memeorandum: Pence defends Trump calling John Lewis a failure to black people (Zack Ford/ThinkProgress)

2:15 PM ET, January 15, 2017

Top Items:

Peter J. Boyer / Esquire:

Exclusive: The Trump Administration May Evict the Press from the White House — “They are the opposition party,” a senior official says. — The upset to the existing order caused by the presidential election has been acutely felt by no one, perhaps, so much it has by the national press.

Discussion: Occupy Democrats, ABC News, Washington Post, Politico, The Daily Caller, Talking Points Memo, AOL, Mediaite, The Week and NBC News, more at Mediagazer »

Rebecca Savransky / The Hill:

Trump team considers evicting press from White House: report — 's team is reportedly considering evicting the press corps from the White House. — Instead, the press corps may work out of the White House Conference Center, near Lafayette Square, or in the Old Executive Office Building …

Discussion: RedState, alan.com and Hot Air, more at Mediagazer »

Richard Johnson / Page Six: Drug testing floated for White House press corps

Zack Ford / ThinkProgress:

Pence defends Trump calling John Lewis a failure to black people — Pence seems to believe Trump will be better for black people than one of the most famous civil right leaders. — Vice President-elect Mike Pence told Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace Sunday morning that he's “deeply disappointed” …

Discussion: alan.com, Hollywood Reporter, CNBC, Mashable, Occupy Democrats, EW.com, The Hill, Hit & Run and Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rebecca Savransky / The Hill:

Trump no longer expected to visit African American museum on MLK Day: report — is reportedly no longer expected to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. — The president-elect will no longer make the visit on Monday because of scheduling issues …

Discussion: alan.com and Daily Kos

Cristiano Lima / Politico:

Pence: Lewis ‘legitimacy’ comments ‘deeply disappointing’ — Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Sunday called Rep. John Lewis' comments questioning the legitimacy of Donald Trump's presidency “deeply disappointing.” — Pence expressed respect for Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and icon …

Discussion: ABC News, Washington Post, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Week and Political Wire

John Santucci / ABC News:
Trump Changes Plans on MLK Day Visit To African American History Museum

Eugene Scott / CNN:
These Democrats aren't attending Trump's inauguration

John Hinderaker / Power Line:
The AP Spins Lewis vs. Trump

Discussion: Associated Press, Outside the Beltway and PoliPundit.com

Bryan Wendland / KUSA-TV:

Congressman Coffman leaves frustrated crowd — AURORA - When Berthie Ruoff arrived at the Aurora Central Library to meet with Congressman Mike Coffman, she was hopeful to find encouraging answers about the impending changes to the Affordable Care Act. — “My husband passed away …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Political Wire, Occupy Democrats, Raw Story and Talking Points Memo

ABC News:

‘This Week’ Transcript 1-15-17: Reince Priebus, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Rep. Jason Chaffetz — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT FOR ‘THIS WEEK’ on January 15, 2017 and it will be updated. — GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And with that, let me bring in Senator Bernie Sanders, our first guest this morning.

Discussion: Associated Press and Politicus USA

Nicki Rossoll / ABC News:
Sanders: ‘Would Not Be Bad Thing for the American People’ if FBI Director Comey Steps Down

Discussion: Politico and Business Insider

Kyle Smith / New York Post:

It's time to face facts: Obama's presidency was a failure — MORE FROM: — The closing arguments for the Obama years are arriving, and they aren't helping the outgoing president. A case in point is a new book published this week, one that acknowledges “Obama's supporters have experienced …

Daily Mail:

Opera star Andrea Bocelli backs out of singing at Trump's inauguration after receiving death threats — Opera star Andrea Bocelli backed out of singing at Donald Trump's inauguration after receiving death threats, The Mail on Sunday has learnt. — The revelation came as another singer …

Discussion: Daily Kos, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, TheBlaze and The Last Tradition

Dana Schuster / New York Post:

SEE ALL 323 STORIES — Donald Trump may be the future president, but that doesn't mean he's above choosing the place settings and tablecloth fabrics for this week's inaugural festivities. — “He's into every detail of everything,” Presidential Inaugural Committee Chair Tom Barrack told The Post.

Discussion: Political Wire and BizPac Review

Zack Stanton / Politico:

How Betsy DeVos Used God and Amway to Take Over Michigan Politics — On election night 2006, Dick DeVos, the bronzed, starched 51-year-old scion of Michigan's wealthiest family, paced to a lectern in the dim ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel in Lansing to deliver the speech that every candidate dreads.

Discussion: PoliPundit.com

Washington Post:

Trump transition team says it asked D.C. National Guard general to stay — The transition team for President-elect Donald Trump asked the head of the D.C. National Guard to remain in command throughout Inauguration Day after media reports that he would leave in the middle of the ceremony created controversy, the Guard said.

Discussion: Balloon Juice

Haaretz:

U.S. Intelligence Officials Reportedly Warn Israeli Counterparts Against Sharing Info With Trump Administration — Israeli intelligence officials are concerned that the exposure of classified information to their American counterparts under a Trump administration could lead to their being leaked …

Discussion: RedState, Balloon Juice, The Guardian, NO QUARTER USA NET and alan.com