Monday, Dec. 4

á      President Donald Trump endorsed Senate candidate Roy Moore in Alabama, prompting the Republican National Committee and a pro-Trump super PAC to also support Moore, boosting a candidate who had been largely cut off by his party due to allegations of sexual improprieties. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/with-trumps-support-moore-could-gain-influence-in-washington/2017/12/04/02da209c-d917-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html?utm_term=.1729d8ce33dd&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

á      The Supreme Court allowed TrumpÕs third travel ban to be fully enforced as legal challenges in lower courts continue. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-allows-full-enforcement-of-trump-travel-ban-while-legal-challenges-continue/2017/12/04/486549c0-d5fc-11e7-a986-d0a9770d9a3e_story.html?utm_term=.51be8d6df882&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

á      Trump scaled back two national monuments in Utah — Bears Ears by 85 percent and Grand Staircase-Escalante by 46 percent — the largest reduction of public-lands protection in U.S. history. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-scales-back-two-huge-national-monuments-in-utah-drawing-praise-and-protests/2017/12/04/758c85c6-d908-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html?utm_term=.e8fadc1023f9&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

Tuesday, Dec. 5

á      The State Department warned American embassies worldwide to heighten security ahead of a possible announcement Wednesday by Trump that the U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. http://politi.co/2jNWPvi

á      The Atlantic reported that after publication last October of the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump made joking references to sexual predation, Vice President Mike Pence made it clear to Republican Party officials that he was ready to take TrumpÕs place as the partyÕs nominee. http://theatln.tc/2nvmwWw

á      The AP reported that under Trump, Border Patrol arrests plunged to a 45-year low while arrests by deportation officers soared. http://bit.ly/2inpze9

á      The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case about whether a Colorado baker discriminated against a gay couple because he declined to bake a cake for their wedding. http://bit.ly/2BLJcFh

á      Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) said he will retire immediately after multiple sexual harassment allegations spanning two decades emerged. He endorsed his son to replace him. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/conyers-wont-seek-reelection-following-harassment-allegations-report-says/2017/12/05/17057ea0-d9bb-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html?utm_term=.02a261926055&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

á      Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recommended shrinking a total of four national monuments and changing the way six other land and marine sites are managed, a sweeping overhaul of how protected areas are maintained in the United States. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/zinke-backs-shrinking-more-national-monuments-shifting-management-of-10-others/2017/12/05/e116344e-d9e5-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html?utm_term=.d279615a5af5&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

Wednesday, Dec. 6

á      NBC News reported that Donald Trump Jr. asked a Russian lawyer at the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting whether she had evidence of illegal donations to the Clinton Foundation. The lawyer gave this information to the Senate Judiciary Committee in answers to written questions. http://nbcnews.to/2krExnm

á      A majority of Senate Democrats called on Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to resign as he faces multiple allegations of sexual harassment. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/as-accusations-continue-to-mount-senate-democrats-tell-franken-to-resign/2017/12/06/fd23fcda-dabb-11e7-b859-fb0995360725_story.html?utm_term=.528f2d9ece31&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

á      Congressional Democrats announced in a letter that they have evidence, from a confidential whistleblower, that within minutes of TrumpÕs inauguration, then-national security adviser Michael Flynn told former business partners that a plan to build nuclear reactors across the Middle East was Ôgood to go.Õ http://politi.co/2BQNX0j

á      ProPublica reported that at the same time Jared Kushner is attempting to negotiate a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the Kushner Companies Charitable Foundation is funding a controversial West Bank settlement. https://www.propublica.org/article/jared-kushner-kushner-companies-donating-west-bank-settlement?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter

Thursday, Dec. 7

á      Congress passed a short-term spending deal Thursday to avert a partial government shutdown, paving the way for a budget fight later this month. Trump is expected to sign it the bill, averting a government shutdown set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/congress-set-to-delay-shutdown-setting-up-bigger-spending-fight-later/2017/12/07/6b6712fa-db51-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html?utm_term=.7de1c5b9ba41&wpisrc=al_news__alert-economy--alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

á      Sen. Al Franken said he would resign from the U.S. Senate, following allegations of sexual harassment and loss of support by fellow Senate Democrats. http://strib.mn/2BJ9MxU

á      Speaking in front of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a meeting of foreign ministers in Vienna, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the U.S. will maintain sanctions against Russia until it returns full control of Crimea to Ukraine. http://cnn.it/2ADy90F

á      Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks said he will resign his seat after House officials learned he had asked two female employees act as surrogates and bear his child. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rep-trent-franks-of-arizona-is-expected-to-resign/2017/12/07/479d156a-db9f-11e7-b859-fb0995360725_story.html?utm_term=.c38c5b31b826&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

Friday, Dec. 8

á      The House Ethics Committee began an investigation into Rep. Blake Farenthold over allegations that he sexually harassed a former aide and then retaliated against her when she complained about it. . http://politi.co/2Be5SRw

á      The Washington Post reported that six women have accused Judge Alex Kozinski, 67, of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, of a range of inappropriate sexual conduct or comments. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/prominent-appeals-court-judge-alex-kozinski-accused-of-sexual-misconduct/2017/12/08/1763e2b8-d913-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html?utm_term=.e10049fcce16&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

á      The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will add a second case this term, this time involving Maryland Democrats, to determine whether partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional. The court already has heard a challenge to a Wisconsin legislative redistricting drawn by the stateÕs Republican leaders. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/2017/12/08/4fde65f4-dc66-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html?utm_term=.42bdfc7c6bb5&wpisrc=al_politics__alert-politics--alert-local-politics&wpmk=1

á      Trump used a rally in Florida to forcefully endorse Roy Moore, the Alabama Republican running for the Senate. Trump had earlier endorsed MooreÕs primary opponent, Luther Strange, until Moore beat Strange to go on to the general election against Democrat Doug Jones. http://politi.co/2kO21DK

Saturday, Dec. 9

á      After facing backlash and boycotts, President Trump addressed an invitation-only gathering at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson instead of attending the public opening ceremony, as he had originally been scheduled to do. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/12/09/amid-backlash-trump-set-to-attend-private-gathering-as-civil-rights-museum-opens-in-mississippi/?undefined=&utm_term=.5f63e2c7f9a0&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

Sunday, Dec. 10

á      Violence broke out near the U.S. Embassy in Beirut over TrumpÕs announcement Wednesday recognizing Jerusalem as IsraelÕs capital. http://reut.rs/2kPR708

á      Democrat Doug Jones barnstormed in Alabama with headliners Corey Booker and Deval Patrick in a bid to turn out black voters he needs to win. Republican Roy Moore, facing accusations of sexual predation, hasnÕt held a public event since Tuesday. http://politi.co/2AUsKEk