Exclusive: The full ‘secret society’ text between FBI agents: Was it meant in jest?  —  For the past 24 hours, a number of Republican lawmakers have been suggesting that a months-old text message between two FBI officials reveals a “secret society” of federal law enforcement officials clandestinely plotting …

Trump Says He Is Willing to Speak Under Oath to Mueller  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Wednesday that he was willing to speak under oath to Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Bill Kristol takes on Fox News, Tucker Carlson: 'I don't know if it's racism exactly - but ethno-nationalism of some kind'  — Bill Kristol was often a guest on Fox News, but he appeared gradually less on the network, he says, after he declined to do something for the late Fox News chief Roger Ailes.

As U.S. Trumpets ‘America First,’ Rest of the World Is Moving On  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump is arriving at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to explain his “America First” approach at a moment when the world is moving ahead with a trade agenda that no longer revolves around the United States.

Turkey disputes White House readout of Erdogan-Trump phone call  —  (CNN)US President Donald Trump has urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to de-escalate the country's military incursions in northern Syria, warning against actions that “could risk conflict between Turkish and American forces.”

Mayors' group calls off Trump meeting after Justice Department threatens sanctuary cities  —  A prominent group of mayors meeting in Washington called off a scheduled White House meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday after the administration again threatened to withhold funding …

Mueller Almost Done With Obstruction Part of Trump Probe, Sources Say  —  Other portions of investigation could last months: officials  —  Intelligence officials, Trump aides interviewed in past weeks  —  Special Counsel Robert Mueller is moving at a far faster pace than previously known …

Ex-Justice Dept. lawyer offered to sell secret U.S. whistleblower lawsuits to targets of the complaints  —  Jeffrey Wertkin had a plot to bring in business and impress his new partners after joining one of Washington's most influential law firms.  —  As a former high-stakes corporate-fraud prosecutor …

Trump's 24-year-old drug policy appointee to step down by month's end  —  A 24-year-old former Trump campaign worker who rose rapidly to a senior post in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will step down by the end of the month because of controversy surrounding his appointment, the White House said late Wednesday.

The sinister pro-Trump propaganda of Lou Dobbs  —  At his New Year's Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump grabbed a microphone and gave thanks to the guests who paid him several hundred dollars each for the privilege of attending.  As he spoke, the president singled …

Teen killed in Kentucky school shooting called mother as she died  —  The parents of a Kentucky teenager who was fatally shot in a mass shooting at her high school this week said their daughter called them as the violent scene unfolded in the background.  —  Bailey Holt, 15 …

Tips for Interviewing Jerry Brown  —  SACRAMENTO — “How long is this going to take.  An hour?  An hour?  Why?  Don't you have more important questions and less important questions?”  —  Gov. Jerry Brown of California was settling into a chair in the first-floor parlor of the governor's mansion.

Hating Gerrymandering Is Easy.  Fixing It Is Harder.  —  As politics in the U.S. has polarized along geographic and racial lines, drawing political maps has become a partisan arms race.  Even the smallest decisions about where to draw district boundaries can alter the power dynamic in Congress …

Trump administration wants to end NASA funding for the International Space Station by 2025  —  The end may be in sight for the two-decade-old program  —  The Trump administration is preparing to end support for the International Space Station program by 2025, according to a draft budget proposal reviewed by The Verge.

Top Senate Democrat: The House Intel Memo Is Sloppy And Baseless.  Also, I've Not Read It  —  ‘I have not seen the memo, but I think it is sloppy, careless, and again, I think has no grounding in fact.’  —  Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said Wednesday that the classified report compiled …

“This Is Serious”: Facebook Begins Its Downward Spiral  —  Facebook was always famous for the sign that hung in its offices, written in big red type on a white background, that said “Move Fast and Break Things.”  Every time I think about the company, I realize it has done just that—to itself.

How Hedge Funds (Secretly) Get Their Way in Washington  —  Fake grass roots.  An inflatable rat.  Testimony with hidden ties.  Billionaires are using DCI Group to make their bets pay off—while keeping the public in the dark.  —  With swept-back silver hair and a prestigious résumé …

Sanford teacher sends home spelling list containing racial slur  —  Angry parents want apology  —  HIDE TRANSCRIPT SHOW TRANSCRIPT  —  SANFORD, Fla. —  “That bothered me.  I was very offended by it,” Terry Day told WESH 2 Investigates.  “In today's society, it's very prevalent.  Racism!

How the GOP Rigs Elections  —  With a combination of gerrymandering, voter-ID laws and dark money, Republicans have tipped the political scales in their favor.  Will it be enough to keep Democrats from claiming victory in 2018?  —  On a quiet, tree-lined street in Racine, Wisconsin …

Bernie Sanders summons team to discuss 2020  —  Although the Vermont senator hasn't made a decision, sources say he wants to be ready if he throws his hat in the ring.  —  Bernie Sanders convened his top political advisers in Washington on Saturday for a planning meeting that included …

Trump to Palestinians: “respect has to be shown” to America  —  President Trump said Thursday “we'll see what happens with the peace process” in the Middle East, “but respect has to be shown to the U.S. or we're just not going anywhere.”  —  Why it matters: Trump spoke seated next …

SOURCE: MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon to step down before end of week  —  MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon will resign before the week is over, The State News has learned.  —  According to a knowledgable source to whom we have granted anonymity because the information was told in confidence …

Home Depot hourly employees to receive up to $1,000 bonus due to tax reform  — Home Depot joins a growing list of corporations using new tax benefits to invest in their workers.  — Certain additional expenses and the bonus payments will negatively impact Home Depot's fiscal 2017 earnings.

U.S. Heads for 3% Growth Trifecta on Spending, Investment Punch  —  Consumers, companies drive expansion in nation's GDP  —  Maintaining pace of gains may prove challenging in 2018  —  The U.S. economy probably ended last year with the longest stretch of 3 percent-or-better growth since 2005.

We're as close to Doomsday today as we were during the Cold War  —  Lawrence Krauss, chair of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Board of Sponsors, is director of the Origins Project and foundation professor of the School of Earth and Space Exploration and Physics Department at Arizona State University.

LG to Raise Prices on Washers After Trump Imposes Steep Tariffs  —  Increases of about $50 are likely on at least some washing machines and dryers  —  LG Electronics Inc. 066570 .98% has told retailers it plans to raise prices on its laundry appliances following President Donald Trump's approval …