McConnell rejects special panel for Russian election interference allegations  —  (R-Ky.) on Monday said recent findings by the CIA that the Russian government tied to influence the U.S. presidential election should be investigated by the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Electors demand intelligence briefing before Electoral College vote  —  Ten members of the Electoral College, including Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's daughter Christine and a former member of Congress, are demanding a briefing from U.S. intelligence officials on any ongoing investigations into Donald Trump's ties to Russia.

Five Questions About Russia's Election Hacking  —  The evidence to support the CIA's conclusion that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump remains mostly secret.  But the outline of the case is no mystery.  Both Democratic and Republican Party servers were reportedly hacked …

What's Behind Trump's Move to the Right?  —  He owes nothing to the old guard, he sees a window for bold reforms, and he knows who his enemies are.  —  The biggest surprise Donald Trump has provided as president-elect is just how conservative a cabinet he is putting together.

China flies nuclear bomber over South China Sea to ‘send a message’ to Donald Trump  —  China flew a nuclear-capable bomber outside its borders in a show of force less than a week before US President-elect Donald Trump's phone call with the president of Taiwan, it has been reported.

Democrats fear another Trump trouncing  —  As Donald Trump's inauguration draws near, Democrats fear they remain woefully unprepared to fight the new president's agenda.  —  The party loses its standard-bearer once President Barack Obama leaves office, and the Democratic National Committee …

Trump draws rebuke after saying U.S. isn't bound by One China policy  —  BEIJING — President-elect Trump is talking about Taiwan again — and nobody, it seems, is pleased about his comments on the nearly four-decade-old basis of U.S.-Chinese relations.  —  In an interview broadcast Sunday …

Senate fails to confirm FCC Commissioner after lengthy battle  —  Jessica Rosenworcel will be forced step down from her post as commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission after Congress finished it last legislative session of the year on Saturday without confirming her.

Patriotic Opposition to Donald Trump  —  Nothing is safe or sacrosanct in Donald Trump's developing governance team, and America had better start being alarmed about it and moving to actively oppose it.  —  The time for voting has elapsed, but the time for being vocal has emerged.  —  Let's take the tally:

Former Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah to be sentenced today  —  Former Rep. Chaka Fattah is due in court today to be sentenced on federal corruption charges.  —  Prosectors have asked that the Philadelphia Democrat receive a term of 17 to 22 years, but the defense has requested a much shorter term …

Fmr. CIA Acting Dir.  Michael Morell: “This Is the Political Equivalent of 9/11”  —  The Washington Post report on a secret CIA assessment concluding that Russia intervened in the U.S. Presidential election with the intention of helping President-elect Donald Trump win is only part …

Dems grapple with lessons from Clinton disaster  —  Democrats are grappling with how to draw the right lessons — and avoid the wrong ones — after an extraordinary presidential election.  —  Hillary Clinton  —  's loss to Donald Trump  —  is an unmitigated disaster for Democrats, who want to ensure nothing like it happens again.

Trump to inherit state-run TV network with expanded reach  —  President-elect Donald Trump is about to inherit a newly empowered Voice of America that some officials fear could serve as an unfettered propaganda arm for the former reality TV star who has flirted for years with launching his own network.

Sam Venable: Santa grants a final wish  —  Eric Schmitt-Matzen looks every bit the part of Santa Claus.  —  His 6-foot frame carries 310 pounds, leaving “just enough of a lap for the kids to sit on,” he says with a gentle Kringley chuckle right out of Central Casting.  —  No fake facial fuzz for this guy.