Democrats erase 32-seat GOP advantage in House; recounts likely to determine control  —  Virginia Democrats are poised to claim at least a share of control of the House of Delegates after erasing a 32-seat Republican advantage in a “tsunami election,” with control of the chamber likely to be ultimately decided by vote recounts.

Politician Who Joked About Women's March Defeated  —  A New Jersey politician who shared a meme on Facebook during January's Women's March in Washington asking whether the protest would be “over in time for them to cook dinner” is eating his words.  —  MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) …

Ravi Bhalla wins Hoboken election, becomes N.J.'s first Sikh mayor  —  HOBOKEN — City Councilman Ravi Bhalla has emerged victorious in the six-person mayoral race, becoming the first Sikh mayor of the Mile Square City — and the state of New Jersey.  —  Bhalla, an Indian-American born in New Jersey …

Donna Brazile: Jake Tapper betrayed me after debate questions controversy  —  Former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile said she felt betrayed by CNN anchor Jake Tapper in the controversy over her decision to share Democratic debate questions with Hillary Clinton last year, an act she has since admitted.

Trump Tells Democrats He'll ‘Get Killed’ Financially in GOP Tax Bill  —  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump called 12 Senate Democrats Tuesday, hoping to sway them in favor of the Republican tax cut bill, and told them he would personally “get killed” financially by the GOP bill.

Johnstown Never Believed Trump Would Help.  They Still Love Him Anyway.  —  JOHNSTOWN, Pa.—Pam Schilling is the reason Donald Trump is the president.  —  Schilling's personal story is in poignant miniature the story of this area of western Pennsylvania as a whole—one of the long-forgotten …

Manka Dhingra leading Jinyoung Englund in pivotal 45th District Senate race  —  Democrat Manka Dhingra held a double-digit lead over Republican Jinyoung Englund Tuesday night for the 45th District state Senate seat.  —  Holding a double-digit lead Tuesday night over her 45th District Senate opponent …

Inside secret court hearing in Mueller's Trump-Russia probe  —  One of the first court appearances by special counsel Robert Mueller's team got off to an inauspicious start with a federal magistrate scolding prosecutors for being late.  —  “Where were you all?

Maine Voters Approve Medicaid Expansion, a Rebuke of Gov. LePage  —  Voters in Maine approved a ballot measure on Tuesday to allow many more low-income residents to qualify for Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, The Associated Press said.  The vote was a rebuke of Gov. Paul LePage …

Time to Ask Why  —  As I have done a few times previously this year, I am sharing with you an advance copy of my President's Views column for the December edition of The Foreign Service Journal.  —  ADVANCE COPY  —  President's Views  —  By AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson

GOP tax bill would add $1.7 trillion to debt: CBO  —  The GOP's tax bill would add $1.7 trillion to the national debt over the course of a decade, and increase the country's debt-to-GDP ratio by 5.9 percentage points, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Collins unseats Mayor Smith; ‘progressive ticket’ sweeps Helena City Commission  —  Wilmot Collins will be Helena's new mayor, unseating incumbent Jim Smith in a close race Tuesday.  —  Collins, 54, will be the city's first new mayor in 16 years after running a long campaign based in progressive principles.