The White House is reportedly preparing to ask Congress for emergency funds to help the administration fight the outbreak of the coronavirus, which has infected almost 80,000 people around the world and accounted for more than 2,000 deaths. 

The formal request may be around $1 billion, two individuals with knowledge of the matter told Politico. The sum would be drastically lower than what some public health officials view as sufficient and could be used up quickly from the development of vaccines and widespread lab tests, Politico noted. 

A White House official acknowledged to the news outlet that the request is still in its preliminary stages and that the amount is subject to change. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill. 

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The coronavirus first appeared in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December and has since spread to more than two dozen countries. The impacts have been most pronounced in China, which has reported the vast majority of the infections and deaths stemming from the virus. 

Coronavirus cases have spiked in countries such as South Korea and Italy over the past week, reaching more than 600 and 132 infections, respectively. The U.S. has confirmed 35 cases of the coronavirus, according to a database kept by Johns Hopkins University. A majority of the people infected in the country were flown back to the U.S. after contracting the virus abroad. 

A group of Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerWhite House preparing to ask Congress for funds to combat coronavirus: report Schumer cites security, DHS ban in questioning TSA use of TikTok Russian interference reports rock Capitol Hill MORE (D-N.Y.), last week sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick MulvaneyJohn (Mick) Michael MulvaneyWhite House preparing to ask Congress for funds to combat coronavirus: report Tucker Carlson calls out Mick Mulvaney on immigration remarks: ‘Dishonest and stupid’ Trump furious after officials allowed Americans with coronavirus to fly home with other passengers: report MORE urging the administration to request emergency funds to fight the spread of the virus. 

“We strongly urge the Administration to transmit an emergency supplemental request that ensures it can and will fully reimburse states for the costs they are incurring as part of this response — including costs associated with the enactment of travel screening and quarantine policies laid out by the Federal government,” the senators said. 

The administration has so far relied on $105 million set aside for HHS to respond to infectious disease outbreaks. HHS said in early February that it may need to transfer an additional $136 million to key agencies responding to the coronavirus. 

Around that time, Azar said that it was “premature” to ask for any additional needs for emergency funding. He contended that state and local governments have “significant” federal funding to respond to outbreaks.

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President TrumpDonald John TrumpComey responds to Trump with Mariah Carey gif: ‘Why are you so obsessed with me?’ Congress to get election security briefing next month amid Intel drama New York man accused of making death threats against Schumer, Schiff MORE said at a Nevada campaign rally Friday that Democrats are trying to start a “rumor” about Russia interfering in the 2020 presidential election on his behalf, calling them “sick” and “crazy.”

Trump also suggested that Moscow would prefer to see Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersPoll: Bloomberg stalls after Vegas debate Prominent Texas Latina endorses Warren Bloomberg campaign: Vandalism at Tennessee office ‘echoes language from the Sanders campaign and its supporters’ MORE (I-Vt.), the leading contender for the Democratic nomination, in the White House, noting that he “honeymooned” in the Soviet Union.

“After three years of ridiculous witch hunts and partisan Democrat crusades — by the way, I think they’re starting another one,” Trump told a crowd of supporters at an afternoon rally in Las Vegas.

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“Did you see that? I see these phonies, the do-nothing Democrats, they said today that Putin wants to be sure that Trump gets elected. Here we go again.”

Trump blamed House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffCongress to get election security briefing next month amid Intel drama New York man accused of making death threats against Schumer, Schiff The Hill’s Morning Report — Sanders, Dems zero in on Super Tuesday MORE (D-Calif.) for recent reports about Russian meddling to help his reelection, without naming Schiff specifically but referring to him as “pencil neck” – a nickname the president and his allies have used to mock the California congressman.

“I was told a week ago. They said, you know, they’re trying to start a rumor. It’s disinformation. That’s the only thing they’re good at. They’re not good at anything else. They get nothing done,” Trump said, referring to Democrats.

The president’s remarks expanded on a tweet he sent earlier Friday.

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The New York Times and Washington Post reported Thursday that U.S. intelligence officials informed House lawmakers in a closed briefing last week that Russia was meddling in the 2020 election in order to help Trump get reelected.

The details of the briefing were reportedly relayed to the president — a detail he seemed to confirm in his rally remarks Friday — and caused him to lash out at acting intelligence chief Joseph MaguireJoseph MaguireStorm clouds loom as Trump loyalist Grenell becomes acting intelligence chief Congress to get election security briefing next month amid Intel drama Trump says he is considering four candidates for intelligence chief MORE.

Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election in order to help Trump, according to the U.S. intelligence community, though he has repeatedly cast doubt on that judgment despite it being confirmed by both congressional and executive branch investigations.

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The 2016 developments precipitated a two-year investigation by special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerCNN’s Toobin warns McCabe is in ‘perilous condition’ with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill’s 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE into Russian interference and the Trump campaign’s ties to Moscow, a probe that dogged a considerable portion of the president’s first term and that he repeatedly decries as a “witch hunt” to this day.

Trump on Friday ridiculed the idea that Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinCongress to get election security briefing next month amid Intel drama Trump’s nomination of an unqualified DNI undermines bipartisan intelligence reform Candidates need to articulate Russia policies now MORE would want him to remain in the White House.  

“Doesn’t he want to see who the Democrat is going to be?” Trump asked the crowd. “Wouldn’t he rather have Bernie, who honeymooned in Moscow? These people are crazy.”

Trump then noted that he wants to “get along” with Russia and other countries.

“Who the hell needs to have conflicts?” he asked.

Trump has often spoke positively about Putin and welcomed better relations with Moscow, but tensions between Washington and Moscow have persisted over issues ranging from election meddling to arms control. 

Mueller concluded his investigation last spring, finding no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Moscow, a result the president has cheered while continuing to attack the investigation as motivated by bias. 

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Federal Reserve officials saw risks to the U.S. economy fading before the coronavirus outbreak caused severe economic disruption in China, according to minutes from their January meeting released Wednesday.

Members of the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC), which sets Fed interest rates, expressed confidence in the country’s ability to stretch a record run of economic growth and job gains well into 2020 at their last meeting, held Jan. 28 to 29. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged after the meeting, which followed a raft of strong economic data to close out 2019.

Fed officials said a reduction in trade-related uncertainty after the passage of President TrumpDonald John TrumpFed saw risks to US economy fading before coronavirus spread quickened Pro-Trump super PAC hits Biden with new Spanish-language ad in Nevada Britain announces immigration policy barring unskilled migrants MORE’s revised North American trade deal and signing of a preliminary pact with China helped settle concerns that stifled business investment throughout 2019. Officials also expected consumer spending, a key driver of economic growth, to “remain on a firm footing, supported by strong labor market conditions, rising incomes, and healthy household balance sheets.”

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Even so, FOMC members agreed that the “threat of the coronavirus, in addition to its human toll, had emerged as a new risk to the global growth outlook,” which Fed Chairman Jerome Powell echoed in his press conference following the meeting.

“There is likely to be some disruption to activity in China and possibly globally based on the spread of the virus today and the travel restrictions and business closures that have already been imposed,” Powell told reporters at the time.

In the three weeks since Powell’s remarks, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose from 6,000 to more than 75,000 and the death toll rose from 132 to at least 2,014. Major U.S. airlines have also suspended service to China and businesses around the world are expected to suffer from store closures, idled factories, quarantines and other efforts to contain the virus.

The size of China’s economy, the scale of the coronavirus’s disruption, and concerns about the accuracy of Chinese government reports have prompted concerns of potential blowback for the U.S. economy. But the coronavirus was far from the only potential threat on the Fed’s radar in January.

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Several Fed officials cited concerns that fading trade tensions between the U.S. and China could reemerge, or that a simmering conflict with the European Union could negate the soothing benefit of Trump’s trade deals. Others expressed fears that excessive levels of corporate debt and record-breaking equity prices could “amplify an adverse shock to the economy.”

