CNN/ORC Poll: Trump alone at the top again  —  (CNN)Donald Trump is once again alone at the top of the Republican field, according to the latest CNN/ORC Poll, with 36% of registered Republicans and Republican-leaning independents behind him, while his nearest competitor trails by 20 points.

Rampage killers led secret life, hiding plans and weapons  —  A DMV handout photo of Syed Rizwan Farook, whom authorities have identified as one of two shooters who killed 14 and wounded 21 at a workplace holiday party in San Bernardino.  —  Early Wednesday morning, Syed Rizwan Farook asked …

Scott Weiland, frontman for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, dies at 48  —  Scott Weiland at KROQ's Weenie Roast at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine in June 2001.  —  Scott Weiland, a performer known for his grunge rock voice and struggles with addiction, has died, according to his wife, Jamie.

Dem Sen. Cites Success of Gun Laws in California a Day After San Bernardino  —  In the wake of yesterday's horrific shooting in San Bernardino, California, Senate Democrats are attempting another strong gun control push.  They are pushing for universal background checks and banning individuals …

Senate approves bill repealing much of ObamaCare  —  The Senate on Thursday passed legislation repealing the core pillars of ObamaCare, taking a major step toward sending such a bill to the president's desk for the first time.  —  Republicans hailed it as a political messaging victory …

Trump: ‘My numbers go way up’ after tragedies  —  Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Thursday suggested his popularity increases after tragedies, pointing to his rise in polls after last month's Paris terrorist attacks.  —  Trump made the comment while pushing back on a GOP memo …

Clinton-aligned group claims to have mole in Koch machine  —  Hillary Clinton's well-financed ally David Brock has a team that claims to be coordinating with moles inside the corporate and political empire of the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.  —  During a rare tour …

Chris Christie: ‘Iran is a Greater Threat Than ISIS’  —  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the semi-resurgent candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, came to Washington last week to address members of the Council on Foreign Relations (the organization known, at least to Senator Ted Cruz, as the “pit of vipers").

No, Donald Trump Won't Win  —  A little while ago I went rug shopping.  Four rugs were laid out on the floor and among them was one with a pink motif that was dazzlingly beautiful.  It was complex and sophisticated.  If you had asked me at that moment which rug I wanted, I would have said the pink one.

Republicans' Climate Change Denial Denial  —  Future historians — if there are any future historians — will almost surely say that the most important thing happening in the world during December 2015 was the climate talks in Paris.  True, nothing agreed to in Paris will be enough, by itself, to solve the problem of global warming.

After grumbling, Trump says he will participate in CNN debate  —  Donald Trump said Thursday that he is unexcited about the upcoming primary debate and irritated by CNN's coverage of his campaign, but confirmed that he will appear at the network's GOP forum scheduled for Dec. 15 in Las Vegas.

Loretta Lynch: “Actions Predicated On Violent Talk” Toward Muslims Will Be Prosecuted  —  WASHINGTON — Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Thursday warned that the Justice Department could take aggressive action against people whose anti-Muslim rhetoric “edges towards violence” …

Remembering the Soviet Union's Disappeared … Boris shternberg was a believer.  As the Soviet Union formed, he held a series of official positions, including administrator of Moscow's reservoir.  But the system in which he had placed his faith ultimately betrayed him …

“I get anxiety knowing that the tests count more than classwork or schoolwork,” Kiana said.  “It's a make or break kind of thing.” … “They tell me I must have data, and they don't consider tests data unless it comes from multiple-choice,” teacher Joshua Katz told me.