“I Have Power”: Is Steve Bannon Running for President?  —  On a whirlwind tour around the globe, Trump's former aide and alter ego reveals what really went down in the White House, his unfettered thoughts on Javanka, his complicated relationship with his erstwhile boss—and his own political ambitions.

Dispute Over Political Strategy Erupts Inside the White House  —  An Oval Office meeting involving President Trump and his top advisers on Wednesday devolved into a heated exchange between his former campaign manager and the White House political director, people briefed on the discussion said.

Top FBI official grilled on Comey, Clinton in Hill testimony  —  Washington (CNN)FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe faced numerous questions this week about his interactions, conversations and correspondence with his one-time boss, former FBI Director James Comey, spanning both the FBI's Russia investigation …

Ex-CIA director Brennan goes there, compares Trump to “narcissistic, vengeful autocrats”  —  Foreign relations have been in a tailspin since Donald Trump upended decades of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and declared America would recognize Jerusalem solely as the capital of Israel.

Judge dismisses suits claiming Trump violated emoluments clause  —  A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a pair of lawsuits claiming that President Donald Trump's failure to divest himself of his real estate empire and other business holdings violated the Constitution's provision banning receipt of foreign …

Five Women Are Accusing A Top Left-Leaning Media Executive Of Sexually Harassing Them  —  Don Hazen, the executive editor of AlterNet, was placed on “indefinite leave” after BuzzFeed News asked his oversight board about accusations that he inappropriately touched employees, sent lewd emails, and showed them explicit photographs.

Congress races to fund the government and avert a shutdown  — Congress races to pass a short-term spending bill aimed at averting a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday.  — The measure also contains a provision that would allow President Trump to sign the GOP tax bill immediately …

McConnell Ready To ‘Move On’ From Obamacare Repeal, Others In GOP Say Not So Fast  —  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants 2018 to be a year of bipartisanship, even if that means moving on from GOP dreams of cutting welfare and fully rolling back the Affordable Care Act.

Trump just gave a bigger Christmas gift to Putin than corporate America — while no one was watching  —  While most of the country was focused on Alabama's Senate race, Trump was playing Secret Santa with Putin.  —  In a move that went largely unnoticed last week, Donald Trump quietly handed …

Papa John's Founder To Step Down As CEO After Backlash Over NFL Comments  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Papa John's founder John Schnatter will step down as CEO next month, about two months after he publicly criticized the NFL leadership over national anthem protests by football players — comments for which the company later apologized.

Trump Administration Considers Separating Families to Combat Illegal Immigration  —  The Trump administration is considering a new policy that would separate parents from their children when families are caught entering the country illegally, according to officials who have been briefed on the plans.

Joint Statement from DNI Coats, AG Sessions, CIA Director Pompeo, FBI Director Wray, and NSA Director Rogers on FISA Section 702 Reauthorization  —  Reauthorizing Section 702 before it expires is vital to keeping the nation safe.  Let us be clear: if Congress fails to act …

Trump praises ‘Fox & Friends’ for being named ‘most influential’ because he watches it  —  on Thursday praised “Fox & Friends” after a media website named it the “most influential” because he watches it.  —  “Was @foxandfriends just named the most influential show in news?”  Trump tweeted.

All 6 Defendants Not Guilty In Key Felony Trial Of Trump Inauguration Protesters  —  The case could determine the fate of many of the nearly 200 people arrested during the inauguration.  —  All six defendants in a crucial trial involving demonstrators arrested during President Donald Trump's inauguration …

Prosecutors ask FBI agents for info on Uranium One deal  —  On the orders of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Justice Department prosecutors have begun asking FBI agents to explain the evidence they found in a now dormant criminal investigation into a controversial uranium deal that critics …

Local businessman Mark Ein to buy Washington City Paper for undisclosed sum  —  The District's alt-weekly Washington City Paper is to be purchased by D.C. businessman and Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein, the paper announced in a blog post Thursday, putting an end to weeks of speculation …

Sore loser Roy Moore lashes out at Doug Jones' gay son  —  He's blaming everyone but himself.  —  Republican Roy Moore has still not conceded his loss in the Alabama Senate race, and in recent days, has seemed to pin the blame at minority groups he is known for despising.

Pence pays surprise visit to Kabul  —  KABUL — Vice President Pence arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday for an unannounced visit with U.S. troops, many of whom were just children when the war began here more than 16 years ago, and to meet with top Afghan leaders to discuss President Trump's strategy for the conflict.

Mueller Is Looking Into a U.S. Foundation Backed by Russian Money  —  Foundation got $500,000 in undisclosed Russian donations  —  Representatives attended meeting with Trump campaign officials  —  Sara Peterson flew to Moscow in 2012 to take home two Russian orphans just as the Kremlin …

EXCLUSIVE: Trump's Mar-a-Lago tax deal veiled from IRS review  —  PALM BEACH POST INVESTIGATION … Donald Trump stands in the living room at Mar-a-Lago, 1992.  Photo by Katie Deits / Zuma Press  —  PALM BEACH — Donald Trump's deal with the town of Palm Beach to turn Mar-a-Lago …

Review: In ‘The Post,’ Democracy Survives the Darkness  —  THE POST - NYT Critic's Pick - Directed by Steven Spielberg - Biography, Drama, History, Thriller - PG-13 - 1h 55m  —  Steven Spielberg's exhilarating drama “The Post” is about a subject that's dear to the heart of journalists: themselves!

Breitbart editor now says he believed Leigh Corfman and thought Roy Moore was ‘terrible’  —  In the final weeks of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama, Breitbart News strained to discredit Leigh Corfman, who accused Republican Roy Moore of sexually touching her when she was 14 and he was 32.

A new generation of young black politicians is coming - the Democrats should listen  —  Democrats have every right to feel optimistic after a major win in Alabama, but keeping up momentum will require more than taking black voters for granted … he recent upset in the special election …