Secret CIA assessment says Russia was trying to help Trump win White House  —  The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency, rather than just to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system, according to officials briefed on the matter.

GOP Plans Major Social Security Cuts  —  We'll have a story coming shortly on what I just mentioned a short time ago: that Republicans are now planning to pass major cuts to Social Security this year.  Specifically, this bill is being introduced by Rep. Sam Johnson, Chairman of the House Ways …

Trump Team's Memo Hints at Broad Shake-Up of U.S. Energy Policy  —  Advisers seeking to identify staff involved in climate policy  —  Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump are developing plans to reshape Energy Department programs, help keep aging nuclear plants online and identify staff …

Trump Expected to Pick Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers to Run Interior  —  If confirmed by the Senate, she would lead administration's efforts to open up federal lands and waters to fossil-fuel development  —  WASHINGTON—President-elect Donald Trump is expected to tap Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers …

Trump blasts early voting: ‘Many things can go wrong’  —  Donald Trump on Friday expressed support for restricting voting rights.  —  Stumping for Louisiana Senate candidate John Kennedy, Trump urged supporters to help elect the Republican state treasurer to the U.S. Senate …

Giuliani won't serve in Trump administration  —  Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a longtime Donald Trump  —  ally, will not be serving in the president-elect's administration.  —  Giuliani has removed himself from consideration for any position in the new administration, the Trump transition team announced Friday.

Leftist Students Shouted ‘F*ck You B*itch’ at the Gay Director of a Pro-Trans Movie, Boys Don't Cry  —  There was a time not so long ago when the people shouting “f**k you bitch” at a gender-fluid gay filmmaker would have been bigoted right-wing conservatives.

Democrats cave and shutdown threat evaporates  —  They went right up to the brink, but Senate Democrats said on Friday night that they never intended to shut down the federal government over a dispute about coal miners' benefits.  —  Though they took a hard line against a GOP proposal to fund …

T.J. Miller — Arrested for Uber Fight Over Trump ... 'Tis the Season??  —  “Silicon Valley” star T.J. Miller got arrested in Hollywood for allegedly making his Uber driver see stars, and not the good rating kind either.  —  Law enforcement sources tell us T.J.'s driver picked him up from the GQ Men …

Obama's Second Term Was a Complete Failure  —  There's no other way to describe it.  —  Every December, Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post picks the biggest political loser of the past year.  —  In 2013, Cillizza's selection was Barack Obama.  He cited the botched rollout of Healthcare.gov …

National Economic Council (NEC)  —  Learn about the National Economic Council's role in advising the President on U.S. and global economic policy.  —  The National Economic Council (NEC) was established in 1993 to advise the President on U.S. and global economic policy.

COULD BREITBART BREAK WITH TRUMP?  —  The front page of Breitbart right now seems surprisingly critical of the Trump transition:  —  From that lead story: … Wow — the Trump News Network is linking a Trump appointee to the hated rootless cosmopolitan gun-grabber Mike Bloomberg.  Them's fightin' words.

None of the inauguration protests have their proper permits yet.  Here's why.  —  Groups seeking to protest in the nation's capital the day of, and days around, the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump say they are being kept in limbo because officials have yet to issue permits for demonstrations.

Michigan Supreme Court denies Stein's recount appeal  —  Lansing — The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday denied Green Party candidate Jill Stein's appeal to restart a partially completed presidential election recount, meaning President-elect Donald Trump's 10,704-vote victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton stands.

Report: Trump wants as many as 5 generals in Cabinet  —  is considering tapping as many as five generals for his Cabinet, Politico reported Friday.  —  Trump has already selected three retired top military officers for his administration — Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn for national security adviser …

Let's relocate a bunch of government agencies to the Midwest  —  Time to shift economic activity from the overcrowded coasts to places that need more of it.  —  America's post-industrial Midwest is far from being the country's poorest region.  To find the direst economic conditions in the United States …

Prince George's Co. liquor board chairman charged with DUI after MGM grand opening  —  NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The chairman of the Prince George's County liquor board is facing DUI and reckless driving charges after an accident that took place as he was leaving the grand opening …