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| Trump transition goes on after weekend meeting potential appointees – live | Trump transition goes on after weekend meeting potential appointees – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.54pm GMT | |
| 21:54 | |
| Ivanka Trump spoke with Argentinian president – report | |
| Earlier this hour we published a report by Uki Goñi for the Guardian that a spokesman for Argentina’s president has denied that Donald Trump asked for a business favour in their first phone call after Trump was elected president. | |
| We would highlight a separate piece from the report: Ivanka Trump spoke on the call with president Mauricia Macri, Macri told a Japanese newspaper: | |
| But despite such setbacks, the relationship remains close enough that President Macri spoke with Ivanka Trump during last Monday’s phone conversation. “In the call, I also talked with his daughter,” Macri told the Japanese newspaper the Asahi Shimbun. “I have known her since her infant days.” | |
| Ivanka Trump’s role in her father’s transition and presidency have attracted controversy because Trump has said he will avoid conflicts of interest in his business dealings while president by turning his companies over to his children. | |
| A safeguard that does not work as well if his elder daughter Ivanka is in the room for top-level meetings, as she was when Trump met with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe last week, or next to Trump when he gets off the phone with a foreign leader so she can the call. | |
| Ivanka Trump sat in on her father's meeting today with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, per handout photo pic.twitter.com/tEbfYYeJFA | |
| Read our report on the phone call with Macri: | |
| 9.29pm GMT | |
| 21:29 | |
| New York City is going to be looking to the federal government to defray costs of protecting Donald Trump – which run $1m a day, CNN reports – and, after Trump moves to the White House, of protecting Melania and Barron Trump, who will stay in the city until the boy finishes the school year. | |
| The CNN report quotes mayor Bill de Blasio: | |
| “The number one imperative here is safety and security. We owe that to the president elect, his family and his team,” said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference on Friday. But he added the city will need help with those costs, particularly police overtime. | |
| “This is a very substantial undertaking. It will take substantial resources,” he said. “We will begin the conversation with the federal government shortly on reimbursement for the NYPD for some of the costs that we are incurring.” | |
| 9.26pm GMT | |
| 21:26 | |
| University of Florida professor Michael McDonald, in addition to his work on early voting for the Elections Project, has studied judicial reviews of state-level gerrymandering, and contributes this interesting analysis to the Wisconsin ruling just announced: | |
| 8/ What next for Wisconsin? Court has not imposed a remedy at this time. My guess is that the current elections will stand pic.twitter.com/t7nK23mKia | |
| 10/ For now, the partisan gerrymandering ruling only applies to the Western District of Wisconsin, i.e., no other state | |
| 9.22pm GMT | |
| 21:22 | |
| Trump did not ask Argentina's president for business favor, spokesman says | |
| Uki Goñi | |
| A spokesman for Argentina’s president has denied that Donald Trump asked for a business favour when Mauricio Macri called the US president-elect to congratulate him on his victory. | |
| Local media reports have alleged that Trump asked Macri for help over a stalled construction permit for a 35-storey project called Trump Office in downtown Buenos Aires. A source told the Guardian that the information came from Macri’s staff. | |
| “Trump asked him to authorize a building he’s constructing in Buenos Aires – it wasn’t just geopolitical chat,” said journalist Jorge Lanata on his Sunday night news programme, Periodismo Para Todos. | |
| According the programme, the Buenos Aires building project became bogged down in bureaucratic red tape earlier this year, and was raised by Trump during the telephone call last week. | |
| “Macri told Trump that Argentina is welcoming foreign investment now, and Trump replied that he has a $150m investment in Argentina stalled because of a building permit in Buenos Aires,” journalist Romina Manguel, who described the alleged conversation on the programme, told the Guardian. | |
| Macri’s spokesman Iván Pavlovsky denied the report. “Macri did not speak to Donald Trump about the building of the tower,” he said. “They only talked about continuing the relationship between the two countries and recalled their personal relationship from years ago.” | |
| Read further: | |
| 9.16pm GMT | 9.16pm GMT |
| 21:16 | 21:16 |
| They’re baa-ack | They’re baa-ack |
| Just now on C-SPAN #ElevatorCam from Trump Tower lobby: @newtgingrich & @CallyGingrich pic.twitter.com/f2tkaUInOf | Just now on C-SPAN #ElevatorCam from Trump Tower lobby: @newtgingrich & @CallyGingrich pic.twitter.com/f2tkaUInOf |
| Newt Gingrich last week ruled himself out for a position in Donald Trump’s cabinet. Which likely means... secretary of state? [<---jest] | Newt Gingrich last week ruled himself out for a position in Donald Trump’s cabinet. Which likely means... secretary of state? [<---jest] |
| 8.54pm GMT | 8.54pm GMT |
| 20:54 | 20:54 |
| Federal court rules 2011 Wisconsin gerrymander unconstitutional | Federal court rules 2011 Wisconsin gerrymander unconstitutional |
| The US district court for the western district of Wisconsin has ruled in agreement with a plaintiff’s allegation that “the redistricting plan enacted by the Wisconsin legislature in 2011 constitutes an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.” | The US district court for the western district of Wisconsin has ruled in agreement with a plaintiff’s allegation that “the redistricting plan enacted by the Wisconsin legislature in 2011 constitutes an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.” |
| From the ruling: | From the ruling: |
| We find that Act 43 was intended to burden the representational rights of Democratic voters throughout the decennial period by impeding their ability to translate their votes into legislative seats. Moreover, as demonstrated by the results of the 2012 and 2014 elections, among other evidence, we conclude that Act 43 has had its intended effect. Finally, we find that the discriminatory effect is not explained by the political geography of Wisconsin nor is it justified by a legitimate state interest. Consequently, Act 43 constitutes an unconstitutional political gerrymander. | We find that Act 43 was intended to burden the representational rights of Democratic voters throughout the decennial period by impeding their ability to translate their votes into legislative seats. Moreover, as demonstrated by the results of the 2012 and 2014 elections, among other evidence, we conclude that Act 43 has had its intended effect. Finally, we find that the discriminatory effect is not explained by the political geography of Wisconsin nor is it justified by a legitimate state interest. Consequently, Act 43 constitutes an unconstitutional political gerrymander. |
| Holy moly. #WKOW MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Federal court: Wisconsin's Republican-drawn redistricting maps are unconstitutional. | Holy moly. #WKOW MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Federal court: Wisconsin's Republican-drawn redistricting maps are unconstitutional. |
| The ruling defers for the time being on a remedy: | The ruling defers for the time being on a remedy: |
| We defer, at this time, a ruling on the appropriate remedy. The parties have not had an opportunity to brief fully the timing and propriety of remedial measures. We therefore order briefing on the appropriate remedy according to the following schedule: | We defer, at this time, a ruling on the appropriate remedy. The parties have not had an opportunity to brief fully the timing and propriety of remedial measures. We therefore order briefing on the appropriate remedy according to the following schedule: |
| 1. The parties shall file simultaneous briefs on the nature and timing of all appropriate remedial measures in 30 days’ time; 2. Simultaneous response briefs are due 15 days thereafter. | 1. The parties shall file simultaneous briefs on the nature and timing of all appropriate remedial measures in 30 days’ time; 2. Simultaneous response briefs are due 15 days thereafter. |
| The parties will provide the court with all evidentiary and legal support they believe is required for the court to make its ruling. If the parties do not believe that the court can rule on the appropriate remedy without the benefit of additional testimony, they should inform the court of the nature and extent of the testimony they believe is required. | The parties will provide the court with all evidentiary and legal support they believe is required for the court to make its ruling. If the parties do not believe that the court can rule on the appropriate remedy without the benefit of additional testimony, they should inform the court of the nature and extent of the testimony they believe is required. |
| Developing... | Developing... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.17pm GMT | at 9.17pm GMT |
| 8.45pm GMT | 8.45pm GMT |
| 20:45 | 20:45 |
| Conway: new Trump appointments 'could come this week' | Conway: new Trump appointments 'could come this week' |
| The Trump transition pool has just sent over a summary of a conversation in Trump hotel lobby just then with Trump aide Kellyanne Conway. Here are sections of the Q&A: | The Trump transition pool has just sent over a summary of a conversation in Trump hotel lobby just then with Trump aide Kellyanne Conway. Here are sections of the Q&A: |
| Q: Will Trump hold a news conference? | Q: Will Trump hold a news conference? |
