A White House photographer snapped a photo of the press secretary's helpful notes — here's what we think they mean
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst took a picture of the White House press secretary's binder on Thursday.
The binder was full of alphabetized notes.
Here's what we think some of the tabs mean.
Video: Lawyer shares courtroom tactics that can be used during press briefings
The White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, is able to run through a marathon of topics quickly during press briefings — sometimes moving so efficiently that the inquiring minds of the press often defer to their colleagues to ask their question again.
McEnany, the fourth press secretary during Donald Trump's presidency, averages roughly 20 to 30 minutes per briefing. That's barely enough time to explain the Trump administration's clear stance on "BLM," let alone "CHINA."
The questions sometimes require McEnany to consult her notes, a binder of topics ranging from "ABSURD" to "WINS."
Just like her predecessors, McEnany has a binder full of (notes about) women, countries, government agencies, and other topics pertaining to US interests.
As she can often be seen flipping through the alphabetized binder during her briefings, the Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst snapped these photos on Thursday that give insight into what the White House plans to tell reporters — or what it thinks they'll ask.
Here are some of the binder tabs and what we think they probably refer to:
ABSURD: (?)
FAUCI: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a point person for the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also said to have incensed the White House.
FLYNN: Likely Michael Flynn, Trump's disgraced former national security adviser.
GOLF: Some presidents, including Trump, really enjoy the sport.
GOYA: The producer of canned goods and chocolate wafers. "Si es Goya, tiene que ser bueno."
HATCH: The Hatch Act. Some analysts have said Trump and his eldest daughter, Ivanka, violated the ethics law by promoting Goya on social media.
HATE: Probably not Goya.
HOGAN: Possibly Larry Hogan, Maryland's Republican governor, who on Thursday chided the Trump administration in a stunning Washington Post op-ed article that included the line "Why didn't Trump help my state with coronavirus testing?"
KARL: Possibly Jonathan Karl, ABC News' chief White House correspondent. A habitual question-asker and book author.
LIES: (?)
MARY: Likely Mary Trump, the president's niece who wrote an unflattering book about her family.
MEULLER: Robert Mueller, the special counsel who led the Russia investigation. A popular scapegoat for the White House.
OBAMA: The 44th president of the United States and another popular scapegoat for the White House.
RUSSIA: The country in eastern Europe. Not really a scapegoat for the White House.
WINS: (?)
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
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