Netflix pulls episode of comedy show in Saudi Arabia  —  Netflix has removed an episode of a comedy show critical of Saudi Arabia after the internet streaming service received a complaint from the kingdom, renewing concerns about government control over freedom of expression on online platforms.

To understand culture in 2018, you must understand Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson  —  You can't truly describe the year 2018 without talking about Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson.  —  Like so many inexplicable pop-culture sensations, Grande and Davidson's relationship — engaged after three weeks …

Family of American arrested in Russia on spy charges fears for his safety  —  MOSCOW — The family of the American citizen arrested in Russia on espionage charges said on Tuesday that he is innocent, and they fear for his safety.  —  Paul Whelan, a 48-year-old retired U.S. Marine …

Manchester Victoria stabbing: Eyewitness claims attacker shouted ‘Allah’  —  Sam Clack, a BBC producer, was on a platform at Manchester Victoria railway station waiting for a tram when he witnessed the attack  —  A knifeman shouted ‘Allah’ after stabbing innocent commuters at Victoria Station, an eye-witness has claimed.

Trump: Warren's ‘psychiatrist’ knows whether she thinks she can win White House in 2020  —  In an exclusive interview set to air during Fox News' ‘All-American New Year’ special Monday night, President Trump suggested that only Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren's “psychiatrist” …

American Federation of Government Employees and Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch Sue the Government Over Shutdown  —  Washington D.C. - Today, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch (KCNF DC) sued the federal government on behalf of AFGE members …

Trump: No Money for Wall, No Signature on Bill to Fund Government  —  House Democrats plan to vote on package later this week  —  Trump Digs In For Border Wall Fight With Foe His Base Loves to Hate White House Targets Pelosi Even After Trump's ‘Proud’ Shutdown Vow Congress, Trump Basically Give Up on Ending Partial Shutdown Until 2019

2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates Are Lining Up.  Who Matches the Moment?  —  Senator Elizabeth Warren's formation of an exploratory committee for president on Monday represents a sort of political ball drop, the beginning of a new year and new campaign that will feature an unusually large number …

U.S. Strategic Command deletes New Year's Eve joke about dropping something ‘bigger’  —  “If ever needed, we are #ready to drop something much, much bigger,” the unified command, part of the Defense Department, tweeted.  —  U.S. Strategic Command made an unexpected joke in a now-deleted Twitter post …

MSNBC is surging  —  MSNBC host Rachel Maddow can speak at length on many topics.  The whims and demographics of her cable-news audience, however, are not among them.  “I think I may just be lucky that we're at a time in the news cycle where there is an appetite for that kind of explanatory work …

Hackers Threaten to Dump Insurance Files Related to 9/11 Attacks  —  The Dark Overlord appears to be trying to capitalize on conspiracy theories about the September 11 attacks.  —  On Monday, New Year's Eve, a hacker group announced it had breached a law firm handling cases related …

A Trump family aide tried to get a HUD colleague fired by name-dropping Eric Trump  —  Just three weeks into the Trump presidency, Lynne Patton, a longtime Trump family aide and freshly minted HUD senior adviser, had a personnel problem she deemed serious enough to invoke her powerful connections.

'We Do All We Can So That People Don't Kill Each Other': The Experiment to Stop Latin America's Carnage  —  Places in Ecuador and Colombia are exceptions to the region's surge in homicides; turning gang members into garbage collectors, and firing hundreds of corrupt police officers

The Year in Pictures: Highlights Edition  —  It is hard to select the best of the Week in Pictures, but going back through them I realized how fast the year went (because Trump years are like dog years).  It seems like decades ago that we were obsessing over Tide Pods, plastic straw bans, and a government shut down.

Trump claims there's a 10-foot wall around the Obamas' D.C. home.  Neighbors say there's not.  —  In one of his most recent arguments for a southern border wall, President Trump on Sunday falsely claimed that the Washington home of former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama is surrounded by a 10-foot wall.