The Note: Russia Redux

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December 16, 2016

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Russia Redux

Trump Goes After Obama Press Secretary in Speech

President-elect Donald Trump took new jabs at White House press secretary Josh Earnest last night in Hershey, Pennsylvania, ABC's ALEXANDER MALLIN and VERONICA STRACQUALURSI report. "This foolish guy, Josh Earnest, I don't know," Trump told the crowd. "You know, having the right press secretary is so important because he's so bad the way he delivers a message. He can deliver a positive message and it sounds bad. He could say ladies and gentlemen, today we have totally defeated ISIS, and it wouldn't sound good, OK?" Trump then added, "Maybe he is getting his orders from somebody else?" The jabs follow an escalating feud between the Trump transition team and the White House over Russian involvement in the U.S. election. Earnest doubled down on his statements that Trump knowingly benefited and even encouraged Russian hacking in his victory over Hillary Clinton. http://abcn.ws/2hChmks

Clinton Says Putin's Alleged Involvement in Democratic Hack Stems From Longtime Grudge

Hillary Clinton has an explanation for Vladimir Putin's alleged involvement in the hacking of Democratic organizations during the 2016 presidential election: The Russian leader has a long-time grudge against her, dating back to 2011 when she made comments that were critical of Russia's parliamentary elections. Two high-level Clinton donors tell ABC News that Clinton made the claim Thursday night at Manhattan's Plaza Hotel during an event dubbed a "thank you" party, at which she expressed her gratitude to donors. More from ABC's DAVID CAPLAN and JOSH HASKELL: http://abcn.ws/2hBP508

Analysis - ABC's RICK KLEIN

How much of President Obama's legacy gets determined on this frigid Friday in Washington? The outgoing president's traditional pre-holidays news conference fills a press void, since there's nothing similar from the president-elect, still. It also sets a critical tone for the balance of the transition. The non-aggression pact between Obama and President-elect Donald Trump got called off this week, owing to revelations surrounding the extent of Russian interference with the election. Now, the White House is pressuring Trump to acknowledge Vladimir Putin's involvement, Hillary Clinton is blaming Putin, Trump is mocking Josh Earnest at rallies, and Trump aides are talking again about Clinton's email arrangement. Does Obama return to a high-minded tone about the importance of an orderly transition? Does he endorse efforts to get intelligence briefings for members of the Electoral College? Does he effectively declare war on Putin, or Trump, or both?

'This Week' on This Week

With just five weeks until Inauguration Day, the Powerhouse Roundtable debates the week in politics, with ABC News contributor LZ Granderson, Bloomberg Politics national political reporter Jennifer Jacobs, ABC News' Cokie Roberts, and ABC News contributor and Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson.