 31 million-plus followers, he’s bombarded with replies -- almost all of them extreme. There are breathless condemnations of Trump policy; cries for his speedy impeachment; furious demands for his administration to admit its role in any number of global and political conspiracies; #Resist-ers; #TrumpTrain conductors and passengers; impassioned defenses of his character; praise for Trump as chessmaster-in-chief, 10 steps ahead and constantly outwitting enemies. There are comedians, actors, doctors, scientists, admirers, goons, politicos, activists, journalists, and trolls. ... And within seconds they’re all just a few pixels below the president’s missive — yelling, arguing, and looking to be the one Donald Trump sees when he checks his Twitter feed.” http://bzfd.it/2r57m7T
-- “Dan Scavino is the other @realdonaldtrump,” by Eliana Johnson: “The White House is brimming with aides, lawyers, and communications gurus who are begging President Donald Trump to stop tweeting. The lone exception is Dan Scavino, the president’s former golf caddy who now oversees the White House’s messaging on social media. Scavino is in many ways the president’s mini-me, a man whose bombast, impulse control, and instinct for a good punch match those of his boss.
“After Trump last weekend blasted London Mayor Sadiq Khan after a terror attack that killed eight people, Scavino posted a message citing Khan’s own 2016 criticism of Trump’s rhetoric on Muslims and terrorism—complete with a Trumpian, all-caps ‘WAKE UP!!!!’ And like his boss, Scavino has ignored warnings from high-level White House officials to tone down his tweets. Scavino was reprimanded on Friday for violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits senior executive branch officials from using their authority to interfere with elections, by calling in April for the ouster of Michigan Republican Justin Amash.” http://politi.co/2s7Uz7X
TRUMP INC. -- “Trump Can Take Payments From Foreign Governments, U.S. Says,” by Bloomberg’s Bob Van Voris: “George Washington did it, so Donald Trump can too. That’s the Justice Department’s take on why the 45th president isn’t violating the U.S. Constitution by accepting payments for goods and services from foreign governments without congressional approval. The foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution doesn’t apply to fair-market commercial transactions, such as hotel bills, golf club fees, licensing payments and office rent, the Justice department argued Friday in a filing.” https://bloom.bg/2sNKISx
--@EricLiptonNYT: “Among DOJ’s arguments why Trump emoluments suit should be dismissed. ‘Ten Facts about the Gristmill, George Washington’s Mount Vernon’”
NEW POLITICO SERIES – “5 things Trump did while you weren’t looking: Behind the scandal-of-the-day news, the White House really is changing American policy. A new series from The Agenda explains how,” by Danny Vinik: “1. A boost for Uber and McDonald’s. ... 2. A trade war with Mexico averted—for now. ... 3. The end of a DOJ ‘slush fund.’ ... 4. A win for nursing homes. ... 5. Get THAAD out of here.” http://politi.co/2rWYsum
2018 WATCH -- “Senate Democrats try to spark rural comeback in 2018,” by Maggie Severns: “While many voters in rural areas complained that Democrats forgot them in 2016, and party strategists rush this year to find a new message to bring them back in the fold, Democratic senators up for reelection in 2018 have little time to spare to fix their party’s issues. These battleground-state Democrats are quick to note that they got elected in the first place by tending to voters outside their states’ biggest population centers. And they are focused this year on winning back voters their party has failed to connect with since the last time they appeared on the ballot.” http://politi.co/2rWX22Z
LUNCH WITH THE FT -- BERNIE SANDERS in DUBLIN! -- by Simon Kuper: “Sanders’ car pulls up (brilliantly, his Irish driver is called Bernie Saunders) and the senator clambers out, his shoulders hunched, his suit crumpled, his strands of white hair unkempt, not the standard American politician with Botox and a hair transplant. Today he is tieless, too: he has been assured that Irish president Michael D Higgins won’t mind. The tiny Higgins appears, dispensing handshakes and hugs.
“‘I think Trump is actually quite smart -- in his own way and for his own reasons. He may not know a lot about foreign policy or healthcare, but he is not a dumb man by any means. I think what Trump is doing is filling the agenda of people like the Koch brothers: essentially doing away with every major programme passed since Franklin D Roosevelt that would help working people, the elderly, children, the sick and the poor, and at the same time providing massive tax breaks to the rich and large corporations. In this budget, Trump did not propose cuts to social security [the American retirement programme], but I have zero doubt that will be coming down the pike.’” http://on.ft.com/2sobq70
KATY TUR PROFILE -- AND SHE’S A PHISH FAN! -- COVER OF NYT SUNDAY STYLES -- “Katy Tur Is Tougher Than She Looks: The NBC correspondent’s swift and surprising rise at the network mirrored that of the presidential candidate she covered and occasionally battled with,” by Luisita Lopez Torregrosa: “Mr. Trump’s sudden rise mirrors that of Ms. Tur’s. Just two years ago she was a foreign correspondent for NBC, living in London. But she happened to be in New York when the future president announced his candidacy, on June 16, 2015. ‘How would you like to spend the summer in New York?’ an NBC News executive asked her. ‘We want you on Trump’s campaign. It will be six weeks, tops. But hey, if he wins, you’ll go to the White House.’
“A year or so later, she had captured national attention. Colleagues rallied around her, thousands tweeted #iamwithtur, magazines came calling, and HarperCollins engaged her to write a book on the 2016 campaign; ‘Unbelievable’ is due out in September. Then there is the afternoon anchor slot, which MSNBC gave her in January. In April, she received a Walter Cronkite Award for excellence. And this month she will become a contributor to the much publicized new NBC News program ‘Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly.’” http://nyti.ms/2t5S6Z4
MEDIAWATCH -- “10 months ago, Univision bought Gawker in a fire sale, and it’s been messy ever since,” by Business Insider’s Maxwell Tani: “CEO Raju Narisetti ... is leading GMG through the media company’s merger with Fusion Media Group, which is owned by the Spanish-language juggernaut Univision. According to the CEO, the transition has been a success. But conversations with over a dozen current and former employees painted a starkly different picture. Since the deal, the six former Gawker Media sites -- Gizmodo, Jezebel, Deadspin, Kotaku, Jalopnik, and Lifehacker -- have struggled with indecision, a dysfunctional bureaucracy, and an exodus of top leadership and institutional knowledge that gave Gawker Media its editorial bite.” http://read.bi/2rLXwKQ
-- DANIEL HALPER, former D.C. bureau chief for the N.Y. Post who recently was hired by Matt Drudge, quietly joined the Washington Free Beacon as a contributing editor recently, Hadas Gold tells us. Halper and the Free Beacon did not respond to requests for more details.
