As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants  —  Internal documents show that the social network gave Microsoft, Amazon, Spotify and others far greater access to people's data than it has disclosed.  —  For years, Facebook gave some of the world's largest technology companies …

Trump signed letter of intent for Trump Tower Moscow project despite Giuliani insisting he didn't  —  Giuliani changes Trump Tower Moscow timelines  —  (CNN)A newly obtained document shows President Donald Trump signed a letter of intent to move forward with negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Russia …

Note to Michael Flynn: Federal Court Is Not Twitter  —  Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn on Tuesday got an unpleasant lesson on the difference between politically effective arguments and legally astute ones.  Backed by an array of well-wishers including President Trump …

Court orders company to comply with special counsel subpoena in mystery grand jury appeal  —  (CNN)Four days after attorneys secretly argued over a grand jury subpoena suspected to be related to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election …

Senate overwhelmingly backs overhaul of criminal justice system  —  The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a sweeping overhaul of the criminal justice system, after a remarkable political shift from Republicans who voted in large numbers to save money by reducing prison sentences …

Ousted NPR news chief, ex-Fox News execs team up on new site  —  One was ousted from NPR amid allegations of sexual harassment.  The other left Fox News shortly after writing a column widely panned as racist and anti-gay.  Now they've been recruited to help launch a digital news startup …

Hacked European Cables Reveal a World of Anxiety About Trump, Russia and Iran  —  WASHINGTON — Hackers infiltrated the European Union's diplomatic communications network for years, downloading thousands of cables that reveal concerns about an unpredictable Trump administration and struggles …

Here Are The Advertisers Boycotting Tucker Carlson's Show  —  The Fox News host is facing backlash after suggesting that immigrants make our country “poorer and dirtier and more divided” on “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”  —  Fox News' Tucker Carlson is rapidly losing advertisers amid a controversy …

Power Up: 'Cameras can't get in' is only reason Democrats say border patrol facility that held 7-year-old girl is still open  —  Happy Wednesday, Power People.  We're en route from Texas back to Washington to close out the rest of the week.  Comments, ideas, Christmas cookie recipes??

Judiciary dismisses ‘serious’ misconduct complaints against Brett M. Kavanaugh  —  The judicial council reviewing dozens of misconduct claims against Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh has dismissed the complaints that coincided with his contentious nomination battle.

Martha McSally will be appointed to John McCain's Senate seat  —  Republican U.S. Rep. Martha McSally will replace retiring U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl to fill for the next two years the Senate seat long held by the late U.S. Sen. John McCain.  —  Gov. Doug Ducey's decision to appoint McSally …

The National Gallery of Identity Politics  —  Forget Monet or Hopper.  The art museum's new director wants to tackle ‘gender equality,’ ‘social justice’ and ‘diversity.’  —  'Every thing is what it is and not another thing," observed the 18th-century British philosopher Joseph Butler.

In ways subtle and loud, the presidential contest is already underway in Iowa  —  DES MOINES — When New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) came here two months ago, he lingered long after events ended to talk to the curious, posing for selfies with anyone who wanted one.

Cleveland man alleges racial profiling after bank refuses to cash check, calls 911  —  BROOKLYN, OH (WOIO) - A Cleveland man says he was racially profiled at a local branch when they called the cops on him for trying to cash a check.  —  Paul McCowns tells Cleveland 19 he went …

Imperatives for Democrats  —  For all their differences, House Democrats need to unite around a pro-worker agenda.  The party also needs a smart way to winnow its immense field of presidential prospects.  —  Of all the dogs that did not bark in the night during the 2018 midterm-election campaigns …

Our pick of the decade's eight best young economists  —  They mostly want to change the world, not just fathom it  —  “The solution in Vietnam”, said William DePuy, an American general in 1966, “is more bombs, more shells, more napalm.”  But where exactly to drop it all?

Fed's Powell under pressure over rate rises  —  Jay Powell will today wrap up the thorniest policy meeting of his chairmanship as the Federal Reserve faces a barrage of calls for easy money as the stock market slides in anticipation of soggy global economic growth.

Poll: Democrat Leads GOP Governor in Kentucky  —  A new poll of next year's gubernatorial race in Kentucky shows Democrats in position to extend their nationwide winning streak beyond the 2018 midterms.  —  Aside from taking back the House majority, Democrats also gained seven governorships around the country.

The Trump Foundation Gets Put to Sleep  —  New York's attorney general dissolves the president's personal piggy bank, but a lawsuit against the faux charity alleging fraud continues.  —  The Trump Foundation, a tiny New York outfit masquerading as a philanthropy but operating, essentially …

“The Staff Is Fed Up He's Acting Like a Nut”: Trump's West Wing Braces for Christmas Madness, More Departures—And Mueller  —  Javanka blocked Bannon ally David Bossie for chief of staff—but bigger problems are looming.  —  Donald Trump plans to head to Mar-a-Lago for a 16 …

Penny Marshall, who played feisty Laverne in ‘Laverne & Shirley’ before directing movies, dies at 75  —  Penny Marshall, who costarred as a Milwaukee brewery worker in the top-rated 1970s and '80s sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” before becoming a director of hit movies such as “Big” and “A League of Their Own,” has died.

The bad economics of PAYGO swamp any strategic gain from adopting it  —  The obscure Congressional budget rule known as PAYGO ("pay as you go") has burst into the news lately.  A PAYGO rule means that any tax cut or spending increase passed into law needs to be offset in the same spending cycle …