SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:53 P.M. ET:

FORGET SOMETHING, BARACK? – FROM FOX:   President Obama, speaking at a press conference in Germany, passed up the opportunity Thursday to tamp down the anti-Donald Trump protests back home -- urging those taking part not to remain "silent."  The president fielded a question on the protests during a joint news conference in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel.  "I suspect that there’s not a president in our history that hasn’t been subject to these protests," he answered. "So, I would not advise people who feel strongly or who are concerned about some of the issues that have been raised during the course of the campaign, I wouldn’t advise them to be silent."  He added: “Voting matters, organizing matters and being informed on the issues matter.”  He could have said something about protesting peacefully and without obscenity. I think he's enjoying the protests almost as much as he enjoyed Hillary's loss.

VERDICT ON MEDIA BIAS – FROM NEWSBUSTERS:   RESTON, VA – The Media Research Center (MRC) announces the findings of a new post-election poll on what actual voters thought about the media’s influence on the 2016 presidential race. The MRC/YouGov poll was conducted on November 9 and 10. Key findings:  7 in 10 (69%) voters do not believe the news media are honest and truthful.  8 in 10 (78%) of voters believe the news coverage of the presidential campaign was biased, with nearly a 3-to-1 majority believing the media were for Clinton (59%) vs. for Trump (21%). Even 1/3 (32%) of Clinton voters believe the media were “pro-Clinton.”  8% of Trump voters said they would have voted for Clinton if they had believed what the media were saying about Trump.  97% of voters said they did not let the media’s bias influence their vote.  And what will the media do about this verdict?  Probably nothing.  Too many journalists believe they're on a mission to save the world, not to report the news.  Facts are unimportant.  Only the mission is important.

THE TROOPS ARE RESTLESS – FROM FOX:   Ohio Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan on Thursday became the first lawmaker to formally challenge House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for her post, a move that comes as the California power-broker faces growing unrest inside the Democratic caucus in the wake of last week’s election.  Ryan, who had been publicly considering mounting a leadership bid for days, announced his decision in a letter to colleagues.  He said he was “disheartened” by the election results and Democrats “must not let this opportunity for change pass by without a fight.”  Ryan wrote: “Over the last 18 years, Democrats have only been in the majority of the House of Representatives for two terms and last week’s election results set us back even further. We have lost over 60 seats since 2010. We have the fewest Democrats in state and federal offices since Reconstruction. At this time of fear and disillusionment, we owe it to our constituencies to listen and bring a new voice into leadership.”  Pelosi last faced a challenge in 2010 after the party’s midterm clobbering that cost them the House. Then-Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., ran and only got 43 votes.  Things might be different this time.  However, Pelosi still has enormous clout – she is a world-class fundraiser. 

November 17, 2016