1. Big decision in Beantown
From CNN chief national correspondent John King:
The fast food menu made the headlines when the Clemson Tigers visited the White House this past week to celebrate their national championship -- an improvisation orchestrated by President Donald Trump because of the partial government shutdown.
Next championship team up: the Boston Red Sox, but the pre-visit chatter is not about the possible menu. Instead, it is about manager Alex Cora's displeasure with the President's treatment of Puerto Rico.
This is the fourth Red Sox invitation in recent years; the team also visited after its 2004, 2007 and 2013 World Series victories. Team management has focused on the tradition and respect for the presidency, and tried to steer clear of the big political fights we have seen, for example, between the President and the NFL or with NBA teams and players who have refused to visit the Trump White House.
The team also had made clear attendance is voluntary, meaning any players who don't want to share a stage with Trump -- or simply don't want to visit the White House -- don't have to come.
But the bigger focus is on Cora, who is wavering as the planned visit approaches. Cora is wildly popular back home in Puerto Rico, and makes no secret he thinks the President was slow to help after Hurricane Maria and, in Cora's view, is still not doing enough. Cora's position has been that he respects any President and the tradition of the White House visit, and that he would look for a respectful way to make clear his views about the hardship and needs in Puerto Rico.
But reporters covering the team at several events this past week noted that Cora is wavering, and the manager has made clear he is reconsidering whether to attend.
A team official tells CNN that, as of now, a few to a handful or players are expected to stay at the team's spring training facility and skip the trip to Washington. There has been a deliberate effort to keep this a low-key thing, and the official noted many Sox players are eager to make the trip, including players who have political disagreements with the President but value the White House recognition of their achievement.
The wild card, the official conceded, is Cora. The number not coming could spike if the well-liked manager decides to boycott.
As Cora consults friends, players and his bosses, there is a potential out, or at least pause: Team management went on the record this weekend saying it would be inappropriate for the team to be celebrating at the White House if federal workers are still going without a paycheck.
The visit is on the books for February 15.
2. Bipartisan gun safety ideas?
Gun safety advocates haven't gotten many wins over the past 20 years. But there was a sign this week of potential bipartisan agreement on at least one idea.
Attorney General-nominee Bill Barr was asked about guns at his confirmation hearing last week, and The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim was listening carefully.
"He called guns the epidemic of our time," Kim said. "He said more states need to pass these so-called 'red flag' laws, which allow guns to be seized temporarily from people that are deemed a threat. He said that while the Second Amendment is the Second Amendment, that doesn't dissuade reasonable gun regulation."
Kim said Democrats seemed to like what he had to say on the issue. "Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Committee, is probably not going to vote for him at the end of the day, but she seemed pretty pleased with his answers when it comes to guns."
3. Stalled Trump Cabinet choices
It's been weeks since Trump's Pentagon chief and interior secretary resigned, and still no word on their successors. Politico's Eliana Johnson says part of the reason is the shutdown.
"Since the shutdown happened, we've had essentially no movement when it comes to filling those positions," Johnson said. "I think that's an interesting note that's been little talked about since the shutdown began. It'll be interesting to see if and when this ends if we see pick-up on filling some of those positions."
4. Trump looks abroad
The "America First" President doesn't seem to enjoy traveling overseas. And New York Times reporter Michael Shear says he's lagging behind his predecessors when it comes to visiting other countries.
"The President took 10 overseas trips in the first two years of his presidency. That's exactly what President Obama took in his first year alone," Shear said. "That's not a surprise since we know this president doesn't particularly like foreign travel. He doesn't like the formality of those trips. He's had a lot of tense interactions, especially with allies."
Shear said don't expect that to change much as Trump begins the second half of his term.
"It wouldn't be a surprise if what we find is this President is a homebody for the next two years of this term," Shear said. "Although you can imagine if things get bad enough with Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats, and the Mueller report comes out and things get really tough, then he might think about leaving the country and getting out of dodge."
5. An unlikely partnership on the Hill
Trump turned Rep. Maxine Waters into one of his favorite liberal punching bags during the midterm campaign last year. But CNN's Phil Mattingly says don't believe the caricature, as the California Democrat takes the gavel of the key House Financial Services Committee.
"She and the top Republican on the panel, Patrick McHenry, introduced a bill together," Mattingly said. "Now it wasn't a sweeping proposal, it was something to tighten up the notoriously gray area of insider trading. But it underscores something I've been hearing. Patrick McHenry and Maxine Waters are ideologically on complete opposite ends of the spectrum. But they actually have a pretty good working relationship."
The Financial Services Committee has jurisdiction over the Fed, Wall Street and the entire banking industry.
"Keep an eye on these two," Mattingly said. "There might be some bipartisanship there, and if nothing else, these two respect one another. Given the current state of affairs, that's better than nothing."
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