CLICKER – “The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics,” edited by Matt Wuerker -- 14 keepershttp://politi.co/2sbxstY
DESSERT -- HOW MANY HAVE YOU SEEN? – “The 25 Best Films of the 21st Century So Far,” by NYT’s Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott: “1. There Will Be Blood ... 2. Spirited Away ... 3. Million Dollar Baby ... 4. A Touch of Sin ... 5. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu ... 6. Yi Yi ... 7. Inside Out ... 8. Boyhood ... 9. Summer Hours ... 10. The Hurt Locker.” With in-depth discussions of each film on the listhttp://nyti.ms/2t5IkG7
GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Daniel Lippman:
--“Why Men Don’t Live as Long as Women,” by Richard G. Bribiescas in Nautilus Magazine – per The Browser’s description: “Are we at peak male testosterone? Testosterone raises the sex drive, builds muscle and burns fat. It also shortens the lifespan by encouraging recklessness, weakening the immune system, and raising the risk of prostate cancer. The reproductive payoff favoured high testosterone in ancient times: More children meant more surviving children. But now, thanks to monogamy and medicine, the trade-off is less clear. The evolutionary advantage may be passing to fathers who live longer.” http://bit.ly/2sKN0lp
--“America’s Hidden H.I.V. Epidemic,” by Linda Villarosa in the NYT Magazine: “Why do America’s black gay and bisexual men have a higher H.I.V. rate than any country in the world?” http://nyti.ms/2sLamrg (h/t Longreads.com)
--“The Real Story Behind Elon Musk’s $2.6 Billion Acquisition Of SolarCity And What It Means For Tesla’s Future–Not To Mention The Planet’s,” by Fast Company’s Austin Carr: “The Tesla CEO’s merger with his cousins’ sustainable-energy company, SolarCity, is totally logical–and hugely risky. With eyes now on the private sector for environmental leadership, can Musk pull off another miracle?” http://bit.ly/2scvObB
--“Soccer for Intellectuals,” by Bécquer Seguín in Public Books: “Any baseball or boxing narrative can be easily embodied in the momentary struggle between two individuals. Soccer, on the other hand, isn’t wedded to the fate of individuals. Its beauty is most often in the battle between two ideas, two philosophies, two tactical approaches.” http://bit.ly/2t2yox5
--“Challenging Mainstream Thought About Beauty’s Big Hand in Evolution,” by NYT’s James Gorman: “Are aesthetic judgments about mates invariably tied to traits we see as adaptive and worth passing on? Or, does beauty just ‘happen’?” http://nyti.ms/2s4QxNz (h/t ALDaily.com)
--“Bill Maher Knows Exactly What He’s Doing: Just Ask Him,” by Stephen Rodrick in Esquire: “Real Time’s format is a throwback to a seventies talk show -- with a monologue, an interview, a panel discussion, some jokes, and a closing argument -- but here everything is done without the benefit of breath-catching commercial breaks. This setup sometimes leads to what can feel, in the moment, like a random car wreck, but Maher’s been doing comedy for forty years. He’s addicted to provocation, and more often than not, he’s driving his show into a brick wall by design.” http://bit.ly/2s52a7h
--“Proust and Dreyfus,” by Joachim Kalka in Tablet Magazine: “In an excerpt from the newly translated ‘Gaslight,’ by German writer Joachim Kalka, an examination of how the scandal that rocked France bled into European literature.” http://bit.ly/2rJ7bl6
--“Who Do You Want Elisabeth Moss to Be?” by Emily Gould in Elle Magazine: http://bit.ly/2rIYAyU
--“Welcome to the Green Machine,” by John Nova Lomax in the June issue of Texas Monthly: “My son was jobless, directionless, and apartmentless. So when he decided to join the Army, we were just glad he was out of the house. What we didn’t know was just how much the military would change him—and us.” http://bit.ly/2sL0TAb (h/t Longform.org)
--“The horrors of getting hit by a pitch,” by Tim Kurkjian in ESPN on Aug 3, 2012: “When that baseball is flying directly at a hitter at 95 mph, and that batter can hear the ball spinning, like the sound of a giant bee attacking, and then it hits that batter and those red seams bore into the skin like the teeth of a buzz saw, well, the elegance and romance of that pearl is replaced by piercing, pulsating, primal pain. It is pain that can last for weeks, it can leave a hideous mark that can last for months and it can instill a fear that can last forever.” http://es.pn/2t2UsI6
--“The Impossible Profession,” by Janet Malcolm in the November 24th, 1980 issue of The New Yorker: What it’s like to be a psychoanalyst in NYC. http://bit.ly/2smxM8L
--“Athens, Sparta and Rome: the Ancient election,” by Mary Beard in The Times Literary Supplement: “Voters individually picked out their ballot slips (wax on wood, probably) from a basket as they walked across some form of bridge, then wrote the name of their candidate in the wax as they walked, and finally dropped it into the ballot box.” http://bit.ly/2sbKsQt
--“The White Wedding Dress Industrial Complex,” by Helena Fitzgerald in Racked: “A fantasy of wealth beyond reality or responsibility is built into the details of these dresses, all the way down to the tiny rows of covered buttons. Mostly when we spend too much money, we pretend that the money isn’t real. This is why part of the point of the dress is that you can’t wear it again — it becomes a perfect object, distilled and frozen in time, lifted out of the ordinary cycles of use and value and repetition.” http://bit.ly/2r2ZS5k
--“How ‘Eureka’ Moments in Science Happen,” by Cathy Newman in NatGeo: “From bathtubs to falling apples, find out what really drives some of the iconic tales of ‘light bulb’ moments in science.” http://bit.ly/2r3tYFR
SUMMER BUCKET LIST -- WAPO: “The 40 most essential D.C. restaurant dishes of 2017”http://wapo.st/2sNLwXz
SPOTTED: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) last night watching the Cavs/Warriors game at the Trump Hotel.
