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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

Nikki Haley breaks with Trump on Russia  —  Nikki Haley on Wednesday became the latest Donald Trump Cabinet nominee to break with him on how to deal with Russia — to a degree, anyway.  —  The South Carolina governor told senators reviewing her nomination for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations …

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.

‘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.

Judge orders 4 Homeland Security officials to preserve private-account emails  —  A federal judge has ordered four current or former top officials at the Department of Homeland Security, including Secretary Jeh Johnson, to preserve emails in their private accounts that may be responsive to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

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

Take a peek inside the most expensive home for sale in the US  —  This is the most expensive home in America  —  A newly built modern palace overlooking Los Angeles has just become the most expensive home listed in the United States.  Price tag: $250 million.

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 …

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 …