Congress is gearing up for a high-profile fight over reauthorizing a handful of controversial surveillance programs months before the 2020 election.

After punting late last year to give themselves more time to negotiate, lawmakers now have 15 working days to figure out whether and how to reauthorize expiring provisions of the USA Freedom Act by the March 15 deadline. 

The policy battle comes as tensions are already running high in Washington after a weeks-long firefight emanating from the Justice Department — which will also be at the center of the surveillance discussion — and with the November election injecting a higher dose of politics into any discussion involving Congress and President TrumpDonald John TrumpSchiff blasts Trump for making ‘false claims’ about Russia intel: ‘You’ve betrayed America. Again.’ Poll: Sanders leads 2020 Democratic field with 28 percent, followed by Warren and Biden More than 6 in 10 expect Trump to be reelected: poll MORE. 

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Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrBill Barr is trying his best to be Trump’s Roy Cohn Hillicon Valley: Facebook, Twitter split on Bloomberg video | Sanders briefed on Russian efforts to help campaign | Barr to meet with Republicans ahead of surveillance fight Sanders says he was briefed on Russian effort to help campaign MORE will meet with Senate Republicans during a closed-door policy lunch on Tuesday, his first face-to-face with most senators since the controversy over the department’s handling of the case involving Trump associate Roger StoneRoger Jason StoneBill Barr is trying his best to be Trump’s Roy Cohn Roger Stone moves to disqualify judge Roger Stone deserves a new trial MORE. 

But two sources confirmed to The Hill that the lunch was planned weeks before the current flare-up between the Justice Department and the White House. The topic, according to the two sources, is expected to be expiring surveillance provisions. 

“Reauthorization of these certain programs is a priority for both Leader [Mitch] McConnell and AG Barr,” a source said. 

Among the expiring provisions that Congress needs to make decisions on is a controversial records program, known as Section 215, that gathered metadata on domestic text messages and phone calls. 

They’ll also need to make decisions on two other provisions — one authorizing “roving” wiretaps and the other on lone wolf surveillance authority. 

The biggest sticking point will be the metadata program that will put a spotlight on divisions between privacy hawks and leadership, the House and Senate and even GOP lawmakers and the White House.

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Though the National Security Agency (NSA) shuttered the program, and advised the White House to officially end it, then-director of National Intelligence Dan CoatsDaniel (Dan) Ray CoatsTrump’s Intel moves spark Democratic fury Russian interference reports rock Capitol Hill Hillicon Valley: Facebook, Twitter split on Bloomberg video | Sanders briefed on Russian efforts to help campaign | Barr to meet with Republicans ahead of surveillance fight MORE urged Congress to reauthorize it. Barr is expected to stick with that position when he speaks with senators.

Coats noted that the NSA had suspended the program and deleted call records, saying the decision was made after “balancing the program’s relative intelligence value, associated costs, and compliance and data integrity concerns.”

“However, as technology changes, our adversaries’ tradecraft and communications habits will continue to evolve and adapt,” he added. “In light of this dynamic environment, the Administration supports reauthorization of this provision.”

But Sens. Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrTrump’s new intel chief makes immediate changes, ousts top official Intel officials warned House lawmakers Russia is interfering to get Trump reelected: NYT Pelosi joins pressure campaign on Huawei MORE (R-N.C.) and Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerTrump’s Intel moves spark Democratic fury Where do we go from here? Conservation can show the way Hillicon Valley: Facebook, Twitter split on Bloomberg video | Sanders briefed on Russian efforts to help campaign | Barr to meet with Republicans ahead of surveillance fight MORE (D-Va.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, quietly introduced legislation that would end the phone metadata program — going against the administration’s request. 

In addition to terminating that program as soon as the bill is enacted it would provide an eight-year reauthorization of the other two programs. 

The bill was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Chairman Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamSunday shows preview: 2020 candidates look to South Carolina Where do we go from here? Conservation can show the way Barr to attend Senate GOP lunch on Tuesday MORE (R-S.C.) has described himself as “torn” on whether or not to reauthorize Section 215.

