Analysis by , Chief Political Analyst, CNN Chief Political AnalystLink Copied!Ad Feedback — In the beginning, when the plague came, there was a moment.An opportunity to unite. To rise above politics. To become a truly national leader in a time of crisis.Maybe President even tried, belatedly declaring , speaking to the nation from the Rose Garden. But it turns out that leading and uniting the country was an awful burden for the President to bear, especially when he was criticized for not paying enough attention to the virus as it headed our way. That was simply too much.And so,...…Analysis by , Chief Political Analyst, CNN Chief Political AnalystLink Copied!Ad Feedback — In the beginning, when the plague came, there was a moment.An opportunity to unite. To rise above politics. To become a truly national leader in a time of crisis.Maybe President even tried, belatedly declaring , speaking to the nation from the Rose Garden. But it turns out that leading and uniting the country was an awful burden for the President to bear, especially when he was criticized for not paying enough attention to the virus as it headed our way. That was simply too much.And so,...WW…

(CNN)There has been a concerted effort to getto stop conducting the daily coronavirus briefings, multiple sources tell CNN. After weeks of briefings that sometimes last more than two hours, there is some agreement in the West Wing that some of the news conferences have gone on too long, resulting in a situation where Trump and administration officials simply run . The result, aides have noticed, is that the briefings stray into politics instead of the matter at hand. potential changes to the coronavirus task force news briefings.Friday's coronavirus task force news briefing was the shortest...…(CNN)There has been a concerted effort to getto stop conducting the daily coronavirus briefings, multiple sources tell CNN. After weeks of briefings that sometimes last more than two hours, there is some agreement in the West Wing that some of the news conferences have gone on too long, resulting in a situation where Trump and administration officials simply run . The result, aides have noticed, is that the briefings stray into politics instead of the matter at hand. potential changes to the coronavirus task force news briefings.Friday's coronavirus task force news briefing was the shortest...WW…

(CNN)For most of this long slog, we have become used to President extolling the virtues of the Constitution when explaining why he sees the federal government as a "backup" to the states. "We have a thing called the Constitution, which I cherish, number one. ... And as you know I want the governors to be running things," he said.OK, we got it. He's wants the states to lead.Until Monday morning, when he decided to take charge. In a , he told us, "It is the decision of the President" about whether to open up the states, not the governors, whom he allows he will continue to work "closely"...…(CNN)For most of this long slog, we have become used to President extolling the virtues of the Constitution when explaining why he sees the federal government as a "backup" to the states. "We have a thing called the Constitution, which I cherish, number one. ... And as you know I want the governors to be running things," he said.OK, we got it. He's wants the states to lead.Until Monday morning, when he decided to take charge. In a , he told us, "It is the decision of the President" about whether to open up the states, not the governors, whom he allows he will continue to work "closely"...WW…

By and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Senior Republicans are split over how to treat former President Donald Trump, with the No. 2 House Republican making a personal pilgrimage to visit him the day before the top Senate RepublicanRep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana met privately with Trump on Tuesday at the former President’s Mar-a-Lago estate, CNN has learned, the day before Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell vowed never to do so.The Kentucky Republican is “not going to bend the knee” and travel to Mar-a-Lago, a close McConnell associate told CNN, adding that McConnell will...…By and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Senior Republicans are split over how to treat former President Donald Trump, with the No. 2 House Republican making a personal pilgrimage to visit him the day before the top Senate RepublicanRep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana met privately with Trump on Tuesday at the former President’s Mar-a-Lago estate, CNN has learned, the day before Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell vowed never to do so.The Kentucky Republican is “not going to bend the knee” and travel to Mar-a-Lago, a close McConnell associate told CNN, adding that McConnell will...WW…