FBI backs CIA view that Russia intervened to help Trump win election  —  FBI Director James B. Comey and Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. have backed a CIA assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election in part to help Donald Trump win the presidency, according to U.S. officials.

Obama: I told Putin ‘cut it out’ on hacking  —  Washington (CNN)President Barack Obama asserted Friday that a September confrontation with his Russian counterpart prompted Moscow to cease its hacking of the US election.  —  During a meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in China …

Trump Picks Mick Mulvaney, South Carolina Congressman, as Budget Director  —  WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump has selected Representative Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, a conservative Republican member of the House and a fierce advocate of deep spending cuts, to be his budget director.

North Carolina Governor Signs Law Limiting Power Of His Successor  —  Pat McCrory, North Carolina's outgoing Republican governor, has signed a law stripping executive powers from his successor, Democrat Roy Cooper.  —  The law removes the State Board of Elections from the governor's control …

Now you can fact-check Trump's tweets — in the tweets themselves  —  On Friday morning, President-elect Donald Trump took a new tack in his war on the Russia hacking issue. … As our Dave Weigel noted, this isn't really accurate.  There was nothing illegal at play, and Donna Brazile …

Kushner: We struck deal with Sinclair for straighter coverage  —  Donald Trump's campaign struck a deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group during the campaign to try and secure better media coverage, his son-in-law Jared Kushner told business executives Friday in Manhattan.

Former Russia Today Anchor: “There Really Isn't A Better Mouthpiece For The Kremlin” Than Trump  —  CHRIS JANSING: I want to bring in Liz Wahl, former anchor for state owned TV network Russia Today, who famously quit on air because she said she didn't want to be “part of the Russian propaganda machine.”

‘National Geographic’ just made history with its new cover  —  As part of its January 2017 issue exploring our evolving understandings and definitions of gender, National Geographic is featuring nine-year-old transgender rights activist Avery Jackson on its cover—the first time a trans person has made the cover of the magazine.

The Emoluments Clause: Its text, meaning, and application to Donald J. Trump  —  Norman Eisen, Richard Painter, and Laurence H. Tribe Friday, December 16, 2016  —  For media inquries, contact:  —  Governance Studies Main Line 202.797.6090  —  DOWNLOAD  —  Foreign interference …

The Scariest Thing About Trump's Presidency So Far Is Michael Flynn and His Team of Nutters  —  The most frightening aspect of the looming Donald Trump presidency is not so much the likely outcomes, many of which are horrifying, as the unlikely ones.  Running the federal government of the world's …

Michelle Obama says America is entering a time of hopelessness  —  With fewer than 40 days remaining as first lady, Michelle Obama is continuing to reflect on the legacy she and President Obama will leave after having occupied the White House for the last eight years.

Donald Trump, Butterfly?  —  Many Republicans (like me) were unimpressed by Donald Trump during the primary season, got behind him once he won the nomination, and now are blown away by his appointments as president-elect.  Paul wrote a great post about Trump's nominations of successful people …

A Dangerous Choice for Ambassador to Israel  —  In appointing David Friedman as the next ambassador to Israel, Donald Trump voiced a desire to “strive for peace in the Middle East.”  Unfortunately, his chosen representative would be far more likely to provoke conflict in Israel and the occupied territories …

You voted for Trump?  No heat for you this winter  —  President Obama denounces “hyper-partisanship,” so maybe our commentator-in-chief will have something to say about this story: … You almost have to admire the courage of Turner's conviction.  According to Edmund Kozak of PoliZette …