How a Sensational, Unverified Dossier Became a Crisis for Donald Trump  —  WASHINGTON — Seven months ago, a respected former British spy named Christopher Steele won a contract to build a file on Donald J. Trump's ties to Russia.  Last week, the explosive details — unsubstantiated accounts …

Senate Takes Major Step Toward Repealing Health Care Law  —  WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans took their first major step toward repealing the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, approving a budget blueprint that would allow them to gut the health care law without the threat of a Democratic filibuster.

At His First News Conference As President-elect, Trump Owns the Press  —  This morning, Donald Trump hosted his much-delayed, long-awaited first news conference as president-elect.  Inside the Trump Tower atrium, the atmosphere was as charged as at a highly anticipated prize fight.

Trump ‘compromising’ claims: How and why did we get here?  —  Donald Trump has described as “fake news” allegations published in some media that his election team colluded with Russia - and that Russia held compromising material about his private life.  The BBC's Paul Wood saw the allegations …

Spy chief trashes leaks, assures Trump of loyalty  —  The outgoing U.S. director of national intelligence has extended an olive branch of sorts to Donald Trump — denouncing media leaks, casting skepticism on a report that Russia has damaging material on the president-elect …

Mattis on the issues  —  Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, appearing Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation to be Defense secretary, has a long record of hawkish positions on Iran, Russia and other global adversaries.  —  His views will almost certainly face …

Trump conducts his own sting operation to ensnare intelligence briefers - and says he caught them leaking  — President-elect Donald Trump described a sting operation he says he conducted after becoming infuriated by a series of leaks about his own classified briefings

Peter Thiel, Trump's Tech Pal, Explains Himself  —  Let others tremble at the thought that Donald J. Trump may go too far.  Peter Thiel worries that Mr. Trump may not go far enough.  —  “Everyone says Trump is going to change everything way too much,” says the famed venture capitalist …

Federal ethics chief blasts ‘meaningless’ Trump business plan  —  The head of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) on Wednesday slammed President-elect Donald Trump  —  's plan to separate himself from his business, calling it “wholly inadequate” in resolving potential conflicts of interest.

Democrats Should Run a Celebrity for President, Too  —  It worked for Republicans—twice.  And charismatic candidates like Barack Obama and Bill Clinton don't appear every four years.  —  Meryl Streep's rebuke of Donald Trump during the Golden Globes ceremony on Sunday has revived the familiar complaint …

Outspoken Putin critic: Trump's press conference just like Soviet ones  —  Garry Kasparov, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, likened President-elect Donald Trump  —  's press conference Wednesday to ones held by leaders in the Soviet Union.  —  “That reminded me of a Soviet press conference.

Republicans pass sweeping bill to reform ‘abusive’ U.S. regulation  —  Republicans on Wednesday passed a bill in the House of Representatives that touched on nearly every step U.S. agencies take in creating and applying new rules, continuing their blitz to radically reform “abusive” …

Donald Trump: A Modern Manchurian Candidate?  —  In recent days, two intelligence dossiers have been published making sensational charges involving President-elect Donald J. Trump and the 2016 election.  Although they will be lumped together in the public mind, in truth they are as different as chalk and cheese.

‘Your sheet is showing’: Internet pounces on Tom Cotton for saying Cory Booker sounds like ‘T-Bone’  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) was accused of casual racism on Wednesday after he compared Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ) to a fictional character named “T-Bone.”

Trump's CIA Choice to Be Questioned Amid Russia Hacking Fury  —  Donald Trump's pick to run the CIA faces a Senate confirmation hearing amid a testy standoff between the president-elect and the spy community.  —  Rep. Mike Pompeo, a four-term conservative Kansas Republican …

Ben Carson on key housing issues  —  Dr. Ben Carson, a onetime presidential candidate and renowned brain surgeon, today will appear before a Senate panel to make the case that he should lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  —  Carson's housing resume can be summed up in a single sentence …

Eric Holder to Lead Democrats' Attack on Republican Gerrymandering  —  WASHINGTON — As he prepared last week to deliver his farewell address, President Obama convened a trio of Democratic leaders in the White House for a strategy session on the future of their party.