Top Items:

Obama: I didn't underestimate Putin — Outgoing President Barack Obama denied that he underestimated Russian leader Vladimir Putin in 2012 when he mocked GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney for saying Russia was the country's major enemy in the world. — “I don't think I underestimated him …
Discussion:
Political Wire
RELATED:


Democrats wage anti-Trump offensive for their own gain — MORE FROM: — This is a first: Donald Trump is guilty of an understatement, of making a molehill out of a mountain. He called the Washington furor over Russian hacking a “witch hunt” when it is actually far more sinister and dangerous.

If Obama is a Muslim, is Trump a Russian spy?
Discussion:
The Talking Dog and No More Mister Nice Blog

Trump's Cabinet picks undergo grueling prep for hearings — They call them “murder boards” for a reason. — Seated beneath bright lights that mimic the conditions of a camera-packed hearing room, President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks are being put through hours-long mock confirmation hearings …
Discussion:
Washington Post
RELATED:


Warren: No confirmation hearings until ethics concerns addressed
Discussion:
Raw Story, Booman Tribune, RedState, Politicus USA and Washington Post

Ethics official warns against confirmations before reviews are complete
Discussion:
Political Wire and Hot Air

Senate Confirmation Hearings to Begin Without All Background Checks
Discussion:
ThinkProgress

Ethics office accuses GOP of rushing Trump Cabinet confirmations
Discussion:
Raw Story, RedState, Talking Points Memo and ThinkProgress

Ethics office: Trump nominees' hearings schedule ‘of great concern’
Discussion:
Bloomberg, The Week, Shareblue, AOL and New York Magazine


Graham: Republicans happy about Russian meddling are political hacks — (R-S.C.) on Sunday ripped Republicans who are “gleeful” about Russia's meddling in the U.S. election, saying anyone who isn't condemning the meddling is “a political hack.” — “Most Republicans are condemning what Russia did.


Netanyahu Caught on Tape Negotiating Mutual Benefits With Businessman — Sources who spoke with Netanyahu said he was surprised by evidence against him; last night it was reported Netanyahu asked U.S.'s Kerry to help Israeli Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan with visa problems.
Discussion:
Raw Story and Talking Points Memo

Plagiarism charges against Monica Crowley put her publishing house on stage — Today Andrew Kaczynski of CNN published this article. It says that author and TV figure Monica Crowley, recently appointed to the Trump administration as a national security aide, plagiarized many portions of her 2012 book “What The (Bleep) Just Happened.”
Discussion:
Balloon Juice
RELATED:

How We Fool Ourselves on Russia — In the quarter-century since the end of the Cold War, profound grievances, misperceptions and disappointments have often defined the relationship between the United States and Russia. I lived through this turbulence during my years as a diplomat in Moscow …


Spicer: Media doesn't treat Trump with respect, cheers on Democrats — The media doesn't treat President-elect Donald Trump — with the proper respect, the man set to be the next White House spokesman says in an interview with The Hill. — Sean Spicer, the longtime GOP operative …


President Obama Says ‘Obamacare’ Will Survive Beyond His Presidency — President Barack Obama says he believes his signature health care law will survive, noting he has told Republicans over his two terms in office to come up with a different solution if the law doesn't work.
Discussion:
alan.com
RELATED:

GOP resistance grows to Obamacare repeal without replacement
Discussion:
Hot Air, Jamie Dupree, The Guardian, TheBlaze, Talking Points Memo and AOL


Dems launch early '18 attacks on GOP Senate targets — Liberals are already beginning to target Republican Sens. Jeff Flake — (Nev.) with attack ads as Democrats look to soften up their only two realistic targets ahead of a difficult 2018 Senate map. — Two groups, Progressive Change …
Discussion:
Political Wire


‘This Week’ Transcript: President Barack Obama — WALK-AND-TALK INTERVIEW — GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Mr. President, thank you for doing this. As we're walking towards your office I have to think you're going to miss this short commute. — BARACK OBAMA: [laughs] I am …
Discussion:
Politicus USA

Celebrity divas insult half of America with their Trump ‘resistance’ — MORE FROM: — At the Golden Globes Sunday night, and the Oscars next month, expect lots of gold-plated bitching about Donald Trump. Honorees will mourn the “dark times in America” in their $20,000 frocks.
Discussion:
John Hawkins' Right Wing News


White House Red Scare — WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump will walk into the Oval Office and be stunned. — First, it will be a shock to work in an office decorated with images of men other than himself. Second, he is bound to be suffused with awe as he looks around …

Trump mentioned Wikileaks 164 times in last month of election, now claims it didn't impact one voter — “Boy, that Wikileaks has done a job on her, hasn't it?” — President-elect Trump says that information published by Wikileaks, which the U.S. intelligence community says was hacked by Russia …
Discussion:
Political Wire, Politicus USA, Power Line and Mother Jones


What we know about the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting suspect — (CNN)Esteban Santiago returned from a tour in Iraq a changed man, his aunt said Saturday. He talked about the destruction he witnessed. About the killing of children. Visions that haunted him.
Discussion:
GotNews, The Geller Report, Hot Air, ThinkProgress, The Gateway Pundit, Mediaite and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
RELATED: