Rockettes Union Calls Boycotting Inauguration ‘Invalid’  —  BroadwayWorld has obtained and confirmed the authenticity of an email sent from the American Guild of Variety Artists to what appears to be Rockettes in its membership as a response to the announcement that some Rockettes …

Putin to Democratic Party: You lost, get over it  —  MOSCOW — Russia's President Vladi­mir Putin has a message for the White House and Democratic leaders who accuse him of stealing their victory: Don't be sore losers.  —  That was how Putin answered a question Friday about whether Russia interfered …

On Paladino's ‘wish list’ for 2017: Obama dead of mad cow disease  —  When Artvoice asked Buffalo developer and School Board member Carl Paladino what he wanted to see happen in 2017, he didn't filter his responses — and the controversial, crude answers are causing a firestorm on social media.

North Carolina is no longer classified as a democracy  —  In 2005, in the midst of a career of traveling around the world to help set up elections in some of the most challenging places on earth - Afghanistan, Burma, Egypt, Lebanon, South Africa, Sudan and Yemen, among others - my Danish colleague …

Was Barack Obama Bad for Democrats?  —  President Obama will be remembered as a thoughtful and dignified president who led a scrupulously honest administration that achieved major changes.  —  People argue over whether his impatience with politicians and Republican intransigence denied …

QUESTIONS OVER BLUNDERS IN WAKE OF THE ATTACK  —  The killing of Anis Amri comes after an embarrassing four days for German authorities.  —  An hour after the mass murder, a 23-year-old Pakistani man was arrested, but police were later forced to admit he was not involved in the attack.

Trump's driver's license casts doubt on height claims  —  Donald Trump and his doctor claim he's 6-foot-3, but his New York driver's license says he's actually an inch shorter.  —  A copy of Trump's license, obtained by POLITICO through an open-records request, lists the president-elect at 6-foot-2.

How the Obama Coalition Crumbled, Leaving an Opening for Trump  —  It is entirely possible, as many have argued, that Hillary Clinton would be the president-elect of the United States if the F.B.I. director, James Comey, had not sent a letter to Congress about her emails in the last weeks of the campaign.

U.S. Abstains as U.N. Security Council Votes to Condemn Israeli Settlements  —  UNITED NATIONS — Defying extraordinary pressure from President-elect Donald J. Trump and furious lobbying by Israel, the Obama administration on Friday allowed the United Nations Security Council to adopt …

A new solution for Trump and his team of billionaires: Ignore the law  —  Trump lieutenant Newt Gingrich this week proposed an elegant solution for all the conflicts of interest swirling around the president-elect and his team of billionaires: Ignore the law.

Trump Aide Partnered With Firm Run by Man With Alleged KGB Ties  —  Michael Flynn worked with ‘brain fingerprinting’ company  —  Its co-director convicted of selling stolen biotech material  —  Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, partnered this year …

GOP Wants Trump to Trim ACA Benefits, Say Congress Aides  —  Trump White House could limit insurance benefit requirments  —  Essential health benefits cover drugs, mental care, wellness  —  Facing a years-long wait before they can fully implement a planned repeal of Obamacare …

Happy Hoax-idays!  —  Today is the last Jim-written Morning Jolt until December 27.  From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a joyful anything else you may celebrate at this time of year.  —  We constantly argue that the national news media has to be more discerning …