Russian spokesman says there were contacts on Trump Tower, but they ‘disappeared’  —  The guilty plea by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen raised new questions about the pursuit of a Trump Tower in Moscow.  —  BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A spokesman for Russia's government said Saturday …

George H.W. Bush had a love of sports and an affinity for at least one sportswriter  —  One day nearly 30 years ago, I got a call at home from the sports department of The Washington Post.  —  “You said not to give your home phone number to anybody,” a young news aide said.  “But can I give it to the president?”

Curtains for the Clintons  —  TORONTO — The snow is falling lightly.  —  My thoughts are racing darkly.  —  I'm feeling something foreign, something I've never felt before.  It takes me a moment to identify it.  —  I'm feeling sorry for the Clintons.

'He's going through a pretty rough time': Avenatti crashes and burns  —  Michael Avenatti's cable TV bookings have dwindled.  He was uninvited from one prominent Democratic event and skipped out on another.  Now his highest-profile client is bringing new allegations against him.

Trump pulls punches at global summit, making nice with foes and avoiding feuds  —  BUENOS AIRES — President Trump managed to spend two days in the company of world leaders he has long antagonized without any visible eruptions.  —  There were no feuds, at least none publicly detected …

Congress, White House on the brink of another government shutdown  —  It all comes down to the wall.  —  Washington is on the brink of another government shutdown, with Democrats and Republicans sparring over funding President Donald Trump's signature (and unfulfilled) campaign promise …

He's Built an Empire, With Detained Migrant Children as the Bricks  —  The founder of Southwest Key made millions off of housing migrant children.  His nonprofit has stockpiled taxpayer dollars and possibly engaged in self-dealing with top executives.  —  Juan Sanchez grew up along …

U.S. Navy admiral Scott Stearney found dead in apparent suicide  —  Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, who oversaw U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, was found dead Saturday in his residence in Bahrain, officials said.  Defense officials told CBS News they are calling it an “apparent suicide.”

These swing elections may not really be wave elections  —  BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — Mike Mikus speculates there are a fairly decent number of voters around here who have voted over the past 20 years in turn for Ron Klink, Melissa Hart, Jason Altmire, Mark Critz, Keith Rothfus, and Conor Lamb.

Marc Lamont Hill: I'm sorry my word choices caused harm |  Opinion  —  Over the past week, I have been embroiled in a controversy regarding my speech at the United Nations regarding the plight of Palestinian people.  My remarks have sparked heavy controversy, around the nation and right here in Philadelphia.

With H.R. 1, Democrats Announce a New Program for Electoral Reform  —  When the new Congress convenes in January, the very first item on its to-do list will be H.R. 1, a package of good-government and election reforms unveiled Friday by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and a group of legislators led by John Sarbanes, of Maryland.

Police: Charge Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu With Bribery in Telecom Case  —  Police conclude investigation into third graft case involving the prime minister, recommend also indicting media mogul, wife  —  The police and Israel Securities Authority on Sunday recommended indicting Prime …

Black college lacrosse player, 21, is arrested for spraying N-word and swastika graffiti targeting HIMSELF and other minority students in two incidents that terrorized the campus  — Fynn Ajani Arthur, 21, was charged with two counts of malicious destruction of property on Thursday night in Baltimore County, Maryland

North Carolina Race Roiled by Claims Voter Fraud — But Not the Kind the GOP Worries About  —  North Carolina Republicans are very concerned about voter fraud.  “Committing voter fraud is easy in our state,” the state's Republican lieutenant governor, Dan Forest, said in a video released in October.