Health department recommends Alabamians get a flu shot
Health officials are urging Alabama residents to get the flu shot as flu cases are on the rise. Across the country, flu season is beginning to peak and is widespread in a whopping 43 states, including the Yellowhammer State. With more than 14,000 cases reported nationwide each week, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is reminding Alabamians that influenza vaccine is the most important preventive measure against the flu. Flu symptoms include: 100.1 degree Fahrenheit or higher fever Cough and/or sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Headaches and/or body aches Chills Fatigue The ADPH said Thursday the state is experiencing a spike in influenza-like illnesses this winter, and that vaccines can lower the chances of catching the flu by more than 60 percent. Immunity usually follows roughly 7 to 10 days after immunization. “It is not too late to vaccinate for flu and reduce the risk of illness,” said Dr. Karen Landers of the ADPH. “In addition, it is important that people wash hands, cover coughs, and stay home when they have influenza-like illnesses.” On average each year, flu kills 36,000 and hospitalizes 200,000 in the U.S.
Producers can’t keep politics from edging into Oscar show
Meryl Streep ushered politics into Hollywood’s awards season when she used her Golden Globes acceptance speech to condemn President Donald Trump for what she called his “instinct to humiliate.” Stars were even more outspoken at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, held just days after Trump’s travel ban caused havoc at airports across the country. Even last week’s performance-heavy Grammy Awards had a political edge when members of A Tribe Called Quest raised their fists and Q-Tip repeated a call to “Resist.” The Feb. 26 Academy Awards are the final stop of the industry’s annual two months of self-adulation, and while show producers aren’t planning any political content, the night’s winners might be. As much as first-time Oscar telecast producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd may want their show to focus on the magic of the movies, they say they support any message spoken from the heart, even if it means turning the Oscar podium into a political pulpit. “The show has to stand behind the free exchange of ideas,” De Luca said in a recent interview. “I do believe a little bit in the famous Sam Goldwyn quote about movies: ‘If you want to send a message, call Western Union.’ And there’s a school of thought that says people are tuning in to celebrate the storytelling that’s moved them, and should we limit what we say to a celebration of that?” But Oscar-caliber artists “are the kind of people that do get moved by the environment and the world they live in,” De Luca said, and they may want to use their moment on stage “to share those feelings the same way you shared the story that you’re being nominated for, and we want to honor that, too.” Given the tone set by celebrities at other awards shows this season — and on social media since the election — some anti-Trump rhetoric at the Oscars wouldn’t be surprising. The show already has a political element: The Iranian director and star of foreign language film nominee “The Salesman” have said they will not attend the ceremony in protest of Trump’s travel ban. Film academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs was clear at the annual nominees’ luncheon last week that the organization supports artists and freedom of expression. “Each and every one of us knows that there are some empty chairs in this room, which has made academy artists activists,” she said. “There is a struggle globally today over artistic freedom that feels more urgent than at any time since the 1950s.” Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel hasn’t given much hint of his approach for the show. Winners are free to use their allotted 45 seconds of speaking time as they please. “I hope that the Oscar speeches, whatever they are, are just well said,” co-producer Todd said. “I loved when Patricia Arquette talked about fair pay (when accepting the supporting actress Oscar in 2015). She did a beautiful job and she spoke from her heart. So I just think that as long as you’re going to do it, do it well.” Passionate expressions also make for compelling television, De Luca added. “Those feelings can create moments for the telecast that are really memorable,” he said. “And spontaneity is our friend. Anything that’s not scripted, that’s natural and from the heart, is a good thing for the telecast.” And if viewers who disagree with the politics decide to tune out? “We’re of a mind of: Let people be the people they are and not worry about the public reaction,” De Luca said. Oscar nominees and guests say they expect politics to have a presence at the 89th Academy Awards. “I suppose each Oscar show represents its time on some level,” said Viggo Mortensen, nominated for lead actor for “Captain Fantastic.” ”I think the Trump White House so far is not about being, let’s say, completely honest and above board. It’s not really about intellectual curiosity. It’s not about listening to people who think differently. It’s about, to some degree, shutting people up who you don’t like or who don’t agree with you, and I think the Oscars will probably be the opposite of that.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Martha Roby: APT documentary delivers results for Alabama veteran
