Rep. Trey Gowdy said on CBS' Face the Nation Sunday that former FBI director James Comey's congressional hearing should not be public, but instead videotaped, scrubbed of classified information and then released to the public.
The big picture: Responding to a subpoena from House Republicans, Comey said Thursday that he would resist a "closed door" hearing because of their history of "selective leaking and distortion." Gowdy agreed that leaks are "counterproductive," but said "there is no fact-finder on the planet that tries to discover the truth in five-minute increments."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has temporarily suspended pedestrian crossings in San Ysidro, a major port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, reports CNN.
Details: The U.S. has deployed helicopters and additional border personnel as more than 5,000 migrants have set up camp in Tijuana, with many hoping to apply for asylum after traveling through Mexico via caravan, per AP. Hundreds of migrants reportedly attempted to jump or breach the border fence Sunday, prompting agents to respond by firing tear gas.
Ten current and former White House and congressional officials told the Washington Post that President Trump has been urging his top advisers to cut the growing federal deficit, even as he tries to implement pricey programs, like a massive infrastructure package.
The big picture: 2010's Tea Party wave, which propelled many budget-conscious Republicans to power in Washington, was prompted by increased federal spending and concerns of big government that have long been central issues for the GOP. But Trump’s contradictions reflect how conflicted the party has become — even as the Congressional Budget Office said earlier this year that the deficit will approach $1 trillion by the end of 2019's fiscal year.
One huge change this year is in the tax code. The Trump tax cuts increased the standard deduction and therefore make it less likely that you'll be able to deduct your charitable donations. Only about 11% of households are likely to itemize their taxes this year, down from 26.4% last year.
The big picture: The tax break for charitable contributions has always been a tax break only for the minority of Americans who itemize. Households earning more than $1 million per year nearly always itemize. They accounted for 30% of itemized charitable donations in 2015; expect that number to rise even further.
A new book by President Trump's former advisers Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie alleges that dozens of federal officials in Washington are working to undermine the president, according to a copy obtained by the Washington Post’s Philip Rucker.
Between the lines: Neither of the men work inside the administration, but they are close to the president and see themselves as "his outside protectors," according to Rucker. But both remain controversial figures and some White House officials, including Chief of Staff John Kelly, who reportedly physically confronted Lewandowski in the White House this year, are skeptical of their intentions.
The backstory: Hyde-Smith sparked backlash after she said that, if invited, she would attend a public hanging "on the front row" at a campaign event earlier this month. The remark triggered outrage due to Mississippi’s history of racially motivated lynchings.
Lawmakers Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) all disagree with President Trump's assertion that the CIA has not concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Why it matters: These lawmakers are in positions to have seen the CIA's final report on the situation surrounding Khashoggi — Schiff, the incoming House Intelligence Committee chairman; Reed, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee; and Lee, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Trump said on Thanksgiving, however, that the CIA did not come to a conclusion, discrediting the final report that said with "high confidence" MBS was involved with the murder.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Sunday that he's "very seriously" considering taking on President Trump in 2020: "We need different leadership, there isn't any question about it."
Flashback: Kasich said in October 2017 that he was considering leaving the GOP altogether if the "party can't be fixed."
President Trump wants asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as cases are processed, under a “Remain in Mexico” plan that's a sharp break with current policy.
Between the lines: The Washington Post's lead print story says he has a deal. "The Trump administration has won the support of Mexico’s incoming government for a plan to remake U.S. border policy by requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims move through U.S. courts."
