TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s announcement that she would step down as White House press secretary has set off the latest round of musical chairs in the West Wing and an internal debate over whether to revive the daily news briefing as President Trump heads into the thick of election season. Some White House officials have argued that the daily briefing, which on the day of Ms. Sanders’s resignation on Thursday [6-13-19] had not been held for 94 days, is a powerful tool that would help elevate Mr. Trump above his Democratic opponent in the 2020 race. One of those pushing for its revival, officials said, is Mick Mulvaney, the acting chief of staff, who wants the next press secretary to play a more proactive role in shaping the White House message, adding at the least a daily untelevised briefing to his or her duties. But others have argued that Mr. Trump has never liked the daily briefing as a forum to disseminate the message of the day, preferring to do it himself on Twitter. Ms. Sanders’s position is expected to be filled on an interim basis by Hogan Gidley, the deputy press secretary, according to two White House officials.”
–Annie Karni, “White House Considers Restoring the Daily Briefing for the Next Press Secretary,” The New York Times online, June 14, 2019