| A: Soon but he just has action-packed days filled with meetings. These days are overscheduled with meetings. We have people coming in from all over the country meeting with him to give their advice, their counsel, their experience, their vision for the country. Some of which will result in appointments to his administration and some just wish to be helpful. Very excited to have new leadership in the country. | A: Soon but he just has action-packed days filled with meetings. These days are overscheduled with meetings. We have people coming in from all over the country meeting with him to give their advice, their counsel, their experience, their vision for the country. Some of which will result in appointments to his administration and some just wish to be helpful. Very excited to have new leadership in the country. |
| Q: Why is Trump meeting with Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard? | Q: Why is Trump meeting with Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard? |
| A: A lot of common ground. I think they both understood the country very well. Rep. Gabbard went against her party quite boldly early on. I think you are hearing people like Rep. Tim Ryan also raising concerns. Bernie Sanders today was also quoted as saying they should stop identity politics in the Democratic Party. Whoa. He can call and we’ll tell him how to do that and win. So I think there’s a recognition that there’s a big country, a massive amount of voters that feel disaffected from their party, the Democrats. | A: A lot of common ground. I think they both understood the country very well. Rep. Gabbard went against her party quite boldly early on. I think you are hearing people like Rep. Tim Ryan also raising concerns. Bernie Sanders today was also quoted as saying they should stop identity politics in the Democratic Party. Whoa. He can call and we’ll tell him how to do that and win. So I think there’s a recognition that there’s a big country, a massive amount of voters that feel disaffected from their party, the Democrats. |
| Q: What was the meeting with TV executives and news presenters about? | Q: What was the meeting with TV executives and news presenters about? |
| A: There was no need to mend fences. It was off-the-record meeting. It was very cordial, very productive, very congenial. It was also very candid and very honest. From my own perspective, it’s great to hit the reset button. It was a long hard-fought campaign. Donald Trump proved that he animated America. He understood America and now he will be the president of all Americans. | A: There was no need to mend fences. It was off-the-record meeting. It was very cordial, very productive, very congenial. It was also very candid and very honest. From my own perspective, it’s great to hit the reset button. It was a long hard-fought campaign. Donald Trump proved that he animated America. He understood America and now he will be the president of all Americans. |
| Q: When will positions be announced? | Q: When will positions be announced? |
| A: It could come this week. It could come today but we’re not in a rush to publish names just because everybody is looking for the next story respectfully. You have got to get it right. We know we are ahead of schedule when you compare to previous presidents-elect. | A: It could come this week. It could come today but we’re not in a rush to publish names just because everybody is looking for the next story respectfully. You have got to get it right. We know we are ahead of schedule when you compare to previous presidents-elect. |
| Q: What about Americans who are afraid Trump will spread division and stoke bigotry and hatred – and demonstrations of hate since his election? | Q: What about Americans who are afraid Trump will spread division and stoke bigotry and hatred – and demonstrations of hate since his election? |
| A: He has addressed it many times. He’s told people to cut it out. He said that it on 60 Minutes in front of 32 million people. He’ll be the president for all Americans. But honestly he respectfully he can use your help in that. The election is over. A lot of Americans are having a hard time accepting the results of the election...I think it’s incumbent upon all of, the Trump team, certainly the press, and others, the Democratic party, in following President Obama’s lead, following Vice President’s lead...in telling Americans this is your president, this is your vice president-elect, you should respect them and work with them. | A: He has addressed it many times. He’s told people to cut it out. He said that it on 60 Minutes in front of 32 million people. He’ll be the president for all Americans. But honestly he respectfully he can use your help in that. The election is over. A lot of Americans are having a hard time accepting the results of the election...I think it’s incumbent upon all of, the Trump team, certainly the press, and others, the Democratic party, in following President Obama’s lead, following Vice President’s lead...in telling Americans this is your president, this is your vice president-elect, you should respect them and work with them. |
