South Korea hails North's proposal for talks  —  South Korea on Monday welcomed a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he is open to talks between the two countries, and may consider sending a delegation to next month's Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korean news agency Yonhap News reported.

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 …

Iran unrest: ‘Ten dead’ in further protests overnight  —  Ten people have been killed overnight in anti-government protests sweeping Iran, according to state TV.  —  “In the events of last night, unfortunately a total of about 10 people were killed in several cities,” it said.

Partisans, Wielding Money, Begin Seeking to Exploit Harassment Claims  —  WASHINGTON — As the #MeToo movement to expose sexual harassment roils the nation's capital, political partisans are exploiting the moment, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support accusers who come forward …

I Helped Popularize The Term “Fake News” And Now I Cringe Every Time I Hear It  —  After a yearlong battle for its meaning and ownership, “fake news” is now both an empty slogan and a deeply troubling warning sign.  —  In October 2014 I came across a false story that was quickly racking up likes, shares, and comments on Facebook.

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 …

Muslim Caregiver Refuses to Buy Elderly Woman Christmas Ham Due to ‘Religious Reasons’  —  A Muslim caregiver in Sweden has caused controversy after she refused to purchase a Christmas ham for one of her company's clients, saying that it violated her religious beliefs.

Former Obama Administration Officials Vie to Unseat House Republicans  —  Large contingent is part of Democratic effort to create a counter to President Donald Trump's efforts to roll back policies they helped put in place  —  At least a dozen former aides and policy staff who worked …

During my presidency, I started a tradition of sharing my reading lists and playlists.  It was a nice way to reflect on the works that resonated with me and lift up authors and artists from around the world.  With some extra time on my hands this year to catch up, I wanted to share the books and music that I enjoyed most.