After Ayers Turns Down Chief of Staff Job, Trump Is Left Without a Plan B  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump has often bragged about having his pick of only the best people to serve in his administration.  —  Being publicly rejected by his first choice for chief of staff …

We are former senators.  The Senate has long stood in defense of democracy — and must again.  —  By 44 Former U.S. Senators  —  As former members of the U.S. Senate, Democrats and Republicans, it is our shared view that we are entering a dangerous period, and we feel an obligation to speak …

Maria Butina, accused Russian agent, reaches plea deal with prosecutors that includes cooperation  —  Maria Butina, a 30-year-old Russian gun rights activist who stands accused developing a covert influence operation in the United States, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and cooperate with federal …

Targets of U.S. Sanctions Hire Lobbyists With Trump Ties to Seek Relief  —  Targets of U.S. Sanctions Hire Lobbyists With Trump Ties  — With the use of sanctions increasing, representing clients who face penalties from Washington is becoming a lucrative new niche.

Constitution rules out a sitting president's immunity from criminal prosecution  —  Only President Trump seems not to have noticed — or at least refuses to acknowledge — that the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in his Dec. 7 memo regarding Michael Cohen's sentencing …

In an email to Tablet the Women's March wrote: … But whatever concerns were popping up were ultimately no match for the steamroller of the event's progress.  And when the day came, the reality far exceeded expectations.  Estimates for the March on Washington range between half a million …

Thousands of mailed ballots in Florida were not counted  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida officials say thousands of mailed ballots were not counted because they were delivered too late to state election offices.  —  The Department of State late last week informed a federal judge …

GOP shrugs at Trump's involvement in Cohen payments  —  Trump tries to spin Cohen, Manafort filings  —  (CNN)President Donald Trump on Friday was implicated by prosecutors in two crimes committed by his former attorney Michael Cohen.  —  But Republicans are mostly shrugging their shoulders.

Everybody Says Mueller Is Almost Done.  What If He Isn't?  —  In late 2015, the British spy agency GCHQ, and then other Western intelligence agencies, learned of suspicious interactions between Russian agents and Donald Trump's inner circle.  By the summer of 2016, James Comey testified Friday …

Academy Looks Warily at Oscar Host Options As Board Meeting Looms  —  Kevin Hart's abrupt departure as Oscars host has left the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences scrambling to find someone to take the gig.  As of now, the situation remains fluid as the group's leadership explores options …

Faith leaders to U.S. authorities: Migrants have international right to U.S. asylum  —  “Our sacred texts tell us to tear down walls, to welcome the immigrant and to treat everyone as if they are God's children,” said a religious leader.  —  Over 200 religious leaders and advocates gathered …

Jared Kushner did what?  —  The New York Times reports: … As a preliminary matter, we should recognize this as yet another example of why a president should not put a relative in a position of power — especially if the relative possesses questionable judgment and is utterly unqualified for the job.

Epstein sex abuse victims press judge for decision on tossing his lenient plea deal  —  Victims of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who have waged a decade-long fight for justice, on Monday pressed a federal judge to finally take action on their motion to throw out a controversial plea agreement …

MP causes uproar in parliament by grabbing mace in Brexit protest  —  Lloyd Russell-Moyle waves symbol of Queen's authority to show anger over debate delay  —  Play Video  —  Monday's Commons debate on Theresa May's decision to call off her Brexit vote ended in high drama as a Labour MP seized the ceremonial mace in protest.

9-year-old kills self after racist taunts from class: family … A black 9-year-old girl in Alabama allegedly took her own life after facing relentless bullying and racism in class, according to reports.  —  McKenzie Adams' relatives said she hanged herself Dec. 3 in her home in Linden …

Mayor Garcetti's speech at USC shut down by protesters  —  Mayor Eric Garcetti was forced to halt a speech Monday at USC after demonstrators began shouting at him and criticizing his approach to the city's homelessness crisis, the Los Angeles Police Department's use of force and other issues.

‘Supergirl’ now has a transgender character just to be ‘woke’  —  Television has introduced the first transgender superhero in the fourth season of CW's “Supergirl.”  The character, Nia Nal, is played by Nicole Maines, who is an actress and activist.  She is also transgender in real life as well.

Climate change was behind 15 weather disasters in 2017  —  A drought scorched the Great Plains, causing wildfires and $2.5 billion in agriculture losses.  Catastrophic floods submerged more than a third of Bangladesh.  Record-shattering heat waves killed scores of people in Europe and China.

Google Employees Sought To Block Breitbart From Ads, Emails Show  — Leaked emails show Google employees plotting to ban Breitbart from Google AdSense, which dominates the digital ad market  — The leaked conversation is the third example of Google employees seeking to weaponize Google's products for left-wing purposes