While departing the White House en route to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving, President Trump signaled support for Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore, who has been plagued by sexual allegations from 9 different women. "We don't need a liberal Democrat in that seat," said Trump. "He totally denies [the accusations], you have to listen to him also ... we don't need somebody soft on crime like [Doug] Jones."
Why it matters: This signals a major shift in the president's position. The White House had previously said that Moore should drop out of the race if the allegations are true. But this afternoon, Trump all but told Alabamians they should vote for Moore.
President Trump and Vladimir Putin had a lengthy phone call on Tuesday. Per a White House readout, they discussed the war in Syria, cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts, Ukraine and North Korea.
"We're talking about peace in Syria, very important... we're talking very strongly about North Korea and Ukraine," Trump said at an impromptu press conference, saying the call lasted nearly an hour and a half.
In keeping with tradition, Donald Trump granted a presidential pardon to a turkey Tuesday, smiling broadly and cracking jokes as he did so. "We have not seen any guests quite like the visitor we have today," said Trump. "Drumstick, I think, is going to be very happy."
Trump joked, "As many as of you know, I have been very active in overturning many actions of my predecessor, but I have been informed by the White House Counsel's Office that Tater and Tot's pardons (made by Obama) cannot under any circumstances be revoked. Tater and Tot, you can rest easy." The Trump family is headed to Mar-a-Lago later this afternoon, where they'll spend Thanksgiving.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) called the sexual harassment allegations published by BuzzFeed News against Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) "extremely troubling" and said he's asked for a review of "all policies and procedures related to workplace harassment and discrimination," according to a statement released this morning.
Why it matters: This is the first House member to be specifically named in a sexual harassment allegation since Rep. Jackie Speier has drawn attention to problems in Congress's harassment claim process. Paul Ryan has already called for all House members and staff to undergo anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training.
A federal judge from California issued a permanent block to President Trump's sanctuary cities executive order, which deny funding to cities that refuse to cooperate with federal efforts to identify and deport undocumented immigrants, per CNN.
Why it matters: The judge's ruling is the latest in a string of backlash from the judicial branch in response to the Trump administration's policies. Other federal judges have also reined in the executive branch by questioning the constitutionality of Trump's travel ban.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Sochi to discuss potential peace efforts, championed by Russia, Iran, and Turkey, the AP reports.
The backdrop: Putin told Assad that he's going to cut back Russia's military presence in Syria, though in the past, Moscow hasn't followed through on its announced military curtailments.
The Department of Homeland Security has lifted Haitians' Temporary Protection Status from deportation, which was granted after the 2010 earthquake in the Caribbean nation.
The approximately 50,000 Haitians living and working across the country will have 18 months — until July 22, 2019 — to go back to Haiti or legalize their status in the U.S., per the Miami Herald.
President Trump is shutting down the Donald J. Trump Foundation, NBC News reports. The foundation came under great scrutiny during the presidential campaign for unusual practices, and afterward as a source of potential conflicts of interest.
After a Washington Post report, the foundation acknowledged last year in IRS paperwork that it had violated a prohibition against "self-dealing." Trump pledged in December to shut it down.
Trump's December statement: "The Foundation has done enormous good works over the years in contributing millions of dollars to countless worthy groups, including supporting veterans, law enforcement officers and children. However, to avoid even the appearance of any conflict with my role as President I have decided to continue to pursue my strong interest in philanthropy in other ways."
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said, "The president wants people in the House and the Senate that support his agenda," when asked if Trump would approve of Roy Moore's election to the U.S. Senate. She also said repeatedly that Trump is leaving the decision to the people of Alabama. That followed similar comments from Kellyanne Conway on Monday morning
Sanders instructed reporters to say what they're thankful for this Thanksgiving before asking questions. Starting it off herself, she said, "I'm sure you all know, I'm thankful for everyone in this room." Some reporters responded: 'I'm thankful for the First Amendment."
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the decision to put North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism is part of the "peaceful pressure campaign" against the regime. The U.S. is not out of diplomatic options, Tillerson said.
Sanctions have had an impact in North Korea, the secretary said. "We know there are significant shortages of fuel. We know that their revenue flows are down."
The Federal Reserve announced Monday that Janet Yellen will leave after her successor, Trump-nominated Jerome Powell, takes over. Her four-year term as chairwoman comes to an end on February 3, 2018, but she could have remained on the board until 2024.
Why it matters: Trump will now get to fill four seats on the seven-member Federal Reserve Board of Governors
The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center has analyzed the economic impacts of the GOP tax plan passed last week by the House.
By the numbers: It would boost economic output by 0.6% of GDP in 2018, 0.3% in 2027 and 0.2% in 2037. It would increase debt as a share of GDP by 5% in 2027 and 9% in 2037.
LaVar Ball and Donald Trump are squabbling about giving the President credit for bringing home three UCLA basketball players — including Ball's son LiAngelo — after the players were arrested for shoplifting in China.
The beef brings two of the biggest attention hounds, usually in separate spheres of the media universe, into the same news story. Ball, father of three talented basketball players, used some familiar tactics to become Trump's equivalent in sports media.
Why it matters: Donald Trump created the blueprint for building an avalanche of earned media momentum: be the loudest, most outrageous voice in the room. Generate buzz with confrontational statements, outsized self-promotion, and abundant charisma. With Ball, we saw that strategy executed to a tee in a different habitat of the media ecosystem, and we could see more copycats.
President Trump announced he was adding North Korea to the list of state sponsors of terror on Monday, reversing President Bush's 2008 decision to take the regime off the list. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has designated it as such, per a State Department official.
The backdrop: Trump discussed the escalating North Korean nuclear threat with President Xi of China and President Moon of South Korea during his recent Asia trip. The White House has long been considering a decision to put North Korea back on the list. North Korea joins Iran, Sudan, and Syria on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Kellyanne Conway told Fox News on Monday that the White House could support Roy Moore, saying they "want the votes in the Senate to get this tax bill through." Moore is in the running for Alabama's Senate seat and has been accused of sexual misconduct with minors.
Why it matters: That's a departure from what Conway previously said — "there is no Senate seat worth more than a child." Other White House officials, including OMB Director Mick Mulvaney and Trump's Legislative Affairs Director Marc Short, hedged their bets on voicing full-out criticism of Moore this weekend. Conway also noted that Trump has no plans to campaign for Moore in Alabama.
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