| Presented by The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates |
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| NEWS OF THE MORNING -- TWO NEW HIRES | |
Psh, this job seems boring and uneventful: |
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President Trump announced this morning that he will nominate William Barr to lead the Justice Department as the next attorney general. Barr served as attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush and will replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. http://bit.ly/2QC92ps Why this is such an important position: The attorney general oversees the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. I.e.: He will be right in the center of the fight over the Robert Mueller probe. Why Barr's confirmation process won't be smooth sailing: Barr will likely face tough questions about the Justice Department's independence from the White House and about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigations. What Barr has said about the Russia investigation: "Barr's past commentary has played down the severity of the allegations against Trump -- on both the collusion and obstruction-of-justice fronts -- and he has also suggested the Clintons should be in more trouble." What Barr has said: https://wapo.st/2Um0y4G Until Barr is confirmed: Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker will continue to lead the Justice Department. Whitaker is pretty controversial choice as he has been a vocal critic of the Russia investigation. http://bit.ly/2UjMEjs Throwback: Barr was unanimously confirmed as Bush 41's attorney general in 1991. Photo and video -- wow, Joe Biden looks young!: http://bit.ly/2RFVmXG |
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Nikki out, Nauert in: |
| President Trump announced that he will name State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. http://bit.ly/2E7MCWf Why Nauert's promotion is big: Nauert is considered relatively inexperienced for the position. He has served as the State Department spokeswoman since April 2017 and was a Fox News anchor before that. What to expect in her confirmation process: "The former Fox News host's precipitous rise since arriving at the State Department in 2017 sets the stage for a potentially tough Senate confirmation hearing, where Democrats will likely grill Nauert on her qualifications for the position." https://cnn.it/2RHZXII Why Nikki Haley's departure is big: "Haley, with whom Trump had built a close relationship, was seen as a steady and moderating voice within the administration. Her departure has been widely viewed as a loss within Republican circles." |
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| Happy Friday! I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook. Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn |
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| SPONSORED CONTENT - THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | |
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First Friday morning of the month -- you know what that means!?: |
| Via The Hill's Vicki Needham, the U.S. economy added 155,000 jobs in November, below expectations, but the labor market is continuing to gain momentum. The unemployment rate: 3.7 percent, the lowest level since 1969. The number of jobs expected this month: 190,000. Keep in mind: The economy has added jobs every month since October 2010. http://bit.ly/2L2AE1x |
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| HAPPENING TODAY IN THE SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATION | |
A teaser for the season finale…:
Plotline No. 1 -- Paul Manafort: |
| Special counsel Robert Mueller is expected to file a bombshell report that will explain how President Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, violated his plea deal with federal prosecutors. Keep in mind: It's unclear how much of the filing will be public. http://bit.ly/2Pkw0N3 |
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Plotline No. 2 -- Michael Cohen: |
| Special counsel Robert Mueller has until 5 p.m. EST to weigh in on whether President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen should serve jailtime. https://nyp.st/2L1kGoo Cohen's charges: Cohen has pleaded guilty to tax evasion and violating campaign finance laws. And last week, Cohen admitted to lying to Congress about his Russian contacts. When Cohen is expected to be formally sentenced: Wednesday. |
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| MEANWHILE FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP: |
| This morning, President Trump went on a Twitter tirade against special counsel Robert Mueller, blasting him as conflicted and biased. His tweets: http://bit.ly/2Uobej8 |
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The president's chief of staff and the president are no longer on speaking terms? -- Oh.: |
| Via CNN's Kaitlan Collins, White House chief of staff John Kelly is expected to resign in the next few days. https://cnn.it/2QHlzrs Why: Their relationship is no longer seen as productive and they have stopped speaking in the past few days, the report claims. How long Kelly has been chief of staff: Seventeen months. Kelly was brought in to stabilize the chaotic West Wing. Trump's top replacement: Vice President Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers is a top pick. https://cnn.it/2EjnFbg |
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Happening this weekend -- Trump attends the Army-Navy game: |
| President Trump will attend the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia Saturday. Keep in mind: Trump is the 10th sitting president to attend the game. Trump attended 2016's game as president-elect, but this is the first game attended by a sitting president since former President Obama in 2011. http://bit.ly/2zMjQYr When and where: 3 p.m. EST Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. It will be broadcast on CBS. |
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This morning -- Comey in the House: |
| Ousted FBI Director James Comey is meeting with House Republicans behind closed doors today before Democrats take over the House. Why: For Republicans to grill Comey on allegations of bias at the Justice Department. http://bit.ly/2RG94cZ Timing: "It comes after months of wrangling between House Republicans and Comey, who last week asked a federal court in D.C. to quash a subpoena issued by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) that ordered him to testify behind closed doors." Video of James Comey arriving on Capitol Hill: http://bit.ly/2rlSALI
Trump's early morning tweet that Comey was referring to: "Robert Mueller and Leakin' Lyin' James Comey are Best Friends, just one of many Mueller Conflicts of Interest. And bye the way, wasn't the woman in charge of prosecuting Jerome Corsi (who I do not know) in charge of 'legal' at the corrupt Clinton Foundation? A total Witch Hunt." http://bit.ly/2rpGTDy
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Merkel should hold a diplomatic meeting to talk some sense into the Harvard professor who said a serving of french fries should be six fries: |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named as Harvard University's commencement speaker on May 30. Details: http://bit.ly/2E8pTti |
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The attack on Pearl Harbor happened 77 years ago today: |
| "About 20 survivors are expected to gather at Pearl Harbor on Friday to pay tribute to the thousands of men lost in the Japanese attack 77 years ago. The youngest of the veterans are in their mid-90s. The Navy and National Park Service will jointly host the remembrance ceremony at a grassy site overlooking the water and the SS Arizona Memorial." https://nyti.ms/2zQ2UQD Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2SBMFxJ |
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| SPONSORED CONTENT - THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | |
| New education and health initiatives launched alongside the 2019 Special Olympics World Games will have a lasting impact on social inclusion in the UAE and the region. Learn more. |
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Same, Cookie Monster. SAME..: |
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Whoa: |
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Listen: http://bit.ly/2G1PPsT |
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| The House and Senate are out. President Trump is speaking in Kansas City, Mo., and Vice President Pence has no public events on his schedule. 9:20 a.m. EST: President Trump left for Kansas City, Mo. 11:55 a.m. EST: President Trump arrives at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. 2:15 p.m. EST: President Trump leaves Kansas City for Washington, D.C. 4:40 p.m. EST: President Trump gets back to the White House. 7:30 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have dinner with senior White House staff in the East Room. 3 p.m. EST Saturday: President Trump attends the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia. Dec. 21: The new deadline for Congress to fund the government to avoid a partial government shutdown. https://n.pr/2L4PBjJ |
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| 12:50 p.m. EST: President Trump speaks at the 2018 Project Safe Neighborhoods National Conference in Kansas City, Mo. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2PohdRp |
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| Today is National Cotton Candy Day! And just in case that isn't enough sugar for you, tomorrow is National Brownie Day and Sunday is National Pastry Day. |
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I'm intrigued: |
| A 500-year-old body was found in the London river wearing thigh-high boots. Hmm: "Leather was an expensive commodity in Tudor times, and it is unlikely someone would be buried wearing such a highly prized item, according to MOLA Headland, the firm leading the project -- meaning the man's demise was likely premature." Photos and full story: https://cnn.it/2L22ICm |
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| And because you made it this far, here's a puppy who does NOT trust the cat -- and will probably sleep with its eyes open tonight: http://bit.ly/2QBK5KI |
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