Arizona's Trent Franks to Resign Jan. 31  —  Updated 7:24 pm |  Arizona Republican Trent Franks said Thursday he is resigning from Congress effective Jan. 31 amid an Ethics Committee investigation into discussions he had with two female staffers about surrogacy.

Exclusive: Previously undisclosed emails show follow-up after Trump Tower meeting  —  Analyzing Donald Trump Jr.'s House testimony  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  Washington (CNN)The British publicist who arranged the June 2016 meeting with Russians and Donald Trump Jr. sent multiple emails …

Here's Why Democrats Forced Al Franken to Do the Right Thing—And Why They May Come to Regret It … So Al Franken is out.  It was the right thing for him to do.  I guess.  What he did was wrong.  It wasn't asking-a-14-year-old-girl-to-take-her- clothes-off wrong, but it was wrong.

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 …

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 …

A Racist Flyer Might Cost Doug Jones the Election Because the Entire Democratic Party Is Trash  —  The above photo is not a stock photo or an image created by The Root's art department.  It is an actual flyer circulating around from the Doug Jones for Senate Committee in his run …

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 …

Stark Partisan Divisions Over Russia Probe, Including Its Importance to the Nation  —  Trump's style, Twitter use top ‘disappointments’ among supporters  —  A majority of Americans say they think senior members of Donald Trump's administration definitely or probably had improper contacts …

Donald Trump — keeper of promises  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  Washington (CNN)A politician who actually does what he told voters he would do seems almost unfathomable in Washington, a town of broken promises.  For Donald Trump, being a president who delivers is especially crucial …

Rep. John Lewis to skip Trump visit to Mississippi Civil Rights Museum  —  Civil rights icons Rep. John Lewis and Rep. Bennie Thompson announced Thursday they will not attend President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, calling the trip “an insult” to the African-Americans commemorated there.

The Steele Dossier on Trump and Russia Is Looking More and More Real  —  When news surfaced at the beginning of the year that British intelligence agent turned private investigator Christopher Steele had compiled a report on Donald Trump's ties to Russia, news reports immediately treated its findings as radioactive.

House passes bill to avoid shutdown  —  The House on Thursday passed a two-week stopgap spending bill one day before a deadline to avoid a government shutdown.  —  House Republicans managed to pass the legislation mostly along party lines in the 235-193 vote, despite often coming short …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Zinke booked government helicopters to attend D.C. events  —  Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke spent more than $14,000 on government helicopters this summer to take himself and staff to and from official events near Washington, D.C., in order to accommodate his attendance at a swearing-in ceremony …

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.