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| Nancy Pelosi strengthens her hand as Democrats win another House seat – live updates | Nancy Pelosi strengthens her hand as Democrats win another House seat – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former attorney general Alberto Gonzalez has criticized President Donald Trump over the New York Times report that Trump sought to prosecute Hillary Clinton and Jim Comey. | |
| He told CNN “we live in a democracy, and you don’t go after political rivals.” | |
| Freshman Democrats are feeling pressure from Nancy Pelosi to support her for Speaker. | |
| One, Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who signed a letter to make clear his opposition to Pelosi taking the gavel, said that he was worried that it would hurt his chances of serving on key committees. | |
| Republican legislators in Wisconsin are pushing to move the state’s presidential primary in 2020 to March from April. | Republican legislators in Wisconsin are pushing to move the state’s presidential primary in 2020 to March from April. |
| The move has nothing to do with the primary calendar. Instead, it’s about separating the primary election with that for the state supreme court. Republicans fear that a competitive Democratic primary coinciding with the race for state supreme court could doom a conservative incumbent’s chances. | The move has nothing to do with the primary calendar. Instead, it’s about separating the primary election with that for the state supreme court. Republicans fear that a competitive Democratic primary coinciding with the race for state supreme court could doom a conservative incumbent’s chances. |
| The move has met a major backlash from local elected officials. It would mean consecutive elections in February, March and April and cost the state roughly $7 million. | The move has met a major backlash from local elected officials. It would mean consecutive elections in February, March and April and cost the state roughly $7 million. |
| The reviews are in from the lone debate in Mississippi’s special election for Senate and no one is comparing it to Lincoln and Douglas. | The reviews are in from the lone debate in Mississippi’s special election for Senate and no one is comparing it to Lincoln and Douglas. |
| What happens when a debate is held between a pol last on the ballot in 1992 and another who only reads from talking points? Well, it wasn’t exactly high drama. Misssisssipi meh (to be charitable)https://t.co/kN8rvyYgXR | What happens when a debate is held between a pol last on the ballot in 1992 and another who only reads from talking points? Well, it wasn’t exactly high drama. Misssisssipi meh (to be charitable)https://t.co/kN8rvyYgXR |
| The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board roasted President Donald Trump for his comments about Saudi Arabia yesterday. | The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board roasted President Donald Trump for his comments about Saudi Arabia yesterday. |
| While the Journal’s editorial page has long been Trump friendly, criticized his comments. | While the Journal’s editorial page has long been Trump friendly, criticized his comments. |
| President Trump did himself and the country no favor with his crude statement Tuesday on the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by Saudi agents. | President Trump did himself and the country no favor with his crude statement Tuesday on the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by Saudi agents. |
| Commenting on whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew about the murder, Mr. Trump said in a statement only he could have written: “Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” | Commenting on whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew about the murder, Mr. Trump said in a statement only he could have written: “Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” |
| We are unsure of the purpose of the exclamation point here, just as we are unsure what goal Mr. Trump hoped to achieve with what can only be described as a raw and brutalist version of foreign-policy realpolitik. | We are unsure of the purpose of the exclamation point here, just as we are unsure what goal Mr. Trump hoped to achieve with what can only be described as a raw and brutalist version of foreign-policy realpolitik. |
| Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker is facing a potential investigation for a Hatch Act violation. The New York Times reports on the newest potential ethics issue for Whitaker. | Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker is facing a potential investigation for a Hatch Act violation. The New York Times reports on the newest potential ethics issue for Whitaker. |
| Mr. Whitaker also faced new questions on Tuesday about donations to his unsuccessful 2014 campaign for a United States Senate seat in Iowa. Mr. Whitaker’s campaign committee received four donations totaling $8,800 this year, a few months after he joined the Justice Department, records show. | Mr. Whitaker also faced new questions on Tuesday about donations to his unsuccessful 2014 campaign for a United States Senate seat in Iowa. Mr. Whitaker’s campaign committee received four donations totaling $8,800 this year, a few months after he joined the Justice Department, records show. |
