Monday, December 3
Trade Today:
-U.S.-China Trade Truce Risks Extending, Not Ending Trade War (Bloomberg)
-China Hails Progress on U.S. Student Visas While Trump Stays Silent (Bloomberg)
-Trump Nafta Termination Vow Pressures Congress to Bless New Deal (Bloomberg)
U.S. Midterm Post-Mortem: Despite Big House Losses, Republicans Show No Signs of Course Correction (New York Times)
With a brutal finality, the extent of the Republicans’ collapse in the House came into focus last week as more races slipped away from them and their losses neared 40 seats. Yet nearly a month after the election, there has been little self-examination among Republicans about why a midterm that had seemed at least competitive became a rout.
Paris Riots: Shock at Attack on Paris’ Arc de Triomphe during ‘Yellow Vest’ Protest (France 24)
Russia Investigation Latest: Robert Mueller’s Breadcrumbs Suggest He Has the Goods (Axios)
Philanthropy Today: Pennsylvania Receiving $10 Million Donation From Michael Bloomberg To Fight Opioid Epidemic (CBS Philadelphia)
Pennsylvania will be the first state to receive a big donation to help fight the opioid epidemic. Calling it a national crisis, Mike Bloomberg is donating $50 million to 10 states to fight the drug epidemic, with Pennsylvania getting $10 million.
After the announcement, Bloomberg visited Philadelphia with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf as they went to the Bridge Way School for students who are in recovery. Pennsylvania’s rate of 44.3 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents is more than double the national average, and Governor Wolf said Bloomberg’s donation will “make a big difference.”
Sheekey Daily Extra: Click here for the week ahead calendar, including Bloomberg’s ‘The Year Ahead’ in Tokyo, U.S. astronaut Anne McClain and others taking off for the International Space Station, and OPEC oil ministers meeting in Vienna.
George H.W. Bush, 1924-2018
George H.W. Bush, American Patriot, 1924 – 2018: The U.S. Misses the Virtues He Exemplified (Editorial from Bloomberg Opinion)
Modesty and dedication of the kind Bush exemplified haven’t in fact vanished from American politics. Decency, purpose and patriotic commitment can be found all across the country. But those qualities have receded from the spotlight, because Americans have allowed them to. The best way to honor the legacy of a brave and decent man is to recognize the importance of those virtues, and to demand no less of candidates for public office, high or low.
Bill Clinton: George H.W. Bush’s Oval Office Note to Me Revealed the Heart of Who He Was (Washington Post)
Watch: Former U.S. Presidents: Remembering George H.W. Bush (CBS News – 60 Minutes)
U.S. Day of Mourning Wednesday: U.S. Financial Markets to Shut Wednesday to Honor Bush (Bloomberg)
Today, President Bush’s body will lie in state in the U.S. capitol rotunda. On Wednesday, the U.S. will mark a national day of mourning with funeral services held at Washington National Cathedral. On Thursday, a funeral will be held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas.
Flashback to April 18: Barbara Bush, 1925 – 2018.
Best of late night.
“This Sunday is the first night of Hannukkah. Which means we’re just two days away from President Trump going on Twitter and wishing everybody a Happy Chaka Khan.”
— Jimmy Fallon
At the White House Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony last week, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke introduced President Trump as “the man who brought Christmas back to America.”
“I think we all remember well, before Trump you know, there were just Hanukkah parades all over the place, Starbucks giving out Ramadan cups, yeah I remember.”
— James Corden
“Is Trump in charge of bringing Christmas back? If so, he’s doing a horrible job. My neighborhood Rite Aid started selling Christmas candy in September. Also, a dancing Christmas tree that sings ‘Despacito.’”
— James Corden