With the start of a new Congress and a new presidential administration in office, there’s a lot of increased interest in government right now. That’s one of the reasons I agreed to serve as the subject of “Inside Congress: Alabama to DC,” a new Alabama Public Television documentary project offering an inside look at the many roles played by a United States congressman. The film features unique, behind-the-scenes footage of my activities throughout the halls of Congress, including a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee, a meeting with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and multiple office visits from constituent groups. The film also includes scenes from back home in Alabama, where filmmakers went on the road with me to capture my visits throughout the Second District. Roy Clem, Executive Director of Alabama Public Television, said the film is part of APT’s larger efforts to educate students and adults about how our government works. In fact, just last week I recorded educational pieces meant for civics classes about the separation of powers, different forms of government, and the foundations of our constitutional republic. It was a fun experience working with Roy and award-winning filmmaker Mark Fastoso who is known for his most recent work, “JEREMIAH,” the critically-acclaimed documentary profile of former U.S. Senator Jeremiah Denton. I’m honored and grateful to have had the opportunity to offer a glimpse into the inner workings of Congress and my day-to-day activities as an elected official and a mom, but the film also highlighted some of the little-known but important work we do to help constituents dealing with federal agencies. It’s no secret that many veterans seeking care for their service-connected injuries have had trouble getting treatment through the VA. For the last three years, we have worked hard to improve overall access to care at the Central Alabama VA, and much of that work has played out publicly. What is rarely seen, however, is the hard work that goes on behind the scenes when individual veterans who reach out to my office for help dealing with a sometimes difficult system. The film captures the story of Mr. Vicki Robinson, a Vietnam veteran from Prattville, who after undergoing a routine screening for cancer, never heard back from the VA. The results came back positive, but because Mr. Robinson wasn’t informed, his cancer advanced and became life-threatening. That’s when he reached out to my office for help. Thanks to the hard work of my dedicated staff, especially Charlotte Bent in my Montgomery office, we were able to get to the bottom of it and get Mr. Robinson the treatment he needed. Because the documentary shed light on this egregious oversight, the hospital has changed course for the better, and Mr. Robinson and others are now receiving improved quality of care. I’ve consistently argued that the public – especially veterans and lawmakers – should be privy to VA quality ratings for this very reason. Mr. Robinson’s story is proof that when the public applies pressure to the VA, we often achieve results. The Central Alabama VA has been improving. While I’m proud of this marked progress, we still have a long way to go and I’m so pleased that APT’s documentary project serves as further motivation to get health care right for our veterans. I hope you’ll watch “Inside Congress: Alabama to DC” on APT’s website by entering this link in your browser: https://video.aptv.org/video/2365954809/. ••• Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband Riley and their two children.
Bradley Byrne named vice-chair of Seapower subcommittee
Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Bryne has been named Vice-Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee by Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry. “I am honored to serve alongside Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Rob Wittman as we work to build up our Navy fleet and focus on deterring aggression around the globe,” said Byrne. “Our Sailors, Airmen, and Marines are the finest fighting force on the globe, and they deserve the tools and resources necessary to do their job.” He continued, “Serving as Vice Chair, I will continue to advocate for our nation’s shipbuilders, including the hardworking men and women at the Austal Shipyard in Mobile and other Gulf Coast shipyards.” Bryne has served on the full committee since coming to Congress in 2014. The Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee has oversight over Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force programs. Through its authorization for Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force procurement and R&D programs, this subcommittee is committed to reversing the decline in the Air Force’s Global Mobility and Bomber forces, Navy battle force fleet, strengthening the naval air component, and providing the Marine Corps warfighter with essential equipment for combat operations. “The world remains a dangerous place with threats increasing in every theater,” said Thornberry. “Ensuring that our troops are the best-trained, best-equipped, and best-supported is even more critical this year. I am encouraged by the members serving as Vice Chairs for this Congress. They bring diverse talent and experience to our committee and its’ mission.”