OUT AND ABOUT – PATRICK STEEL and LEE SATTERFIELD’s 50thbirthday celebration last night at the Meridian International Center: Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Robert and Elena Allbritton, Dan and Rhoda Glickman, Nancy Bagley and Soroush Shehabi, Rob and Capricia Marshall, Ann Stock, Tony Blinken and Evan Ryan, Elizabeth Bagley, Jonathan Capehart and Nick Schmit, Kiki McLean, Melissa Moss, Adam and Tracy Bernstein, H.P. Goldfield and Kristin Mannion, Kim Cubine, Joel Johnson and Sara Latham, Debbie Fine, Erick Mullen and Kelly Craighead, Karen Finney, Stuart and Gwen Holliday, Kimball Stroud, Dan and Aviva Rosenthal, Linda Moore, Neal Wolin and Nicole Elkon
BIRTHDAYS: Jeff Zeleny, CNN’s senior Washington correspondent and the pride of Exeter, Nebraska, celebrating with a 29-hour birthday: breakfast in London and dinner in DC ... Sasha Obama is 16 ... Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is 46 ... John Edwards is 64 ... Eliot Spitzer is 58 ... Jeff Greenfield is 74 ... F. Lee Bailey is 84 ... Sidewire’s Meredith Carden, a Michelle Obama alum, the pride of Chicago and a birthday bride today! (h/ts Herbie Ziskend and boss Tucker Bounds) ... Joe Trippi, political consultant, Fox commentator, author, digital strategist, believer ... Stef Weiss (h/ts Jon Haber) ... John DiBiase ... Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kans.) is 54 ... NBC’s Kate Snow ... Carlos Elizondo (h/t Marc Adelman) ... Joe Nolan ... Chad Rhoades, general counsel for Sen. Tillis ... Politico Europe’s Simon Marks ... AAJ’s Paula J. Burris, the pride of Arlington, Va., and the best office manager in the USA (h/t Randy White) ... Politico’s Javier Ruiz ... Nicole Hager, Sen. Inhofe’s press assistant (h/t Daisy Letendre) ... Jennifer Donnelly, a senior associate on the organizing and campaign management team at Precision Strategies (h/t Tom Zigo) ... Rob Morello, Romney and RNC alum, now co-founder of Fraym, is 3-0 (h/t wife Rachel Sorensen) ...
... David O’Brien, senior comms manager at CRAFT, is 31 ... Google’s Cameron Foxgrover ... John Yoo ... Daryn Iwicki ... Obama DOJ alum Shirlethia Franklin ... Thomas Showalter ... Al Mottur, shareholder of Brownstein Hyatt, is 5-0 (h/t Stewart Verdery) … Semonti Mustaphi Stephens, a Michelle Obama alum and the pride of Crystal, MN ... Charmion Kinder, director of comms at My Brother’s Keeper Alliance … WSJ’s Corinne Ramey ... Suzy Vilmain ... Louisa Wachs ... Jim Wisley (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) ... John Pearson … Courtney Pearson Drake ... Jan Ruckman ... Pete Slover (h/t Dick Keil) ... Chris Merriman ... Teryn Norris ... Prince Philip is 96 ... Elizabeth Hurley is 52 ... Kate Upton is 25 (h/ts AP)
THE SHOWS by @MattMackowiak, filing from Austin:
--ABC’s “This Week”: Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara … Alan Dershowitz … Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) … Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Panel: Alex Castellanos, Matthew Dowd, Donna Brazile, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Sara Fagen
--CBS’s “Face the Nation”: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) … Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) … Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.). Panel: Julie Pace, David Ignatius, Susan Page and Ed O’Keefe
--“Fox News Sunday”: Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) … RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel. Panel: Karl Rove, former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Newt Gingrich and Charles Lane
--CNN’s “State of the Union”: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) … Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Panel: Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), Neera Tanden and David Urban. Dana Bash is anchoring
--NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Preempted for French Open coverage
--CNN’s “Reliable Sources”: Panel: Jeff Greenfield, Clara Jeffrey and Matt Lewis … Adam Goldman … Andy Borowitz ... Tim O’Brien
--CNN’s “Inside Politics” with John King: Panel: Jackie Kucinich, Carl Hulse, Manu Raju and Sara Murray
--Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures”: Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) … House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) … Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton … Steve Hilton … Bud Cummins. Panel: The Daily Beast’s Betsy Woodruff and Rich Lowry
--Fox News’ “MediaBuzz”: Former Bush and Obama national security council staffer Gillian Turner … Mollie Hemingway … Juan Williams … Ed Henry … Amy Holmes … Jessica Tarlov … Carley Shimkus
--CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS”: R. James Woolsey … Elizabeth Foley and Laurence Tribe … Canadian foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland
--Univision’s “Al Punto”: Panel: Former Treasurer of the U.S. Rosario Marin and Adolfo Franco … journalist and independent Mexican presidential hopeful Pedro Ferriz de Con … “Compassion & Choices” national Latino communication manager Patricia Gonzalez-Portillo and mother of a child with a deadly form of brain cancer Nilsa Centero … actress Salma Hayek
--C-SPAN: “The Communicators”: Part 1 of discussion with Recode editor at large and columnist and The Verge executive editor and columnist Walt Mossberg … “Newsmakers”: NRCC chairman Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), questioned by The Hill’s Scott Wong and Politico’s Scott Bland … “Q&A”:Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum director Paul Sparrow
--Hearst / Sony’s “Matter of Fact” with Soledad O’Brien: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) … Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) … report on the Trump administration’s $200 billion infrastructure proposal … author and Auschwitz survivor Michael Bornstein … discussion about ISIS internet recruitment efforts with RAND Center for Applied Network Analysis and System Science co-director and Rand Corporation engineer Elizabeth Bodine-Baron … a tribute to journalists who give their lives covering conflicts around the world
--Washington Times’ “Mack on Politics” weekly politics podcast with Matt Mackowiak (download on iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher or listen at http://bit.ly/2r37J6h): Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).

BREAKING: TRUMP to delay UK trip -- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Aug. recess in jeopardy -- ISENSTADT: MITT shows signs of political revival -- SPOTTED at Mike Shields/Katie Walsh engagement party -- B’DAY: Greta van Susteren
by [email protected] (Daniel Lippman) via POLITICO - TOP Stories
URL: http://ift.tt/2rP8bod
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK -- WE HEAR … There is a chance Congress will stay in session for part of August. There has been political pressure from some members of the House and Senate to stay in town and try to get some things done instead of take a five-week recess. The pressure will only increase if the Obamacare repeal and replace isn’t done in the next few weeks. Congress has just 27 days in session until the summer break. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise: many lawmakers have had to face angry constituents on trips home.
STATEMENTS FROM PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP from Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey -- at 8:22 a.m.: “The #FakeNews MSM doesn’t report the great economic news since Election Day. #DOW up 16%. #NASDAQ up 19.5%. Drilling & energy sector......way up. Regulations way down. 600,000+ new jobs added. Unemployment down to 4.3%. Business and economic enthusiasm way up- record levels!” … at 8:29 a.m.: “I believe the James Comey leaks will be far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible. Totally illegal? Very ‘cowardly!’” … at 8:49 a.m.: “The Democrats have no message, not on economics, not on taxes, not on jobs, not on failing #Obamacare. They are only OBSTRUCTIONISTS!”
