What's happening in the political world:
Trump suggests awarding "FAKE NEWS TROPHY" in rant against media
-- President Trump has slammed the media numerous times during his tenure, but on Monday, he mockingly suggested a contest among the networks that cover him.
Trump tweeted: "We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!"
Trump also took the opportunity to blast MSNBC's "Morning Joe" for airing a pre-taped segment on the day after Thanksgiving. Trump said retweeted a Breitbart story and added: "The good news is that their ratings are terrible, nobody cares!"
Earlier this year, the president and "Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough and Mike Brzezinski traded insults after having been friendly over the years.
Congress returns from recess with numerous items on agenda
-- Lawmakers will have a full plate as they return from a Thanksgiving recess.
The Senate is hoping to vote on a tax reform plan sometime this week, with President Trump heading to Capitol Hill ahead of a committee vote.
The House of Representatives has already passed its own version of a tax bill, and the president wants a bill on his desk by Christmas.
The Tax Cut Bill is coming along very well, great support. With just a few changes, some mathematical, the middle class and job producers can get even more in actual dollars and savings and the pass through provision becomes simpler and really works well!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2017
Aside from tax reform, Congress will need to put together a new spending plan by Dec. 8 that would avert a government shutdown.
Read more on the Senate GOP's tax plan
NYT report: Trump questions authenticity of "Access Hollywood" tape
-- President Trump has questioned the authenticity of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape in which he bragged about being able to grope women, The New York Times reported over the weekend, despite the fact that Trump immediately apologized for his remarks when the video surfaced.
Trump's decision to stick with Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore despite sexual harassment allegations against him is rooted in the president's own sexual harassment scandal during the 2016 election.
The Times reported: "He sees the calls for Mr. Moore to step aside as a version of the response to the now-famous 'Access Hollywood' tape, in which he boasted about grabbing women's genitalia, and the flood of groping accusations against him that followed soon after. He suggested to a senator earlier this year that it was not authentic, and repeated that claim to an adviser more recently."
White House lawyer to be questioned in Russia probe
-- The White House's top lawyer is expected to be interviewed as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's meddling in the presidential election.
Don McGahn is expected to speak with investigators in the coming weeks. White House communications director Hope Hicks is also expected to be interviewed.
McGahn, the 49-year-old former Federal Election commissioner, acted as a conduit of information to Trump before the president decided to fire National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey. McGahn also served as the Trump presidential campaign's chief counsel while he was still a partner in private practice at the law firm Jones Day.
McGahn's work on both the Trump campaign and at the center of the West Wing makes him one of the few Trump team insiders who may have knowledge about several threads of the Mueller probe.
CNN contributed to this report
