President Trump has retweeted the name of the alleged Ukraine whistleblower on his Twitter feed.
Why it matters: It and a retweet of a Washington Examiner post that also named the purported whistleblower marked the first time Trump has actively promoted the name, despite the fact that some of his allies, including son Donald Trump Jr. have repeatedly done so online.
Why it matters: Since Christianity Today released an editorial op-ed calling for Trump's removal from office, the president has been working to strengthen his evangelical base. The rally at Maldonado's West Kendall Church is part of that strategy and also gives him access to one of the country's largest Hispanic congregations, per the Herald.
A federal judge on Friday denied an effort led by the voting rights group Fair Fight Action to return roughly 98,000 Georgia voters to the state's voter rolls.
What's happening: This ruling is part of a larger initiative for the state to cancel approximately 300,000 inactive voter registrations, due to those voters moving away or not participating in elections.
A federal judge on Friday announced she will block a North Carolina photo ID law set to take effect in 2020 until it has been adjudicated in court, CBS reports.
Why it matters: The decision means voters will not have to show certain types of photo identification at the state's primary election in March. The NAACP, which filed the lawsuit, has argued that the law would deter black and Hispanic voters.
Elizabeth Warren's campaign sounded an alarm on Friday to its supporters, saying in an email that it has only raised $17 million so far in the fourth quarter, per CNBC.
Why it matters: With just days left before the quarter's end on Dec. 31, that number is — at the moment — down 30% from the $24.6 million Warren brought in during the third quarter.
Rahm Emanuel — former Chicago mayor, and President Obama's first White House chief of staff — argues in a WashPost op-ed that the paradoxical split-screen of impeachment and USMCA compromise with President Trump earlier this month "presents Democrats with an opportunity" for 2020.
Why it matters: He believes Americans "are in search of someone who will provide a more accurate picture of how much we agree on, someone who will shine a light on how we can rise above the conflicts that divide us."
As Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) continues to be a top campaign surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), there is increasing speculation that she may be positioned as the successor to his progressive political base for the 2024 and 2028 presidential cycles, Politico reports.
Why it matters: AOC has showcased her ability to draw huge crowds of voters in many early-voting and delegate-rich states while campaigning for Sanders — as their dual events have drawn the largest crowds for any presidential candidate in 2019.
Why it matters: The interviews, given by members of the platoon members that served under Gallagher, break the SEALs' unwritten code of silence and describe their leader as violent, "evil" and "toxic" — in contrast with Trump's portrayal of him as a hero.
President Trump is working to strengthen his following among evangelical voters after Christianity Today, a magazine founded by the late Rev. Billy Graham, published an editorial earlier this month calling for his removal in the wake of his impeachment.
Why it matters: About 81% of evangelical Christians — a group that makes up 25% of the electorate — voted for Trump in 2016, according to Pew Research Center.
