Wednesday Scoop: Cash or Check, Mr. President?

Welcome to the Morning Scoop for July 25, 2018. It’s not quite Watergate, but there is a hot new tape making the rounds in Washington. That only briefly distracted us from the news that the cost to attend a university increased nearly eight times faster than wages did.

That scary fact highlights why it’s more important than ever to support those students who are studying journalism. That’s what we do at CMN, but we need your help to keep our project going. 

For as little as $2 a month, you can help fund the team that trains CMN students. Support us by visiting our Patreon page or donating with Pay Pal. It only takes a few minutes, but it makes a BIG difference.

Cohen Releases Tape of Trump Discussing Hush Payment 

The tape dominated the news last night (Image: CNN Video)

President Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen’s legal team dropped a bomb yesterday, released a recording of Cohen and then-candidate Trump discussing funding a $150,000 payment to keep the story of an affair between Trump and former Playboy model Karen McDougal private.

American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer, had paid McDougal for the rights to her story, but never published it. The company’s CEO, David Pecker, is a personal friend of Trump.

The controversy around the recording centers on whether Trump understands what Cohen is telling him, and if he instructs Cohen to pay the media company in cash. Cohen seems to indicate a cash payment would be a bad idea.

Demi Lovato Recovering After Emergency Hospitalization

A spokesperson for singer Demi Lovato says the singer is awake and recovering after being rushed to a Los Angeles area hospital yesterday afternoon.

According to the Associated Press, an official statement read: “Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers and support. Some of the information being reported is incorrect and they respectfully ask for privacy and not speculation as her health and recovery is the most important thing right now.”

Lovato’s hospitalization comes weeks after the singer, who has struggled with substance abuse, revealed via her new single “Sober” that she had relapsed. Our team covered the story yesterday. 

FBI Takes Over Search for Missing University of Iowa Student

Yesterday, FBI investigators took over the search for a missing University of Iowa student who has been missing for nearly a week.

Mollie Tibbetts, 20, was last seen via Snapchat when her boyfriend opened a selfie she had sent on Wednesday, July 18. According to Tibbetts’ aunt, Kim Calderwood, she had been dog sitting at her boyfriend’s brother’s home. Her last known activity was heading out for a run that evening, though her boyfriend says her message arrived after she would have returned.

CMN’s Tamia Heard covered the story. 

Today in a Tweet

Elon Musk is shooting more things into space this morning, and he’s not alone.

Last But Not Least: Attorney General Accuses Colleges of ‘Coddling’ Students

During a speech to high school students who are a part of Turning Point USA’s High School Leadership summit, Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited optional exams and therapy animals on colleges campuses as examples of “coddling” students, which stops them from “scrutinizing the validity of their beliefs on the issue of the day.”

CBS News reported that Sessions told the students that, “after the 2016 election, for example, they held a ‘cry-in’ at Cornell — I hope they had plenty of tissues for them to cry on. They had therapy dogs on campus at the University of Kansas, and Play-Doh and coloring books at the great University of Michigan, for heaven’s sake. I thought that was…you know, give me a break! Students at Tufts were encouraged to ‘draw about their feelings.’”

Wednesday’s Morning Scoop was made possible by Tamia Heard, Natalia Kolenko, Brandon Walker, and the CMN Staff. One thing is for sure: the CMN team is in touch with our feelings and we know compassion is a big part of strong journalism.