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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 …
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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.
Discussion:
Political Wire


Brown seeks Obama meeting as he considers presidential run — Sen. Sherrod Brown hasn't decided whether he's running for president — but he's checking off a lot of the boxes that come along the way. — The Ohio Democrat is reaching out to fellow senators and party officials in early primary and caucus states.

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.
Discussion:
The Week, KTLA, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Gateway Pundit, Law & Crime and Axios
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8-year-old Guatemalan boy dies in US custody on Christmas
Discussion:
ImmigrationProf Blog


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 …


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.


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
Discussion:
Politico, BuzzFeed News, Associated Press, Balloon Juice, The Week, Raw Story, Washington Times, MyNorthwest.com, Mediaite and Bloomberg
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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 …
Discussion:
Raw Story and Political Wire


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.
Discussion:
Breitbart, Joe.My.God., The Daily Caller, Mediaite, IJR and twitchy.com
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Russia Considers Constitution Changes as Putin Faces Term Limits — Speaker of parliament suggests discussing amendments — Analysts see Kremlin effort to allow Putin to extend rule — The speaker of Russia's parliament raised the possibility of changing the constitution …


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.
Discussion:
Jewish Policy Center

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 …


Selling Real Estate in Russia? Are You Crazy? — MOSCOW — Elena Y. Kotova's one-room apartment on the outskirts of Moscow had started to feel cramped. Her son was almost 4 years old. She and her husband had solid jobs, she as an economist and he as a manager of a construction company.