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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

AP Interview: On North Korea, senator says China a problem  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — China is more of a problem than a partner for the United States on dealing with nuclear-armed North Korea, a leading Republican senator and ally of President Donald Trump told the Associated Press during a wide-ranging interview Thursday.

Ryan reiterates call for Roy Moore to drop out  —  (R-Wis.) on Thursday reiterated his call for Alabama GOP Senate hopeful Roy Moore to drop out of the race over allegations of sexual misconduct, including assault.  —  “I think he should have dropped out,” Ryan told reporters at his weekly news conference.

Top DOJ official demoted amid probe of contacts with Trump dossier firm  —  EXCLUSIVE: A senior Justice Department official was demoted this week amid an ongoing investigation into his contacts with the opposition research firm responsible for the anti-Trump “dossier,” the department confirmed to Fox News.

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 …

Gretchen Carlson declines to rule out Senate run  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  Washington (CNN)Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson declined Thursday to rule out a run for the US Senate, telling CNN's Poppy Harlow and John Berman that she's been asked to run in her home state of Connecticut.

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 …

2 students killed in Aztec school shooting  —  AZTEC, N.M. (KRQE) - Three people are dead after a school shooting at Aztec High School in Aztec, NM.  —  Two students are dead, the shooter is dead as well.  There are no other injuries reported.  According to the San Juan Regional Medical Center …

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.

What's Missing From Reports on Alabama's Black Turnout  —  In order to understand democracy in the United States, take a moment to consider Alabama.  In the good old heart of Dixie, the story of voting rights can be told just about from beginning to end.  It was in towns and cities throughout …

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 …

How Rodrigo Duterte Turned Facebook Into a Weapon—With a Little Help From Facebook  —  Rodrigo Duterte walked down the aisle of a packed auditorium at De La Salle University in downtown Manila, shaking hands and waving to nearly 2,000 college students snapping photos of the rising political star.