1/29/19

My dear Friend and President, DJT,

Will you have another quiet day in the WH? I assume so since there's nothing on your public schedule. I don't have time to look at your tweets today so I have no idea what's on your mind. I have to leave the house early today so this will be a quickie.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36319877

Did you read the opinion pages of the NYT & WP today? It's a miracle. You got some positive press. Ross Douthat opined that your recent efforts in Afghanistan and Venezuela are moving our country in the right direction. He wrote, "the Trump doctrine aims for a more limited and sustainable view of American commitments." Charles Lane joined the chorus in the WP writing, "The Trump administration’s current strategy, to support an interim president, Juan Guaidó, whose claim to office rests on a plausible interpretation of Venezuela’s constitution, is a long shot but still the cleverest concept America and its allies have come up with yet." Both writers provide several caveats that the plans might fail and both make it clear that you could change your mind at any time, but they do give you credit for doing what they consider the "right thing." What a treat to read something positive about your administration!

I am heading back to build prisms with the 5th graders today. Their vitality lifts my spirits. They get excited when they have an insight or build something distinctive. They share ideas, listen and disagree respectfully. It's fabulous!!!

I hope your spirits are lifted today. Maybe you and Barron could build some prisms together.

Best,