The Perfect Weapon: How Russian Cyberpower Invaded the U.S.  —  WASHINGTON — When Special Agent Adrian Hawkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation called the Democratic National Committee in September 2015 to pass along some troubling news about its computer network, he was transferred, naturally, to the help desk.

The Humbling Of Mitt Romney, By Donald J. Trump  —  “Mitt Romney is somebody I had respect for,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid says.  “I have none anymore.”  —  Washington bureau chief for The Huffington Post  —  When Barack Obama first decided that Hillary Clinton would make an able secretary …

Trump selects Zinke as interior secretary  —  President-elect Donald Trump has offered the interior secretary position to Montana's freshman Rep. Ryan Zinke, an ex-Navy Seal commander, according to two transition officials and someone familiar with the offer.

Why Kanye West and President-Elect Donald Trump Met  —  Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump met at Trump Tower Tuesday morning to discuss a potential role for the rapper, E! News has learned exclusively.  —  The “Jesus Walks” rapper met with Trump to discuss becoming an …

Scientists are frantically copying U.S. climate data, fearing it might vanish under Trump  —  Alarmed that decades of crucial climate measurements could vanish under a hostile Trump administration, scientists have begun a feverish attempt to copy reams of government data onto independent servers …

Russian envoy: Evacuation deal reached for last rebel zones in Syria's ravaged Aleppo  —  BEIRUT — A tentative deal to evacuate the last rebel-held zones in the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo was reached Tuesday after reports of widespread civilian deaths spurred diplomatic efforts, a Russian envoy and rebel commander said.

Alex Jones Scrubs Pizzagate Content; Complaint Reveals New Tie Connecting Shooter To Jones  —  Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is scrubbing online content pushing the false and dangerous conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton's campaign trafficked children through a D.C. pizzeria.

Marco Rubio Joins Other GOP Senators Voicing Concern Over Rex Tillerson  —  Some question secretary of state nominee's dealings with Russia  —  WASHINGTON— Exxon Mobil Corp. CEO Rex Tillerson,Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, faces a bruising confirmation hearing next year in the Senate …

Records: Too many votes in 37% of Detroit's precincts  —  Voting machines in more than one-third of all Detroit precincts registered more votes than they should have during last month's presidential election, according to Wayne County records prepared at the request of The Detroit News.

Trump team working to remove top NATO official  —  The incoming Trump administration is looking to get rid of the No. 2 official at NATO, an American nominated by President Obama whom most Republicans don't trust.  But NATO's Brussels leadership may not play along, setting up an early confrontation with President Trump.

Al Franken Faces Donald Trump and the Next Four Years  —  The two-term Democratic senator, who once made a living satirizing politicians, envisions an unfunny future.  —  'D  —  onald Trump never laughs," Al Franken said.  —  This was the senator's first observation to me on a recent afternoon.

Rick Perry, Ex-Governor of Texas, Is Trump's Pick as Energy Secretary  —  WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump plans to name the former Texas governor Rick Perry as his secretary of energy.  —  The selection of Mr. Perry to lead the energy agency would offer a rich paradox …

Electoral College members expand call for intelligence briefing  —  Nineteen more Democratic members of the Electoral College — including speaker of the New York City Council Melissa Mark-Viverito and Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner — have added their names to an unprecedented call …

After talking with Trump, Bill Gates says president-elect could be like JFK  —  Bill Gates: Trump has a chance to lead through innovation  —  President-elect Donald Trump has an opportunity to establish “American leadership through innovation,” Bill Gates told CNBC on Tuesday.

Military plane circles low over Manhattan, prompts brief widespread confusion  —  A military plane that flew over Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon briefly caused widespread confusion as New Yorkers wondered why the aircraft was circling so low over the city.  —  A spokesman for the FAA told …

Gov. John Kasich vetoes Heartbeat Bill, signs 20-week abortion ban  —  Ohio Gov. John Kasich today vetoed the Heartbeat Bill forbidding abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected while signing into law a second bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Gun control flick ‘Miss Sloane’ flops at the box office but snags Golden Globe nod  —  Movie goers weren't too interested in “Miss Sloane,” a film that explores the gun control debate from the perspective of a lawyer who is lobbying for universal background checks for gun ownership.

Is Sessions, Trump's Attorney General Pick, Trying to Paper Over His Record?  —  His Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill are hoping to advance Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions' nomination to serve as U.S. Attorney General at warp speed.  Leaders at the Senate Judiciary Committee …

Why Obamacare enrollees voted for Trump  —  In Whitley County, Kentucky, the uninsured rate declined 60 percent under Obamacare.  So why did 82 percent of voters there support Donald Trump?  —  CORBIN, Ky. — Kathy Oller is so committed to her job signing up fellow Kentuckians for Obamacare …

Fox Faces New Lawsuit Claiming Harassment by Roger Ailes  —  Nearly five months after Roger Ailes was ousted from his position as chairman of Fox News Channel, the sexual harassment accusations against him continue.  —  On Tuesday, Lidia Curanaj, now a Fox 5 reporter whose legal name is Lidija Ujkic …

The Daily 202: Ayn Rand-acolyte Donald Trump stacks his cabinet with fellow objectivists  —  THE BIG IDEA:  —  Tillerson and Trump had no previous relationship, but the Texas oilman and the New York developer hit it off when they met face to face.  One of the things that they have in common …

Why do California's whites vote so differently than whites elsewhere?  —  My tribe, Caucasoid Californicus, is dwindling.  Over the last quarter century, California's non-Latino white population has plunged by 2 million as Latinos and Asians burgeoned.  In 1990, nearly six in 10 Californians were white …