-- TWO QUICK THINGS: Many Democrats will privately agree with Trump that they oftentimes lack a coherent message. But Trump’s presidency has unified Democrats for the first time in a long time … Trump has majorities in the House and Senate, and he’s blaming Democrats for obstructing him.
**SUBSCRIBE to Playbook:http://politi.co/2lQswbh
BREAKING OVERSEAS -- TRUMP PUTS OFF U.K. VISIT -- THE GUARDIAN: “Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain put on hold: U.S. president told Theresa May he did not want trip to go ahead if there were large-scale public protests”: “Donald Trump has told Theresa May in a phone call he does not want to go ahead with a state visit to Britain until the British public supports him coming. The U.S. president said he did not want to come if there were large-scale protests and his remarks in effect put the visit on hold for some time. The call was made in recent weeks, according to a Downing Street adviser who was in the room. The statement surprised May, according to those present.” http://bit.ly/2reskVQ
Good Sunday morning. Jake will be on Steve Hilton’s new Fox News show “The Next Revolution” live from Los Angeles tonight at 9 p.m. East Coast time.
TRUMP stopped by a wedding at his country club in New Jersey last night. http://bit.ly/2t98Uhy
YOU’LL HEAR THIS QUOTE A LOT -- Donald Trump Jr. on Fox News, via the Washington Post: “‘When he tells you to do something, guess what? There’s no ambiguity in it, there’s no, ‘Hey, I’m hoping,'’ Trump said. ‘You and I are friends: ‘Hey, I hope this happens, but you’ve got to do your job.’ That’s what he told Comey. And for this guy as a politician to then go back and write a memo: ‘Oh, I felt threatened.’ He felt so threatened -- but he didn’t do anything.’ Trump also said that Comey’s testimony ‘vindicated’ the president and that everything in it was ‘basically ridiculous.’” http://wapo.st/2t9eJf5
ALEX ISENSTADT in DEER VALLEY, UTAH -- “Romney stokes speculation he’s weighing another political run: The 2012 GOP nominee is plotting how to help Republicans in the midterms, and he’s being coy about his own political future”: “Mitt Romney is once again testing his political power — critiquing President Donald Trump, raising money and campaigning for fellow Republicans, and not ruling out another run for office for himself. The 2012 GOP nominee is returning to the spotlight, six months after Trump -- the man Romney once savaged as unfit for the presidency -- nearly picked him to be secretary of state. …
“Spencer Zwick, a longtime Romney adviser and political gatekeeper, said he’d been inundated with appeals from Republican candidates asking the former GOP nominee to help them. Last week, Romney held his first fundraiser for a 2018 hopeful, an event benefiting Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican who has been fiercely critical of the president. Over the coming days, Romney is also expected to release a robo-call boosting Georgia Republican Karen Handel, who has been losing ground in a high-stakes June 20 special House election she had once been favored to win.
“‘All I can tell you is that the number of requests that Mitt has gotten in the last month to come to a district or to come to a state for a sitting senator — it’s like he’s a presidential candidate again, which I was surprised by,’ said Zwick, who doubles as a top political aide to House Speaker Paul Ryan. ‘There are only so many people in the party that can headline these things.’” http://politi.co/2rZkZ9X
-- THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE between Republicans wanting to take advantage of Romney’s fundraising prowess, and his running for office and garnering the support he needs to win.
SUNDAY BEST -- JOHN DICKERSON speaks with SEN. JAMES LANKFORD (R-OKLA.) on CBS’S “FACE THE NATION” -- DICKERSON: “On the question of influencing the investigation, again, thinking about the scale, on the one hand the president might have done something that was a little bit crossing a line but he’s a new guy to the job all the way to this question of obstruction of justice. Where do you put, knowing what you know about the president’s behavior, where do you put what he did on that scale?” LANKFORD: “I would say it’s very inappropriate. As Jim Comey said, it’s awkward to be able to have the president of the United States sitting down with someone in the F.B.I., the leadership of the F.B.I., to be able to have direct questions. And for the issue to come up about the Michael Flynn investigations, inappropriate. But the way that it was handled, with no follow-up, with no other press, with no other return to that topic, it looks like what I called a pretty light touch. If this is trying to interfere in a process of any investigation, it doesn’t seem like it was number one, very effective, and number two, came up more than once in a conversation. So this looks more like an inappropriate conversation than obstruction.”
-- SEN. JACK REED (D-R.I.) tells CHRIS WALLACE on “FOX NEWS SUNDAY” that Trump needs to be deposed on all Russia-related questions -- “[T]he deposition is not just about his conversations with Mr. Comey. There are issues with respect to his conversation with director of national intelligence Dan Coats, Admiral Rogers, the NSA director, his relationships with Manafort. By the time the special prosecutor Mr. Mueller is ready to depose or ask the president to speak under oath, there are a myriad of questions. So what I don’t want to see is simply, we’ll I just said I talk about Comey, I’m not talking about anything else. To resolve this situation he has to be prepared to speak on all these matters.”
-- PREET BHARARA speaks to GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS on ABC’S “THIS WEEK” -- STEPHANOPOULOS: “The president’s defenders, like Alan Dershowitz, say there’s no grounds for obstruction. You talked about that. And he, in fact, says that presidents have the constitutional right to fire FBI directors and investigations as much as they want. One of the president’s attorneys, Jay Sekulow, is coming up next. He says there’s no there there, no basis for obstruction. You’re a former prosecutor. Are -- is there evidence there ... to begin a case for obstruction?” BHARARA: “I think there’s absolutely evidence to begin a case. I think it’s very important for all sorts of armchair speculators in the law to be clear that no one knows right now whether there is a provable case of obstruction. It’s also true I think from based on what I see as a third party and out of government that there’s no basis to say there’s no obstruction.”
-- SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-Maine) talks to BRIANNA KEILAR on CNN’s “STATE OF THE UNION” -- KEILAR: “I want to ask you about something the president has been cagey about, and that is these tapes, of course. So, I wonder if you would support issuing a subpoena to the White House. Right now, it’s just a request coming from Congress. Would you support issuing a subpoena for the recordings or any documents that might come from that?” COLLINS: “This is an issue that the president should have cleared up in his press conference. He should give a straight yes or no to the answer -- to the question of whether or not the tapes exist. And he should voluntarily turn them over not only to the Senate Intelligence Committee, but to the special counsel. So, I don’t think a subpoena should be necessary. And I don’t understand why the president just doesn’t clear this matter up once and for all.”
