We learned late yesterday that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had been secretly charged by the U.S. government with… something. What, exactly, remains unclear, but what is clear was that we weren’t supposed to learn about the charges in this way.

Here’s what happened.

The midterms are over and the White House seems to be on edge. Russia probe-related developments — specifically, indictments — tend to come on Friday. And so we’re all waiting to see if Mueller does something today.

I wanted to point your attention to an interview Rep. Marcia Fudge (D) did yesterday with Huffpo. Fudge is seen by many – I think accurately – as basically a stalking horse for a handful of anti-Pelosi members on the right of the Democratic caucus. Reps. Moulton, Ryan, Lynch, et al. Her interview gives a taste of the kind of slashing contest Pelosi’s most vocal opponents have in mind.

Avowed neo-Nazi who praised Pittsburgh synagogue shooter cited the “migrant caravan” as justification in interview with FBI, according to new filing by prosecutors.

Lot more detail on Jeffrey Clark Jr, the DC neo-nazi tied to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter.

Former federal public corruption prosecutor speculates on why Trump’s going particularly nuts this week …

It is hard to say what’s causing Trump’s current Mueller meltdown. But if reports are true that he and his lawyers are working on answering written questions from the Special Counsel, that probably has him especially on edge. One question in particular poses a huge dilemma for Trump: Did you know in advance about Don Jr.’s Trump Tower meeting with the Russians? Obviously, he did. He likely authorized the meeting and got a read out right after it. Why else would he have dictated the bogus “adoption” cover story? Why else, in the days prior to the meeting, would he have promised explosive information about Hillary to come out shortly after it? And Mueller no doubt has additional evidence of Trump’s foreknowledge (from Gates, Manafort, Cohen, phone records, etc.).

Last night I wrote up my take on whether Nancy Pelosi should be the next Speaker of the House under the incoming Democratic majority. Short answer: Yes. For the longer answer, click here. But the day so far as even more convinced me of a point that was partly implicit in what I wrote last night: that any question about Pelosi is quickly resolved when you look at the folks leading the charge to replace her.

The Democrats are convening on Capitol Hill today as the party considers who should lead it in its battle against Trump for the next two years. Here’s more on that and other stories we’re following.

I wanted to share a few thoughts about the House Democrats’ leadership election. First, I’m ambivalent about Nancy Pelosi becoming Speaker again. Turnovers in leadership are good. The dozens of new House Democrats converging on Capitol Hill this week visibly shows the power of generational succession. The Democrats’ current House leadership has been in place for more than 15 years, an extraordinary length of time by historical standards.

We’re digging into the bizarre story of two Washington, DC-based brothers and avowed neo-Nazis who interacted with Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers on social media. Here’s more on that and other stories we’re following.