Facebook fake-news writer: ‘I think Donald Trump is in the White House because of me’  —  What do the Amish lobby, gay wedding vans and the ban of the national anthem have in common?  For starters, they're all make-believe — and invented by the same man.  —  Paul Horner, the 38-year-old impresario …

House GOP eying major Medicare overhaul in 2017  —  The head of the House Budget Committee said Thursday that lawmakers are eying an overhaul of Medicare next year.  —  Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) said he expects lawmakers to push forward with an overhaul …

Jon Stewart on why Donald Trump is a “repudiation of Republicans”  —  After Jon Stewart left “The Daily Show” last summer, much of the presidential campaign went on without his unique and satirical point of view.  —  He spoke with “CBS This Morning” co-host Charlie Rose Wednesday to discuss …

Sanders: If Trump has the ‘guts’ to take on corporate America, he's got an ally  —  (CNN)President-elect Donald Trump will find himself with an unlikely ally If he makes good on his promise to be an economic populist challenging corporate America, Bernie Sanders said Thursday.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Resigns  —  Director of National Intelligence James Clapper submitted his resignation Wednesday evening.  —  Clapper has said in interviews with NBC News over the last year that he was counting down the days to stepping down at the end of President Obama's final term in office.

Japanese American internment is ‘precedent’ for national Muslim registry, prominent Trump backer says  —  A spokesman for a major super PAC backing Donald Trump said Wednesday that the mass internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was a “precedent” for the president-elect's plans …

Flagstaff police officer placed on leave after violent video surfaces  —  Danny Paredes/Special for The Republic Wochit  —  A Flagstaff police officer has been placed on administrative leave after a video showing him punching a woman in the face surfaced Wednesday on Facebook, according to a police spokesman.

Apple could make iPhones in US in future: sources  —  TAIPEI — iPhones might one day soon carry “Made in America” labels.  —  Key Apple assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as Foxconn Technology Group, has been studying the possibility of moving iPhone production to the U.S., sources told the Nikkei Asian Review.

Trump camp calls for short-term spending bill despite Senate concerns … President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday made his first stamp on Congress, as House Republicans bowed to his wishes and announced plans to extend government funding through March, despite warnings from top GOP senators …

The Great ‘Normalization’ Debate of 2016  —  First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  Who is Jared Kushner?  Donald Trump's son-in-law could play a key role 2:53  —  The Great “Normalization” Debate of 2016

You Are Still Crying Wolf  —  [Content warning: hate crimes, Trump, racism.  I have turned off comments to keep out bad people who might be attracted by this sort of thing.  Avoid sharing in places where this will attract the wrong kind of attention, as per your best judgment.

Hoekstra: I'd take CIA director job if offered  —  Former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, an ex-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Thursday that he would accept the job of CIA director if it were offered to him by President-elect Donald Trump.  —  “I'd take the job if Mr. Trump decided …

Hannity tops media ‘rich list’ with $29 million salary  —  Fox News anchor Sean Hannity is atop the New York Observer's annual “rich list” of the highest-paid figures in TV news.  —  Hannity, a conservative commentator and Donald Trump  —  backer, makes a $29 million annual salary …

FBI's decision to reopen Clinton email probe enabled Donald Trump to win election, says former aide Corey Lewandowski  —  The FBI's controversial decision to re-examine Hillary Clinton's emails enabled Donald Trump to win the election, his former campaign manager has claimed.

Video: Miami Man Screams “Trump!” at Black Starbucks Employee, Claims “White Discrimination”  —  Around 4:30 p.m. today, Jorge de Cárdenas was getting some work done in a Starbucks on South Dixie Highway near the University of Miami.  A group of people stood waiting in line at the counter for their coffee and snacks.

Tom Hanks Hopes Donald Trump “Does Such a Great Job That I Vote for His Re-Election”  —  The actor was honored by the Museum of Modern Art at a gala also attended by Steve Martin, David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, Emma Watson and Meg Ryan, among others.  —  A week after the election …

Obama won't call off anti-Trump protesters  —  President Obama won't try to call off protests against Donald Trump  —  , he said Thursday, ignoring pleas from the president-elect's advisers to denounce the nationwide demonstrations.  —  “I would not advise people who feel strongly …

Bankers celebrate dawn of Trump era  —  NEW YORK — Christmas has arrived early for Wall Street in the early days of the Donald Trump era.  —  A populist candidate who railed against shady financial interests on the campaign trail is now putting together an administration that looks like an investment banker's dream.

McCrory team: Election protests filed in 12 counties  —  Gov. Pat McCrory's campaign team announced Wednesday evening that election protests are being filed in 11 more counties, further clouding the outcome of a close race in which the Republican governor trails.

Total abortion ban proposed in Indiana  —  An Indiana lawmaker plans to introduce a bill that would outlaw and criminalize all forms of abortion in Indiana.  —  State Rep. Curt Nisly said Wednesday he will file so-called “Protection at Conception” legislation when the General Assembly convenes in January.

House passes bill targeting ‘midnight’ Obama regs  —  The House on Thursday passed legislation that would allow Congress to overturn in a single vote any regulations finalized in the last days of the Obama administration.  —  Despite Democratic opposition, the Midnight Rule Relief Act passed …

Making America White Again  —  The choices made by white men, who are prepared to abandon their humanity out of fear of black men and women, suggest the true horror of lost status.  —  This is a serious project.  All immigrants to the United States know (and knew) that if they want to become real …

GOP learning wrong lessons from Trump win, Republicans fear  —  Republican operatives spent four years warning that the party needed to diversify — or risk a blowout at the ballot box.  Donald Trump spent the campaign trafficking in divisive racial rhetoric — and he won anyway.

Sen. Sasse, here are some answers to your questions about ‘paid rioting’  —  Sen. Ben Sasse, a freshman Republican senator from Nebraska, earned accolades from many in his party (and elsewhere) over the course of the 2016 cycle thanks to his principled opposition to Donald Trump's candidacy.

America's Enemies Cheer Donald Trump's Bigoted Transition Team  —  It took just one week for it to become clear that President Trump would be no different from candidate Trump.  —  After disappearing momentarily in his gracious victory speech, Donald's seat-of-the-pants style, his “get even” …

The only reason I have taken so much time away from work to address this personally is because you are Mr. Shultz's grandson.  —  Tyler Shultz, now 26 years old, was among several Theranos employees who tried to voice concerns inside the company about what they saw as troubling practices …

A 12-Step Program for Responding to President-Elect Trump  —  Traumatized by the election results, many Americans are asking: What now?  Here are steps that any of us can take that can make a difference at the margins.  Onward!  —  1. I WILL accept that my side lost …

Trump Favorability Up, but Trails Other Presidents-Elect  —  PRINCETON, N.J. — Donald Trump's favorable rating has improved from 34% to 42% after his election as president.  While a majority in the U.S. still have an unfavorable view of him, his image is the best it has been since March 2011 when 43% viewed him positively.