CNN: Donald Trump attacks haven’t hurt the news network
The president of CNN said Thursday that neither the network’s journalism or business have been hurt as a result of President Donald Trump‘s attacks. Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide, spoke Thursday at the same time Trump was holding a news conference in Washington in which he continued his barrage against media coverage of the administration. Zucker said he was worried enough about Trump’s labeling of CNN as “fake news” through the campaign and after that he ordered a study last month to see if it had damaged the network’s reputation with viewers. He said it hadn’t. Less than a third —or 31 percent — of 2,000 Americans surveyed said they believed CNN’s coverage of Trump had been unfair, the internal study found. The survey also reported that a little more than half of respondents said they trusted CNN, but that was well above the trust level for Trump or members of Congress. “The CNN brand has been as strong as it has ever been,” Zucker said. Network executives said CNN had its most profitable year in 2016 and was on pace to do even better this year. The administration has reportedly banned its officials from appearing on CNN, although there have been sporadic exceptions. The dispute has been most apparent on Sundays, where on two weekends Vice President Mike Pence and presidential aide Stephen Miller were guests on other network political affairs shows but not on Jake Tapper‘s CNN show, “State of the Union.” Zucker, who said he had not spoken with Trump since December on this or other issues, said it hasn’t affected CNN’s ability to tell the political story. “We don’t feel it’s hurt us in any way,” he said. Angered by the Pence snub, CNN said that it declined an administration offer to instead have aide Kellyanne Conway on Tapper’s show, saying she had credibility issues. Conway has said she wasn’t available that day. But Tapper interviewed her two days later. “Saying that we have questions about her credibility does not mean that we would never interview her,” Zucker said. Like its rivals, particularly Fox News Channels, CNN has benefited from extraordinary interest in the new administration. CNN’s ratings are up 51 percent this year compared to last, he said. That’s unusual because news network ratings usually tumble after a presidential election. Trump’s lengthy news conference on Thursday was filled with media criticism. But he took questions from a range of reporters; many White House reporters — including CNN’s Jim Acosta — had been concerned over the past week when Trump bypassed the mainstream media in three separate news conferences connected to visits by foreign leaders, instead calling on representatives from more friendly news outlets. On Thursday Trump even took questions from Acosta, but also specifically criticized some of CNN’s coverage of him. The president said that CNN’s 10 p.m. news show, hosted by Don Lemon, “is almost exclusive anti-Trump.” “I would be your biggest fan in the world if you treated me right,” Trump said. “I sort of understand there’s a certain bias, maybe by Jeff or somebody, you know, whatever reason. And I understand that. But you’ve got to be at least a little bit fair and that’s why the public sees it. They see it. They see it’s not fair. You take a look at some of your shows and you see the bias and the hatred.” Acosta, for his part, told the president that “just for the record, we don’t hate you. I don’t hate you.” After the news conference, CNN’s Tapper said the president was “unhinged.” He said that Trump’s performance might play well among people who voted for him, but “a lot of people are going to say, ‘that guy isn’t focused on me. I don’t know what he’s focused on.’” A few minutes later on Fox News Channel, Bret Baier said that Trump’s “mesmerizing” performance was an illustration of why people had supported him. “There are people who are going to say that it was unhinged, or their heads are going to explode at something he said, but this is Trump being Trump,” Baier said. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Alabama senators vote in favor of Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator
The U.S. Senate Friday confirmed Oklahoma attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with votes from Alabama Republican senators Richard Shelby and Luther Strange. Pruitt was confirmed in 52-46 party-line vote, with Democratic senators Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, also voting in favor of him. The new EPA Administrator will now endeavor to rein in the EPA, from what some, including Alabama’s own Sen. Shelby considers to be “out-of-control bureaucracy.” Shelby says the Oklahoma Republican will help “put the agency on a new path.” “Throughout the past eight years, the EPA became an out-of-control bureaucracy focused on advancing the political priorities of the Obama Administration instead of its intended purpose,” said Shelby. “After reviewing his credentials and meeting with him personally, I am confident that Scott Pruitt will put the agency on a new path. I look forward to working with Administrator Pruitt in my role on the EPW Committee to ensure that we protect our environment responsibly, but in a manner that will not unnecessarily stifle job creation and our economy.” Alabama’s newest senator, and Pruitt’s former AG colleague, Luther Strange, praised the new EPA Administrator saying Pruitt has seen “first-hand the devastation that rivers of red-tape can create” and is excited about the work he will do in the position. “I have known Scott for a number of years and I am so excited about the good work I know he will do as Director of the EPA,” said Strange. “He has seen first-hand the devastation that rivers of red-tape can create for our farmers, small business owners, and other vital industries that are the backbone of the American economy.” Strange continued, “There is no question that we all want clean water and air for our children and grandchildren, but Scott knows that a one-size-fits-all approach from Washington ignores the unique qualities of individual communities, and can create more harm than good. Scott will ensure that the EPA safeguards for future generations a safe and healthy environment, without creating unnecessary burdens for our country’s job creators. On a personal note, Scott is a dear, personal friend who I know loves this nation and will always seek to do what is right.”
