Dozens at White House lack permanent security clearances … Dozens of White House employees are awaiting permanent security clearances and have been working for months with temporary approvals to handle sensitive information while the FBI continues to probe their backgrounds, according to U.S. officials.

The dumbest shutdown ever  —  Rand Paul and Nancy Pelosi have virtually nothing in common.  But on Thursday night, the conservative Kentucky firebrand and San Francisco Democratic leader teamed up to push Washington into what Capitol Hill dwellers are calling the dumbest shutdown fight ever.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner texted with Russian oligarch lobbyist in effort to contact dossier author Christopher Steele  —  EXCLUSIVE - Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee who has been leading a congressional investigation into President Trump's alleged ties to Russia …

Jill Messick's Family Issues Blistering Statement on Harvey Weinstein and Rose McGowan  —  “Seeing her name in headlines again and again, as part of one person's attempt to gain more attention for her personal cause, along with Harvey's desperate attempt to vindicate himself, was devastating for her,” the family said.

MeToo movement lawmaker investigated for sexual misconduct allegations  —  SAN FRANCISCO — California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia — whose high-profile advocacy of the #MeToo movement earned her national media notice — is herself the subject of a state legislative investigation in the wake …

Pence bashes North Korea's military parade, endorses Trump's parade  —  Vice President Mike Pence engaged in a game of parade one-upmanship on Friday as he spoke to reporters in South Korea ahead of the opening ceremonies for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Bad info from Spirit Air led me to flush pet hamster down airport toilet, student says  —  Before Belen Aldecosea flew home from from college to South Florida, she twice called Spirit Airlines to ensure she could bring along a special guest: Pebbles, her pet dwarf hamster.  No problem, the airline told her.

In Olympics, let's focus on the winner of the race — not the race of the winner  —  Unless it's changed overnight, the motto of the Olympics, since 1894, has been “Faster, Higher, Stronger.”  It appears the U.S. Olympic Committee would like to change that to “Darker, Gayer, Different.”

FBI surveillance of Carter Page might have picked up Bannon  —  The FBI was monitoring Carter Page when the former Trump campaign adviser says he spoke with Trump adviser Steve Bannon about Russia in January 2017, raising the strong possibility that the FBI intercepted a conversation between the two men.

Another longtime Comey aide leaving FBI  —  The longtime head of public affairs at the FBI — who was a confidant of former director James Comey — is planning to retire, Fox News has learned.  —  A notice went out this week for a retirement get-together for Michael Kortan scheduled for Feb. 15.