DNC penalizes Sanders campaign for improper access of Clinton voter data  —  Officials with the Democratic National Committee have accused the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders of improperly accessing confidential voter information gathered by the rival campaign of Hillary Clinton, according to several party officials.

Donald Trump left Joe Scarborough stunned after being asked about Vladimir Putin killing journalists  —  During a Friday-morning interview with Donald Trump, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough was baffled by the Republican front-runner's embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Augusta County schools closed Friday after parental outrage over Arabic assignment  —  AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. — Augusta County schools and all administrative offices are closing Friday December 18, after parental objections to a controversial high school geography assignment involving Arabic.

Hagel: The White House Tried to ‘Destroy’ Me  —  In an exclusive interview, Chuck Hagel said the Obama administration micromanaged the Pentagon, stabbed him in the back on the way out — and still has no strategy for fixing Syria.  —  Jet-lagged from a long overseas trip …

House approves bill to avoid shutdown  —  Ryan: Budget bills are a ‘bipartisan compromise’  —  Washington (CNN)The House overwhelmingly backed a $1.1 trillion spending package on Friday that avoids a government shutdown and funds federal agencies through next fall.

Rubio misses spending bill vote  —  Sen. Marco Rubio missed Friday's Senate vote approving a massive $1.8 trillion end-of-the-year spending bill and tax package — a day after he suggested that he could try to slow the legislation down.  —  The Florida Republican, who is running for president …

An Open Letter to Reuters Reporters Nate Raymond and David Ingram  —  Dear Mr. Raymond and Mr. Ingram:  —  Today you reported on the arrest of the widely-hated Martin Shkreli on securities fraud charges.  You ran a picture of the “perp walk” — the once-free now-defendant being led away in handcuffs by law enforcement:

Progressive PR Firm Closes Down Over Sexual Harassment And Assault Allegations  —  The group represented some of the biggest progressive organizations.  —  WASHINGTON — FitzGibbon Media, a prominent progressive public relations firm, abruptly shut down on Thursday amid allegations …

Humans Are Slamming Into Driverless Cars and Exposing a Key Flaw  —  Accident rates are twice as high as for regular vehicles  —  Most mishaps are fender benders caused by inattentive drivers  —  The self-driving car, that cutting-edge creation that's supposed to lead to a world without accidents …

Rahm Emanuel Must Resign  —  From Laquan McDonald to Homan Square, Rahm has tacitly endorsed police violence.  —  By  —  In the coming months, a jury will consider the fate of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, who has been charged with first-degree murder for shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times at close range.

As Trump Surges, Adelson Says He Might Sit Out Some Primaries  —  Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson acknowledged presidential candidate Donald Trump's “incredible” support among the Republican base and said he might let some primaries pass before deciding whom to back.

The Grim News About Demographics and Federal Spending  —  For decades, we have been hearing that the baby-boom generation was like a pig moving through a python-bigger than the generations before and after.  —  That's true.  But that's also a very misleading metaphor for understanding …