Do a ‘marginal’ number of 7-year-olds believe in Santa?  That's what Trump told a SC girl.  —  Collman Lloyd, 7, talks to President Donald Trump on Christmas Eve inside her Lexington kitchen.  Trump asked Lloyd if she still believed in Santa.  “Yes, sir,” she replied.  Erica Lloyd/Provided

CBP orders medical checks after second child's death  —  HOUSTON (AP) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection ordered medical checks on every child in its custody Tuesday after an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died, marking the second death of an immigrant child in the agency's care this month.

Trump becomes first president since 2002 not to visit troops at Christmastime  —  Though he called military personnel on Tuesday, Trump did not visit a hospital or a military base.  —  On Christmas Day, President Donald Trump took part in a long-running practice of presidents …

I thought fraud in reporting was done for.  I was wrong.  —  Nearly 30 years ago, the Cold War's end opened Germany's border to the formerly Soviet-dominated east.  Asylum seekers from poor and war-torn nations poured across it.  A violent backlash from ultra-right-wing Germans ensued.

Did a Queens Podiatrist Help Donald Trump Avoid Vietnam?  —  In the fall of 1968, Donald J. Trump received a timely diagnosis of bone spurs in his heels that led to his medical exemption from the military during Vietnam.  —  For 50 years, the details of how the exemption came about …

Black Voters, a Force in Democratic Politics, Are Ready to Make Themselves Heard  —  BALTIMORE — The first “Amen!” rang out after a couple of minutes, as Senator Elizabeth Warren, speaking to an almost all-black audience at Morgan State University's winter commencement, described how America has …

Queen's speech in front of lavish gold piano blasted for being ‘out of touch’  —  Queen Elizabeth referred to Brexit in her Christmas day message as she sat beside a golden piano  —  The Queen's Christmas Day speech has been slammed on social media for being “out of touch” and disrespectful to families “struggling to make ends meet”.

Mattis works from Pentagon on Christmas, tells troops: ‘You hold the line’  —  Defense Secretary James Mattis wished U.S. troops a merry Christmas and worked Christmas Day after President Trump pushed the secretary out two months earlier than he planned to resign.

Why the Trump presidency will end poorly  —  As we celebrate Christmastime amid an unnecessary and indefinite government shutdown and the worst December for the stock market since 1931, I'm reminded once again of my longstanding prediction: The Trump presidency will end poorly because character is destiny.

POLITICO Playbook: Shutdown standoff continues  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ... DAY 5.  WE ANTICIPATE that talks to end the government shutdown will pick up a smidge.  The White House may chat with the congressional leadership and some offers may be swapped beginning today.

Hezbollah leaders targeted, reportedly hit in Israeli airstrike, U.S. official says  —  Several leaders of Hezbollah have reportedly been hit by an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital of Damascus.  —  The information was given to Newsweek from a Department of Defense source with access …

Arms Sales to Saudis Leave American Fingerprints on Yemen's Carnage  —  CAIRO — When a Saudi F-15 warplane takes off from King Khalid air base in southern Saudi Arabia for a bombing run over Yemen, it is not just the plane and the bombs that are American.  —  American mechanics service the jet and carry out repairs on the ground.

ICE dumps hundreds of migrants with nowhere to go at a bus station on eve of Christmas without warning shelters  —  Lawmakers and immigrant rights groups scramble after ICE releases hundreds of migrants without alerting local shelters. … EL PASO - Hundreds of asylum-seekers spent part …