“The Trump administration has a new weapon at its disposal in its efforts to take down Democrats and their appointees: mortgage records,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Members of the administration have now alleged three public officials have committed mortgage fraud, referring each to the Justice Department. The administration has signaled that it has just gotten started: U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin was recently tapped ‘to investigate fraud by public officials in mortgages,’ according to a letter Martin sent.”

“The targets have denied wrongdoing, but the probes represent an aggressive new spin on opposition research that has long dug into tax records and financial disclosures public officeholders have to make. Mortgage applications go beyond the typical disclosure requirements.”

Susan Glasser: “There was a certain awful predictability about the FBI’s Friday-morning raids targeting the former Trump adviser turned critic John Bolton.”

“President Donald Trump’s hand was coated in a thick layer of makeup on Friday as he ventured out from the White House amid ongoing health questions,” the Daily Beast reports.

“The president, 79, has been using makeup to cover bruising on his right hand on multiple occasions since he retook office.”

“I look extremely good in shorts.”

— President Trump, quoted by USA Today.

“President Trump said the government is taking a nearly 10% stake in Intel, capping a two-week frenzy in Washington over the future of the company and fueling speculation about what else might be done to help troubled chip maker Intel,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Donald Trump made a much-teased announcement from the Oval Office on Friday, that the FIFA World Cup draw will take place at the Kennedy Center on December 5,” Deadline reports.

“But he also signaled his desire to put his own name on the arts institution.”

Said Trump: “Some people refer to it as the ‘Trump Kennedy Center,’ but we’re not prepared to do that quite yet. Maybe in a week or so.”