A Democratic aide, asked if they had gotten guidance on if Judiciary or leadership would move the Burr-Warner bill in committee or on the floor by March 15, told The Hill: “Not really.” 

The panel includes privacy hawks like Sen. Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeThe Hill’s Morning Report — AG Barr, GOP senators try to rein Trump in Overnight Defense: Senate votes to rein in Trump war powers on Iran | Pentagon shifting .8B to border wall | US, Taliban negotiate seven-day ‘reduction in violence’ The 8 Republicans who voted to curb Trump’s Iran war powers MORE (R-Utah). Lee and Leahy are working on reforms related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). A spokesman for Lee said that “ideally” their forthcoming ideas could be included as part of the debate over reauthorizing the USA Freedom provisions. 

Surveillance debates have spotlighted fierce clashes among Senate Republicans in recent years. 

When the Senate debated the USA Freedom Act, and the Patriot Act measures that pre-dated it, in 2015, Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulSenate braces for fight over impeachment whistleblower testimony Pelosi names first-ever House whistleblower ombudsman director The Hill’s Morning Report — AG Barr, GOP senators try to rein Trump in MORE (R-Ky.) used the chamber’s procedural levers to force a brief lapse of the surveillance programs. 

He also successfully blocked multiple efforts by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSanders is a risk, not a winner Buttigieg sounds alarm after Sanders wins Nevada Where do we go from here? Conservation can show the way MORE (R-Ky.) to clear a short-term extension of the Patriot Act, a tactic Paul quickly used to rack in fundraising cash for his 2016 presidential bid. McConnell has not yet taken a public position on the upcoming USA Freedom debate, something he’s likely to be quizzed on after Tuesday’s lunch. 

As Republicans are set to meet with Barr, the House Judiciary Committee has put reauthorization of the USA Freedom provisions on its business meeting agenda for Wednesday. 

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerTrump adviser presses House investigators to make Bezos testify Nadler demands answers from Barr on ‘new channel’ for receiving Ukraine info from Giuliani Trump predicts Ocasio-Cortez will launch primary bid against Schumer MORE (D-N.Y.) hasn’t yet unveiled what the committee will be voting on, and spokesmen didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment. But a House Intelligence Committee aide noted that staff on the two panels are continuing to work on potential legislation. 

The aide declined to say if the forthcoming legislation would end the metadata program, even as leadership is under pressure from progressives to take a hard line. 

Twenty House progressives sent a letter to Nadler last year warning that they would oppose a reauthorization measure that does not completely repeal the call records program and also called for additional civil liberties protections to be built into the law. 

“Any meaningful reform must repeal the [call detail records] program, which is an unnecessary violation of the rights of people in the United States and a threat to our democracy,” the lawmakers wrote. 

Further complicating calculations for passing a bill in roughly two weeks, some Republicans are saying they want to use the reauthorization debate to work in changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) courts. 

The FISA court, authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, is made up of 11 judges who serve seven-year terms and are selected by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. The judges are responsible for signing off on or rejecting warrant applications submitted as part of intelligence gathering and national security operations.

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The courts jumped into the spotlight late last year when Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz found a total of 17 “significant inaccuracies and omissions” in the applications to monitor Trump campaign aide Carter Page, taking particular issue with applications to renew the FISA warrant and chastising the FBI for a lack of satisfactory explanations for those mistakes.

Reps. Doug CollinsDouglas (Doug) Allen CollinsSunday shows preview: 2020 candidates look to South Carolina Overnight Defense: Seven day ‘reduction in violence’ starts in Afghanistan | US, Taliban plan to sign peace deal Feb. 29 | Trump says top intel job has four candidates Trump says he is considering four candidates for intelligence chief MORE (R-Ga.) and Devin NunesDevin Gerald NunesJudge dismisses Nunes’ lawsuit against Fusion GPS Trump’s new intel chief makes immediate changes, ousts top official Overnight Energy: EPA moves to limit financial pressure on ‘forever chemical’ manufacturers | California sues Trump over water order| Buttigieg expands on climate plan MORE (R-Calif.) — the top Republicans on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees, respectively — sent a letter to Nadler over the recess pitching the USA Freedom debate as a vehicle for making FISA changes.

