Jerry Falwell Jr. can't imagine Trump 'doing anything that's not good for the country'  —  He lives with his wife, Becki, in Bedford County, Va.  —  You said recently that conservatives and Christians should stop electing nice guys.  Aren't Christians supposed to be nice guys?  —  Of course, of course.

Trump goes after retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal for ‘big, dumb mouth’  —  President Donald Trump took on retired four-star Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal today, saying he “got fired like a dog” and is known for his “big, dumb mouth” — comments that come on the heels of the general criticizing the president.

'I'm embarrassed for America': Puzzled viewers slam NBC for its ‘train-wreck’ New Year's Eve coverage after it failed to show the ball drop and aired Chrissy Teigen talking about ‘vaginal steaming’  — Angry viewers described it as a ‘train-wreck’ after the network failed to show …

Trump invites congressional leaders to White House for wall briefing  —  The meeting would be the first time the president has sat down with Democrats since the shutdown started.  —  President Donald Trump has invited congressional leaders to a Wednesday afternoon briefing on the border wall …

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 …

How Biden Has Paved the Way for a Possible Presidential Run … 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates Are Lining Up.  Who Matches the Moment? … Senator Elizabeth Warren said she will campaign this weekend in Iowa as she forms a presidential exploratory committee.  —  SPACE EXPLORATION

Brazil Is About To Show The World How A Modern Democracy Collapses  —  Far-right president Jair Bolsonaro is a threat to Brazilian democracy — and a model for authoritarianism that leaders around the world will follow.  —  RIO DE JANEIRO — The tanks began to roll into Rio de Janeiro …

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.

Beyond ‘no comment’: The White House has no response — at all — to many media questions  —  The New York Times published a powerful story last week about President Trump's growing isolation in the White House, with colorful details such as Trump's tendency to interrupt advisers during meetings to call them …

Gifting Daniel Snyder any money or land for a new Redskins stadium would be absolute madness  —  You've got to be either a drunk, a gambler or Daniel Snyder to tank your business in the NFL.  The Washington Redskins owner has firmly established just what a bad investment risk he is.

Child injured during ‘Rhino Encounter’ at Brevard Zoo in Florida  —  A child was injured after falling into a rhino exhibit Tuesday at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida.  —  The toddler, who is approximately 2 years old, and the mother were taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital For Children …

American Accused of Spying in Russia Is a Marine Veteran, Family Says  —  LONDON — The American man who was arrested last week in Russia on a spying charge is a Marine Corps veteran who was in Moscow to attend a wedding, his family said on Tuesday.  —  Russia's Federal Security Service …

How Trump Got Bad at Twitter  —  The late-December tweet from @RealDonaldTrump was brief and absurd: “Farm Bill signing in 15 minutes!  #Emmys #TBT.”  It was accompanied by a clip from the 2005 Emmy awards in which the future leader of the free world, wearing a straw hat and overalls …

How the shutdown is reaching a breaking point  —  Nine federal departments haven't received a cent in federal funding in more than a week.  —  They've limped along on leftover money, coasted through the quiet days of the holidays and paid staff with checks already prepped before the lapse.

Why the West Coast Is Suddenly Beating the East Coast on Transportation  —  [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]  —  When New York City's transportation commissioner returned from a recent trip to California, she seemed downright jealous.

Sabarimala temple: Indian women form ‘620km human chain’ for equality  —  Women in the southern Indian state of Kerala have formed a 620km (385-mile) human chain “in support of gender equality”, amid a row over access to a prominent Hindu temple.  —  The Sabarimala shrine was historically closed …

House Democrats unveil plans to end shutdown — without money for Trump border wall  —  The partial federal government shutdown enters its second week - and the new year - without a deal to re-open the government, as both sides dig in over funding for a barrier on the border with Mexico.