THE NEXT MAIN EVENT -- “Sessions will testify before Senate in Russia investigation,” by Kyle Cheney and John Bresnahan: “In a letter to his former colleagues in the House and Senate, Sessions canceled a planned appearance before Congress’ appropriations committees. Sessions said he instead plans to appear on Tuesday before the Intelligence panel to respond to questions stemming from FBI director James Comey’s bombshell testimony last Thursday. …
“If this is an open session ... Sessions will likely face a barrage of questions over his role in Comey’s dismissal, his independence from President Donald Trump, and allegations of additional unreported meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Sessions has already recused himself from the Russia probe after failing to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation of two meetings with Kislyak, and there have been reports of additional sessions.” http://politi.co/2rOVc5P
-- SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CALIF.) told Brianna Keilar on “State of the Union” that she didn’t know if the hearing will be open.
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW -- “What’s next for Comey? Maybe law, corporate work, politics,” by AP’s Eric Tucker: “So what’s next for James Comey? The former FBI director boldly challenged the president who fired him, accused the Trump administration of lying and supplied material that could be used to build a case against President Donald Trump. But after stepping away from the Capitol Hill spotlight, where he’s always seemed comfortable, the 56-year-old veteran lawman now confronts the same question long faced by Washington officials after their government service.
“His dry quip at a riveting Senate hearing that he was ‘between opportunities’ vastly understates the career prospects now available to him — not to mention potential benefits from the public’s fascination with a man who has commanded respect while drawing outrage from both political parties.” http://apne.ws/2sQlkMb
EYE-POPPING NUMBERS FROM WAPO’S KAREN TUMULTY in SANDY SPRINGS, GEORGIA -- “Trump looms over Georgia special election, a proxy battle for 2018”: “It is an arms race of money and organization. The latest fundraising report, filed Thursday, showed Ossoff raising an additional $15 million in the past two months, nearly quadruple what Handel brought in. With outside groups weighing in, the race has thus far cost more than $40 million -- far outpacing the previous record for a congressional race of nearly $30 million for a Florida contest in 2012.
“Polls indicate there are few voters still undecided. ‘The next 10 days are about turning out the base. There are more of us than them in the district. The more people who vote, the better,’ said Corry Bliss, who heads the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.). That organization alone plans to spend about $7 million in the race.” http://wapo.st/2rjhPM4
FASCINATING READ -- “Palantir goes from Pentagon outsider to Mattis’ inner circle,” by Jacqueline Klimas and Bryan Bender: “The Trump era has brought a change of fortune for a Silicon Valley software company founded by presidential adviser Peter Thiel — turning it from a Pentagon outcast to a player with three allies in Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' inner circle. At least three Pentagon officials close to Mattis, including his deputy chief of staff and a longtime confidante, either worked, lobbied or consulted for Palantir Technologies, according to ethics disclosures obtained by POLITICO. That’s an unusually high number of people from one company to have such daily contact with the Pentagon leader, some analysts say.
“It also represents a sharp rise in prominence for the company, which just months ago could barely get a meeting in the Pentagon. Last year, Palantir even had to go to court to force its way into a competition for a lucrative Army contract. Thiel was one of the only Silicon Valley titans to openly support Trump during the campaign, a role that gave him a prime speaking slot at last summer’s Republican convention. He has since acted as a key adviser arranging meetings among the president and other tech executives. While there's no evidence he had a direct hand in these specific Pentagon hires, analysts say they absolutely show his growing influence in the administration, where he holds no formal role.” http://politi.co/2sqMdbS
DEMOCRATS’ NEW PLAYBOOK -- “Democrats bet on Trump in Virginia governor’s race,” by Kevin Robillard: “Virginia’s Democratic primary on Tuesday is shaping up to be the first real test of liberalism in the Trump era, with both candidates lurching for increasingly leftward policies to position themselves in contrast with President Donald Trump. …
“Virginia’s gubernatorial elections often develop into contrasts with a new president, but there’s a stark difference between now and how Republican candidate Bob McDonnell handled then-President Barack Obama in 2009. While critical of the Obama's economic record, the future governor also regularly praised Obama for supporting school choice, straddling the partisan divide. The Democrats have felt no need to do the same with the less popular Trump, whose approval rating was at 36 percent in a recent Washington Post-George Mason University poll of Virginia.” http://politi.co/2rjHzYJ
THE LATEST ON HEALTH CARE -- “Fate of Planned Parenthood funding tied to Senate moderates,” by Jen Haberkorn: “Two female Senate Republicans could stop the anti-abortion movement from achieving its most significant win against Planned Parenthood in decades. Most Republicans want to eliminate the group’s $555 million in federal funding as part of their bill to repeal Obamacare. But as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tries to solve the legislative Rubik’s Cube of finding 50 votes for repeal, he may have to drop the Planned Parenthood cut to win the support of the two Republican moderates, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.” http://politi.co/2sbbpTf
WHAT SILICON VALLEY IS READING -- “Uber Board to Discuss CEO Travis Kalanick’s Possible Leave of Absence: Board also set to vote on recommendations from a report of an investigation into workplace issues,” by WSJ’s Greg Bensinger: “Uber Technologies Inc. Chief Executive Travis Kalanick will discuss taking a possible leave of absence when the board of directors of the embattled ride-hailing company meets Sunday morning, according to a person familiar with the matter.
“Also on the agenda when the seven-person board convenes is a vote on a series of recommendations from a report prepared by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder regarding its workplace. It was uncertain whether Mr. Kalanick would ultimately take the leave or whether the board would approve of such a measure, which would require finding a temporary replacement in short order.” http://on.wsj.com/2r7Ram8
THE JUICE …
-- SPOTTED at Mitt Romney’s E2 Summit in Deer Valley, Utah: New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, Spencer Zwick, Matt Waldrip, Corry Bliss, Speaker Paul Ryan, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Kristen Soltis Anderson, Ron Kaufman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Anthony Scaramucci, Bianna Golodryga, Will Ritter, Mary Bono Mack, Lanhee Chen, Leah Malone and Andrew Liveris.
RIP -- @SecondLady: “Rest in peace Oreo. You touched a lot of hearts in your little life. Our family will miss you very much.” http://bit.ly/2sgQOxR
‘WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WEEK’ AT THE WHITE HOUSE -- “Donald and Ivanka Trump head to Wisconsin for jobs push,” by ABC News’ Jordyn Phelps: “President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump are set to travel to Wisconsin Tuesday to join Gov. Scott Walker to tour a technical college, as the administration puts a renewed focus on its goal of job creation. The trip is just one event in a week full of activities built around promoting technical skills training and apprenticeships. [They are d]ubbing it ‘workforce development week’ ...
