1. Trump dismisses hacking
“If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act?” Trump said in a morning tweet. “Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?” Wrong: the Obama administration formally accused Russia of hacking a month before the election.
2. White House thumbs Trump’s eye
It was obvious to everyone who was paying attention, including the gentleman whose thumbs authored that tweet, that the impact of that malicious activity benefited the Trump campaign and hurt the Clinton campaign.
– White House spokesman Josh Earnest
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4. On Trump ‘Apprentice’ role: 'kidding'
Top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway was asked about saying that in his free time, Trump would stay on as an executive producer of The Apprentice. “I was kidding,” Conway said. “OK, any free time he has, he works, I promise.”
5. Electors keeping the faith
Dozens of Republican electors interviewed by AP said they may not like Trump, but “they feel bound by history, duty, party loyalty or the law to rubber-stamp their state’s results and hand him the keys to the White House”.
6. Low blow by North Carolina GOP
The lame-duck, Republican-controlled legislature of North Carolina called a surprise session to undercut the powers of the new Democratic governor, Roy Cooper. He said he was ready to fight.
7. Obamas to Honolulu
The White House has advised that tomorrow, Friday, 16 December, Barack Obama and his family will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii.
What are you up to?
... and another thing:
The man next to me at Trump Grill ordered a vodka martini and this is how it came out. pic.twitter.com/9sx8jbY8uT
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) December 15, 2016
... and another thing:
• Total Geo. Bush press conferences during transition: 11
— ((Charles Fishman)) (@cfishman) December 15, 2016
• Total for Obama: 18
• Total for Trump, so far: 0https://t.co/5y1F9PmIY9