SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET: 

THE RISING BUSH – FROM GALLUP:  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Former President George W. Bush's national image continues to improve in his retirement, with his favorable rating rising seven percentage points over the past year to 59%. This continues the fairly steady improvement in Bush's favorable rating since it registered a meager 35% at the start of his post-presidential years in March 2009. Bush's favorability now approaches that of former President Barack Obama, who measured at 63% in the same poll, conducted June 7-11.  Bush, who was subjected to the same press treatment that has afflicted Trump, was a very decent president, and I hope he will continue to rise in stature.  He deserves it.

OH PLEASE – FROM PAGE SIX:  CANNES — CNN boss Jeff Zucker says despite Donald Trump’s war on the network and what the president says is “fake news,” he is certain that CNN maintains the trust of its viewers, as it extends into digital brands to attract a younger audience.  Speaking at Cannes Lions he said, “CNN has been around for 37 years, our trustworthiness today is the same as it was a year ago, before people in high offices started questioning it. We know that through our own brand research. Just because somebody says you are not trustworthy, that doesn’t mean it is so … CNN’s brand equity is built over 37 years doing hard work in very dangerous places … those who rely on CNN trust CNN more than ever.”   Well, I guess the man is happy with his illusions.  CNN will become the first name in news, which is its claim, when it starts reporting the news, rather than the views.  It misses major stories, but gives us endless babble about the evils of Trump.

LAURA IN FOR SEAN? – FROM MEDIAITE:  As part of a report that White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer is about to yield the briefing room podium in favor of a job overseeing White House communications, Politico floated the name of a leading contender, and it’s a name with which Fox News viewers are undoubtedly quite familiar.  According to the website, conservative commentator Laura Ingraham interviewed for the job last week with Spicer and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.   She'd be very good – she's a lawyer, a known TV quantity, and very knowledgeable.   She's also seen as very strong, not someone who could be easily rolled.  Another candidate, we hear, is Fox's Kimberly Guilfoyle, also a lawyer and a familiar TV face. 

June 19, 2017