“Any legislation devoid of necessary reforms to address the abuse of the intelligence community against a presidential campaign and even our sitting president, including lies and fraud engaged in by top-level FBI officials, misses that mark,” they wrote. 

There have been bipartisan calls for FISA reforms after the Horowitz report, but inserting it into the middle of the surveillance debate could inject another political angle into what will already be a contentious debate. 

But Collins and Nunes argued that FISA reforms should be a bipartisan “line in the sand,” and urged Nadler to “not ignore historic abuses directed against the campaign of a president you don’t support.” 

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Actor Billy Porter arrived on the 2019 Academy Awards red carpet in a custom tuxedo dress by Christian Siriano that turned heads and made headlines.

The fashion establishment is going gaga for Porter’s velvet, tailored tuxedo ballgown. Harper’s Bazaar wrote “Billy Porter Slays in a Christian Siriano Tuxedo Dress on the Red Carpet,” writing in the subheadline “We. Are. Not. Worthy.” of such an ensemble.

InStyle Magazine boasted “Billy Porter Wore a Dress to the Oscars and the Internet Is Shook” while Vogue declared “A play on masculinity and femininity, the look challenged the rigid Hollywood dress code and was boundary-pushing in all the right ways.”

The look is a tribute to Hector Xtravaganza — who died last year — from New York City’s House of Xtravaganza, founded in the early 1980s as one of the most famous underground ballroom houses.

Porter, best known for his roles on director Ryan Murphy’s hit FX Network show Pose, described the choice to wear a tuxedo gown as one that was meant to push boundaries:

Porter wore the gown to the Vanity Fair afterparty, removing his white ruffled tuxedo shirt and bow tie that he had worn on the red carpet and, instead, throwing on only a glittering women’s necklace.

(Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

(MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

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(Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

(MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

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(JB LACROIX/AFP/Getty Images) 

John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder.

A new franchise in Florida is considered to be an appealing prospect to any player, with Minnesota United’s coach talking up their pulling power

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could both end up joining David Beckham at new MLS franchise Inter Miami, claims Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath.

Various big names are said to figure prominently on the recruitment radar of those in Florida.

No marquee signing has been tied up as yet, but several leading lights currently gracing a European stage are drawing admiring glances from America.

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Manchester United and Real Madrid legend Beckham is eager to raise the profile of his US venture by bringing in a superstar performer.

Messi and Ronaldo have been linked with moves to see out their respective playing careers in the States.

Heath can see the appeal of moving to Miami and concedes that two men who have spent more than a decade competing with one another could one day line up in the same side.

“That would be incredible for football in the USA and if anyone has the global profile to make that dream a reality then it has to be David Beckham,” Heath, who would be a direct rival of the star-studded side, told The Mirror.

“It may not happen just yet, but I can see Ronaldo following in the footsteps of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard playing in the MLS.

“For Ronaldo and Messi, the two obvious destinations if they came to the MLS would be Los Angeles and Miami.

“And, with his links to both players and the plan Beckham and his backers have in place, I can really only see them going to Miami.”

Heath believes other proven performers, including many in the Premier League, will also be keeping a close eye on events in Miami and the project being pieced together by Beckham.

He added: “I believe the MLS has the potential to become one of the top leagues in the world.

“In the past it’s been a place for top stars to wind down their careers, but I think that will change.

“The arrival of Beckham and Miami will help accelerate that switch in mentality.”

Inter Miami are set to open their debut MLS campaign on March 1 when they take in a meeting with LAFC.

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MIDDAY BRIEF, IN BRIEF

Today at Commission, Trump’s climate call and EU-China

The Commission won’t be lobbying Trump on climate change.

With Donald Trump expected to soon confirm that he’s pulling the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement, the European Commission said it did everything it could to prevent the situation arising.

