Iranians Protest Across Country, Defying a Crackdown  —  TEHRAN — Iranian security forces clamped down on Tehran on Monday after demonstrators across the country ignored calls for calm by President Hassan Rouhani in the most significant venting of pent-up economic and political frustrations in years.

Joe Hockey discussed Alexander Downer's Russia revelations with FBI  —  The ambassador to the United States Joe Hockey personally steered Australia's dealings with the FBI on explosive revelations of Russian hacking during last year's presidential campaign in a sign of how politically sensitive …

Powerful Hollywood Women Unveil Anti-Harassment Action Plan  —  Driven by outrage and a resolve to correct a power imbalance that seemed intractable just months ago, 300 prominent actresses and female agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives have formed an ambitious …

Democrats in High-Tax States Plot to Blunt Impact of New Tax Law  —  Democrats in high-cost, high-tax states are plotting ways to do what their states' representatives in Congress could not: blunt the impact of the newly passed Republican tax overhaul.  —  Governors and legislative leaders in New York …

Former Joint Chiefs chairman: Nuclear war with North Korea closer than ever  —  Kim Jong Un delivers New Year's address  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  — Mullen warned Trump's provocative rhetoric on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un likely indicates he would prefer a more aggressive approach

Fort Smith Mosque Pays the Debts of Man Who Vandalized Their Building  —  FORT SMITH, Ark. — In October of 2016, the Masjid Al Salam in Fort Smith was vandalized.  But over one year later, the man behind the act, Abraham Davis, receives his ticket to freedom from the people he hurt the most.

Making China Great Again  —  As Donald Trump surrenders America's global commitments, Xi Jinping is learning to pick up the pieces.  —  When the Chinese action movie “Wolf Warrior II” arrived in theatres, in July, it looked like a standard shoot-'em-up, with a lonesome hero and frequent explosions.

Kuwaiti report: US gives Israel go-ahead to kill powerful Iranian general  —  Newspaper says Washington and Jerusalem have overcome the differences that saw Americans tipping off Tehran about Israeli attempt to kill Qassem Soleimani 3 years ago  —  Iranian Revolutionary Guards al-Quds Force commander …

How Do You Vote?  50 Million Google Images Give a Clue  —  What vehicle is most strongly associated with Republican voting districts?  Extended-cab pickup trucks.  For Democratic districts?  Sedans.  —  Those conclusions may not be particularly surprising.

Lorde called a bigot in Washington Post ad over cancelled Israel concert  —  Advert placed by 'America's rabbi' Shmuley Boteach also accuses singer's native New Zealand of prejudice against Israel … A full-page advert has been placed in the Washington Post calling Lorde a bigot …

Trump has a golf problem  —  On Christmas, Trump tweeted that he would be going “back to work” the next day. … Trump has since gone golfing for seven consecutive days, while the press pool ate pancakes at a local IHOP.  —  December 26  —  “The motorcade pulled into Trump International Golf Club at around 9:05am.

Her husband murdered, her son taken away, a mother seeking asylum tells a judge, ‘I have lost everything’  —  EL PASO - The boy was crying as federal agents ordered him into the government vehicle.  Tell your mother goodbye, they said.  —  It was late October, and Blanca Vasquez and her 12-year-old son …

Sources: Chris Matthews Runs An Abusive Work Environment  —  MSNBC Host Chris Matthews runs an at times openly derisive and brazenly sexist news operation that has led at least some staffers to describe themselves as victims of “battered wives syndrome,” according to three of his show's guests …

Democrats more fearful about 2018 than Republicans: poll  —  Democrats are more fearful about what 2018 holds than Republicans, according to a poll released early Monday.  —  The new Axios survey showed 55 percent of Democrats are more hopeful personally about the new year while 44 percent are more fearful.