Tipsheet: GOP sits back and enjoys Dem fight over Pelosi

View in your browser GOP sits back and enjoys Dem fight over Pelosi BY MELANIE ZANONA AND JULIEGRACE BRUFKE House Republicans are reveling in the messy fight for Speaker that is taking place across the aisle. A few years ago, it was band of conservative bomb-throwers who sparked chaos in their conference with their repeated attempts to oust then-Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Read the full story here     Trump hits back at Chief Justice Roberts BY JOHN BOWDEN   President Trump fired back at Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday after the leader of the Supreme Court rebuked the president over his criticism of an "Obama judge." Read the full story here     Pelosi flexes political power in Speaker’s race BY MIKE LILLIS Facing the toughest threat to her long and historic tenure as the top House Democrat, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has made enormous strides in recent days to rally support for her Speakership bid and grind down the small but determined group of insurgents battling to prevent her from seizing the gavel next year. Read the full story here     Ocasio-Cortez: Pelosi has my support BY CHRIS MILLS RODRIGO Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) endorsed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for Speaker on Wednesday, saying that Pelosi "can count on my support." Read the full story here       Exclusive: Giuliani on Clinton — ‘Of course she should be investigated’ BY NIALL STANAGE President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani told The Hill on Wednesday that Hillary Clinton should be investigated for possible obstruction of justice. Read the full story here     Mueller opposes Papadopoulos's push to delay prison time, notes ‘inconsistent’ tweets BY MORGAN CHALFANT Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team of lawyers on Wednesday opposed an effort from former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos to delay his prison term. Read the full story here     Pelosi vows to expand leadership team BY MIKE LILLIS House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants to expand the Democratic leadership team, marking her latest bid to win favor from her restive caucus as she seeks the Speaker’s gavel next year. Read the full story here     Democrats take Bloomberg run seriously, but with skepticism about his chances BY AMIE PARNES Michael Bloomberg’s flirtation with running as a Democrat for the White House has run into some understandable skepticism. Read the full story here     Dems take new approach in NC gerrymandering suit BY REID WILSON North Carolina Democrats are taking a new approach in their latest legal challenge to Republican-drawn legislative district lines, focusing on a state court that may be more favorable to them than the federal judiciary. Read the full story here     Five foreign policy challenges for Trump BY REBECCA KHEEL From deteriorating U.S.-Saudi relations to stalled denuclearization talks with North Korea, the Trump administration is finding itself fighting headwinds on the world stage. Read the full story here     Justice Kavanaugh should not be impeached or investigated BY ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ OPINION | The Democrats risk weakening their power if they foolishly prioritize impeachment, investigations and revenge over legislative priorities that could help the American public. Read the full story here     Trump's threats on Clinton, Comey set off alarms, but don't panic yet BY JONATHAN TURLEY OPINION | With former White House counsel Don McGahn and others gone from his inner circle, and things heating up in Washington, Trump could still yield to his worst inclinations and send his presidency and the country into a constitutional crisis. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Trump plan would force asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as cases are processed By NICK MIROFF, JOSHUE PARTLOW AND JOSH DAWSEY Central Americans who arrive at U.S. border crossings seeking asylum in the United States will have to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed under sweeping new measures the Trump administration is preparing to implement, according to internal planning documents and three Department of Homeland Security officials familiar with the initiative. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Long, tortured road to Trump’s answers for special counsel By ERIC TUCKER, CHAD DAY and JONATHAN LEMIRE The date had been picked, the location too, and the plan was penciled in: President Donald Trump would be whisked from the White House to Camp David on a quiet winter Saturday to answer questions from special counsel Robert Mueller’s team. But as the Jan. 27, 2018, date neared and Mueller provided the topics he wanted to discuss, Trump’s lawyers balked.  Read the full story here     Reuters: EU, Britain agree draft deal on post-Brexit ties, await summit approval By GABRIELA BACZYNSKA   Britain and the European Union have agreed in principle to a text setting out their future relationship that can be endorsed by EU leaders at a summit, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday. Read the full story here     The Los Angeles Times: Michael Avenatti will not face felony charges in domestic violence probe By JAMES QUEALLY  and HANNAH FRY   Attorney Michael Avenatti will not face felony charges based on allegations of domestic violence lodged against him by a 24-year-old actress. Los Angeles County prosecutors announced Wednesday they sent the case to the L.A. city attorney for possible misdemeanor charges. Read the full story here     Bloomberg: Justice Department reviewing anti-OPEC legislation, official says By STEPHEN CUNNINGHAM The Department of Justice is formally reviewing antitrust legislation aimed at reining in OPEC’s power over oil markets, according to a department official. Read the full story here     Did a friend forward you this email? 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