Donald Trump gets out of Washington, shifting from rocky start
President Donald Trump sought to shift the focus away from the rocky launch of his administration Friday, getting out of Washington for campaign-style events to energize supporters and talk up factory jobs. Trump flew to South Carolina, where Boeing is rolling out the first 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft from its assembly line. From there, he’ll continue to Florida, spending time at his estate in Palm Beach and holding one of his signature rallies Saturday in central Florida. The trip follows a marathon news conference Thursday that appeared to be the start of an effort to galvanize a White House that has been buffeted by crisis and paralyzed by dysfunction. Trump said Friday on Twitter that he was going to South Carolina “in order to spend time with Boeing and talk jobs!” President Barack Obama made a similar trip in 2012, visiting a Boeing plant in Washington state to view some of the 787s under assembly. At the raucous news conference, Trump denounced the “criminal” leaks that took down his top national security adviser and revived questions about his own ties to Russia. He is still trying to stabilize his national security team. On Monday, he demanded the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn following revelations that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence about Flynn’s contacts with Russia. Trump’s first choice to replace Flynn — Vice Admiral Robert Harward — turned down the offer. Trump also tweeted Friday that “General Keith Kellogg, who I have known for a long time, is very much in play for NSA — as are three others.” Kellogg, who is serving as the acting national security adviser, traveled to South Carolina with Trump aboard Air Force One. Also on the trip were Trump daughter Ivanka; her husband Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to Trump; White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and strategist Steve Bannon. The White House said Trump might interview national security candidates while at his estate. He is holding a campaign-style rally Saturday in Florida, his first one as president. The event at an airport hangar in Melbourne will be 1,354 days before the 2020 election. Huge rallies were the hallmark of Trump’s presidential campaign. He continued to do them, although with smaller crowds, throughout the early part of his transition, during what he called a “thank you” tour. The Florida rally comes as he makes his third weekend trip this month to what he calls his “Winter White House,” his Mar-a-Lago resort. The White House has not responded to questions about why Trump is putting on this event or who is paying for it. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
President Donald Trump says he’s torn over young immigrants
President Donald Trump spoke in unusually personal terms as he answered a question at a White House press conference about hundreds of thousands of young immigrants whose fate rests in his hands. “We’re going to show great heart. DACA is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me, it’s one of the most difficult subjects I have,” the president said Thursday in a rare admission of uncertainty. “Because you have these incredible kids, in many cases,” he said. Trump was referring to his predecessor’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows young people who were brought into the country illegally as children to stay and obtain work permits. The program has protected about 750,000 immigrants since its inception in 2012. Trump had promised during his campaign to “immediately terminate” what he’d deemed “President Obama’s two illegal executive amnesties.” But he has yet to move forward on the issue, despite pressure from immigration hard-liners, including Rep. Steve King of Iowa. While he had previously suggested those covered by the program would be safe from immediate deportation, the president has yet to say whether they will be allowed to continue living and working in a country that is the only many have known. On Thursday, Trump suggested he still has work to do to convince reluctant congressional leaders to get on board. “I have to deal with a lot of politicians, don’t forget. And I have to convince them that what I’m saying is, is right,” he said. But the president suggested that he’s been mulling a solution that goes beyond simply overturning DACA, as he had pledged. “You know, I love these kids. I love kids. I have kids and grandkids. And I find it very, very hard doing what the law says exactly to do,” he said. “And you know the law is rough. I’m not talking about new laws. I’m talking the existing law is very rough. It’s very, very rough.” Immigration lawyers, activists and those protected by the program have been waiting anxiously for any signs of what Trump might do since he took office last month. The issue returned to the headlines this week after a Seattle-area man participating in the program was detained by immigration agents. The U.S. Justice Department said Daniel Ramirez Medina, 23, admitted to having gang ties. But one of Ramirez’ lawyers, Mark Rosembaum, has said the allegations are false. Trump’s comments came as immigrants across the country were staying home from work and school as part of “A Day Without Immigrants” national protest. Many businesses have closed in solidarity to demonstrate the importance of immigrants to the American economy. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
A house divided: Alabama House GOP caucus split over leadership, direction
The 72 Republicans that hold a super-majority in the 105-member Alabama state House of Representatives have become “deeply divided” as they question their party’s leadership and direction as a caucus, says one state lawmaker. Decatur-Republican, state Representative Ed Henry says House GOP members nearly voted their majority leader, Representative Mickey Hammon, out of his position this week during a caucus meeting. Hammon narrowly escaped being ousted, by a singular absentee vote, during a secret-ballot confidence vote on Wednesday. Following the vote, Henry announced he was among those who cast a vote against the majority leader, claiming the party has a watered down plan for 2017 and that it needs to get back to a true conservative agenda. “Going forward, there is a desire from within from the members to form a true conservative caucus. The next several days are going to determine if there is a true fracture inside the Republican caucus,” Henry told the Associated Press. While Hammon has declined public comment on Wednesday’s vote, he did release a statement. “I will say that even after Rep. Henry raised his concerns with the Caucus, I remain Majority Leader with the support of my Republican colleagues,” said Hammon. “Though it is often difficult to lead 72 Republican House members with varying personalities and opinions, I look forward to continuing as Majority Leader as we work to reform government, recruit jobs, and improve education while using conservative beliefs and values as our guide.”
