The Decline of Anti-Trumpism  —  Let me start with three inconvenient observations, based on dozens of conversations around Washington over the past year:  —  First, people who go into the White House to have a meeting with President Trump usually leave pleasantly surprised.

Oprah Winfrey for President: Have We All Gone Bonkers?  —  Have we all gone bonkers?  —  On Sunday evening, #Oprah2020 began trending on social media after Oprah Winfrey delivered a rousing speech against misogyny and racism at the Golden Globe Awards.  While Oprah has in the past ruled …

Trump stands for national anthem at NCAA game; Alabama player heard saying ‘F— Trump’  —  The president stands for national anthem at championship game between Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs.  —  President Trump brought his fight against national anthem-kneelers to the field …

FBI agents' text messages spur congressional probe into possible news leaks  —  Republican-led House and Senate committees are investigating whether leaders of the Russia counterintelligence investigation had contacts with the news media that resulted in improper leaks, prompted in part …

Sessions' DOJ Charged A White Supremacist With Terrorism.  They Just Didn't Tell Anyone.  —  The Justice Department's handling of the federal terrorism case against Taylor Michael Wilson is indicative of the government's approach to domestic terrorism.  —  WASHINGTON Usually …

Wolff: WH officials think if Mueller targets Trump's finances, 'he's sunk'  —  Author Michael Wolff said people in the White House believe that if special counsel Robert Mueller  —  's finances in the Russia probe, the president is “sunk.”  —  “People don't think in the White House …

John Dickerson Of CBS's ‘Face The Nation’ Is Set To Replace Charlie Rose  —  Rose was fired by CBS following allegations of sexual misconduct.  —  John Dickerson, anchor of the CBS Sunday news program “Face the Nation,” is set to replace Charlie Rose on “CBS This Morning,” three sources familiar with the decision tell HuffPost.

Republicans: Budget deal prospects are dimming  —  Congressional Republicans and White House officials are increasingly skeptical that they'll reach a long-term budget agreement with Democrats in the next 11 days, accusing progressives of slow-walking a spending deal until they get what they want on immigration.

U.S. Spy Satellite Believed Lost After SpaceX Mission Fails  —  Secret payload code-named Zuma failed to reach orbit after Sunday launch; industry officials estimate satellite worth billions  —  An expensive, highly classified U.S. spy satellite is presumed to be a total loss after it failed …

Trump a genius?  Hill Republicans not so sure  —  (CNN)President Donald Trump has boldly declared that he is a genius — a “very stable” one at that.  His Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill were not so quick to agree.  —  “He's smart and capable at getting himself elected president,” said Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran.

Teacher removed from Vermilion school board meeting in handcuffs  —  The superintendent of Vermilion Parish schools says the board won't press charges against a teacher who was removed from the board's special meeting Monday night.  —  Deyshia Hargrave, an English language arts teacher …

The impending GOP catastrophe in Trump's backyard  —  ALBANY, N.Y. — Two potential candidates for New York governor against incumbent Andrew Cuomo have dropped out in the past week.  No candidate against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has gotten beyond the whisper phase.

To Pay for Wall, Trump Would Cut Proven Border Security Measures  —  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration would cut or delay funding for border surveillance, radar technology, patrol boats and customs agents in its upcoming spending plan to curb illegal immigration — all proven security measures …

Secret Pro-Life Meeting With Mike Pence Killed Obamacare Fix—For Now … A bipartisan effort to stabilize the health insurance markets collapsed last month after anti-abortion groups appealed directly to Vice President Mike Pence at the 11th hour, The Daily Beast has learned.

Rep. Steve Alford cites belief blacks more susceptible to marijuana  —  During Saturday's Legislative Coffee session at St. Catherine Hospital, State Rep. Steve Alford, R-Ulysses, made an ostensibly racist comment when citing domestic Jim Crow-era drug policies.

The White House struggles to silence talk of Trump's mental fitness … The White House is struggling to contain the national discussion about President Trump's mental acuity and fitness for the job, which has overshadowed the administration's agenda for the past week.

In Defense of Robert Mueller  —  The growing attacks don't stand up to scrutiny.  —  Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election is coming under growing attack from those most blinded by partisanship and — in the case of the White House — self-interest.

Tillerson tells AP Cuba still risky; FBI doubts sonic attack  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States would be “putting people intentionally in harm's way” if it sent diplomats back to Cuba, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says in an Associated Press interview, even as a new FBI report casts doubt …

In Deepest Cold, a Subway Car Becomes the Shelter of Last Resort  —  With temperatures in the single digits over the weekend, the E train turned into a rolling refuge for the homeless.  —  Early Sunday morning, with temperatures in the single digits in the city, the subway became the shelter …

The Daily 202: Trump systematically alienates the Latino diaspora — from El Salvador to Puerto Rico and Mexico  —  THE BIG IDEA: A Manchurian Candidate who was secretly trying to alienate Hispanics would be hard pressed to do as much damage to the Republican brand as President Trump.