| Q: Do Trump’s business entanglements represent a conflict of interest? | Q: Do Trump’s business entanglements represent a conflict of interest? |
| A: I’m very confident he is not breaking any laws. He has various lawyers, accountants and advisers who tell him what he must do and what he can. He’s a businessman, he’s also working on transition. He’s the president elect. We’re in unprecedented times. We have someone who has been very successful.... | A: I’m very confident he is not breaking any laws. He has various lawyers, accountants and advisers who tell him what he must do and what he can. He’s a businessman, he’s also working on transition. He’s the president elect. We’re in unprecedented times. We have someone who has been very successful.... |
| Q: All Trump’s appointees so far are white men – will there be any diversity in the Trump administration? | Q: All Trump’s appointees so far are white men – will there be any diversity in the Trump administration? |
| A: His nominees so far have been all qualified to do the job they’re being asked to do. (CROSSTALK) In addition to that, or apart from that I should say, the first criteria to of course fill is everyone be qualified and capable to do the job that they’ve been asked to do. Secondly they support his agenda, which he’s been very straight forward about his first 100 days. And thirdly that they represent, his policies represent America. | A: His nominees so far have been all qualified to do the job they’re being asked to do. (CROSSTALK) In addition to that, or apart from that I should say, the first criteria to of course fill is everyone be qualified and capable to do the job that they’ve been asked to do. Secondly they support his agenda, which he’s been very straight forward about his first 100 days. And thirdly that they represent, his policies represent America. |
| And he is interviewing many different people but you can’t sacrifice the first criteria by tearing from the other ones... | And he is interviewing many different people but you can’t sacrifice the first criteria by tearing from the other ones... |
| 7.46pm GMT | 7.46pm GMT |
| 19:46 | 19:46 |
| Sessions accused of racial slur in 1981 | Sessions accused of racial slur in 1981 |
| Jon Swaine | Jon Swaine |
| Donald Trump’s nominee for US attorney general was once accused of calling a black official in Alabama a “nigger”, and then gave a false explanation to the US Senate when testifying about the allegation. | Donald Trump’s nominee for US attorney general was once accused of calling a black official in Alabama a “nigger”, and then gave a false explanation to the US Senate when testifying about the allegation. |
| Senator Jeff Sessions was said to have used the racist term in November 1981, when talking about the first black man to be elected as a county commissioner in Mobile, where Sessions was a Republican party official and a federal prosecutor. | Senator Jeff Sessions was said to have used the racist term in November 1981, when talking about the first black man to be elected as a county commissioner in Mobile, where Sessions was a Republican party official and a federal prosecutor. |
| Asked about the alleged remark five years later, during Senate hearings on his ill-fated nomination by President Ronald Reagan for a federal judgeship, Sessions denied saying it and claimed the alleged timing did not stand up to scrutiny. | Asked about the alleged remark five years later, during Senate hearings on his ill-fated nomination by President Ronald Reagan for a federal judgeship, Sessions denied saying it and claimed the alleged timing did not stand up to scrutiny. |
| “My point is there was not a black county commissioner at that time,” Sessions said, in response to questions from Joe Biden, then a senator for Delaware. “The black was only elected later.” | “My point is there was not a black county commissioner at that time,” Sessions said, in response to questions from Joe Biden, then a senator for Delaware. “The black was only elected later.” |
| But this was not true. Public records show Douglas Wicks had become the first black person elected to one of Mobile’s three county commission seats in September 1980 – more than a year before Sessions allegedly referred to him using the racist term. | But this was not true. Public records show Douglas Wicks had become the first black person elected to one of Mobile’s three county commission seats in September 1980 – more than a year before Sessions allegedly referred to him using the racist term. |
| Read the full piece: | Read the full piece: |
| 7.45pm GMT | 7.45pm GMT |
| 19:45 | 19:45 |
| Further media sightings at Trump tower – heading up to meet with Trump, or heading out after meeting with him – via the transition media pool: | Further media sightings at Trump tower – heading up to meet with Trump, or heading out after meeting with him – via the transition media pool: |
