Trump's Taiwan phone call was long planned, say people who were involved  —  Donald Trump's protocol-breaking telephone call with Taiwan's leader was an intentionally provocative move that establishes the incoming president as a break with the past, according to interviews with people involved in the planning.

Army will not grant easement for Dakota Access Pipeline crossing  —  Army POC: Moira Kelley (703) 614-3992, moira.l.kelley.civ@mail.mil  —  The Department of the Army will not approve an easement that would allow the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe in North Dakota …

D.C. Police detain suspect with an assault rifle at Comet Ping Pong restaurant  —  D.C. Police responding Sunday to a report of a gunman at a popular pizza restaurant in Northwest Washington detained a man armed with an assault rifle, according to a police spokeswoman.

Watch Mike Pence try to defend Trump's false claim that ‘millions’ voted illegally … One week ago, perhaps inflamed by reports that Hillary Clinton was leading in the popular vote by more than 2 million votes or by impending recounts in three states that he had won, President-elect Donald Trump sent out a curious tweet.

Trying to imitate Trump's victory, Italy's Beppe Grillo could help throw Europe into crisis  —  When Beppe Grillo started to make headlines at the leader of Italy's biggest protest party more than six years ago, it was hard to avoid the puns.  A comedian turned politician, Grillo was laughed at and branded a “clown.”

It ain't over til it's over  —  Yesterday, in a post called “It's Over,” I noted that Jill Stein and her friends have withdrawn their state court suit which sought a recount of the Pennsylvania presidential vote.  But Team Stein hasn't quit, after all.  Instead, it has resorted to federal court.

4 quit after Oklahoma veteran with maggots in wound dies  —  The Oklahoma veterans center in Talihina.  —  TALIHINA, Okla. - Four staff members have resigned from a southeastern Oklahoma veterans facility rather than face the possibility of getting fired, after a resident was found to have maggots in a wound.

‘Hero’ Muslim cop, her son harassed by bigot in Brooklyn who shouted ‘I will cut your throat’  —  A Muslim off-duty NYPD officer, hailed by the mayor as a hero, and her 16-year-old son became the city's latest hate crime victims Saturday when a bigot in Brooklyn yelled at them to “go back to your country,” police sources said.

A fitting end: Castro's hearse breaks down  —  The vehicle carrying Fidel Castro's remains during his funeral parade broke down yesterday.  Soldiers had to push it through the streets.  —  How symbolic!  What could be more fitting, given the broken down nature of the antique Cuban state produced by Castro?

AP: Jon Hunstman Jr. in late running for secretary of state  —  The Salt Lake Tribune) Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. jokes with students as he helped deliver teaching materials to Melody Francis' 4th grade classroom at Rose Park Elementary in association with Chevron's 2014 Fuel Your School Program, Wednesday, september 3, 2014.

Cheney To CNN's Barbara Starr: Trump Took Us To Point Where We Don't Need You Guys Anymore  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney and Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta talk the new era of foreign policy under President-elect Donald Trump with CNN's Barbara Starr at the Reagan Library.

Face the Nation Transcript December 4, 2016: Priebus, Gingrich, Pelosi, Panetta  —  JOHN DICKERSON, CBS HOST: Today on FACE THE NATION: The Trump transition train rolls on.  President-elect Donald Trump took a break from hiring to kick off a thank you tour in his favorite battleground state.

Ryan: Trump understands there's a Constitution  —  understands the Constitution and the importance of the separation of powers, House Speaker Paul Ryan  —  (R-Wis.) said in an “60 Minutes” interview airing Sunday night.  —  “I think he understands there's a Constitution.