Trump Pressed Top Republicans to End Senate Russia Inquiry  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump over the summer repeatedly urged senior Senate Republicans, including the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, to end the panel's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election …

Kate Steinle's accused killer found not guilty of murder  —  Jurors have found Jose Ines Garcia Zarate not guilty of killing Kate Steinle on Pier 14 in San Francisco in July 2015 in the trial that sparked a national debate over illegal immigration.  —  Jurors reached the decision Thursday …

White House Envisions Tillerson Ouster From State Dept., to Be Replaced by Pompeo, Within Weeks  —  WASHINGTON — The White House has developed a plan to force out Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, whose relationship with President Trump has been strained, and replace him with Mike Pompeo …

Republicans rewriting tax bill hours before expected vote  —  Senate Republicans have dropped a plan to create a so-called trigger for tax hikes meant to satisfy deficit hawks, leaving the GOP scrambling to change its plan and win over enough votes to pass their massive tax code overhaul.

Graphic, Disturbing Details of Matt Lauer's Alleged Sexual Misconduct  —  A bombshell Variety report alleges Lauer gave one female colleague a sex toy, and more.  —  Shocking new allegations have emerged about the sexual misconduct scandal that is quickly enveloping Matt Lauer.

Minister who sang for Roy Moore lied for son accused of molesting Honduran orphans  —  One of the ministers who serves a Theodore church where Roy Moore spoke Wednesday night was federally convicted of trying to block an investigation involving claims his son molested children in Honduras.

Conservative Megadonor Robert Mercer Funded Project Veritas  —  The Mercers, secretive billionaires who are among President Trump's most powerful donors, also helped to fund Project Veritas, the controversial activist organization, tax filings obtained by BuzzFeed News show.

Inspector general launches inquiry into whether Treasury hid Republican tax bill analysis  —  The Treasury Department's inspector general has launched an inquiry into whether the department hid an analysis of the Republican tax bill — or even did one at all.

Trump tells confidants that a government shutdown might be good for him … President Trump has told others that a government shutdown could be good for him politically and is focusing on his hard-line immigration stance as a way to win back supporters unhappy with his outreach to Democrats this fall …

The Trump Administration Is Mulling A Pitch For A Private “Rendition” And Spy Network  —  A private company has proposed that the US government pay it millions to undertake intelligence and covert operations.  —  Reporting From Washington, DC  —  WASHINGTON — The White House and CIA …

Congress secretly paid near $100,000 to settle harassment claims against disgraced congressman  —  The Congressional Office of Compliance secretly paid close to $100,000 in taxpayer funds to settle sexual harassment claims from at least two young male staffers who worked for disgraced former …

New England Elected Official Says Al Franken Tried to Give Her A ‘Wet, Open-Mouthed Kiss’ Onstage  —  A former elected official in New England who has requested anonymity tells Jezebel that Al Franken attempted to give her a “wet, open-mouthed kiss” onstage at an event in 2006, shortly before he ran for Senate.

Vice fires three employees amid investigations into sexual harassment  —  Vice Media fired three employees on Thursday amid a probe into sexual harassment and improper workplace conduct, according to a memo obtained by CNNMoney.  —  Vice did not name the employees.

Rep. Joe Barton: I will not seek re-election  —  WASHINGTON — Rep. Joe Barton, whose private life came under national scrutiny after sexual images he shared in an extramarital relationship were made public, won't seek re-election.  —  The Ennis Republican announced his retirement in an interview …

Writer Jenny Lumet: Russell Simmons Sexually Violated Me (Guest Column)  —  The screenwriter of ‘Rachel Getting Married’ and ‘The Mummy’ (and the daughter of filmmaker Sidney Lumet) details a terrifying encounter with the legendary music producer, who says he is stepping down from his businesses in the wake of the new claims.

Donald Trump's ‘working visit’ to UK dropped as tensions with Theresa May grow over president's far-Right retweets  —  US diplomats have dropped plans for Donald Trump to conduct a visit to Britain in January amid a war of words between the two countries' leaders.

Trump draws embarrassingly tiny crowd for National Christmas Tree lighting  —  As Donald Trump nears the end of his first year in office, it is clear that nothing about the man has changed since the election.  —  His holiday party was marred by the awkwardness of his petty exclusion of prominent black and LGBT journalists.

In Snub to U.S., Russia and Egypt Move Toward Deal on Air Bases  —  LONDON — Egypt, in what appeared to be a snub to the Trump administration, has reached a preliminary agreement to allow Russian military jets to use its airspace and bases, both sides said Thursday.

Mulvaney: Authority I have at consumer bureau ‘should frighten people’ … White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney  —  said Thursday that the authority wielded by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) chief “should frighten people” days after he assumed the role of acting director.

Trump isn't going to Alabama to campaign for Moore — but plans to hold a rally next door  —  U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally for Sen. Luther Strange in Huntsville, Ala., on Sept. 22.  Strange lost the GOP primary to Roy Moore.  (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)