| Executive branch officials are generally prohibited by a federal law, the Hatch Act, from knowingly soliciting or accepting campaign donations. | Executive branch officials are generally prohibited by a federal law, the Hatch Act, from knowingly soliciting or accepting campaign donations. |
| One of the key measures of the midterms was which districts had a Whole Foods. Democrats picked up seats in many of those districts earlier this month. | One of the key measures of the midterms was which districts had a Whole Foods. Democrats picked up seats in many of those districts earlier this month. |
| There are 233 congressional districts w/ a Whole Foods Market (h/t @GrantrGregory), nearly the same number Dems will control in 2019.Dems will control 67% of those 233 districts come January, up from 55% today. | There are 233 congressional districts w/ a Whole Foods Market (h/t @GrantrGregory), nearly the same number Dems will control in 2019.Dems will control 67% of those 233 districts come January, up from 55% today. |
| Fact: of the 42 House seats Dems have flipped from GOP control so far, exactly two thirds - 67% - contain a Whole Foods Market. None of the three seats Rs flipped from Dem control have one. | Fact: of the 42 House seats Dems have flipped from GOP control so far, exactly two thirds - 67% - contain a Whole Foods Market. None of the three seats Rs flipped from Dem control have one. |
| Jennifer Duffy at the Cook Political Report offers a good overview of the state of play in Mississippi. | Jennifer Duffy at the Cook Political Report offers a good overview of the state of play in Mississippi. |
| Less than a week out from the state’s special election runoff for the Senate, the seat is classified as “Lean Republican” with one Democratic strategist describing the party’s standard-bearer, Mike Espy, as having “a puncher’s chance.” | Less than a week out from the state’s special election runoff for the Senate, the seat is classified as “Lean Republican” with one Democratic strategist describing the party’s standard-bearer, Mike Espy, as having “a puncher’s chance.” |
| The race is still due for one more shakeup when President Donald Trump will stump the Magnolia State for Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith on Monday, the day before the election. | The race is still due for one more shakeup when President Donald Trump will stump the Magnolia State for Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith on Monday, the day before the election. |
| Nate Cohn has an interesting look at polling bias during the midterms. | Nate Cohn has an interesting look at polling bias during the midterms. |
| Polls underestimated Democratic turnout in states like California and New York but missed Republican turnout in states like Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. | Polls underestimated Democratic turnout in states like California and New York but missed Republican turnout in states like Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. |
| Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker imposed far harsher sentences than almost other U.S. Attorney in the country when he was the top federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Iowa. | Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker imposed far harsher sentences than almost other U.S. Attorney in the country when he was the top federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Iowa. |
| The Washington Post reports | The Washington Post reports |
| Whitaker spent nearly five years as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. His office was more likely than all but one other district in the United States to use its authority to impose the harshest sentences on drug offenders, according to a finding by a different Iowa federal judge, Mark W. Bennett, who it called a “deeply troubling disparity.” | Whitaker spent nearly five years as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. His office was more likely than all but one other district in the United States to use its authority to impose the harshest sentences on drug offenders, according to a finding by a different Iowa federal judge, Mark W. Bennett, who it called a “deeply troubling disparity.” |
| NEW : AG Whitaker was once ranked as one of the worst US Attorneys in the country for abusing a power to send minor drug offenders to prison for decades...via @PostKranish https://t.co/ixx5LmSmtA | NEW : AG Whitaker was once ranked as one of the worst US Attorneys in the country for abusing a power to send minor drug offenders to prison for decades...via @PostKranish https://t.co/ixx5LmSmtA |
| Democrats seem set to win one of the three remaining uncalled House races. | Democrats seem set to win one of the three remaining uncalled House races. |
