Is Mike Pence Loyal?  Trump is Asking, Despite His Recent Endorsement  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump's post-midterm election news conference at the White House last week took a surprising turn when a reporter asked about locking down his 2020 ticket.  —  “Mike, will you be my running mate?”

I Found the Best Burger Place in America.  And Then I Killed It.  —  n my office, I have a coffee mug from Stanich's in Portland, Oregon.  Under the restaurant name, it says “Great hamburgers since 1949.”  The mug was given to me by Steve Stanich on the day I told him that …

Judge orders White House to return Jim Acosta's press pass  —  (CNN)Federal judge Timothy J. Kelly sided with CNN on Friday, ordering the White House to reinstate chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass.  —  The ruling was an initial victory for CNN in its lawsuit against President Trump and several top aides.

Another Trump aide tell-all due to hit shelves in January  —  Another account of life inside the Trump White House is set to join the ever-growing canon on the subject.  —  Cliff Sims, a Trump adviser who joined the West Wing staff on Day One as a special assistant to the president after working …

“I dont feel comfortable being a Republican anymore” |  Skullduggery on acast  —  In this episode of Skullduggery, co-hosts Michael Isikoff and Dan Klaidman sit down for an exclusive and highly sought after interview with George T. Conway III, husband to the Counselor of the President, Kellyanne Conway.

Julian Assange has been charged, prosecutors reveal in inadvertent court filing  —  WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange has been charged under seal, prosecutors inadvertently revealed in a recently unsealed court filing — a development that could significantly advance the probe into Russian interference …

Only on AP: Abrams prepares push for new Georgia Gov. vote  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Stacey Abrams' campaign and legal team is preparing an unprecedented legal challenge in the unresolved Georgia governor's race that could leave the state's Supreme Court deciding whether to force another round of voting.

U.S. Marshals Service spending millions on DeVos security in unusual arrangement  —  The cost to taxpayers could be as much as $19.8 million through next year, according to figures provided to NBC News.  —  WASHINGTON — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos began receiving around-the-clock security …

Top Cheney Aide in Mueller's Sights as Probe Expands  —  Mueller's investigators have examined an array of operatives with ties to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the UAE—including John Hannah, Dick Cheney's former national security adviser.  —  Dick Cheney's former top national security aide …

Trump legal team balks at Mueller's questions on post-2016 election activity  —  Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump and his legal team have taken issue with some of the questions from special counsel Robert Mueller that cover the transition period after the 2016 election …

Grassley to trade Judiciary gavel for Finance  —  Chuck Grassley plans to trade his Senate Judiciary Committee gavel to lead the Finance Committee next year, he said on Friday — leaving Lindsey Graham in line to replace him as chairman.  —  Grassley's move to Finance wasn't a given …

Setting the Record Straight on Regarding My Facebook Work  —  Setting the Record Straight Regarding My Facebook Work  —  Over the past 48 hours I've had some extremely serious accusations leveled against my integrity and my work.  So I want to be upfront about this and share my personal thoughts.

Alleged Russian operative Mariia Butina negotiating with prosecutors  —  A document filed in federal court indicates prosecutors and Butina's lawyers are working towards a plea agreement.  —  Lawyers for alleged Russian operative Mariia Butina have entered into negotiations with federal prosecutors …

Two Years In, Trump Struggles to Master Role of Military Commander  —  WASHINGTON — He canceled a trip to a cemetery in France where American soldiers from World War I are buried.  He did not go to the observance at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day.  He has not visited American troops in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Hyde-Smith appears to joke that making it harder for students to vote is a ‘great idea’  —  Senator deflects over ‘public hanging’ comment  —  Washington (CNN)Mississippi Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith appeared to say laws that make it “just a little more difficult” for attendees …

Iran to Be Declared in Breach of Chemical Weapons Bans  —  Sources: Trump admin will announce Iran in breach for first time  —  The Trump administration is set to announce that Iran is not in compliance with the Chemical Weapons Conventions, marking a significant departure …

For First Act in Power, Democrats Consider Making Their Own Agenda Impossible to Pass  —  This week, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi unveiled a list of new procedural rules that her caucus intends to implement when the next Congress is seated.  Most of these measures are unobjectionable “good government” reforms.

Melania Trump racked up $174,000 in hotel bills for a day trip to Toronto  —  US first lady Melania Trump ran up a six-figure hotel bill for a one-day trip to Toronto last year, according to federal spending records.  —  Government spending data show at least six separate Toronto hotel charges ranging …

The Democratic Insurgents Who Want to Topple Nancy Pelosi  —  What do Tim Ryan and Seth Moulton really want?  —  There's an insurrection brewing in the House of Pelosi.  —  An intractable group on the Democratic Party's center flank is working to deny Nancy Pelosi the speaker's gavel.

Michael Avenatti Never Should've Been a Resistance Hero  —  I can't say I was surprised when Michael Avenatti was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence on Wednesday.  It's not that he seems like someone who'd assault a romantic partner.  For one thing, that's not something …

Trump Says He'll Nominate Andrew Wheeler to Head the E.P.A.  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday said he intends to nominate Andrew R. Wheeler to be the permanent administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.  —  The E.P.A. has been at the center of Mr. Trump's deregulatory agenda …

Trump to meet with Florida's Bondi as he searches for new attorney general  —  WASHINGTON  —  President Donald Trump will meet with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi — who is on his short list be his next attorney general — while he vacations at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Palm Beach …

Turkey has second audio recording on Khashoggi killing: Columnist  —  Hürriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi reported on Nov. 16 that Turkey has more evidence, including a second, longer audio recording that contradicts with key findings of the Saudi public prosecutor's indictment …

Trump's White House Chaos Is Worsening  —  Distractions and disarray are threatening to upend Trump's presidency.  Can he possibly stay focused?  —  As my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Timothy L. O'Brien argues, the Trump administration, always veering toward chaos, is in the process of diving in head first.

Betsy DeVos Strikes a Blow for the Constitution  —  The proposed Title IX rules highlight how bad things have become on campus.  —  The Department of Education has issued its long-awaited proposed regulations reforming sexual-assault adjudications on college campus.

Mark Meadows, Ruben Kihuen sanctioned over sexual harassment-related allegations  —  The House Ethics Committee has formally sanctioned two members — GOP Rep. Mark Meadows (N.C.) and Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen (Nev.) — over sexual harassment-related allegations, the latest sign that fallout …

McConnell Tells Trump a Criminal Justice Bill Is Not Likely This Year  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Mitch McConnell told President Trump in a private meeting on Thursday that there is not likely to be enough time to bring a bipartisan criminal justice bill up for a vote this year …

So, Was It A Wave?  —  There's been an ongoing discussion about whether the 2018 midterms can be properly considered a “wave” election.  While I think they certainly can be considered a wave, that doesn't get to the question of whether they ought to be considered as such.  —  At its core, this debate is pretty silly.