| Norah O’DonnellGayle KingGeorge StephanopoulosDavid MuirMartha RaddatzLester HoltChuck Todd | Norah O’DonnellGayle KingGeorge StephanopoulosDavid MuirMartha RaddatzLester HoltChuck Todd |
| 7.28pm GMT | 7.28pm GMT |
| 19:28 | 19:28 |
| State official flashes plan for new government interrogation and surveillance | State official flashes plan for new government interrogation and surveillance |
| Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach, an immigration hard-liner, flashed a written plan to question “high-risk” immigrants over support for Sharia law and the US Constitution as he entered a meeting with Donald Trump at the weekend. | Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach, an immigration hard-liner, flashed a written plan to question “high-risk” immigrants over support for Sharia law and the US Constitution as he entered a meeting with Donald Trump at the weekend. |
| It has not been publicly announced whether Kobach is in the running for homeland security secretary or any other position. Trump’s promise to carry out “extreme vetting” of immigrants has raised a red flag for civil liberties advocates and defenders of a certain idea of the USA while being cheered by analysts who dispute that the constitution’s ban on religious tests applies to immigration. | It has not been publicly announced whether Kobach is in the running for homeland security secretary or any other position. Trump’s promise to carry out “extreme vetting” of immigrants has raised a red flag for civil liberties advocates and defenders of a certain idea of the USA while being cheered by analysts who dispute that the constitution’s ban on religious tests applies to immigration. |
| The scoop is from the Topeka, Kansas, Capital-Journal: | The scoop is from the Topeka, Kansas, Capital-Journal: |
| An Associated Press photographer shot an image of Kobach going into the meeting and clutching a binder along with a stack of papers. One page is visible and readable, though partly obscured by Kobach’s hand. | An Associated Press photographer shot an image of Kobach going into the meeting and clutching a binder along with a stack of papers. One page is visible and readable, though partly obscured by Kobach’s hand. |
| The document is arranged in a numbered format. The first point reads, “Bar the Entry of Potential Terrorists.” | The document is arranged in a numbered format. The first point reads, “Bar the Entry of Potential Terrorists.” |
| The document calls for updating and reintroducing the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. The program was implemented in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, but largely suspended in 2011. | The document calls for updating and reintroducing the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. The program was implemented in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, but largely suspended in 2011. |
| “All aliens from high-risk areas are tracked,” the document reads. | “All aliens from high-risk areas are tracked,” the document reads. |
| NEW, via @jshormanCJ: Kobach took plan for Department of Homeland Security into Trump meeting #ksleg | https://t.co/bzAj784tQ3 pic.twitter.com/y6p3QTtLLa | NEW, via @jshormanCJ: Kobach took plan for Department of Homeland Security into Trump meeting #ksleg | https://t.co/bzAj784tQ3 pic.twitter.com/y6p3QTtLLa |
| The advent of the kind of systems suggested in the Kobach document could be subject to abuse, with the government conceivably waylaying or arresting –anyone?– in border areas and tracking – anyone? – inside the country, perhaps depending on the government’s (probably secret?) definition of “high-risk areas”. | The advent of the kind of systems suggested in the Kobach document could be subject to abuse, with the government conceivably waylaying or arresting –anyone?– in border areas and tracking – anyone? – inside the country, perhaps depending on the government’s (probably secret?) definition of “high-risk areas”. |
| Will Kobach get the nod? The homeland security nominee will require senate confirmation. | Will Kobach get the nod? The homeland security nominee will require senate confirmation. |
| 7.06pm GMT | 7.06pm GMT |
| 19:06 | 19:06 |
| Senator John McCain, who is to remain chairman of the senate armed services committee, which would hold hearings on the confirmation of Trump’s defense secretary nominee, has again voiced support for general James “Mad Dog” Mattis, who is not yet a nominee but who was praised by Trump after a weekend meeting. | Senator John McCain, who is to remain chairman of the senate armed services committee, which would hold hearings on the confirmation of Trump’s defense secretary nominee, has again voiced support for general James “Mad Dog” Mattis, who is not yet a nominee but who was praised by Trump after a weekend meeting. |
| Just in: @SenJohnMcCain calls Gen. James Mattis, potential Trump SecDef, 'one of the finest military officers of his generation' | Just in: @SenJohnMcCain calls Gen. James Mattis, potential Trump SecDef, 'one of the finest military officers of his generation' |
