Trump Deputy Chief of Staff to Step Down  —  Rick Dearborn, latest high-profile departure from West Wing, plans to pursue private sector work  —  WASHINGTON—Rick Dearborn, one of President Donald Trump's top aides, will step down early next year to pursue private-sector work …

“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.

‘We Will Remember’  —  Photo Credit: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / AFP / Getty … To its shame, the United Nations has long been a hostile place for the state of Israel.  Both the current and the previous secretary generals have objected to the U.N.'s disproportionate focus on Israel.

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 …

Obamacare Sign-ups at High Levels Despite Trump Saying It's ‘Imploding’  —  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Thursday that 8.8 million people had signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's federal marketplace, a surprisingly large number only slightly lower …

FBI's top lawyer said to be reassigned … The FBI's top lawyer, James Baker, is being reassigned — one of the first moves by new director Christopher A. Wray to assemble his own team of senior advisers as he tries to fend off accusations of politicization within the bureau.

Sessions rescinds Justice Dept. letter asking courts to be wary of stiff fines and fees for poor defendants  —  Attorney General Jeff Sessions is rescinding an Obama-era Justice Department letter that asked local courts across the country to be wary of slapping poor defendants with fines …

Russian hackers targeted more than 200 journalists globally  —  PARIS (AP) — Russian television anchor Pavel Lobkov was in the studio getting ready for his show when jarring news flashed across his phone: Some of his most intimate messages had just been published to the web.

A deafening media silence on the Obama-Hezbollah scandal  —  Politico published a jaw-dropping, meticulously sourced investigative piece this week detailing how the Obama administration had secretly undermined US law-enforcement agency efforts to shut down an international drug-trafficking ring run by the terror group Hezbollah.

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 …

Opioid Deaths Are Spreading Rapidly Into Black America  —  2016 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents  —  In counties with fewer than 10 drug overdose deaths, the map combines observed totals with modeled estimates.  —  The epidemic of drug overdoses, often perceived as a largely white rural problem …

Trump just gave a bigger Christmas gift to Putin than corporate America — while no one was watching  —  In a move that went largely unnoticed last week, Donald Trump quietly handed Russian President Vladimir Putin the best Christmas gift he could possibly ask for — an invitation …

Hundreds of People Made Gifts of Stock With Great Timing  —  Michael Milken is among investors who gave shares near peak prices or before drops, a WSJ analysis shows  —  When Michael Milken donated $27 million of stock to charity in September 2013, the former junk-bond financier's timing scarcely …

Feeble Resistance  —  Look at what the Democrats haven't accomplished.  —  Charles Schumer Photo Credit: Win McNamee / Getty  —  Shocked by Donald Trump's election, Democrats adopted a strategy of resistance that's simple and blunt: Anything Trump is for, they're against.

Long Live City Paper  —  Darrow MontgomeryI am overjoyed to report that local venture capitalist and philanthropist Mark Ein has reached an agreement to purchase Washington City Paper from SouthComm, Inc. The news hit us in the middle of our annual holiday potluck.

Tennessee lawmakers to allow guns but prohibit ‘hand-carried signs’ in new building  —  Video by Michael Schwab/USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee  —  Tennesseans will be allowed to bring their guns to the new home of the legislature but must leave any hand-held signs behind, according to a recently implemented policy.

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.

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.

Warner sees fire in Russia probe  —  Robert Mueller isn't the only one hot on the trail of the Russians' election interference and Facebook manipulation.  —  Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, tells us that based on witness testimony and documents …

Remodeling contractor hired a hit man to kill homeowner.  The hit man was a cop (with a video camera).  —  Many people have an exasperating tale about a construction contractor who didn't get the job done.  Shoddy work.  Stopped showing up.  Took the money and ran.