Assange lawyer: Manning commutation doesn't meet extradition offer's conditions  —  The attorney for Julian Assange said President Obama's commutation of Chelsea Manning's sentence does not meet the conditions of the WikiLeaks head's offer to be extradited to the United States if Manning were pardoned.

Reality bites: Trump's wake-up call  —  NEW YORK — On Twitter and in public, Donald Trump remains an uncompromising mix of bluster and bombast.  Behind the scenes, he's confronting, and in some cases succumbing (slightly) to, the hard truths of governing and leading a world that hangs on his every word.

President Bush moved to ICU; Mrs. Bush also hospitalized  —  Former President George H.W. Bush has been at Houston Methodist Hospital for treatment of pneumonia.  Mrs. Bush has also been admitted to the hospital due to “fatigue and coughing”. … HOUSTON - Former President George H.W. Bush …

FBI, 5 other agencies probe possible covert Kremlin aid to Trump  —  WASHINGTON  —  The FBI and five other law enforcement and intelligence agencies have collaborated for months in an investigation into Russian attempts to influence the November election, including whether money …

How Donald Trump came up with ‘Make America Great Again’ … “Make America Great Again.”  —  The four words that would help propel Donald Trump to the White House were an inspiration born years before, when hardly anyone but Trump himself could imagine him taking the oath of office as the 45th president of the United States.

The Betsy DeVos Hearing Was an Insult to Democracy  —  Who are the real grizzlies?  —  WASHINGTON, D.C.—It was not a hearing.  It was the mere burlesque of a hearing, rendered meaningless by a preposterously accelerated process that rendered all questioning perfunctory and that left …

Earth Sets a Temperature Record for the Third Straight Year  —  Marking another milestone for a changing planet, scientists reported on Wednesday that the Earth reached its highest temperature on record in 2016 — trouncing a record set only a year earlier, which beat one set in 2014.

Trump's D.C. hotel bans press during inauguration week  —  The Trump International Hotel in Washington is banning the media from its premises during inauguration week.  —  “Media is not allowed in this week in respect of the privacy of our guests,” Patricia Tang, the hotel's director of sales and marketing wrote in an email.

‘Tell Me What Your Real Name Is’: Tucker Carlson Confronts Guest Over Hoax in Bonkers Interview  —  The video above contains quite possibly one of the most bizarre interviews you will ever watch.  —  Here's how Tucker Carlson began the interview: … Okay, let's back up a second.

Price: 'Nobody's Interested in Pulling the Rug Out' on Health Coverage  —  Right Now: President Obama is addressing the press corps for the last time from the White House.  Follow our live coverage and analysis.  —  Representative Tom Price of Georgia, the nominee for health and human services secretary …

At least 32 JCCs across US targeted in second wave of bomb threats  —  This is a developing story.  —  WASHINGTON (JTA) — At least 32 Jewish community centers in 16 states have received bomb threats, Jewish security officials said, in the second wave of such mass disruption in two weeks.

Tom Price Just Contradicted Trump Team's Defense Of His Questionable Stock Trades  —  Trump's pick for HHS secretary admitted he, not an independent financial adviser, chose to buy stock in a biotech firm.  —  Money in Politics Reporter, The Huffington Post

Democratic Rep. Gabbard Makes Secret Trip to Syria  —  The Hawaii lawmaker, who has bucked both parties on the issue of Syria, met with government officials on a “fact finding” trip.  —  Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has just departed war-torn Damascus following a trip her aides described as a …

Trump Budget Nominee Did Not Pay Taxes for Employee  —  WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump's choice for White House budget director failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household employee, he admitted in a statement to the Senate Budget Committee …

Democrats: Left in the Lurch  —  The curious decline and uncertain future of the Democratic Party  —  When President-elect Donald Trump replaces Barack Obama on January 20, the Democratic Party will find itself more removed from power than at almost any point since the party's creation.

Senate Armed Services panel recommends Mattis to be defense secretary  —  The Senate Armed Services Committee today overwhelmingly recommended retired Marine Gen. James Mattis be the next Defense secretary.  —  The vote was 26-1 during a closed-door meeting.