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.

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 …

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

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.

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 …

“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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Maria Butina, Accused Of Being A Russian Agent, May Be In Talks For Plea Deal  —  Prosecutors are negotiating a potential plea agreement with the Russian woman who was charged over the summer with being a clandestine foreign agent.  —  The U.S. Attorney's office for Washington D.C …

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 …

GOP Senator Says Voter Suppression Is A ‘Great Idea’  —  Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) said it should be harder for “liberal folks” to vote.  —  Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) appeared to endorse voter suppression during a campaign stop this month, saying efforts to undermine voting among liberals …

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.

In Critical Broward County, Hope for Bill Nelson Fades as Hand Recount Begins  —  This is where the Democrat needs to make up the most ground.  Early indications are he won't.  —  As the hand recount in Florida's contentious Senate election got underway in Broward County …

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.

Trump says he “just finished” answering Mueller's questions  —  President Trump told reporters Friday that he has “just finished” writing his answers to questions submitted by Robert Mueller's team, emphasizing that he has written the answers himself, not his lawyers, and that they will be submitted to the special counsel soon.

Republicans lose ‘Reagan Country’ in Orange County  —  Democrat Katie Porter captured a Republican-held U.S. House seat Thursday in the heart of what once was Reagan country in Orange County.  The Morning Joe panel discusses the latest wins by Democrats in the House.

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.