Trump

President-elect Donald Trump reacts after speaking at Carrier Corp Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Indianapolis.

(Darron Cummings, Associated Press)

President-elect Donald Trump announces his deal with Carrier Corp. to keep jobs in Indiana rather than moving to Mexico, which has received mixed responses. Sen. Tim Kaine weighs in on recounts of the presidential election. Read more in today's Politics Extra.

Ryan cheers Trump's Carrier deal: House Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday defended President-elect Donald Trump's deal with Carrier Corp. that provides $7 million in state tax incentives to the Indianapolis-based manufacturing company to keep 1,000 jobs in Indiana rather than moving to Mexico, reports USA Today. Ryan emphasized to reporters that he did not know the terms of the deal, which a Trump official said gives $7 million in tax breaks from Indiana to Carrier over a decade. Even without knowing the details, Ryan pushed back against critics like Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Sanders' criticism: In an op-ed in The Washington Post, Sanders bashed Trump for what he said is sending a signal to American corporations that they can threaten to leave the U.S. in exchange for government incentives. "Trump has endangered the jobs of workers who were previously safe in the United States," the Vermont senator wrote. "Why? Because he has signaled to every corporation in America that they can threaten to offshore jobs in exchange for business-friendly tax benefits and incentives."

Trump and Sharif: Trump spoke on the phone Wednesday with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, but it is unclear what was said during that call, reports CNN. After the conversation, the Pakistan Prime Minister's Office put out a statement directly quoting Trump - a violation of diplomatic protocol - in which he glowingly praised Sharif. The statement quoted Trump as telling Sharif "you are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon." Trump's office put out a statement saying the two sides "had a productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future."

Gingrich mocks Romney: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich mocked Mitt Romney Wednesday for "sucking up" to Trump as he contends for the position of secretary of state in the new administration, reports CNN. "You have never, ever in your career seen a serious adult who is wealthy, independent, been a presidential candidate, suck up at the rate that Mitt Romney is sucking up," Gingrich, an early Trump supporter and former 2012 GOP presidential rival of Romney, said on Laura Ingraham's radio show.

"I am confident that he thinks now that Donald Trump is one of his closest friends, that they have so many things in common, that they're both such wise, brilliant people. And I'm sure [Tuesday] night, at an elegant three-star restaurant in New York, that Mitt was fully at home, happy to share his vision of populism, which involved a little foie gras, a certain amount of, you know, superb cooking. But was done in a populist, happy manner," Gingrich said.

Stone to write Trump campaign book: Longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone is penning a book that will trace the arc of Trump's campaign, reports Politico. From his 2015 escalator descent at Trump Tower to his unexpected presidential election victory, Stone's book, "The Making of the President 2016: How Donald Trump Orchestrated a Revolution," is billed as a modern-day successor to Theodore White's inside scoop on the 1960 campaign and JFK's rise to the White House.

Democrats and confirmations: Senate Democrats almost certainly cannot stop Trump's cabinet from being confirmed, but that doesn't mean they won't make the process as painful as possible for the new President, reports CNN. Each nomination presents Democrats an opportunity to litigate arguments that have been at a boiling point throughout the election on a public stage. Even if Trump won, Democrats can argue, his agenda is out of touch.

Kaine weighs in on recount: Sen. Tim Kaine said Thursday that Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign felt compelled to take part in the recount efforts launched by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, even though "we're very doubtful that the outcome is going to change," reports Politico. "The Clinton team looked at the votes and looked at recount and we're not going to pursue it. But when Jill Stein, one of the third party candidates, decided to do it - if there's going to be a recount we have to be at the table to make sure it's done right, that it's done fairly," the former vice presidential nominee told Washington, D.C. Fox affiliate WTTG in a live interview.

Are the Clintons done with politics? Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a longtime confidante of Hillary and Bill Clinton, said Wednesday that he thinks they're done with politics following their devastating loss in the 2016 presidential race, reports The Washington Post. "I think so, sure. I don't think Hillary has any interest in running again," McAuliffe said in a radio interview on WTOP's "Ask the Governor" program. "I'll let her speak for herself. I haven't asked her that. I think the president's probably going to go back, working on all the good deeds he's done before in helping people around the globe. You know, there are elections. We've got to move forward," the Democratic governor said.

Ellison faces renewed scrutiny: Rep. Keith Ellison's past ties to the Nation of Islam and his defense of its anti-Semitic leader, Louis Farrakhan, are resurfacing as he campaigns to lead the Democratic National Committee, reports CNN. Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, publicly renounced his association with the Nation of Islam in 2006 after it became an issue during his run for Congress, when GOP bloggers began publishing his old law school columns and photos connecting him to the organization. "I have long since distanced myself from and rejected the Nation of Islam due to its propaganda of bigoted and anti-Semitic ideas and statements, as well as other issues," he wrote a decade ago. Several outlets have recently uncovered Ellison's past writings and raised concerns about his own views and what they would mean for the Democratic Party if he were to be its leader.

Christie for RNC chair? New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expressing interest in the job of Republican National Committee chairman, reports Politico. Christie told senior members of Trump's presidential transition team Thursday he is interested in the post, according to three sources familiar with the talks. The Republican governor has been a longtime supporter of Trump, but has had a rocky relationship with his transition team lately.