The Tax Bill Shows the G.O.P.'s Contempt for Democracy  —  The Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is notably generous to corporations, high earners, inheritors of large estates and the owners of private jets.  Taken as a whole, the bill will add about $1.4 trillion to the deficit in the next decade …

After tax cuts, Republicans may suddenly find Trump is more trouble than he's worth  —  After months of debate, Congress has released a final tax reform bill.  The bill eliminates some personal exemptions while increasing the standard deduction.  —  The GOP members of Congress had a brilliant plan …

2 Women Who Settled With O'Reilly Over Sexual Harassment Sue for Defamation  —  Two women who reached sexual harassment settlements with Bill O'Reilly joined a defamation lawsuit against Mr. O'Reilly and Fox News on Wednesday, asserting that statements that he and the network made depicted them as liars …

Breitbart went all out for Roy Moore.  Now its top editor says he was a ‘weak candidate’  —  Breitbart Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow was in his home office last Tuesday night running the front page of the far-right website when he learned that Judge Roy Moore would not be elected as the next senator from Alabama.

Sizing up the 2017 scorecard for Trump and the GOP  —  First Read is your briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  Paul Ryan: 'Don't forget this is a big tax cut for families as well' 9:20

Cornel West's attacks on Ta-Nehisi Coates, explained  —  Coates is the latest target in West's war against Obama.  —  A public feud between two of America's top black intellectuals has led one of them to abandon Twitter.  —  Cornel West, author of the well-known Race Matters …

Koch heir sues ex-fiancée to get giant ring back  —  Wyatt Koch — the son of billionaire Bill Koch — is suing his ex-fiancée to get back an 8.24-carat ring after she broke off their engagement, according to court documents.  Wyatt's lawyers claim that he purchased …

Nikki Haley in Threatening Letter to UN Members: Trump ‘Will Be Watching’ Who Votes Against U.S. Recognition of Jerusalem  —  U.S. envoy's letter, obtained by Haaretz, sent one day before resolution rejecting U.S. move expected to pass by sweeping majority at the General Assembly

Donald Trump's Holiday Gift to America: A Fundamental Crisis  —  In a commencement speech years ago, author David Foster Wallace told this story: Two young fish are swimming along, and they pass an older fish swimming the other way.  The older fish says, “Morning, boys, how's the water?”

Democrat wins Va. House seat in recount by single vote, creating 50-50 tie in legislature  —  NEWPORT NEWS — A Republican seat flipped Democratic in a wild recount Tuesday - with the Democrat winning by a single vote - creating a rare 50-50 tie between the parties in the House of Delegates …

Resource Center  —  Home » Resource Center » Financial Sanctions » OFAC Recent Actions » Publication of Magnitsky Act Sanctions Regulations; Magnitsky Act-Related Designations  —  Publication of Magnitsky Act Sanctions Regulations; Magnitsky Act-Related Designations

Hillary Clinton popularity hits all-time low, poll shows  —  Hillary Clinton's approval ratings have hit an all-time low, reflecting the sustained scrutiny the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee continues to face even after her election loss.

The ‘Lost Boys’: Hollywood producer Gary Goddard accused of sexual misconduct by 8 former child actors  —  Bret Nighman, 56, is among at least eight former Santa Barbara child actors who allege that producer Gary Goddard molested or attempted to molest them.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

The Mooch rips ‘loser’ Steve Bannon at Hanukkah party  —  Potty-mouthed flameout White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci spoke to NYC Jews about his inspiring pilgrimage to Israel — but still couldn't resist laying into his nemesis Steve Bannon as a “messianic loser.”

Senators, White House lay groundwork for Dreamers deal  —  Top senators and White House officials are laying the groundwork for a major immigration deal in January to resolve the fate of young undocumented immigrants whose legal protections were put in limbo by President Donald Trump.

Last uncounted ballots: Moore can't close 20,000-vote loss  —  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Republican Roy Moore hasn't conceded his 20,000-vote loss to Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama's Senate race, and provisional ballots and military votes still being counted show Moore can't close the deficit.

Parents pull kids from class as Ivanka Trump visits CT school  —  NORWALK -  —  First daughter Ivanka Trump made a surprise visit to the Norwalk Early College Academy Monday, prompting some parents who oppose the president's views to pull their kids out of school.

Tucker Carlson Hits Media Over Mueller: Journalists Shouldn't Be ‘Cheerleaders For Prosecutions’  —  On Tuesday night, Tucker Carlson chided media critics who have slammed Fox News for their recent coverage of the Robert Mueller investigation.  —  The Fox News host began by mocking …

Trump triumphant: a consequential, lasting end to 2017  —  President Trump takes a beating in the media, but he's ending 2017 on the high note of his presidency.  —  The big picture: You might not like his words or actions.  But measured in terms of what Republican voters want and expected, he's winning on important fronts:

Fox News contributor, channeling Alex Jones, suggests FBI plot to assassinate Trump  —  For weeks, Fox News and far-right pundits have been working overtime to discredit the FBI and special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference in the U.S. 2016 presidential election.

Exclusive: GOP Engages Political Ground Game to Defend Tax Overhaul in 2018  —  Republicans readying election-year tactics of phone-banking and canvassing to sell tax reform  —  Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is overseeing a political ground game effort to drum …

What North Korea told a U.N. envoy trying to prevent war  —  A senior U.N. envoy who visited Pyongyang this month carrying a pressing appeal for diplomacy was told by his North Korean hosts that it was “too early” for steps that might ease the confrontation over their nuclear program.