Federal appeals court will hear April arguments in Alabama’s refugee lawsuit
A federal appeals court will hear oral arguments in April on Alabama’s lawsuit against the federal government over refugee placement. The Montgomery-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals announced a tentative argument session set for the week of April 24. The arguments were scheduled for appeal after a federal judge dismissed the state’s lawsuit that claimed the federal government didn’t ask for Alabama officials’ input about the settlement of Syrian refugees. The consultation is a requirement of the Refugee Act of 1980, according to Gov. Robert Bentley. Bentley announced his refusal to relocate the refugees following the Paris attacks in November 2015. Stating that unless federal officials provided background check and medical information to the state, they were not welcome in the Yellowhammer State. In July 2016, Chief United States Magistrate Judge John E. Ott ruled the state’s claims were too vague, and issued the dismissal, writing that the Refugee Act of 1980 did not allow states a right to a cause of action to enforce the law. “As your governor, I will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm’s way,” Bentley said in a news release. “The District Court based its dismissal on a technicality, a finding that Alabama may not sue to enforce the Refugee Act; the District Court did not find that the federal government was fulfilling its obligations under the Act.” The state filed the appeal in August 2016.
Donald Trump’s court pick Neil Gorsuch reaches out, but Democrats still wary
In daily visits to Senate offices, Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch has tried to make clear to Democrats that he’s an independent thinker. Gorsuch told senators that he found President Donald Trump’s attacks on the judiciary “disheartening” and “demoralizing” after Trump had lashed out at a federal judge who issued a stay on his refugee and immigration ban. On Tuesday, Gorsuch told Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin that he hopes to be “half the nominee” as Merrick Garland, the judge nominated by President Barack Obama last year, only to be blocked by Senate Republicans. Durbin, D-Ill., also said Gorsuch indicated support for criminal justice reform — a Durbin priority — and disavowed a 2005 National Review article he’d written criticizing Democrats and liberals. “He said it was probably one of the biggest mistakes he ever made,” Durbin recalled Thursday. “It’s a terrible article. He wishes it would just disappear.” Though Democrats who have met with him have almost uniformly said that the perfectly pedigreed federal appeals court judge is impressive, Gorsuch’s overtures may not be enough to win him an easy confirmation. Liberals are pressuring Democrats to strongly oppose Trump’s pick. Several Democratic senators say they are uncomfortable with some of Gorsuch’s judicial decisions. A year after Justice Antonin Scalia‘s death created the vacancy, Democrats are still furious that Republicans refused to consider Garland. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said voters should have a say in the choice via the presidential election. Republicans would like to see Gorsuch take the ninth spot on the court by the time they leave for a two-week recess April 10 and in time for the court’s arguments that start a week later. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Thursday that the committee will hold at least three days of hearings starting March 20. That would give the Senate two weeks for committee approval and confirmation votes on the floor. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said earlier this month that he has “serious, serious concerns” about Gorsuch, and Republicans will likely need the support of 60 of the Senate’s 100 members to move to a confirmation vote on Gorsuch. Republicans have a 52-48 majority, so at least eight Democrats will need to vote with Republicans. Much of the focus has been on 10 Democrats up for re-election next year in states that Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. While at least two — Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin — have said they will oppose Gorsuch, many of the others have said little as conservative groups are already spending money to pressure them. Montana Sen. Jon Tester spoke to reporters for less than a minute after his meeting with Gorsuch earlier this month, saying he is “open” to voting for the judge. Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill won’t comment at all on the nomination after she was criticized online for a tweet saying Gorsuch should get a hearing and a vote. North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp issued a statement saying she discussed several local issues with the judge and “it is our job as U.S. senators to perform this function and not play politics.” Other Democrats have been more open with concerns. