Week In The News: Sessions Out, Election Results In, California Shooting And More

With David Folkenflik

The midterm elections hand the Senate to Republicans, the House to Democrats and a headache to the President. Jeff Sessions is out. And the mass shooting in California. The roundtable unpacks a big week.

Craig Gilbert, Washington bureau chief for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. (@wisvoter)

Shawna Thomas, Washington bureau chief for Vice News. (@Shawna)

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. (@JackBeattyNPR)

CNN: "Who really won the midterm elections?" — "Democrats took back the House by a decisive margin, while the Republicans improved their standing in the Senate, in a midterm election that — despite its significance — exposed the limitations of both parties for 2020. CNN commentators weigh in on the outcome and what comes next. Their opinions are their own."

New York Times: "Jeff Sessions Executed the Agenda of a President Who Could Not Look Past a Betrayal" — "The night before he was fired, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was in high spirits.

"He was watching the midterm election results at the Justice Department with his wife and staff members, according to two people present, and enjoying a final, welcome evening of normalcy before President Trump abruptly ended his bumpy tenure on Wednesday as the United States’ highest law enforcement officer.

"While Mr. Sessions, 71, did more to carry out Mr. Trump’s agenda than almost any other cabinet official, delivering on immigration and combating violent crime and opioids, he also soured their relationship after only weeks in the position by recusing himself from the Russia investigation. The president, who has made clear that he expected protection from his law enforcement officials, viewed the step as a betrayal."

The Guardian: "After midterm distraction Trump gets back to business: attacking the media" — "In a dictatorship, journalists might have been expected to report a landslide for Donald Trump’s Republican party. In America, the media had the temerity to publicise Democrats’ victory in the House of Representatives and even aired a triumphant speech by Nancy Pelosi. Perhaps that explains why the US president turned his war on the enemy of the people up another whole notch on Wednesday.

"In a packed east room at the White House, Jim Acosta of Trump’s perceived nemesis, CNN, demanded why Trump had made the baseless claim that the migrant caravan currently making its way through Mexico is tantamount to an 'invasion' of America. Acosta noted that his campaign had an ad showing immigrants climbing over walls."

Associated Press: "Voting access dominates Georgia debate between Abrams, Kemp" — "The first debate between Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp in the race for Georgia governor was dominated by charges of voter suppression and counterclaims of encouraging illegal voting.

"Disputes over voting access took center stage Tuesday night, highlighting Abrams’ historic bid to become the first black female governor in American history and the long-simmering politics of race in the Deep South. Kemp, who is white, fended off accusations that he’s using his position as Georgia secretary of state to make it harder for minority voters to cast ballots."

A mixed verdict in the midterm elections, but one promising more oversight and more sleepless nights for President Trump. The president fires his attorney general and his new choice for the job — at least for now — has cast doubt on the Mueller investigation. The White House acts to thwart refugees from claiming asylum — that’ll be under swift legal challenge. And Trump lashes out once more at the press.

This hour, On Point: the reporters of the table round on this week’s news.

— David Folkenflik