There will be no last-minute lobbying of the U.S. administration to try to persuade Trump to change his mind, chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas said.

“Our president was clear yesterday night,” Schinas said of Jean-Claude Juncker’s warning to Trump that he should “stick to” the Paris agreement. Schinas said he hoped the message was “heard and understood” on the other side the Atlantic.

“For Europe it is planet first,” Schinas added, echoing Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, who said on Wednesday that “for Europe there is no Plan B because we do not have a Planet B.”

The European commissioner for energy and climate action, Miguel Arias Cañete, will issue the formal reaction of the Commission on Thursday night after Trump’s official announcement.

The Commission also confirmed that after several months of tough negotiations, the Commission, EU financial institutions and the Italian government reached a agreement on a restructuring plan for the bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

The European commissioner for justice, Věra Jourová, presented a Commission’s evaluation of how online hate speech is tackled by the big social media companies.

Schinas also previewed this week’s EU-China summit, calling it an opportunity “to take stock” of the relationship between Brussels and Beijing. Juncker will this evening have dinner with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

Peter Baugh contributed to this article. 

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Anne Sinclair a officialisé sa relation avec l’académicien Pierre Nora, à l’Elysée, devant François Hollande.

Son regard azur s’illumine à nouveau. Dans la cour d’honneur de l’Elysée, chignon impeccable, tenue aussi sobre qu’élégante, Anne Sinclair ne cache pas sa joie. Son compagnon, l’historien Pierre Nora vient d’être élevé au grade de Grand officier de la Légion d’honneur par le président François Hollande. Elle l’immortalise avec son téléphone portable. Comme une midinette. Comme, à vingt ans, sur les bancs de Sciences-Po où elle ne cachait pas sa fascination pour ces professeurs qui l’éblouissaient par leur savoir. Pierre Nora, alors jeune enseignant, en était. Déjà.

Elle, l’héritière d’une famille de marchands d’art, qui aurait pu se contenter « de se donner la peine de naître », selon la formule impitoyable de Beaumarchais, n’a toujours juré que par le savoir… et le travail. Même au zénith de sa gloire télévisuelle, du temps de «7/7», elle ne laissait rien au hasard. « A force de potasser, elle connaissait mieux les dossiers que les hommes politiques qu’elle invitait », aime à se souvenir son ex-mari, le journaliste Ivan Levaï.

Aujourd’hui encore dans son discret appartement de la place des Vosges, alors qu’elle pourrait goûter au bonheur simple de l’existence auprès de celui qu’elle aime, la journaliste reste une bosseuse impénitente. Elle se rend chaque jour au Huffington Post, site dont elle est directrice éditoriale. Professionnelle, passionnée par l’évolution de son métier, elle n’économise pas ses conseils. Elle les prodigue au quotidien à sa jeune équipe. Et rédige un long édito, mis en ligne chaque lundi. On y devine souvent sa passion pour la chose politique. « Dans l’époque qui est la nôtre, écrivait-elle la semaine dernière, celui qui se lèverait pour dire ce que les citoyens aimeraient entendre et que les politiques n’osent pas toujours dire, celui qui combinerait charisme, éthique et vérité, serait peut-être un Mandela aux petits pieds, mais toutefois le grand homme qui saurait correspondre aux temps présents ».

Abel Ferrara lui reproche d’entraver la sortie du film qu’il consacre à l’affaire DSK

Elle aurait pu devenir un jour première dame. Elle jure n’en avoir jamais rêvé. Elle aurait pu ausculter au plus près les battements du cœur de la République. L’Histoire, les petites histoires aussi, qui ont entraîné la chute de DSK, la vie enfin, en ont décidé autrement. Elle s’est réfugiée dans un quotidien apaisé auprès d’un historien de renom. Pirouette du destin. Une page est bel et bien tournée, même si la journaliste ne renie rien de son passé. «Elle reste en très bons termes avec Dominique et avec les enfants de ce dernier», croit savoir un proche. Il y a quelques semaines, elle était ainsi présente auprès de Camille, la fille cadette de l’ex-directeur du FMI lors des funérailles de sa mère, Brigitte Guillemette, la deuxième épouse du socialiste.

