Trump's Lawyer Said There Were “No Plans” For Trump Tower Moscow.  Here They Are.  —  Trump's lawyer claims the Moscow tower was barely more than a notion.  “There were no drafts.  Nothing in the file.”  Documents obtained by BuzzFeed News tell a different story.

The Covington Scissor  —  Welcome to another controversy algorithmically designed to tear America apart.  —  In a short story published last October, “Sort by Controversial,” Scott Alexander imagines a Silicon Valley company that accidentally comes up with an algorithm to generate what it calls a “Scissor.”

Senate Leaders Plan Competing Bills to End Shutdown  —  Senate Leaders Plan Competing Bills on Shutdown  — Most Republicans remain united behind President Trump's insistence that any legislation to reopen the government include money for a border wall.  — But most Democrats are opposed …

Divorce filing: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says her husband physically attacked her  —  Years before her divorce, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst was assaulted by her husband after she confronted him about his alleged affair with their daughter's babysitter, she wrote in court filings.

Trump preparing two State of the Union speeches for different audiences: Sources  —  President Donald Trump is preparing for two different State of the Union speeches - one a more traditional address delivered to Congress in the House chamber or some other location in D.C. …

Mueller wants to know about 2016 Trump campaign's ties to NRA  —  Washington (CNN)Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has expressed interest in the Trump campaign's relationship with the National Rifle Association during the 2016 campaign.  —  “When I was interviewed by the special counsel's office …

Ocasio-Cortez Builds a National Platform, but a District Office?  Not Open Yet  —  [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]  —  In three short weeks in office, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has shaped a national conversation on taxation …

Top diplomat for European affairs resigns from State Department  —  A. Wess Mitchell, the top diplomat in charge of European affairs, will resign from the State Department next month, creating a key vacancy at a time when European leaders are questioning President Trump's commitment to historic alliances.

Power struggle paralyzes ‘irrelevant’ White House press shop  —  Washington (CNN)White House press briefings, in steady decline even before the partial government shutdown, have now ground to a halt as a prolonged power struggle among President Donald Trump's aides leads to a muddled messaging strategy …

McConnell to Allow Votes on Competing Bills to End Shutdown  — Democratic bill would temporarily reopen shuttered agencies  — Trump's bill calls for $5.7 billion in border wall funding  —  Senate leaders have agreed to votes on rival proposals for reopening the government …

Supreme Court Revives Ban on Transgender Military Service  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday revived the Trump administration's policy of barring most transgender people from serving in the military.  In a brief, unsigned order, the justices lifted nationwide injunctions that had blocked the policy.

Mitch McConnell Got Everything He Wanted.  But at What Cost?  —  The president whom the Senate Republican leader helped elect has turned out to be the one thing he can't control.  —  At sunrise, there it was: a red-tailed hawk, its gyre widening over the United States Capitol building …

Trump's liaison to Congress eyeing exit  —  Shahira Knight, the president's legislative affairs director and a central figure in the White House's shutdown negotiations with Congress, is planning to leave the White House in the coming months, according to four sources familiar with her plans.

Corporate America Is Getting Ready to Monetize Climate Change  — Storms, floods, drought and heat waves worry largest companies  — Merck, Apple, Home Depot also see new revenue opportunities  —  Bank of America Corp. worries flooded homeowners will default on their mortgages.

Judge denies Mark Harris request to certify his win despite election fraud investigation  —  The state's investigation into alleged election fraud by the Mark Harris campaign will continue, a judge ruled Tuesday morning.  —  Harris is the Republican candidate who appeared to narrowly win …

Welch bill would prohibit forcing federal employees to work without pay  —  SOUTH BURLINGTON — Rep. Peter Welch unveiled a “never again” bill Tuesday that would prevent federal employees from being required to work without pay during any current or future government shutdowns.

Trump Polling At Only 41-42% Against Possible Democratic Foes  —  PPP's newest national poll finds that at the midway point of Donald Trump's term as President, he's a clear underdog for reelection.  —  Trump gets just 41 or 42% in head to head match ups against 7 likely Democratic candidates for President.

Dan Snyder Buys $100 Million Yacht As D.C. Officials Work To Woo Back His Football Team  —  Dan Snyder, the owner of Washington's football team, has purchased a $100 million superyacht that its builders say will “redefine the boundaries of luxury yacht construction,” including a two-deck Imax theater and a helipad.

How Trump Offered NASA Unlimited Funding to Go to Mars in His First Term  —  Donald Trump nearly derailed a televised call to the International Space Station after he got distracted, first by a sudden fantasy of going to Mars before the end of his first term in the White House …

Campaign workers demand minimum wage, progressive culture from 2020 Dems  —  Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., left, accompanied by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., right, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, to unveil their Medicare for All legislation to reform health care.

El Chapo planned to flee authorities in his car while naked … He didn't want to be exposed.  —  After Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman escaped authorities by running nude through a secret underground tunnel in 2014, the Mexican drug lord wanted to steal a car — while still butt naked, his former mistress testified Tuesday.

Scientists teach a robot dog to get back up after they kick it down … The relationship between humans and dog-like robots seemingly follows this timeline:  —  OK, so the last point may not be necessarily true (yet), but the first two points certainly are.

Fox News anchor Baier, family in car crash, released from hospital  —  Fox News anchor Bret Baier and his family were in a car accident while vacationing in Montana on Monday, which CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert described as serious.  —  “We just found out that he and his family …

Judiciary Has Funds to Operate Through Jan. 31  —  The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) now estimates that federal courts can sustain funded operations through Jan. 31, 2019.  The Judiciary continues to explore ways to conserve funds so it can sustain paid operations through Feb. 1.