| | | | Nancy Pelosi's very happy Thanksgiving |  | | She may still be technically embroiled in a leadership fight, but it's looking like Nancy Pelosi has a lot to be thankful for.
First: One of the leading contenders looking at running against Pelosi, Rep. Marcia Fudge, not only has passed on challenging her, but has also thrown her support behind Pelosi.
Despite the small but vocal faction of opponents, Fudge has been the only real name to emerge as a potential challenger to Pelosi. But Pelosi announced Tuesday that she had Fudge's support -- and that Fudge would be chairwoman of the newly revived House Administration Subcommittee on Elections. Among other reasons she gave for supporting her, Fudge said Pelosi had made it clear that black women would have a seat at the decision-making table.
Second: Pelosi's small but vocal faction of opponents appears to be shrinking even more.
Rep. Brian Higgins of New York, one of the 16 members who signed that letter to publicly oppose Pelosi has flipped. Higgins said Pelosi agreed that Democrats will advance an infrastructure bill in the next Congress and work to expand the Medicare buy-in.
Meanwhile, another vocal opponent, Seth Moulton, is getting blowback from constituents back home in Massachusetts. Many say they are unhappy with their rep's push against Pelosi.
Third: Former President Barack Obama offered high praise for Pelosi: "I think Nancy Pelosi, when the history is written, will go down as one of the most effective legislative leaders that this country's ever seen."
Obama held off on weighing in on the leadership fight but called Pelosi an "extraordinary partner." He made the comments at a live taping of "The Axe Files" podcast, produced by the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN.
BUT BUT BUT: Let's not forget the math is still close for the California Democrat and she can't afford to lose the support she has (we've got a live vote count on that, btw!).
But efforts to chip away at that opposition appear to be successful -- and great timing.
The Point: It'll be a very happy Thanksgiving in the Pelosi household. It appears she has locked down the support she needs (assuming nothing changes between now and January).
-- Lauren | | "That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for."
-- Chief Justice John Roberts, issuing a rare pushback on President Donald Trump's criticism of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which just blocked the Trump administration's efforts to bar people who cross the border illegally from seeking asylum. | | | IT'S HARD TO BE THE NEW KID | |  | Newly elected members of Congress aren't just in the throes of navigating a new building and finding the closest bathroom.
They're also feeling the squeeze of the ongoing leadership fight as Nancy Pelosi vies for the House speakership, especially the ones like California's Gil Cisneros, who vowed on the campaign trail to vote against Pelosi.
CNN's Manu Raju and Annie Grayer report:
"Cisneros is one of 12 incoming freshmen Democrats who vowed on the campaign trail to back new leadership in the new Congress, distancing themselves from Pelosi, whom the GOP vilified in nearly $100 million worth of ads throughout the country. Now, in their first vote, freshmen like Cisneros will be forced to choose whether to back Pelosi for speaker to be their caucus' nominee -- or stand by what they said on the campaign trail. Pelosi is virtually assured to win that vote, which will be conducted next week by secret ballot, because she only has to win the support from more than half of her caucus." | | | I'm home for Thanksgiving and "Back Home Ballers" is basically my life for the rest of the week -- and for that I am thankful. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! | | It wasn't just a campaign slogan, apparently.
New reporting reveals that President Trump wanted the Justice Department to prosecute Hillary Clinton and James Comey.
Trump raised the issue with both Matt Whitaker, who was then chief of staff to then- Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, according to CNN's Pamela Brown, Jeremy Herb, Laura Jarrett and Eli Watkins.
But then-White House counsel Don McGahn stepped in, telling the President he could not compel the Justice Department to prosecute people and even requesting an investigation could be a step too far. McGahn reportedly went on to have White House lawyers draft a memo listing the consequences of such a demand for Trump. | |
SOME THANKSGIVING TALKING POINTS OTHER THAN POLITICS | | Are things spiraling out of control and you need to change the subject quickly? Here are some helpful prompts to lob to your Thanksgiving guests:
- Can you cook a turkey in a microwave? (Your mom will love this one.)
- Is there a correct time to eat Thanksgiving dinner? (This writer argues it's 4 p.m.)
- Would you eat a Flamin' Hot Cheetos Turkey? (A very important question!)
- How about a glitter turkey?? (Why??) | | | | | | |
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