Trump Defends Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan for Some Reason  —  In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded neighboring Afghanistan.  The American interpretation of this invasion, shared by both parties, is that the Soviets were propping up a faltering communist client state, following the …

The survivor: Nancy Pelosi makes history — again  —  The past seven speakers of the House have lost their majority, been forced out by their own colleagues, or stepped down amid personal scandal.  One of them — Nancy Pelosi — now has a second chance to rewrite her legacy.

China Lands Spacecraft on Far Side of Moon  —  BEIJING — China reached a milestone in space exploration on Thursday, landing a vehicle on the far side of the moon for the first time in history, state media announced.  —  The landing of the probe, called Chang'e-4 after the moon goddess …

Mitt Romney's op-ed crystallizes all the reasons the old GOP establishment has been pushed aside  —  Henry Olsen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of “The Working Class Republican: Ronald Reagan and the Return of Blue-Collar Conservatism.”

Sanders allies contrite, defiant amid harassment allegations  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and his chief lieutenants are offering contrition and defiance as they face allegations of sexual harassment that plagued his last presidential campaign and now threaten to derail a second White House bid before it begins.

Old Post Office Tower on Trump property to reopen during shutdown with federal funding  —  The Old Post Office Tower, which shares facilities with the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., will reopen by the end of the week after being closed due to the partial government shutdown.

Dems face opportunity — and pitfalls — in new House majority  —  Democrats won the House.  Now comes the hard part.  —  When the 116th Congress convenes Thursday, the new majority will immediately begin pushing both an ambitious legislative agenda and an aggressive oversight campaign of Donald Trump's presidency.

To beat Trump, Democrats must counter his lies with realistic solutions  —  Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, is former governor of Virginia.  —  As I traveled around the country campaigning for Democrats this past year, one of my takeaways was that there is an overwhelming desire among voters for a return to reality.

Letter from Tim Cook to Apple Investors  —  CUPERTINO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Apple® today issued the following public letter to investors:  —  To Apple investors:  —  Today we are revising our guidance for Apple's fiscal 2019 first quarter, which ended on December 29.  We now expect the following:

Source: Trump tells Schumer he can't accept Dems' offer because he'd ‘look foolish’  —  Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump told a group of lawmakers he can't accept Democrats' offer to re-open the government as the two sides negotiate border wall funding because he “would look foolish if I did that …

North Korea's Envoy to Italy Disappears, Raising Suspicions of a Defection  —  TOKYO — North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy disappeared from the embassy in Rome in November, apparently in a defection attempt, according to a South Korean lawmaker briefed by intelligence officials.

I Don't Hate Women Candidates — I Just Hated Hillary and Coincidentally I'm Starting to Hate Elizabeth Warren  —  “How does Warren avoid a Clinton redux — written off as too unlikable before her campaign gets off the ground?”  — Politico, 12/31/18  —  I have no problem with women.

Italy invented coffee culture.  Now it's a coffee time capsule.  —  TREVISO, Italy — The coffee shop would have been at home in so many other countries.  —  But it certainly didn't seem Italian.  —  The first oddity was the menu, which included cold brews and pour-overs that are commonplace …

How to End Government Shutdowns, Forever  —  As the third government shutdown of the Donald J. Trump presidency drags on, the miserable effects are piling up.  Federal workers, hundreds of thousands of whom are furloughed, are struggling to pay their bills and picking up temporary gigs to make ends meet …

Mark Harris says he'll go to court as officials delay hearing on election fraud  —  Republican Mark Harris said Wednesday he'll ask a Wake County Superior Court judge to certify his election in the 9th Congressional District immediately, even as a probe into alleged election fraud continues.

Trump gives new Pentagon chief a taste of his world view  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — On his first working day in charge of the Pentagon, Pat Shanahan got a taste of President Donald Trump's scattershot way of looking at the world.  —  As Shanahan sat to Trump's left at a Cabinet meeting at the White House …

California's Rep. Brad Sherman to introduce impeachment measure … Rep. Brad Sherman plans to introduce articles of impeachment against President Trump on Thursday, the first day of Democratic control of the House.  —  Sherman (D-Northridge) is reintroducing a measure that he first rolled out in 2017.

Brazil's Bolsonaro targets LGBT people, Indigenous groups on 1st day in office  —  SAO PAULO — Newly installed President Jair Bolsonaro targeted Brazil's indigenous groups, descendants of slaves and the LGBT community with executive orders in the first hours of his administration …