CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi's assassination  —  The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, contradicting the Saudi government's claims that he was not involved in the killing …

Lou Dobbs Loses His Mind After CNN Defeats White House Over Acosta's Press Access  —  Once again, the pro-Trump host openly contradicts his own network bosses, bashing CNN's win against the White House as ‘outrageous.’  —  Minutes after a federal judge ordered the White House …

How the Trump Administration Stepped Up Pursuit of WikiLeaks's Assange  —  WASHINGTON — Soon after he took over as C.I.A. director, Mike Pompeo privately told lawmakers about a new target for American spies: Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks.  —  Intent on finding out more about Mr …

Georgia's Stacey Abrams Admits Defeat, Says Kemp Used ‘Deliberate’ Suppression To Win  —  Republican Brian Kemp will be the next governor of Georgia, with Democrat Stacey Abrams admitting Friday afternoon that there was no path to victory, following a bitter 10-day battle since Election Day.

Is Mike Pence Loyal?  Trump is Asking, Despite His Recent Endorsement  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump's post-midterm election news conference at the White House last week took a surprising turn when a reporter asked about locking down his 2020 ticket.  —  “Mike, will you be my running mate?”

Here's what a primary challenge to Trump would accomplish  —  “I think we have to go all out.  I think this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part!”  — Otter, from 1978's “Animal House”  —  I confess that, for months now …

Authorities find a rocket launcher and pipe bombs during massive Florida white supremacist sting  —  Thirty-nine members of the United Aryan Brotherhood and Unforgiven neo-Nazi groups were arrested in a Florida drug trafficking sting — and one had functional pipe bombs in his home.

Trump to meet with Florida's Bondi as he searches for new attorney general  —  WASHINGTON  —  President Donald Trump will meet with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi — who is on his short list be his next attorney general — while he vacations at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Palm Beach …

Michael Avenatti Never Should've Been a Resistance Hero  —  I can't say I was surprised when Michael Avenatti was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence on Wednesday.  It's not that he seems like someone who'd assault a romantic partner.  For one thing, that's not something …

Decorated Navy SEAL Is Accused of War Crimes in Iraq  —  NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO — Edward Gallagher was something special, even by the punishing standards of the Navy SEALs.  Both a lifesaving medic and a crack sniper, he was repeatedly decorated for valor and for coolheaded leadership during 19 years of combat deployments.

When The ‘Good Guy With A Gun’ Is A Black Man  —  An African American stopped a shooting only to be killed by police.  This is the next big test for gun rights activists.  —  Jemel Roberson was a good guy with a gun.  The 26-year-old security guard at Manny's Blue Room Lounge took up arms …

‘Nelson has no path’: Democrats admit Scott beats Florida icon  —  Sen. Bill Nelson has run out of time, run out of favorable court rulings and is about to officially run out of votes.  —  After losing to Gov. Rick Scott on Election Day, losing after an automatic recount and appearing …

The NRA Doesn't Seem So Invincible Anymore  —  Friendly terrain is shrinking, and the culture is changing.  —  If you do a Google search of “NRA” and “political juggernaut,” you can keep yourself reading for days.  Like other cliches, the National Rifle Association's enormous power …

More than 14,000 immigrant children are in U.S. custody, an all-time high  —  WASHINGTON — The number of undocumented immigrant children in government custody has topped 14,000 for the first time, a rise that shows no signs of slowing as the Trump administration enforces policies that are keeping them in government facilities longer.

Mark Meadows, Ruben Kihuen sanctioned over sexual harassment-related allegations  —  The House Ethics Committee has formally sanctioned two members — GOP Rep. Mark Meadows (N.C.) and Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen (Nev.) — over sexual harassment-related allegations, the latest sign that fallout …

Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’  —  Ask medieval historian Michael McCormick what year was the worst to be alive, and he's got an answer: “536.”  Not 1349, when the Black Death wiped out half of Europe.  Not 1918, when the flu killed 50 million to 100 million people, mostly young adults.

List of Missing in California Fire Is Over 1,000 People.  Here Is How They're Being Counted.  —  As the death toll continues to rise in the deadliest wildfire in California history, the sheriff of the Northern California county where the fire still rages said on Friday that more than 1,000 people …

Rep. Mia Love pulls ahead of Democrat Ben McAdams as judge dismisses her lawsuit  —  Rep. Mia Love (R) pulled ahead of Democrat Ben McAdams in the vote count Friday in Utah's 4th Congressional District, a positive twist for the GOP lawmaker's campaign hours after a judge separately dismissed …

House Democrats to Step Up Probe of Trump-Russia Ties  —  Intelligence panel's Adam Schiff wants to learn more about a deceased GOP activist who sought Hillary Clinton's private emails  —  WASHINGTON—House Democrats, poised to reactivate a probe of President Trump's campaign ties to Russia …

Basta La Vista, Baby  —  D  —  ear Reader (And especially Martha McSally's dog),  —  As I often note, I increasingly tend to see the political scene as a scripted reality show in which the writers don't flesh out the dialogue so much as move characters into weird, wacky, confrontational, or embarrassing positions.

I'm fine with women in power, just not this one specific woman currently in power  —  The first thing I need to make clear is that I love and support women.  I am eager to see more women rise to positions of power.  Hashtag pink wave!  Hashtag pink hat!  —  But I have to say …

Air Quality in California: Devastating Fire Leads to a New Danger  —  PARADISE, Calif. — The wildfires that have laid waste to vast parts of California are presenting residents with a new danger: air so thick with smoke it ranks among the dirtiest in the world.