Trump sees dangerous cracks in Hill GOP support  —  President Donald Trump faces a dangerous erosion of support among rank-and-file Republicans thanks to a series of jarring recent moves that have alienated even some close GOP allies.  —  From his defense of Saudi Arabia's crown prince …

Mick Mulvaney in 2015: Trump's views on border wall ‘simplistic,’ ‘absurd and almost childish’  —  (CNN)Incoming White House acting-chief of staff Mick Mulvaney once called President Donald Trump's views on a border wall and immigration “simplistic” and “absurd and almost childish.”

Trump lashed out at Whitaker after explosive Cohen revelations  —  Cohen says he lied about project in Moscow  —  Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump has at least twice in the past few weeks vented to his acting attorney general, angered by federal prosecutors who referenced …

Trump call with Turkish leader led to US pullout from Syria  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from Syria was made hastily, without consulting his national security team or allies, and over strong objections from virtually everyone involved …

The budget breakdown of a 25-year-old who makes $100,000 a year and is excellent with money  —  Trevor Klee, he admits, is a “terrible employee.”  But he's great at working for himself — and at taking tests.  —  So the 25-year-old entrepreneur started a thriving business of his own.

Supreme Court denies Trump administration request to immediately enforce new asylum rules  —  The Supreme Court on Friday denied the Trump administration's request that it be allowed to immediately enforce a new policy of denying asylum to those who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border …

As Markets Tumble, Tech Stocks Hit a Rare and Ominous Milestone  —  When it comes to the stock market, America's technology giants have become a harbinger of more pain to come.  —  If Facebook, Apple or Google looked shaky this year — as investors worried about growth, regulation or mismanagement — the rest of the market felt it.

Billionaire megadonor Robert Mercer cuts back on support for GOP after being scrutinized for backing Trump  — Yet people close to Mercer say he's “disappeared” and he's no longer playing as big a role in supporting the Republican Party as he used to.  — “He's out,” said a former associate of Mercer.

In a normal administration, Whitaker would listen to government ethics experts  —  Why the acting attorney general should be recused from the Russia investigation.  —  President Trump's pick to serve as acting attorney general, Matthew G. Whitaker, asked his department's career ethics officials whether …

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg undergoes surgery  —  Washington (CNN)Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had two malignant nodules removed from her left lung Friday at a New York hospital, the Supreme Court announced.  —  There is no evidence of any remaining disease, says a court spokesperson …

Retreating ISIS army smuggled a fortune in cash and gold out of Iraq and Syria  —  IRBIL, Iraq — More than a year after the collapse of its self-declared caliphate, the Islamic State is sitting on a mountain of stolen cash and gold that its leaders stashed away to finance terrorist operations …

Michael Cohen discussed mysterious $1.8 million loan to pool boy that Jerry Falwell Jr and his wife befriended: report  —  Jerry Falwell Jr. confirmed that he loaned $1.8 million to a young pool attendant he and his wife had befriended while staying six years ago at a luxury hotel.

Build a Giant Escalator Over the Wall  —  $1,658 of $200.0M goal Raised by 105 people in 21 hours  —  The wall is never going to be built but just in case it is we will build a series of giant escalators that are spaced out a half mile along the wall on either side and if that doesn't happen we'll …

Please don't wish me ‘Merry Christmas’  —  It's impolite and alienating to assume I follow your religion.  —  'Twas five nights before Christmas, and my Lyft driver was the umpteenth person to wish me a “Merry Christmas” that day.  He probably just meant it the way most people do …

Trump doesn't need 60 Senate votes to fix the border and short-circuit a shutdown  —  Last night, Chuck Schumer said at a press conference, “The Trump temper tantrum will shut down the government, but it will not get him his wall.”  The truth is that if McConnell would actually lead and enforce …

James Wolfe: The Liar No One Is Talking About  —  In a recent court filing, the defendant's attorneys begged for mercy.  The offender—once a high-level government official assigned with protecting national security secrets—had pleaded guilty to one charge of making a false statement to the FBI in 2017.

GOP bill making it tougher to get proposals on ballot heads to Snyder  —  LANSING — Despite fierce opposition from Democrats and a wide variety of groups, Republicans in the Legislature gave final passage to a bill that will make it tougher to get enough signatures to get a proposal on the statewide ballot.

Deported Mexicans reported being refused medical care while in US custody  —  “A man was deported with a broken collarbone protruding from his skin,” researchers who surveyed deported Mexicans stated  —  AUSTIN, Texas — Researchers who surveyed 1,109 Mexicans deported from the United States …

Life After Horrific Death for the Journalist James Foley  —  On a cool October evening, in a Brooklyn studio crowded with canvases, some still wet, Diane Foley stood before an oil painting of two solemn grade-school boys in the Libyan civil war.  One of the boys held aloft a photo of a middle-aged man, a relative, who was missing.

After More Than Two Decades of Work, a New Hebrew Bible to Rival the King James  —  The pre-eminent scholar Robert Alter has finally finished his own translation.  —  One morning this fall, at his home high in the Berkeley hills, the literary critic and translator Robert Alter chatted …

Why Are Hershey's Kisses Suddenly Missing Their Tips?  —  Bakers are perplexed as to why the iconic candy isn't up to snuff this holiday season.  —  Bad kisses sound like a problem you haven't dealt with since your teenage years, but they're a serious concern right now for bakers …

Taliban greets Pentagon's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan with cries of victory  —  “The 17-year long struggle and sacrifices of thousands of our people finally yielded fruit,” said a senior commander in Helmand.  —  PESHAWAR, Pakistan — News that the White House had ordered the Pentagon …

Conservative Facts  —  The problem conservatism faces these days is that many of the loudest voices have decided to embrace the meanness while throwing away the facts. … D  —  ear Reader (including all you mole-rat monarchists),  —  One or two times a year I wake up in a Japanese family's living room …