“The president is expected to make what the administration is billing as a ‘major policy speech’ at the Department of Labor on Wednesday, in which he’ll lay out steps the administration will take to encourage workforce development and also call for Congressional action. Ivanka Trump will also lead a roundtable with some 15 CEOs. On Thursday, the president will also host a roundtable discussion, where he will welcome eight governors from states with successful workforce development programs to the White House.” http://abcn.ws/2r7tOwT
THE NEW U.K. POLITICAL REALITY -- “For Britain, Political Stability Is a Quaint Relic,” by NYT’s Steven Erlanger in London: “In a little more than two years, Britain has had two general elections and a nationwide referendum. Each time, the politicians, pollsters, betting markets, political scientists and commentators have got it wrong.
“Once considered one of the most politically stable countries in the world, regularly turning out majority governments, Britain is increasingly confusing and unpredictable, both to its allies and itself. Far from settling the fierce divisions exposed by last year’s referendum on Britain’s exit from the European Union, or Brexit, the election on Thursday only made them worse.” http://nyti.ms/2shhy1i
-- THE POLITICO EUROPE TICK TOCK: “How Theresa May lost it: A reluctance to delegate, hubris and campaigning ineptitude ruined British prime minister’s grand plan to secure a mandate,” by Tom McTague, Charlie Cooper and Annabelle Dickson in London: “Halfway through Britain’s seven-week snap election campaign, some in Theresa May’s team came to the conclusion that they had a problem — the candidate. At a gathering of senior staff in Conservative campaign headquarters in central London, one of May’s top operatives told the sitting prime minister that she risked crashing and burning like Sarah Palin did in 2008. ... To the operative, May was overly controlling and her inexperience would tell during a short, intense campaign. May listened with good grace ... [but] changed nothing.” http://politi.co/2t8VuSG
ACTUAL FAKE NEWS – NYT A22, “A Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theorist, a False Tweet and a Runaway Story,” by Jeremy Peters: “A pro-Trump activist notorious for his amateur sleuthing into red herrings like the ‘Pizzagate’ hoax and a conspiracy theory involving the murder of a Democratic aide, Mr. Posobiec wrote on May 17 that Mr. Comey, the recently ousted F.B.I. director, had ‘said under oath that Trump did not ask him to halt any investigation.’ …
“But as the journey of that one tweet shows, misinformed, distorted and false stories are gaining traction far beyond the fringes of the internet. Just 14 words from Mr. Posobiec’s Twitter account would spread far enough to provide grist for a prime-time Fox News commentary and a Rush Limbaugh monologue that reached millions of listeners, forging an alternative first draft of history in corners of the conservative media where President Trump’s troubles are often explained away as fabrications by his journalist enemies.
“In this fragmented media environment, the spread of false information is accelerated and amplified by a web of allied activist-journalists with large online followings, a White House that grants them access and, occasionally, a president who validates their work. The right-wing media machine that President Bill Clinton’s aides once referred to as ‘conspiracy commerce’ is now far more mature, extensive and, in the internet age, tough to counter.” http://nyti.ms/2sbduPm
DEEP DIVES -- NYT A1, “Opioid Dealers Embrace the Dark Web to Send Deadly Drugs by Mail: Anonymous online sales are surging, and people are dying. Despite dozens of arrests, new merchants — many based in Asia — quickly pop up,” by Nathaniel Popper (print headline: “Drug Trade Rises in Dark Corners of the Internet”): “As the nation’s opioid crisis worsens, the authorities are confronting a resurgent, unruly player in the illicit trade of the deadly drugs, one that threatens to be even more formidable than the cartels. The internet. In a growing number of arrests and overdoses, law enforcement officials say, the drugs are being bought online. Internet sales have allowed powerful synthetic opioids such as fentanyl — the fastest-growing cause of overdoses nationwide — to reach living rooms in nearly every region of the country, as they arrive in small packages in the mail.” http://nyti.ms/2t91CdL
--“China’s New Bridges: Rising High, but Buried in Debt: China has built hundreds of dazzling new bridges, including the longest and highest, but many have fostered debt and corruption,” by NYT’s Chris Buckley: “The eye-popping structures have slashed travel times in some areas, made business easier and generated a sizable slice of the country’s economy, laying a foundation, in theory at least, for decades of future growth. But as the bridges and the expressways they span keep rising, critics say construction has become an end unto itself. Fueled by government-backed loans and urged on by the big construction companies and officials who profit from them, many of the projects are piling up debt and breeding corruption while producing questionable transportation benefits.” http://nyti.ms/2t9er7I
BONUS GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Daniel Lippman:
--“Bob Dylan’s Nobel Lecture”: “Some of these same things have happened to you. You too have had drugs dropped into your wine. You too have shared a bed with the wrong woman. You too have been spellbound by sweet voices with strange melodies. You too have come so far and have been so far blown back.” http://bit.ly/2rULMnO
--“How the D-Day Invasion Was Planned” – in the August 1944 issue of Popular Mechanics: “Every one of the thousands of men landed in France required about 10 ship tons of overall equipment, and an additional ship ton every 30 days. The number of separate items needed was about a million. Some of these million items had to be accumulated in millions, resulting in astronomical totals.” http://bit.ly/2smaY97
--“Eternal Champions,” by Sam Borden in ESPN: “Seven months ago, Brazilian underdogs Chapecoense boarded a plane to play in the game of their lives. Instead, their biggest moment turned into a tragedy no one can forget.” http://es.pn/2r9Y3aB (h/t Longform.org)
--“Inside Trump’s secretive immigration court: far from scrutiny and legal aid,” by The Guardian’s Oliver Laughland in Jena, Louisiana: “[T]he remote LaSalle detention facility is part of Trump’s attempt to fast-track deportations. A visit reveals a hastily arranged setup beset by flaws.” http://bit.ly/2scNvHQ
--“Rolling Stone at 50: How Hunter S. Thompson Became a Legend,” by Patrick Doyle in Rolling Stone – per The Browser’s description: “Sports Illustrated asked Hunter S. Thompson for 250 words about a Las Vegas motorbike race. He gave them 2,500 words — and when they spiked the piece he took it to Rolling Stone, which wanted more. The result was Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, published in 1971. Thompson’s coverage of the 1972 presidential campaign ‘reshaped what it meant to write about politics’. But ‘getting work out of him was becoming difficult”. Editing him ‘was a bit like being a cornerman for Ali.’” http://rol.st/2smiHEk
