Putin Stunner: “We Will Not Expel Anyone; We Refuse To Sink To Obama's Level”  —  Vladimir the merciful?  —  Following this morning's reports that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would recommend to Russian President Vladimir Putin a retaliation in kind, and expel 35 American diplomats, saying that “we cannot leave such acts unanswered.

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 …

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.

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.

FBI, DHS release report on Russia hacking  —  The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday released a joint report detailing how investigators linked the Russian government to hacks on various Democratic political organizations.  —  The document makes clear reference …

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.

Trump New York co-chair won't resign despite racist remarks about Obamas  —  Carl Paladino, who said he wanted to see president dead of mad cow disease and first lady living with a gorilla, will not resign despite school board voting him out  —  The Trump presidential campaign New York co-chair …

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.

Skeptical Climate Scientists Coming In From the Cold  —  In the world of climate science, the skeptics are coming in from the cold.  —  Researchers who see global warming as something less than a planet-ending calamity believe the incoming Trump administration may allow their views to be developed and heard.

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.

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.

States that legalized marijuana saw a drop in traffic deaths  —  Ayrn Taylor, a United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) member and employee at the Venice Beach Care Center, displays medical marijuana during a media visit at the medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, California February 6, 2013.

Nixon's lawyer accuses Trump of lying  —  Richard Nixon's former lawyer is accusing President-elect Donald Trump  —  of constantly lying to the American people.  —  John Dean, who served as White House Counsel to the former president and was directly involved in the Watergate scandal …

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.