Mike Bloomberg Statement on Independent Run  —  Last fall I spent over $100 million of my own money to elect Democrats to the House because I believed it was absolutely imperative to ensure a congressional counterweight to President Trump.  —  Thankfully, we were successful.

‘Want to see the Lincoln bedroom?’:  Trump relishes role as White House tour guide  —  When President Trump brings senators, New York friends or other guests to the Oval Office, he occasionally opens a door near his desk summoning guests to follow.  Flashing a grin, he wants his friends …

The government shutdown cost the economy $11 billion, including a permanent $3 billion loss, Congressional Budget Office says  — The federal government shutdown cost the economy $11 billion, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

As Trump slides in new poll, he retreats deeper into Fox News fantasyland  —  A new Post-ABC News poll finds that most Americans believe President Trump is failing spectacularly by many different metrics.  Large majorities say he doesn't have the temperament to be president …

Wall Street freaks out about 2020  —  NEW YORK — Top Wall Street executives would love to be rid of President Donald Trump.  But they are getting panicked about the prospect of an ultraliberal Democratic nominee bent on raising taxes and slapping regulations on their firms.

Do You Still Have A Job At BuzzFeed?  —  “As you know, the company is going thru a reorganization...”  —  This post has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff.  BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone create a post.  Learn more or post your buzz!

Trump Thought Firing Flynn Would End ‘Russia Thing,’ Chris Christie Writes in Book  —  President Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, believed that the “Russia thing” would end as a side effect from the firing of the national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn …

‘Mean as a Snake’: When President Trump Met the Real Mitch McConnell  —  It's nearly impossible to have a conversation while waiting on the president to make an appearance.  Instead, everyone steals glances at the closed door, waiting for it to open, and converses in short …

Another Side of #MeToo: Male Managers Fearful of Mentoring Women  —  DAVOS, Switzerland — Men attending the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this year were worried about a lot of things.  A global economic slowdown.  Threats to cybersecurity.  Populism.  War.

State of the Union will not take place Tuesday, Pelosi aide says  —  Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump's second State of the Union address will not take place on Tuesday, an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN.  —  The aide confirmed that the address, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday …

Kamala Harris emerges as a 2020 front-runner, but is that a good thing? … Even before Kamala Harris' campaign launch in Oakland on Sunday, her nascent 2020 bid had already hit full gallop — a star turn on “Good Morning America,” a self-reported seven-figure fundraising milestone, a friendly reception in a key primary state.

$1.5 trillion U.S. tax cut has no major impact on business capex plans: survey  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration's $1.5 trillion cut tax package appeared to have no major impact on businesses' capital investment or hiring plans, according to a survey released a year …

U.S. and Taliban Agree in Principle to Peace Framework, Envoy Says  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — American and Taliban officials have agreed in principle to the framework of a peace deal in which the insurgents guarantee to prevent Afghan territory from being used by terrorists …

Chicago's record for coldest temperature ever could fall as polar vortex has city ‘in the crosshairs’  —  Snow over the Chicago area arrives ahead of an arctic blast of air that may set new record cold temperatures.  —  One of the coldest air masses in years will envelop the Midwest …

AP-NORC poll: Most Americans oppose Trump's foreign policy  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Americans disapprove of the way President Donald Trump is handling U.S. foreign policy and about half think the country's global standing will deteriorate during the next year …

Hiding Out With Randy Credico, the Stand-Up Comic Who Could Help Put Roger Stone in Prison  —  It is the Wednesday after the midterms, and comedian and longtime New York political stuntman Randy Credico is smoking an e-cigarette at the Friars Club bar, expounding on his theory that the president …

'World's loneliest duck' Trevor dies on tiny Niue  —  A lone duck named Trevor that lived on the tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has died, officials say, sparking an outpouring of grief from as far away as New Zealand.  —  The celebrity mallard found fame last year after a visiting journalist …

Post-shutdown negotiations look brutal for Trump  —  Lawmakers in both parties are skeptical about President Trump's chances of securing funding for his wall on the Mexican border after a 35-day partial government shutdown that bruised the White House's political standing.

The Trump Administration Is Making a Mockery of the Supreme Court  —  It promised to create a ‘robust’ waiver process for visa applicants from countries affected by the travel ban.  The process is a sham.  —  Ms. Fisher and Ms. Power advocate for the rights of refugees.

Trump's Border Wall for Asylum Seekers  —  Families fleeing danger have been told to go to a U.S. port of entry, where border agents have been instructed to turn them away.  —  Ms. Leutert is a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, and Mr. Drake is a lawyer at the A.C.L.U. Border Rights Center.

Tries to Examine Dick Cheney's Heart, but Conveniently Overlooks His Brain  —  Adam McKay's biopic depicts Cheney as merely power hungry, overlooking the political beliefs that really drove his life's work.  —  V  —  ice  —  , the lively Dick Cheney biopic that racked up  —  eight Oscar nominations this week