Mueller preparing end game for Russia investigation  —  WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors have told defense lawyers in recent weeks that they are “tying up loose ends” in their investigation, providing the clearest clues yet that the long-running probe into Russia's interference …

Channel 9 uncovers similarities between absentee ballots in U.S. House District 9 race  —  BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. - Channel 9 was back in Bladen County, North Carolina Monday, tracking down people involved in the controversy surrounding mail-in-absentee ballots in the U.S. House District 9 election.

Wisconsin Republicans forge ahead with power-stripping bills  —  MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans moved quickly Monday with a rare lame-duck session that would change the 2020 presidential primary date to benefit a conservative Supreme Court justice and weaken the newly elected Democratic governor and attorney general.

Don't Spend Your Emotional Energy on Sully H.W. Bush  —  In January 2009, a pilot named Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger steered his struggling aircraft to a safe landing in the Hudson River and became a national hero.  Almost 10 years later, a dog named for the pilot has become a beloved “hero” …

Manafort Tried to Broker Deal With Ecuador to Hand Assange Over to U.S.  —  WASHINGTON — In mid-May 2017, Paul Manafort, facing intensifying pressure to settle debts and pay mounting legal bills, flew to Ecuador to offer his services to a potentially lucrative new client — the country's incoming president, Lenín Moreno.

Trump's Advisers Struggle to Explain Deal He Says He Cut With Xi  — President hails ‘extraordinary’ dinner with Chinese leader  — Kudlow says China made ‘commitments’ to ‘presumably implement’  —  President Donald Trump left his top advisers scrambling on Monday to explain …

Subpoenas to begin for Trump records in emoluments case  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The attorneys general of the District of Columbia and Maryland say they're moving forward with subpoenas for records in their case accusing President Donald Trump of profiting off the presidency.

CIA Director Gina Haspel to Brief Lawmakers Tuesday on Saudi Journalist's Death  —  CIA Director Gina Haspel will brief lawmakers on Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death on Tuesday.  Several on Capitol Hill had criticized the Trump administration after she was absent from a briefing on the killing last week.

South Florida QAnon Cop Gets Demoted From SWAT Team … This past Friday, Broward Sheriff's Office SWAT member Matt Patten wore a QAnon conspiracy-theory patch while greeting Vice President Mike Pence at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.  Today Patten was reprimanded and demoted …

Ex-Marine admits he lured Seth Rich conspiracy theorist Jack Burkman to a hotel parking garage, then shot him  —  A man who worked as an investigator for conspiracy theorist Jack Burkman will serve nine years in prison for shooting and wounding his ex-boss in a complicated plot involving a fake FBI exposé.

After losing women in midterms — Republicans will let Violence Against Women Act expire as their final act of Congress  —  One of the final acts of the Republicans in the House and Senate will be to allow the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to expire in two weeks before their recess.

Beto O'Rourke seen as a top contender in 2020: poll  —  Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) is considered one of the top Democratic contenders for the White House in 2020 even among more well-known potential hopefuls, according to a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released exclusively to The Hill.

Why I'm coming to Iowa  —  Bloomberg: Trump will be ‘great’ if he accepts climate deal  —  Tuesday evening I will join local business and community leaders in Des Moines for a screening of a new documentary film called “Paris to Pittsburgh.”  It tells the stories of everyday Americans …

Trump's not winning anything, anywhere  —  President Trump pulled the United States out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but he has no apparent substitute for containing Iran's aggression.  We are isolated from our European allies.  Trump says he wants to pull …

Betsy DeVos' Financial Disclosure Fails to Account for Divestiture of 24 Assets  —  Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' Annual 2018 financial disclosure report, obtained by CREW last week, has not been certified by the Office of Government Ethics more than six months after it was filed and fails …

Stacey Abrams eyeing Senate, governor campaigns  —  MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — Stacey Abrams said Monday that she is considering running for a Georgia Senate seat in 2020 or governor again in 2022 — and possibly even for president.  —  Abrams' drew national attention in her bid to become …

Milo Yiannopoulos ‘more than $2m in debt’, Australian promoters' documents show  —  Cache details deterioration in relationship between far right activist and his former Gold Coast-based promoters  —  The far right activist Milo Yiannopoulos was more than $2m in debt during 2018 …

Perjury Chart: Trump Associates' Lies, False, or Misleading Statements on Russia to Federal Authorities  —  It is a federal offense to intentionally make false statements to Congress, the FBI, and other federal authorities.  It is also a crime to encourage others to do so (that is, in technical terms, to “suborn perjury").

The Battle over Conservative Masculinity, from Bush I to Trump  —  Which type of ‘manliness’ should we respect?  —  Significant moments frequently provide necessary reminders that history didn't begin yesterday, that the raging debates of today are echoes of debates past, and that the fight to preserve virtue will never end.

Tim Cook: Hate has ‘no place’ on Apple's platforms  —  (CNN)"We only have one message for those who seek to push hate, division and violence: You have no place on our platforms," Apple CEO Tim Cook said Monday, emphasizing, “You have no home here.”  —  Cook delivered this message while accepting …

Kerri Kupec Replaces Sessions Ally as Top DOJ Spokeswoman  —  The Justice Department officially has a new top spokesperson: Kerri Kupec has been named director of its Office of Public Affairs, The Daily Beast has learned.  —  Sarah Isgur Flores, the previous director of public affairs for the department …