It was an honor to have been considered for Secretary of State of our great country.  My discussions with President-elect Trump have been both enjoyable and enlightening.  I have very high hopes that the new administration will lead the nation to greater strength, prosperity and peace.

Exclusive: Top U.S. spy agency has not embraced CIA assessment on Russia hacking - sources  —  The overseers of the U.S. intelligence community have not embraced a CIA assessment that Russian cyber attacks were aimed at helping Republican President-elect Donald Trump win the 2016 election, three American officials said on Monday.

Major Garrett: Donald Trump chooses Rick Perry to be energy secretary  —  Donald Trump has selected Rick Perry to be energy secretary, according to two sources directly involved in the transition and selection process.  —  He had been summoned to Trump Tower for a meeting Monday to discuss …

RNC keeps close tabs on Electoral College vote  —  The Republican National Committee is overseeing an expansive whip operation designed to lock down Donald Trump's Electoral College majority and ensure that the 306 Republican electors cast their votes for the president-elect.

New York should seize Trump Tower  —  Froufrou Fifth Avenue resembles a police state.  —  Officers wielding gigantic guns guard Trump Tower, where President-elect Donald Trump conducts all transition business, and soon lots of presidential business, too.  Shoppers patronizing the stores …

My President Was Black  —  “They're a rotten crowd,” I shouted across the lawn.  “You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.”  — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby  —  I.  —  “Love Will Make You Do Wrong”  —  In the waning days of President Barack Obama's administration …

Voters doubt Trump will keep business interests separate  —  President-elect Donald Trump isn't ready to disclose how he plans to unwind his intricate web of potential financial conflicts, but voters are already skeptical Trump will keep his business interests separate from his duties …

3 election stats liberals love that don't mean as much as they seem  —  It's been more than a month since the 2016 election.  We're nearly as close to Donald Trump's inauguration as we are to Election Day, in fact.  Yet some still can't let it go.  —  And it's not just Russia's apparent meddling …

How Donald Trump's business ties are already jeopardizing U.S. interests  —  U.S. DONALD TRUMP U.S. FOREIGN POLICY  —  Given the vast scope of the clashes between the Trumps' extensive business dealings and the interests of America, the president-elect vowed during the campaign …

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 …

America is held hostage by flyover states  —  The predominant narrative coming out of the 2016 Presidential post-election analysis is: The flyover states have spoken.  —  A flyover state is the huge region between the coasts.  As opposed to the eastern seaboard, northern post-industrial states and Pacific Ocean states.

Trump Said to Postpone Announcement on Future of His Businesses  —  President-elect was set to outline his plans on Dec. 15  —  Transition officials say Trump focused on cabinet selections  —  President-elect Donald Trump is postponing until next month a previously announced news conference …

Garrison Keillor says Keith Ellison, ‘lackluster black Muslim,’ is wrong for DNC chair … Garrison Keillor, the beloved “Prairie Home Companion” creator as homespun as hot dish and Christmas sweaters, has a mighty case of post-election nihilism.  —  In a recent editorial for the Washington Post …

Time to Fight Like Hell  —  Decades from now, when the election of 2016 is distilled to its essence, what will that be?  Many hoped the central lesson would be a shattered glass ceiling and a cementing of the Obama legacy.  An expansion of rights and tolerance.

Donald Trump Says His Company Will Do ‘No New Deals’ During His Term  —  WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump said late Monday night that “no new deals will be done” by his real estate business while he is in the Oval Office, a promise that appeared meant to address ethical concerns …