| Mattis, 66, a four-star Marine corps general, has relatively recent combat experience in both Afghanistan and Iraq, where he was part of the team that led the 2004 battle for control of the Iraqi city of Fallujah. (Mattis, who retired four years ago, was not on the scene for the battle to re-take Fallujah this past June.) Mattis was rather unceremoniously ejected from his final military post, as head of US central command, after policy clashes with the Obama White House, whose nuclear deal with Iran Mattis has vehemently criticized. | Mattis, 66, a four-star Marine corps general, has relatively recent combat experience in both Afghanistan and Iraq, where he was part of the team that led the 2004 battle for control of the Iraqi city of Fallujah. (Mattis, who retired four years ago, was not on the scene for the battle to re-take Fallujah this past June.) Mattis was rather unceremoniously ejected from his final military post, as head of US central command, after policy clashes with the Obama White House, whose nuclear deal with Iran Mattis has vehemently criticized. |
| General James "Mad Dog" Mattis, who is being considered for Secretary of Defense, was very impressive yesterday. A true General's General! | General James "Mad Dog" Mattis, who is being considered for Secretary of Defense, was very impressive yesterday. A true General's General! |
| 6.39pm GMT | 6.39pm GMT |
| 18:39 | 18:39 |
| The media pool covering the Trump transition has encountered former senator Scott Brown and Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin following their meetings in Trump tower. | The media pool covering the Trump transition has encountered former senator Scott Brown and Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin following their meetings in Trump tower. |
| Also spotted: former Texas governor Rick Perry, leaving the building just after noon without speaking with reporters.Additionally spotted: TV executives and on-air personality including: | Also spotted: former Texas governor Rick Perry, leaving the building just after noon without speaking with reporters.Additionally spotted: TV executives and on-air personality including: |
| NBC’s Deborah Turness | NBC’s Deborah Turness |
| CNN’s Jeff Zucker and Wolf Blitzer | CNN’s Jeff Zucker and Wolf Blitzer |
| FOX’s Bill Shine, Jack Abernethy and Jay Wallace and Suzanne Scott | FOX’s Bill Shine, Jack Abernethy and Jay Wallace and Suzanne Scott |
| CBS’s John Dickerson and Charlie Rose | CBS’s John Dickerson and Charlie Rose |
| Fallin said “we are very, very excited for this administration,” adding that she “was not offered a position.” | Fallin said “we are very, very excited for this administration,” adding that she “was not offered a position.” |
| “It was just an initial meeting to discuss a wide range of topics,” Fallin said. | “It was just an initial meeting to discuss a wide range of topics,” Fallin said. |
| Brown spoke at length about challenges facing the veterans administration, and said he thought he was the “best person” for the job. | Brown spoke at length about challenges facing the veterans administration, and said he thought he was the “best person” for the job. |
| Brown said the VA post was the “toughest job in the cabinet” owing to the importance of caring for veterans and systemic problems plaguing the agency. | Brown said the VA post was the “toughest job in the cabinet” owing to the importance of caring for veterans and systemic problems plaguing the agency. |
| “He’s obviously going to take my application, or interest, under consideration,” Brown said. “I’m glad that he called. He’s going to obviously meet other folks, and we should know, I would think, probably after Thanksgiving.” | “He’s obviously going to take my application, or interest, under consideration,” Brown said. “I’m glad that he called. He’s going to obviously meet other folks, and we should know, I would think, probably after Thanksgiving.” |
| Brown continued: | Brown continued: |
| I’m not competing with anybody. I think I’m the best person, but there are some tremendous people out there and I don’t look at it as a competition. Anybody who takes that job, which I believe is the toughest job in the cabinet – because it has so many problems in that it’s so visible, and that people’s lives are depending on whether you do it right or wrong. I think as the president-elect said, it’s his highest priority, and that’s why the veterans came out so strongly for him. | I’m not competing with anybody. I think I’m the best person, but there are some tremendous people out there and I don’t look at it as a competition. Anybody who takes that job, which I believe is the toughest job in the cabinet – because it has so many problems in that it’s so visible, and that people’s lives are depending on whether you do it right or wrong. I think as the president-elect said, it’s his highest priority, and that’s why the veterans came out so strongly for him. |