The Morning Briefing: Judge Decides CNN's LOLsuit Today and Much, Much More

Good Thursday morning.

Here is what’s on the president’s agenda today:

The president and first lady visit the Marine Barracks
The president delivers remarks on supporting veterans and military families
The president meets with Senate Republican leadership

There was an awards show last night.

First wave of migrants in caravan reaches U.S. border in Tijuana

Avenatti charged with felony domestic violence- BELIEVE ALL WOMEN

Isn’t this delicious? Moralizing, finger-wagging fame whore Michael Avenatti “has been placed under arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence and was booked early Wednesday evening.”

“We can confirm that today LAPD Detectives arrested Michael Avenatti on suspicion of domestic violence. This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide more details as they become available,” the LAPD Twitter account posted Wednesday.

“I am confident I will be fully exonerated,” Avenatti said. I guess he doesn’t read the progressive memos because he is presumed GUILTY, until proven GUILTY. All that is necessary is that a woman or man make an allegation of sexual assault and abuse. His presidential aspirations are toast. I hope he slithers away now; I’m sick of seeing this guy inserting himself into the headlines.

A judge is going to rule on CNN’s LOLsuit today

A judge will rule this afternoon whether the Trump administration has to restore CNN employee and political activist Jim Acosta’s press credentials.

Judge Timothy Kelly of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., seemed to agree during arguments in court Wednesday that the White House decision surrounding Acosta had raised some constitutional issues.

But Kelly, a Trump appointee, appeared unconvinced that the administration had revoked Acosta’s hard pass solely because it didn’t like the questions he was asking of the president during a press conference last week.

Kelly said the record suggests Acosta’s press pass was revoked because of his behavior, noting that Trump called him “rude” after he refused to yield the microphone to another reporter during a contentious exchange with the president.

Judge Kelly will have a decision by 3 p.m. Now Acosta can get a day pass, which he would have to apply for every day, but he isn’t shut out. CNN isn’t shut out so this isn’t an issue of kicking the press out of briefings. Acosta is rude and obnoxious and he shouldn’t be there if he can’t conduct himself maturely. I hope the judge agrees the White House can enforce some code of conduct in their press conferences.

DOJ is cool with Whitaker

Wasn’t it amazing how the entire ~~deep state~~ political and media elite instantly mobilized with hit pieces against the previously unknown Matt Whitaker? Whitaker is Trump’s choice to temporarily replace Trump-spurned former AG Jeff Sessions. The elitists are freaking out that the Mueller witch hunt will have someone overseeing it who doesn’t have an interest in covering up all the horrific extra-constitutional behavior.

The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) has officially opined on President Donald Trump‘s selection of Matthew Whitaker as acting Attorney General of the United States. The OLC has said that Whitaker’s appointment “accords with the plain terms of the Vacancies Reform Act of 1998” and is “consistent with the Appointments Clause of the Constitution.”

In other words, this is fine.

WOMP WOMP. All the NeverTrumpers and lefties were certain Trump could not make this appointment. Remember how much the same people didn’t have a problem with the executive power of the former pen-and-phone president? But Trump’s appointment of Whitaker was ILLEGAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Ha, you lose.

Whitaker ought to get control of this hot mess.

Historical picture of the day:

Ronald Reagan and wife, Nancy Reagan work the aisle at Morton Junior College in Cicero Thursday, Nov. 15, 1979 during a campaign stop in the Chicago area. Reagan, a GOP Presidential candidate, reiterated his proposal for an across-the-board federal tax cut and a reduction in government regulations. (AP Photo)

Other morsels:

Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from first lady

DC Mayor Won’t Say Anything About ‘Suspected Hate Crime’ Outside Tucker Carlson’s House

McCarthy Defeats Jordan in Bid for House Minority Leader

Mueller asks for delay in Gates sentencing: filing

House Dems split on how to tackle climate change

State Department believes missing U.S. journalist is alive in Syria: report

Trump names handbag designer as ambassador to South Africa

Ocasio-Cortez implied she can’t afford a DC apartment yet — here’s what her financial records say

Utah Rep. Love sues to halt vote count

Norovirus outbreak confirmed at California wildfire shelter

WTF?!? Small dog saved from trash can at highway welcome center