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 …

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.

Trump shares letter from Putin: ‘His thoughts are so correct’  —  on Friday praised Vladimir Putin and shared a Christmas letter the Russian president sent him.  —  “A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct,” Trump said in a statement.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

Colbert: Trump win made me throw out all my planned jokes  —  CBS “Late Night” host Stephen Colbert reveals in an upcoming interview that he had to “throw out” all of his planned jokes on election night because he never believed Donald Trump  —  would win.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.