1/ The White House argued that Trump has “broad discretion to regulate access to the White House for journalists� in response to a lawsuit by CNN over the suspension of Jim Acosta’s press pass. The lawsuit alleges that the ban violates CNN and Acosta’s First and Fifth Amendment rights and they’re asking for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction that would restore his access right away. Almost every major news organizations has sided with CNN. (CNN)

Fox News supports CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration. “Secret Service passes for White House journalists should never be weaponized,� Fox News President Jay Wallace said in a statement. “While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.� (Axios / Politico)

First Amendment lawyers say courts have a history of defending access for journalists, and the White House’s shifting justifications for revoking Acosta’s press pass won’t help it in the coming legal fight. (Politico)

2/ The Justice Department defended the legality of Trump’s appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general, arguing that the appointment is consistent with the Constitution, federal statutes and past precedent in a 20-page memorandum opinion. The memo’s disclosure comes a day after Maryland asked a Federal District Court judge to issue an injunction and declare that Rod Rosenstein the acting attorney general. (New York Times / Washington Post / CNN)

The incoming ranking members of several House committees opened an investigation into Whitaker’s involvement in World Patent Marketing, which was charged last year by the Federal Trade Commission with promoting an “invention-promotion scam.� Whitaker was on the advisory board for World Patent Marketing. (Politico / House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform)

Whitaker walked away from a taxpayer-subsidized apartment-rehabilitation project in Iowa after years of cost overruns, delays and other problems. The city of Des Moines pulled an affordable housing loan that Whitaker’s company had been awarded, and another lender began foreclosure proceedings after Whitaker defaulted on a separate loan for nearly $700,000. (Associated Press)

Whitaker praised Trump in his first public speech as acting attorney general, telling an audience that “under President Trump their 401(k)s are doing pretty good right now.� (CNN)

3/ Sen. Lindsay Grah...