U.S. Punishes Russia for Election Hacking, Ejecting Operatives  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration struck back at Russia on Thursday for its efforts to influence the 2016 election, ejecting 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposing sanctions on Russia's …

Britain, edging towards Trump, scolds Kerry over Israel  —  Britain scolded U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for describing the Israeli government as the most right-wing in Israeli history, a move that aligns Prime Minister Theresa May more closely with President-elect Donald Trump.

Buffalo School Board Passes Resolution Telling Carl Paladino To Resign Within 24 Hours  —  His fellow board members say Paladino, a Donald Trump ally, needs to resign within 24 hours or they will seek his removal from the state.  —  BUFFALO, N.Y. The Buffalo Board of Education voted 6-2 Thursday …

California Democrats legalize child prostitution  —  Beginning on Jan. 1, prostitution by minors will be legal in California.  Yes, you read that right.  —  SB 1322 bars law enforcement from arresting sex workers who are under the age of 18 for soliciting or engaging in prostitution, or loitering with the intent to do so.

Obama's ugly bid to snub voters and tie Trump's hands  —  In his waning days in the White House, President Obama is desperately trying to make his policies as permanent as possible by tying the hands of his successor — and far more than other presidents have done on their way out.

Harsh US Sanctions Ban Russian Use Of Maryland's Grills, Ocean Views  —  Ruthless US sanctions have banned the use of a highly-private and strategically placed Russian “spy compound,” a vacation retreat center in Maryland where families grilled burgers, hot dogs, and maybe even nuclear-Russian shish kebobs.

Singer resigns from Mormon Tabernacle Choir, says she ‘could never look myself in the mirror again’ if she performed for Trump  —  Protest » She says she can't “in good conscience” take part in the ceremonies.  —  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's acceptance of the invitation to sing …

Garbage Trucks Will Help Protect New York for New Year's Eve  —  When revelers begin arriving at Times Square on Saturday to ring in the new year, they will hear the familiar sound of police helicopters overhead, go through the mandatory bag screenings and see the usual mass of police officers.

The Death of Clintonism  —  In September 1963, two months before his death, John F. Kennedy mused aloud to his old friend the journalist Charles Bartlett about the prospects for the 1968 presidential election, in which, he presciently worried, his brother Robert might run against Lyndon Johnson.

High Expectations Could Bedevil Trump  —  But Democrats must choose their fights wisely or risk sharing the blame.  —  Some things in polit­ics are hard to re­con­cile.  Since Don­ald Trump's elec­tion last month, eco­nom­ic op­tim­ism has skyrock­eted.