Gov. Mark Dayton likely to tap Lt. Gov Tina Smith as Franken replacement  —  Dayton appears likely to pick Smith if Franken quits.  —  Lt. Gov. Tina Smith is likely to be Gov. Mark Dayton's choice to replace Sen. Al Franken if he resigns as expected, which would set in motion a cascade of job openings and reshape Minnesota politics.

MSNBC Reverses Decision To Fire Contributor Sam Seder  —  Progressive radio and television personality Sam Seder will be offered his MSNBC contributor job back and plans to accept, according to multiple MSNBC sources.  —  Seder and MSNBC were set to part ways when his contributor contract expired next year …

Exclusive: Former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. Fired For Misconduct By Morgan Stanley  —  A woman who was interviewed as part of the company's HR probe separately told HuffPost that Ford harassed her one evening in Manhattan several years ago.  —  Former Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr …

Less-guarded Sessions spars with interns in internal DOJ video  —  This summer, in the midst of President Donald Trump's criticism of the Justice Department and Attorney General Jeff Sessions in particular, Sessions said during a private event that the U.S. legal system must be …

Donald Trump Jr. is clamming up on Russia.  Republicans may help him get away with it.  —  THE MORNING PLUM:  —  In a closed-door interview with congressional investigators yesterday, Donald Trump Jr. refused to divulge the contents of a phone conversation with his father …

The Democratic party is fine  —  It is the most united American party in modern political history.  —  Take down  —  It is the most united American party in modern political history.  —  Welcome to TAKE DOWN, a new column in which Sean McElwee holds pundits accountable for their hot garbage takes …

Cory Gardner: The NRSC ‘Will Never Endorse’ Roy Moore  —  As Donald Trump and the RNC move to support the Alabama Senate candidate, one group stands firm.  —  A protester holds up a sign as Roy Moore, not pictured, speaks during a campaign rally in Fairhope, Alabama, on Tuesday.

Did President Trump slur his speech?  —  (CNN)While President Donald Trump was giving his historic speech Wednesday to announce that the United States would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, some on the internet focused on the manner in which he made his statement.

Trump had for months been determined to move U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem … During a visit to his Mar-a-  —  Lago resort in March, President Trump approached legal scholar Alan Dershowitz to talk about the Middle East.  —  While Trump questioned Dershowitz, a confidant …

Lindsey Vonn: I won't be representing US President at Winter Olympics  —  St Moritz, Switzerland (CNN)A number of US athletes have spoken out against Donald Trump during his presidency — and skier Lindsey Vonn has become the latest to have her say.  —  Targeting Olympic gold …

Ex-cop Michael Slager faces 19 to 24 years in prison for shooting death of Walter Scott  —  Former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager faces 19 to 24 years in prison for the deadly shooting of unarmed black man Walter Scott.  —  U.S. District Judge David Norton ruled today …

Silicon Valley Is Sneaking Models Into This Year's Holiday Parties  —  “Ambiance and atmosphere models” contractually obligated to pretend they're party guests are in record demand from local agencies.  —  Along with a seemingly endless string of harassment and discrimination scandals …

Ventura fire rages, threatening communities both coastal and inland; section of 101 Freeway closed  —  The return of powerful winds Thursday pushed the destructive Ventura County fire closer to several communities, prompting new evacuations.  —  Communities both on the coast and inland were under threat.

Trump to Release Infrastructure Plan in January, Official Says  —  White House turning to infrastructure in 2018 after taxes  —  Advocates bemoan ‘missed opportunity’ to get a bill this year  —  President Donald Trump plans to keep pushing his legislative agenda in 2018 by releasing …

Trust no one: Scholar risked all to document Islamic State  —  The historian carried secrets too heavy for one man to bear.  —  He packed his bag with his most treasured possessions before going to bed: the 1 terabyte hard drive with his evidence against the Islamic State group …

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Identified as Buyer of Record-Breaking da Vinci  —  U.S. government intelligence and a Saudi art-world figure familiar with the purchase say Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman used a proxy to purchase the 500-year-old ‘Salvator Mundi’

The Closing of the Republican Mind  —  When Ronald Reagan passed his historic tax cut in 1981, he won support from 25 Democrats in the Senate and 113 in the House.  —  When George W. Bush passed his sweeping tax cut in 2001, he won support from 12 Democrats in the Senate and 28 in the House.

Op-Ed Dylan Farrow: Why has the #MeToo revolution spared Woody Allen?  —  Director Woody Allen attends a special screening of “Wonder Wheel” in New York City on Nov. 14.  (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press) … We are in the midst of a revolution.

Exclusive: Sen. Jeff Flake Defends His ‘Yes’ Vote on the Republican Tax Bill  —  When Senate Republicans voted by the narrowest of margins — 51 to 49 — to pass their sweeping tax overhaul after midnight last Friday, many of the bill's critics turned their anger to Sen. Jeff Flake …

CBS News poll: Americans say tax plan helps wealthy, not middle class  —  Republicans expect economic boost, but not personal tax cut  —  The Republican tax plan faces opposition from a majority of Americans.  Over half disapprove of it - including four in 10 who disapprove strongly …

Pelosi: Dems will oppose short-term spending bill  —  House Democrats will oppose a short-term spending bill when it comes to the floor Thursday afternoon, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi  —  (D-Calif.) said hours before.  —  The announcement puts the onus on GOP leaders to gather …

John Lewis cancels trip to civil rights museum, citing Trump's attendance  —  Correction appended.  —  WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John Lewis said he has cancelled his plans to attend the grand opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum this weekend because he would have had to share a stage with President Donald Trump.