China lodges complaint with US over Trump's Taiwan phone call  —  Conversation with Tsai Ing-wen thought to be first between US and Taiwanese leaders since ties cut in 1979 at China's behest  —  China has lodged “solemn representations” with the US over a call between the president-elect …

Oakland: At least nine dead after massive fire at live-work space party … OAKLAND — In what may be the deadliest structure fire in Oakland's history, at least nine people died in a blaze that broke out late Friday at an electronic music party at a Fruitvale district live-work space, officials said.

Trump education pick once touted school reform to 'advance God's Kingdom'  —  's pick for secretary of Education in 2001 described her work in promoting school choice as trying to “advance God's Kingdom,” according to audio discovered by Politico.  —  During a 2001 meeting of “The Gathering …

Bergdahl asks Obama for pardon  —  Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held captive for five years and freed in an exchange for five Taliban prisoners, has asked President Obama to pardon him before leaving the White House.  —  A source told Fox News that Bergdahl wrote a letter to Obama thanking …

Palin slams Trump Carrier deal as ‘crony capitalism’  —  Sarah Palin is criticizing President-elect Donald Trump  —  's deal with Carrier, even as she is reportedly under consideration to serve as Trump's secretary of Veterans Affairs.  —  In a op-ed in Young Conservatives published Friday …

A political temper tantrum at the FCC  —  The United States just went through a brutal election season.  Politics is a nasty game.  But now that the election is over, we must — in the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln — come together and embrace the better angels of our nature.

Iowa Governor Branstad Is Frontrunner for U.S.-China Ambassador  —  People say meetings likely with Trump's transition team  —  Branstad, China's Xi have friendship dating back to 1985  —  Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, a longtime friend of Chinese President Xi Jinping …

Hawaii's forecast: Icy and dangerous conditions.  No, really.  —  The forecast in Hawaii is calling for an entire foot of snow.  Patrick Jones (@Patrick_E_Jones) has some details on snow in The Aloha State.  Buzz60  —  Forget the swimsuits for Hawaii and pack raincoats and winter parkas.

The General Who Should Lead the Pentagon  —  Nominating a retired general to be secretary of defense is an unusual move in American politics.  Since just after World War II, when the Department of Defense was created, only one general has held the post.  That was George C. Marshall …

Pakistan Has a Drinking Problem  —  KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistan was recently mesmerized by a bottle of Scotch whisky.  On Oct. 30, as hundreds of supporters of the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (P.T.I.) were making their way to the capital Islamabad, with the declared intent …

Now Is the Time to Talk About What We Are Actually Talking About  —  America has always been aspirational to me.  Even when I chafed at its hypocrisies, it somehow always seemed sure, a nation that knew what it was doing, refreshingly free of that anything-can-happen existential uncertainty so familiar to developing nations.

Secret Service faces massive bill for protecting Trump  —  Protecting Donald Trump and his family will involve unprecedented costs for taxpayers.  But federal and New York City officials are dismissing speculation about sky-scraping expenses.  —  The Secret Service renting a floor …

G.O.P. Plans Immediate Repeal of Health Law, Then a Delay  —  WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress plan to move almost immediately next month to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as President-elect Donald J. Trump promised.  But they also are likely to delay the effective date …

Question Facing Keith Ellison: Could He Lead D.N.C. as Part-Timer?  —  DENVER — Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota, whose pursuit of the chairmanship of the beleaguered Democratic National Committee has drawn growing skepticism over his views on Israel, faced questions of a less incendiary sort …