Trump, stung by midterms and nervous about Mueller, retreats from traditional presidential duties … For weeks this fall, an ebullient President Trump traveled relentlessly to hold raise-the-rafters campaign rallies — sometimes three a day — in states where his presence was likely to help Republicans on the ballot.

After clashes with first lady and others, Kelly may soon exit White House  —  The White House Chief of Staff has had an array of disputes with officials from the NSC and the East Wing in recent months.  —  ­ WASHINGTON — John Kelly, mired in conflicts with a widening array of officials …

How Trump's move to put a loyalist over Mueller is already backfiring  —  In choosing Matthew Whitaker to temporarily succeed ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump has placed a loyal ally who has been critical of Robert Mueller's Russia investigation in a position to oversee it.

Whitaker abandoned taxpayer-funded project in Iowa in 2016  —  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — While in private business, acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker walked away from a taxpayer-subsidized apartment-rehabilitation project in Iowa after years of cost overruns, delays and other problems, public records show.

Democrat Katie Porter overtakes GOP Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange County House ballot count  —  After clinging for a week to a slim lead in her run for reelection, Republican Rep. Mimi Walters fell 261 votes behind her Democratic challenger, Katie Porter, as Orange County's latest ballot count …

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez opens freshman orientation by leading protest at Nancy Pelosi's office  —  Before she's even taken an oath of office, Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined protesters at Nancy Pelosi's office and led a sit-in to protest climate change.

Will Dems work with us, or simply put partisan politics ahead of the country?  —  Last Tuesday I was proud to see that the American people voted keep Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate.  But we also learned that, come January, the Republican Senate majority will be dealing with a House …

D.C. man arrested on gun charge after relatives alert police to his alleged white nationalist outbursts  —  A D.C. man who described himself as a white nationalist to law enforcement officers and became a follower on social media of the accused Pittsburgh synagogue shooter has been arrested …

Mueller seeking more details on Nigel Farage, key Russia inquiry target says  —  Robert Mueller is seeking more information about Nigel Farage for his investigation into Russian interference in US politics, according to a target of the inquiry who expects to be criminally charged.

Only on AP: Bloomberg charts aggressive timeline on 2020 bid  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Having spent a fortune to help elect Democrats this fall, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared lifetime allegiance to the Democratic Party on Tuesday and outlined an aggressive timeline for deciding whether to run for president.

I Take Back My Praise of Jeff Flake's Book  —  He's a class act with a faint heart.  —  At some point or another, all book critics agonize over whether they've taken the wrong measure of a book.  They've overpraised; they've underpraised; they've dwelled too long on imperfections that hardly deserved the molecular scrutiny.

A Week After the Midterms, Trump Seems to Forget the Caravan  —  WASHINGTON — For weeks before the midterm elections, President Trump warned ominously about the threat from a caravan of migrants streaming from Central America toward Mexico's border with the United States.

After lynching comments, Google donates $5000 to Cindy Hyde-Smith  —  U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) was caught on tape “joking” about her willingness to attend a lynching at a campaign event in November.  “If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row,” Hyde-Smith said on November 2.

In a stunning move, Melania Trump calls for ouster of a top national security aide  —  (CNN)First lady Melania Trump, in a remarkable move carried out by her spokeswoman, publicly pushed for the ouster of deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel.  —  “It is the position of the Office …

The 2018 Midterms, In 4 Charts  —  This midterm election saw an unusual trend, though it wasn't unprecedented.  The chambers “swung” in opposite directions, as Democrats gained seats in the House (they're on track for a net gain of 38 by our estimates) and lost seats in the Senate …

Was Amazon's headquarters search ‘a giant ruse’?  NYC, D.C. centers of power prevail  —  Amazon's selection of New York City and Arlington, Virginia, for its new headquarters - as well as Nashville, Tennessee, for a major investment - leaves major cities throughout the country wondering what could have been.

California Rep. Denham ousted  —  Rep. Jeff Denham has become the latest California Republican to lose his seat.  —  The Associated Press on Tuesday night declared Josh Harder the winner in the race in California's 10th District in the state's Central Valley east of San Jose.

BREAKING: Florida election: Judge orders recount extended for PBC to Nov. 20  —  A Leon County circuit judge has ruled that recounts in Palm Beach County for all state races in question be extended to Nov. 20, about five days after the original 3 p.m. Thursday deadline.

Back at it: Disney passholder displays pro-Trump signs at park, gets banned again  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - A man who was banned from Disney World several weeks ago for unfurling a giant Donald Trump banner in the Magic Kingdom has been banned again.  —  He said after Disney officials took away …

Meet the Native American Woman Who Beat the Sponsor of North Dakota's ID Law  —  In the end, the Native American tribes of North Dakota could not save their preferred candidate, Senator Heidi Heitkamp, from a double-digit loss.  —  But, galvanized by anger over the state's voter ID law …

How Martha McSally could end up in the Senate even though she lost the election  —  Rep. Martha McSally received widespread praise from people on both sides of the political aisle for her concession speech Monday night in which she bowed out of the tight race for Arizona's Senate seat.

Trump Is Right About Nationalism  —  It's not just about interests or even values.  Americans cherish our country's shared history and character.  —  In commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism.

Florida recount gives Bondi a new shot at Trump's inner circle  —  Florida's attorney general, Pam Bondi, doesn't oversee the recounts in the Senate and governor's races that are underway in the state.  —  But since the midterms, she has been serving as one of President Donald Trump's point people …

A Father Drops Off His Son for Congress' Freshman Orientation  —  Retiring Rep. Sander M. Levin drove away from the Courtyard Marriott in Southeast Washington, leaving his son on the curb in front of the hotel.  —  It was a true first day of school moment for Michigan Rep.-elect Andy Levin, who will be succeeding his father.

VIDEO: Ohio State Protesters Chant 'John McCain's Dead' Outside Ben Shapiro Lecture  —  Students put on a shameful display Tuesday at Ohio State University, where conservative commentator Ben Shapiro appeared as part of his campus lecture tour.  Leftist protesters who gathered outside the doors …

Remember the caravan?  After vote, focus on migrants fades  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Did someone say caravan?  —  One week after Election Day, President Donald Trump's daily drumbeat of warnings about a caravan of “bad thugs” and potential terrorists intent on invading the U.S. from Mexico has largely fallen silent.