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 …

Army veteran says Franken groped her during USO tour in 2003  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  (CNN)An Army veteran says Sen. Al Franken groped her in December 2003, telling CNN that while she was deployed in Kuwait, the Minnesota Democrat cupped her breast during a photo op.

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.

It Started as a Tax Cut.  Now It Could Change American Life.  —  The tax plan has been marketed by President Trump and Republican leaders as a straightforward if enormous rebate for the masses, a $1.5 trillion package of cuts to spur hiring and economic growth.

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 …

John Conyers Hospitalized For Stress-Related Illness Amid Sex Scandal  —  DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - U.S. Congressman John Conyers is hospitalized for a “stress-related” illness.  —  Family spokesperson Sam Riddle confirmed Thursday morning that the 88-year-old Detroit Democrat is seeking treatment at a local hospital.

Woman's effort to infiltrate The Washington Post dated back months … The failed effort by conservative activists to plant a false story about Senate candidate Roy Moore in The Washington Post was part of a months-long campaign to infiltrate The Post and other media outlets in Washington and New York …

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.

Britain furious, Trump unapologetic as fallout swells from anti-Muslim videos … LONDON — The British backlash to President Trump picked up steam Thursday with parliament members openly deriding him and Britain's prime minister standing by her denunciations of Trump's retweets of a fringe anti-Muslim group.

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 …

The White House expects Trump to get even more outrageous  —  Exhausted by the Trump presidency?  Brace yourself: White House officials expect Trump to be even more outrageous and cocksure in coming months.  —  What we're hearing: Officials tell us Trump seems more self-assured …

Paul Manafort Reaches Bail Deal With Mueller  —  A month after turning himself in for charges he faces connected to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort reached a bail deal with Mueller's team, according to court documents filed by Manafort's lawyers Thursday.

Why Alabamians Should Vote For Roy Moore  —  I am going to argue for the very unpopular, even shocking, view that, even if Roy Moore did what he is accused of doing, Alabamans are within their rights to vote for him, and they shouldn't let Democrats and Never Trumpers shame them into not voting.

Rubio: Offset Tax Cuts By Reducing Social Security, Medicare Benefits  —  Tax reform is only one piece of the overall puzzle needed to revitalize the American economy, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told a group of Washington, D.C., lobbyists and policy analysts this morning at a Politico Playbook …

White House bars one of few black journalists from attending Christmas party  —  The White House failed to invite a popular and combative black reporter to the annual holiday party because, the reporter said, officials in the Trump administration “don't like me.”

McCain a yes on tax reform, boosting Republicans  —  (R-Ariz.) said on Thursday that he will support the Senate Republicans' tax plan, which GOP leadership wants to pass this week.  —  “After careful thought and consideration, I have decided to support the Senate tax reform bill.

Aurora 10-year-old takes her own life after suspected bullying incident caught on camera  —  AURORA, Colo. — An Aurora couple are dealing with an unimaginable loss as they prepare to lay their 10-year-old daughter to rest.  —  “She was just a child of joy and she brought joy to everyone,” her father Anthony Davis said.

Nine Women Accuse Israel Horovitz, Playwright and Mentor, of Sexual Misconduct  —  In 1986, Maddie Corman was a 16-year-old actress performing Off Broadway as her mother lay dying in a hospital bed, hours after having a stroke.  Backstage, Ms. Corman was consoled by Israel Horovitz, the show's 47-year-old playwright and her mentor.

The case for normalizing impeachment  —  Impeaching an unfit president has consequences.  But leaving one in office could be worse.  —  In recent months, I have grown obsessed with a seemingly simple question: Does the American political system have a remedy if we elect the wrong person to be president?