--“Weddings of the 0.01 Percent,” by Julia Rubin in Racked: “Cristal! Caviar! Chris Martin! How the rich (and sometimes famous) get married.” http://bit.ly/2smtvCz
--“The truth about tarot,” by James McConnachie in Aeon Magazine: “Whether divining ancient wisdoms or elevating the art of cold reading, tarot is a form of therapy, much like psychoanalysis.” http://bit.ly/2sL1XDY (h/t ALDaily.com)
--“The Worst Ever First Day on the Job -- Punching In: My Life as a Long Haul Trucker,” by Finn Murphy in Literary Hub: “Moving companies perform four categories of moving work: local, commercial, long-distance, and international. Callahan’s work was mostly local moving, loading up someone’s house in the morning and then unloading in the afternoon at the new house. It takes the greatest toll on the body because you are handling stuff every working day. It’s the local stuff that eventually kills you or drives you to drink; more commonly, both.” http://bit.ly/2s4Nuoy
--“There Were Once Jews Here,” by Lucette Lagnado, author of “The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: A Jewish Family’s Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World,” in Tablet Magazine: “During the Six-Day War, some of the Arab countries at war with Israel -- Egypt, Tunisia, Libya -- treated their Jewish populations terribly, causing them to leave en masse.” http://bit.ly/2t92OOk ... $10.01 on Amazonhttp://amzn.to/2sbmAeT
--“Dear Brazilian Government, Thanks for the Contracts,” by Michael Smith, Sabrina Valle, and Blake Schmidt on the cover of Bloomberg Businessweek: “There’s graft, and then there’s the graft machine perfected by Odebrecht, one of the world's biggest construction companies.” https://bloom.bg/2rOEHqr … The coverhttp://bit.ly/2rjKL6H
--“‘Kill them, kill them, kill them’: the volunteer army plotting to wipe out Britain’s grey squirrels,” by Patrick Barkham in The Guardian: “The red squirrel is under threat of extinction across Britain. Their supporters believe the only way to save them is to exterminate their enemy: the greys. But are they just prejudiced against non-native species?” http://bit.ly/2re8OE6
--“This County Switched From Backing Obama to Trump. Here’s What Happened,” by Josh Siegel in The Daily Signal: “In 1980, manufacturing jobs comprised 38 percent of all jobs in Coos [New Hampshire]. In 2014, only 7 percent of jobs in the county were in manufacturing. Payroll wages from manufacturing have dropped from 49 percent to 9 percent since the mid-1980s.” http://bit.ly/2sL2A0v
SPOTTED: Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly enjoying “DHS Night” Friday night at the Nats game along with members of DHS’ workforce – pic http://bit.ly/2rjyfUM... Anson Kaye, partner at GMMB, in New Orleans last night, accepting a Gold ADDY award (and also a Mosaic Award) for the ad “Mirrors” (http://bit.ly/2sbAIEM) he created for Hillary for America
SPOTTED at State Department senior White House adviser Matt Mowers’ birthday party at Wet Dog Tavern last night (which coincidentally also hosted RNC alum Anna Epstein’s birthday party at the same time): Cassie Spodak, Ryan Williams, Zeke Miller, Ben Sparks, Jill Barclay, Phil Elliott, Ethan Zorfas, Ben DeMarzo, Maren Kasper, Michael Kratsios, Kailani Koenig, Tom Dickens, Elise Dietsch Dickens, Eric Jones, Alan He, Andy Polesovsky, Corey Ershow, Kelly Klass, Britt Carter.
SHIELDS/WALSH ENGAGEMENT PARTY -- THE BRITISH EMBASSY hosted an engagement party last night for Mike Shields, former RNC chief of staff and founder and partner at Convergence Media and Katie Walsh, former WH deputy chief of staff and former RNC chief of staff who is now senior advisor at America First Policies. Amb. Kim Darroch toasted the pair and called them the “ultimate political couple” and told the crowd how the couple got engaged in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street, where the prime minister has met with his or her cabinet every week for 250 years. He also needled Mike, who has a British mother and is a big soccer fan, for supporting Ipswich, who he cast as much inferior to Chelsea in the Premier League. The food at the party included: herb-crusted fillet of lamb, goat’s cheese and beetroot, terrine of pork, and chili shrimp while desserts included mini Bakewell tart, strawberry tartlet and passion fruit mousse. Pics of the couplehttp://bit.ly/2sbk3Bp … http://bit.ly/2saWbhk … Reince Priebus taking a pic of the couple as they thanked friends for coming http://bit.ly/2rOGmfz … The crowdhttp://bit.ly/2rOzjDs
SPOTTED: Reince and Sally Priebus, Sean and Rebecca Spicer, Steven Mnuchin and his chief of staff Eli Miller chatting on a walk around the gardens of the embassy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Rob and Cindy Simms, Cara Mason, Jessica Ditto, Sarah and Dave Armstrong, Tim Pataki, Richard Walters, Rob Jesmer chatting with Sean Cairncross (Sean and Rob have been friends since they were 5 years old growing up in Minnesota), Brian O. Walsh, Josh Pitcock, Mike’s 15-year-old son Aidan Shields-Eads, Molly Donlin, Steven Law, Sam Feist, Mike Allen, Andrew Bremberg, Lew Eisenberg, Madeleine Westerhout, Johnny DeStefano, Renee Hudson, Michael Hoare, Lindsay Walters, Vanessa Morrone and Mike Ambrosini, Zach and Mallory Hunter.
ENGAGED --Andrew Feldman, principal of the progressive communications firm Feldman Strategies, proposed to his longtime girlfriend Megan Salzman Saturday night during Country Music Fest in Nashville. Megan is a communications manager at the early education advocacy group The First Five Years Fund. “Andrew and Megan met on OKCupid nearly four and a half years ago. Andrew points out that the ring has extra significant because the center stone was Megan’s mother’s engagement stone and she is no longer with us.” Pics http://bit.ly/2r7KrIZ ... http://bit.ly/2rOFJTb … The ringhttp://bit.ly/2rjzLGh
-- Jessica Huff, social media director for McClatchy in Dallas and a Politico alum, and Spenser Walters, an area sales rep for Duvel USA, got engaged on Friday night in Austin, Texas. She emails us: “We met in college at UT-Austin after he came back from Afghanistan. He was serving in the Marines. We had the same group of friends but I hadn’t met him yet since he was overseas. Once he was back, one of our first dates was at a restaurant in the hill country in Texas overlooking the lake, and so while visiting Austin he took me back there and proposed during sunset. It’s a very special place to us so it was perfect!” Picshttp://bit.ly/2shqCmX … The ringhttp://bit.ly/2t9rnKO
WEEKEND WEDDINGS -- Travis Considine, communications manager at Uber Texas and a John McCain and Rick Perry alum, married Morgan Smith, a reporter with The Texas Tribune, on Saturday evening at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Guests enjoyed a bluegrass band and flawless weather at the outdoor ceremony and reception. Pichttp://bit.ly/2t9jc1c … Travis’ speechhttp://bit.ly/2sQLqi2
SPOTTED: Tucker and Alexia Bounds, Brittany Bramell, Trevor Theunissen, Chris Miller, Allie Brandenburger and Ryan Mahoney, Kevin Benacci, Emily Ramshaw, Matt and Jen Hirsch, Evan Smith, Perrylanders Rob Johnson, Mark Miner, and Andy Hemming.
