The Point: Donald Trump has regrets

View this email in your browser   July 9, 2021  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski Donald Trump has regrets In the next 10 days, no less than THREE major books examining the Trump presidency will be released.   Tidbits of each -- one by Michael Bender of the Wall Street Journal, one by Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker of The Washington Post and the last by Michael Wolff -- have begun to leak. And those early returns paint Trump in a decidedly disastrous light.   Trump himself acknowledged as much in a statement released via his Save America PAC on Friday. Here it is:   "It seems to me that meeting with authors of the ridiculous number of books being written about my very successful Administration, or me, is a total waste of time. They write whatever they want to write anyway without sources, fact-checking, or asking whether or not an event is true or false. Frankly, so many stories are made-up, or pure fiction."   There's more. But you get the idea.   Let's first dispense with the idea that these books are "pure fiction." They are not. Having worked directly with Leonnig and Rucker at the Post, I can assure you they are two of the best reporters operating in America. Having admired -- and chased -- Bender's journalism from afar, he, too, is at the top of his class. And as for Wolff, well, his first book seemed to capture the chaos of the Trump White House pretty nicely.   OK, now to the really telling thing from Trump's quote above: He is, retroactively and publicly, admitting that he shouldn't have given interviews to the various reporters writing these books.   This, for those of you new to Trump-ology, is a regular refrain for Trump. He gives reporters some of his time and they don't write the story like they should. Somehow, though, he never learns and always seems to find time for that next book author!   Here's why:   1) Trump doesn't really hate the media. He, more than just about anyone, understands what positive press coverage (or, really, any press coverage) can do for someone. He also likes the banter, the back-and-forth. Notice how Trump knew every reporter's name who covered him regularly -- and called on them by first names? Because he craves the attention that they -- and their publications -- can provide him.   2) Trump believes he is the greatest salesman ever. To Trump, each interview with a book author or any other reporter is a chance to convince that person that a) he is awesome and b) he has always been right about everything. Despite lots (and lots) of evidence that his powers of persuasion are not what he believes them to be, Trump just keeps at it -- talking and talking and talking.   The Point: Trump will NEVER stop talking to reporters, authors, random Mar-a-Lago visitors or anyone else who happens to be in earshot. Talk is who he is. It's all he is.   -- Chris QUOTE OF THE DAY "It drives me crazy when reporters don't talk on the record, when we don't do the thing we ask other people to do." -- New York Times political reporter Peter Baker, right as usual THE WEEK IN 14 HEADLINES With Congress on recess, all eyes were on President Joe Biden in Washington this week. Biden defended the US troop departure from Afghanistan and sought to boost Covid-19 vaccination efforts at home and abroad. Meanwhile, behind-the-scenes negotiations continued over the bipartisan infrastructure package.   Monday America's partisan fireworks will be hard for anyone to put out Maricopa County supervisor on rejecting calls from Trump allies: 'Whatever needed to be said, needed to be said in a courtroom' Tuesday 'They need a radical restructure': Six months after January 6, Capitol Police struggling to adapt to threats Problem Solvers Caucus backs bipartisan infrastructure deal, calls for 'expeditious, stand-alone vote in the House' Wednesday US to send millions of Covid-19 vaccines to Latin America GOP Rep. Chip Roy says he wants '18 more months of chaos and the inability to get stuff done' Federal judge blocks effort to invalidate parts of new Georgia voting law ahead of July runoffs Rudy Giuliani suspended from practicing law in Washington, DC Thursday Biden defends pulling US out of Afghanistan as Taliban advances: 'We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build' Democrats look to avoid 'circus' as they push forward with new select committee White House doubles down on Covid-19 strategy as pressure from Delta variant rises Friday Updated CDC schools guidance prioritizes in-person learning, even if all Covid-19 safety measures aren't in place Justice Department says Trump's reinstatement talk could fuel more violence from his supporters Biden to deliver major voting rights speech Tuesday in Philadelphia CHRIS' GOOD READS A great 🧵 by David Leonhardt of The New York Times on how the Delta variant perfectly highlights our two diverging Americas.   And while you're reading about Covid-19, make sure to check out Gizmodo's look at the worst charlatans of the pandemic. It will piss you off, for sure.   Dave Jorgensen runs the TikTok account for The Washington Post. (Yes, The Washington Post has a TikTok account.) And he is brilliant -- as you can see in this Q&A he did with readers.   Did you always want to read an oral history of the making of "Legally Blonde?" Yeah, me too. Thanks, NYT!   I spent years trying to understand the game my kids were playing on their devices. I wish this Roblox explainer from The Verge had existed back then. MUSICAL INTERLUDE So many of you have sent in excellent Song of the Summer suggestions! Our latest comes from this summer's Eurovision song contest, via reader Sarah Williams. She suggested the "gloriously weird" song "Ten Years" by the Icelandic band Daði Freyr. And we truly love to see it. 😎 Have a summer song pick of your own? Get in touch! Lauren.Dezenski@cnn.com.  FRIDAY'S TOP TWEETS 1. Ambassador Garcetti? 2. Marsha Blackburn vs. Taylor Swift, again 3. The new spelling 🐝 champ is awesome. (Like, seriously amazing.) 4. I lol'ed 5. Now I know who has the license plate I wanted ONE BIG NUMBER 99.2% Of the Americans who died of Covid-19 last month, 99.2% were unvaccinated, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci. Get your 💉💉, people! You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Create your CNN Account Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox.   Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303   Copyright © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

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