Today’s edition of quick hits:
* The arrest of Meng Wanzhou carries real international consequences: “China demanded the release of a senior executive at tech giant Huawei Technologies after she was detained in Canada on extradition charges to the U.S.”
* I guess we now know about one of the two redacted investigations Flynn is helping with: “Federal prosecutors in Virginia are investigating a secret Turkish lobbying effort that once involved Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser, even as Mr. Flynn’s role in the special counsel’s investigation winds down, according to people familiar with the inquiry.”
* This is exactly the opposite of the result Trump promised: “The trade deficit rose in October to a 10-year high amid a record shortfall with China, keeping the U.S. on pace to record the largest annual gap in a decade.”
* Quite a ride: “Wall Street had a rollercoaster ride on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average swinging from a session low where it was down 784 points, to end the day with a decline of just 77 points.”
* Not how democracy is supposed to work: “Republicans in the Wisconsin state Senate rushed to approve 82 of Gov. Scott Walker’s appointees, a month after voters chose not to reelect the Republican.”
* A striking op-ed in the Miami Herald calling for Labor Secretary Alex Acosta to resign “immediately.”
* A striking portrait in the New York Times about an undocumented immigrant, who works at Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf course, who’s taking a great risk by speaking up. * Another probe to watch: “Spinning off from the special counsel’s Russia probe, prosecutors are ramping up their investigation into foreign lobbying by two major Washington firms that did work for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to people familiar with the matter.” * The new shutdown deadline is two weeks from tomorrow: “An extension of temporary appropriations for nine Cabinet departments and dozens of smaller agencies through Dec. 21 is on its way to the president’s desk after the House and Senate passed the measure Thursday.” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