| In upstate New York, Democrat Anthony Brindisi’s lead is now greater than the number of remaining uncounted ballots. Brindisi will have bested Claudia Tenney, a first term Republican with a history of controversial remarks. | In upstate New York, Democrat Anthony Brindisi’s lead is now greater than the number of remaining uncounted ballots. Brindisi will have bested Claudia Tenney, a first term Republican with a history of controversial remarks. |
| Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping will have dinner at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires in December. However, one top White House aide will not be on the guest list. | Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping will have dinner at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires in December. However, one top White House aide will not be on the guest list. |
| Peter Navarro, White House trade advisor and vocal China hawk, will reportedly not be invited to the dinner. Navarro has been the leading advocate for a tougher line on China in the administration. | Peter Navarro, White House trade advisor and vocal China hawk, will reportedly not be invited to the dinner. Navarro has been the leading advocate for a tougher line on China in the administration. |
| The potential for competitive Democratic leadership races has been reduced. Nancy Pelosi announced last night that she was creating a new elected position, Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. And like clockwork, one candidate for the number five position in the caucus, Assistant Democratic Leader, has dropped out. | The potential for competitive Democratic leadership races has been reduced. Nancy Pelosi announced last night that she was creating a new elected position, Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. And like clockwork, one candidate for the number five position in the caucus, Assistant Democratic Leader, has dropped out. |
| And like clockwork, David Cicilline sends out Dear Colleague letter announcing he’s withdrawing from asst majority leader race to run for newly created DPCC chair position. Point: Pelosi. pic.twitter.com/zEI94s2iLo | And like clockwork, David Cicilline sends out Dear Colleague letter announcing he’s withdrawing from asst majority leader race to run for newly created DPCC chair position. Point: Pelosi. pic.twitter.com/zEI94s2iLo |
| President Donald Trump tweeted earlier this morning to thank Saudi Arabia for lower oil prices. | President Donald Trump tweeted earlier this morning to thank Saudi Arabia for lower oil prices. |
| Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut for America and the World. Enjoy! $54, was just $82. Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but let’s go lower! | Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut for America and the World. Enjoy! $54, was just $82. Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but let’s go lower! |
| The tweet comes the day after his extraordinary statement on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudis. | The tweet comes the day after his extraordinary statement on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudis. |
| This analysis from The Resurgent points to one of the reasons that Democrats have an outside shot at picking up a Senate seat in the Mississippi special election runoff. | This analysis from The Resurgent points to one of the reasons that Democrats have an outside shot at picking up a Senate seat in the Mississippi special election runoff. |
| There is a hard core cadre of conservatives who backed third place finisher Chris McDaniel on Election Day who are still embittered over the series of events that led to Thad Cochran’s narrow win for the seat in 2014. The state saw a vicious Republican primary between longtime incumbent Cochran and McDaniel, who was running as a Tea Party outsider. Although McDaniel outpolled Cochran in the first round of voting, neither received 50% which led to a runoff that Cochran narrowly won with ugly recriminations on both sides. | There is a hard core cadre of conservatives who backed third place finisher Chris McDaniel on Election Day who are still embittered over the series of events that led to Thad Cochran’s narrow win for the seat in 2014. The state saw a vicious Republican primary between longtime incumbent Cochran and McDaniel, who was running as a Tea Party outsider. Although McDaniel outpolled Cochran in the first round of voting, neither received 50% which led to a runoff that Cochran narrowly won with ugly recriminations on both sides. |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Nancy Pelosi has made a deal to fend off a potential rival to be speaker, Democrats officially won another House seat last night and Mississippi held the final debate of 2018. And Donald Trump is at one of his golf courses this morning. | Nancy Pelosi has made a deal to fend off a potential rival to be speaker, Democrats officially won another House seat last night and Mississippi held the final debate of 2018. And Donald Trump is at one of his golf courses this morning. |
| It’s Wednesday in American politics. | It’s Wednesday in American politics. |