Après les turbulences de ces dernières années, la journaliste a préféré se reconstruire. En douceur, auprès de Pierre et des siens. Elle goûte ainsi aux joies d’être grand-mère avec les petits-enfants de DSK et sa petite Jasmine, la fille de son fils David, 2 ans et demi. Lassée de voir sa vie privée jetée en pâture, elle s’était protégée par le silence. Sa dernière interview date d’il y a plus d’un an. Seule exception notable, sa récente participation à l’émission «Un jour, un destin» de Laurent Delahousse, qui sera programmée sur France 2 en 2014. Preuve, peut-être, que le goût des autres revient peu à peu. Malgré les résurgences, parfois, d’un passé douloureux. La semaine dernière, le réalisateur Abel Ferrara lui reprochait ainsi, dans un entretien accordé aux Inrocks, d’empêcher la sortie de son long-métrage. Un huis clos, librement inspiré de l’affaire Nafissatou Diallo: «Elle essaie encore de bloquer le film, peut-être qu’elle y parviendra», s’insurgeait-il. «Si ce monsieur n’arrive pas à monter son film, c’est son problème, pouvait-on entendre ces derniers jours dans l’entourage d’Anne Sinclair. Elle est bien au-delà de tout ça!» Oui. Sur des hauteurs où elle veut exister en paix.

L’académicien honoré par François Hollande

Il s’est battu pour donner aux sciences humaines toute leur place. Pierre Nora, cofondateur de la revue Débat a donc été fait Grand officier de la Légion d’honneur le 9 décembre. François Hollande a salué «le petit garçon traqué à cause de ses origines juives », avant de conclure: «de cette épreuve personnelle, vous avez conservé une révolte face à l’injustice, la barbarie, mais aussi une pudeur qui est de ne pas se raconter, mais de raconter l’histoire».

Ne se suffisant plus du bonheur d’être père, David Copperfield veut désormais être un homme marié. Cette année, l’illusionniste épousera la Française Chloé Gosselin, mère de sa jeune fille.

En un coup de baguette magique, il efface la différence d’âge. Entre David Copperfield, 57 ans, et Chloé Gosselin, 28 ans, les années ne sont qu’une illusion. Seul l’amour prend place dans leur couple. À en croire le principal intéressé, sa love-story n’est en tout cas, pas entachée par la grande différence d’âge qui l’éloigne de sa fiancée. Pour preuve, celui qui sera bientôt sexagénaire s’apprête à épouser le jeune mannequin français.

Dans une interview accordée au magazine Hello! David Copperfield confie être «fiancé avec Chloé» et engagé de tout son esprit et son cœur. Il ne s’agit pas d’un énième tour de passe-passe pour l’illusionniste mais bien d’un projet ancré dans la réalité. Sa future épouse est déjà la mère de sa fille Sky née en 2010.

Chloé Gosselin, 28 ans, a croisé la route de David Copperfield il y a six ans déjà. La Française dont on ne sait que peu de choses, s’est lancée dans le design de souliers. Une passion plus qu’un gagne-pain, puisque la jolie brunette profite sans bouder de la fortune colossale de son futur époux. Très amoureuse, Chloé, se remet à peine «d’avoir trouvé quelqu’un comme David». Modeste, talentueux, intelligent, souriant, la jeune maman n’a pas assez de qualificatifs pour parler de son homme.

Le tombeur (de Claudia Schiffer et la Tour Eiffel, entre autres) est toujours en haut de l’affiche dans un show de Las Vegas. Mais quand il ne vit pas dans le Nevada, c’est niché dans l’une des onze îles de son archipel des Bahamas qu’il se ressource. Dans ce petit paradis, Penelope Cruz et Javier Bardem ont passé leur voyage de noces en 2010. David Copperfield et Chloé Gosselin y échangeront sûrement leurs vœux les plus magiques.