OBAMA ALUMNI – Meredith Carden, head of partnerships at Sidewire, got married this weekend to Micah Fergenson, law clerk at U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in a small ceremony at Four Follies Farm in Tiverton, Rhode Island. The couple first met in 2009 when they were working for President Obama. Micah worked in the WH Counsel’s Office, and Meredith worked for FLOTUS in the East Wing. They lost touch, but were reintroduced by a mutual friend in 2015. Pichttp://bit.ly/2sb3PIq
--“Lily Rothman, Elihu Dietz” – N.Y. Times: “Ms. Rothman, 31, is the history and archives editor at Time magazine, overseeing its history coverage, Life.com and the magazine’s digital archive. She also wrote ‘Everything You Need to Ace American History in One Big Fat Notebook.’ She graduated magna cum laude from Yale and received a master’s degree in journalism from the City University of New York. ... Mr. Dietz, 32, is a candidate for a master’s degree in environmental management at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke, where he studies the integration of renewable energy into the grid. He graduated from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, N.M. ... The groom is a great-great-grandson and a namesake of Elihu Root, who was President Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary of state and the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1912. He is also a direct descendant of President Ulysses S. Grant. The couple met on a blind date arranged by friends in Brooklyn in 2011.” With pic http://nyti.ms/2rZpO2N
--“Alison Kenworthy, Michael Koenigs”: “The bride and groom work at ABC News in New York, where they met. She is a news producer for ‘Good Morning America.’ He is a senior coordinating producer, creating content that is used on-air and on the website. He was also the host of ‘Election Cycle,’ a series in 2016 that featured him bicycling through swing states and interviewing voters along the way. The bride, 33, graduated from Rutgers. ... Mr. Koenigs, 30, graduated cum laude from Harvard.” With pichttp://nyti.ms/2t8GB2L
--“Julia Pudlin, David Wishnick”: “Ms. Pudlin, 32, worked until earlier this year at the United States Treasury Department as a deputy executive secretary in the chief of staff’s office and a senior adviser to the general counsel. On July 10 she is to begin working as the assistant deputy general counsel for government investigations at Comcast in Philadelphia. She graduated summa cum laude from Yale, and received a law degree magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. ... Mr. Wishnick, also 32, was until recently an associate in the Washington office of Jenner & Block, a Chicago law firm. On July 12 he is to begin a fellowship, conducting research in contract law, at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown, and received a law degree from Yale. ... The couple met in April 2013 through the dating app Hinge.” With pichttp://nyti.ms/2rOZSIV
--“Victoria St. Martin, Richard G. Jones”: “The bride, 36, is a general assignment reporter on the local desk of The Washington Post. She graduated from Rutgers and received a master’s degree in journalism from American University. ... The groom, 46, is to become the director of the journalism program at Notre Dame. Until recently, he was an associate editor in news administration for The New York Times, as well as the director of the newspaper’s Student Journalism Institute. He graduated from the University of Delaware and has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia. ... The couple were introduced in 2006 by a mutual friend in Yardley, Pa.” With pichttp://nyti.ms/2rOtYMA
BIRTHDAYS: Greta Van Susteren, the pride of Appleton, Wisconsin (hat tip: Tammy Haddad) ... Tad Devine, the pride of Providence who lives on Block Island, is 62 ... Kim Oates of the House Radio/TV gallery … Carrie Budoff Brown’s older sister, Jennifer Budoff, budget director for the D.C. City Council ... former Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is 87 … Lindsey Williams Drath ... Jennifer Rubin ... Michael Timmeny, SVP for government and community relations at Cisco ... Jeremy Ben-Ami, president at J Street (h/ts Jon Haber) ... POLITICO’s Reid Pillifant, Emily Dobler and Juliette Medina ... South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard is 64 ... Treasury alum David Cohen ... TJ Adams-Falconer, associate director of external affairs at Axios ... Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Tex.) is 69 ... Cesar Gonzalez, COS for Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart ... former Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) is 59 ... DNC comms staffer and former HRC campaign media booker Lucas Acosta (h/t Crystal Carson) ...
... Will Rahn, managing editor for politics at CBS News digital, is 3-0 ... Jessica Franks, gov’t affairs representative for Halliburton ... Politico Europe’s Tanit Parada Tur ... Chris Campbell, Republican staff director at Senate Finance ... Kristina Edmunson ... Rachel Ruskin ... Obama alum Jonathan McBride, now a managing director at BlackRock … Mike Schoenfeld, the Blue Devils’ master of public affairs/Duke’s other Mike … Betsy Gotbaum, former NYC public advocate, is 79 ... Matt Chaban, policy director at Center for an Urban Future ... Mary Kate Cunningham ... Salesforce’s Tom Gavin, an Obama WH OMB alum … Michael Froehlich ... Caroline Barker ... Matthew Campbell ... Vanessa Chan, corporate comms. at Facebook ... Kelly Danielka Peirson ... Google’s Ramya Raghavan ... Tom Alexander, COO at 1871 Chicago and a Rahm alum ... Jacque Vilmain, the pride of Eagle Grove, Iowa(h/t Teresa) ... animal rights activist Ingrid Newkirk is 68 ... Power Playbooker Dr. Oz is 57 ... actor Hugh Laurie is 58 ... Shia LaBeouf is 31 (h/ts AP)

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TRUMP to rollback some of Obama’s Cuba policies -- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Kellyanne complains about West Wing colleagues -- REMEMBERING Zbig Brzezinski -- ASHCROFT hired by Qatar -- KATY TUR profile – B’DAY: Zeleny

BREAKING: TRUMP to delay UK trip -- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Aug. recess in jeopardy -- ISENSTADT: MITT shows signs of political revival -- SPOTTED at Mike Shields/Katie Walsh engagement party -- B’DAY: Greta van Susteren

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Interview with Chief Vitiello