On Politics: Democrats Contemplate Their House Majority

Nancy Pelosi has encouraged fellow Democrats in private meetings to resist the urge to leap at President Trump’s every utterance and misdeed. [Trouble seeing this email? View in browser]( [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( November 12, 2018 | Morning Edition Good Monday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today. _____________________ • Now in control of the House, triumphant Democrats have quickly turned to how to put forward their own agenda even as they deal with the provocations of President Trump. [Read]( story](. • Top congressional Democrats demanded that Mr. Trump’s acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, recuse himself from overseeing the special counsel investigation, and vowed to block him from interfering with it. [Read about their demands](. • Key priorities for House Democrats: protect people with pre-existing health conditions, control drug prices and investigate Trump administration actions that undercut the Affordable Care Act. [Read about the party’s mandate on health care](. • In the wake of Tuesday’s election, some Democrats are pushing moderation, while others, citing Beto O’Rourke’s near-win in Texas, want confrontational, grass-roots inspiration. [Read about the](. ADVERTISEMENT • Florida has begun the first full, statewide vote recount in its history after tallies left the contests for Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner too close to call. Votes were also still being counted in races in Arizona and Georgia. [Here’s where the contests stand](. • Representative Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican who represented Orange County for 15 terms, has lost his bid for re-election. His defeat underlines the party’s setbacks in a part of the state it long dominated. [Read the story](. • Mr. Trump’s brand of “America First” nationalism was repudiated on Sunday as he and other leaders gathered in Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World War I armistice. “Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism,” President Emmanuel Macron of France said in a speech. [Read about how Mr. Trump reacted](. • Secretary of State Mike Pompeo finds himself in a newly hazardous political environment, as Democrats gain power over the House committees that serve as a check on the State Department. [Read about his mounting challenges](. ADVERTISEMENT • Saudi intelligence officials asked a group of businessmen last year about using private companies to assassinate Iranian enemies. Their discussions, more than a year before the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, indicate that Saudi officials have considered assassinations since the beginning of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ascent. [Read the story](. • At a base in Texas, 5,600 troops have been ordered by Mr. Trump to stop an approaching migrant caravan of Central Americans. Pentagon officials privately see the mission as a waste of resources and a morale killer. [Read the story](. • Competing visits to Africa suggest the delicate balance the White House faces in managing the activities of Melania and Ivanka Trump. The first lady and the first daughter have rarely appeared together, and [they clearly see their roles differently](. _____________________ Today’s On Politics briefing was compiled by Noah Weiland in Washington. Check back later for On Politics With Lisa Lerer, a nightly newsletter exploring the people, issues and ideas reshaping the political world. Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [onpolitics@nytimes.com](mailto:onpolitics@nytimes.com?te=1&nl=politics&emc=edit_cn_2018111220181112). ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW NYTimes [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@nytimes]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Politics newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2018 The New York Times Company | 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018