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy says he’s wary of Gorsuch’s sharp criticism of the Chevron doctrine, which holds that judges should defer to federal departments and agencies to fill in the blanks of certain laws, including on immigration and the environment. The framers, Gorsuch wrote last year, intended for lawmakers to make the laws, executives to execute them and judges to decipher their meaning. Murphy says Gorsuch’s comments on Trump’s tweets are irrelevant to his confirmation. “It would be a story if he wasn’t disheartened by the president of the United States openly attacking federal judges,” Murphy says. Delaware Sen. Chris Coons said after his meeting that Gorsuch is an “engaging and well-educated person” but that he has concerns about some cases in which Gorsuch has written a dissent or concurrence on an issue that wasn’t before the court, along with several of his decisions. Democrats will likely seek to tie Gorsuch to chaos in Trump’s White House and controversy over his immigrant ban, noting that some of his executive actions could end up before the court. When the judge was nominated, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said the actions of the Trump administration “raise the stakes to an even higher level.” Asked whether he could see himself supporting Gorsuch, Durbin said, “Of course I’m not ruling that out,” but he says he awaits the hearings. Senate Republicans have universally praised Gorsuch as they face questions about many of Trump’s other decisions. “He gives us an opportunity to talk about an issue that matters a lot to people across the country, and where we’re very much in sync with what they want to see on the court,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
A month into presidency, Donald Trump prepares for a campaign rally
President Donald Trump is holding a campaign rally Saturday in politically strategic Florida — 1,354 days before the 2020 election. The unusually early politicking follows a pattern: Trump filed his paperwork for re-election on Jan. 20, Inauguration Day. By comparison, President Barack Obama didn’t make his re-election bid official with the Federal Election Commission until April 2011. Huge rallies were the hallmark of Trump’s presidential campaign. He continued to do them, although with smaller crowds, throughout the early part of his transition, during what he called a “thank you” tour. The Florida event will be his first such one as president. “I hear the tickets — you can’t get them,” Trump said Thursday during a meeting with lawmakers. “That’s OK, that’s better than you have too many.” Trump responds well to the supportive crowds, who often chant, cheer and applaud enthusiastically when he speaks. The rallies serve a practical purpose by enabling his campaign to continue building a list of supporters. To attend, people must register online, giving their email address and other personal information that the campaign can use to maintain contact and raise money. Trump’s upcoming evening event is set for an airport hangar in Melbourne, Florida, and it comes as he makes another weekend trip to what he calls his “Winter White House,” his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. Trump also said he would play golf this weekend with Ernie Els, a South African professional golfer. It will be his Trump’s third consecutive weekend at Mar-a-Lago. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the rally is “being run by the campaign.” It follows an official trip Friday to South Carolina, where Trump will visit a Boeing facility in North Charleston. Spicer and others at the White House have not responded to repeated questions about why Trump’s embryonic campaign is organizing this rally, or about who will pay for the event and transportation to and from it. Presidents regularly hold large campaign-style events to build support for their policies. Those events are often considered part of their official duties and organized by the White House. Michael Glassner, executive director of Trump’s campaign committee, also did not respond to questions. Trump’s campaign is running the event because Trump does not want to spend taxpayer dollars on it, a person close to him said. The person requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. Although Trump is getting started far earlier than his predecessors, it’s common for presidents to combine political and governing events into the same trip. When that happens, the campaign picks up the tab for part of the trip and taxpayers for the rest. Trump’s campaign account had more than $7.6 million in the bank at the end of the year, according to fundraising reports. He’s continued raising money postelection by selling popular merchandise, such as the ubiquitous red “Make America Great Again” ball caps. On Thursday, as the president wrapped up a confrontational press conference with the media — during which he repeatedly referred to coverage as “unfair” and “fake news” — one of Trump’s campaign accounts emailed a “media survey” to his supporters. The 25 multiple-choice questions included: Do you believe that the mainstream media has reported unfairly on our movement? Do you believe that our Party should spend more time and resources holding the mainstream media accountable? After clicking through the survey, there’s a prompt to donate money. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
