‘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 …

Trump rips into Fox News over shutdown, border wall coverage  —  President Trump on Sunday blasted a pair of Fox News reporters over their coverage of the border wall negotiations, claiming that they have “less understanding” than journalists at “fake news CNN & NBC.”

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.

Howard Schultz knows some Dems are going to hate him  —  Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz tells Axios he's “unfazed” by the online trashing from Democrats who think that by running for president as an independent, he could split the anti-Trump vote and re-elect the president.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

‘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.

Treasury Dept. Lifts Sanctions on Russian Oligarch's Companies  —  The Trump administration on Sunday lifted sanctions against the business empire of Oleg V. Deripaska, one of Russia's most influential oligarchs.  —  Congressional Democrats had tried to block the move this month …

We demand BuzzFeed pay out earned paid time off to its recently laid-off employees.  —  To Jonah Peretti, Lenke Taylor, and Ben Smith:  —  We are the BuzzFeed News Staff Council, a group of employees appointed to open up the lines of communication between News employees and company management.

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 …

Congressional leaders point fingers after shutdown deal  —  Leaders differ on immigration deal details but both sides say they would like to see find ways to avoid future shutdowns.  —  WASHINGTON — With the clock ticking on the temporary deal that reopened the government …

Elite Law Firm's All-White Partner Class Stirs Debate on Diversity  —  The post appeared on LinkedIn in early December: Paul, Weiss, one of the country's most prominent and profitable law firms, said it was “pleased to announce” its new partner class.  —  In the image, 12 lawyers looked out at the world, grinning.

'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 …

It's time to blow up the bureaucracy that's killing America … For decades now, Americans have slogged through a rising tide of idiocies.  Getting a permit to do something useful, say, open a restaurant or fix a bridge, can take years.  Small businesses get nicked for noncompliance of rules they didn't know.

Missouri school ponders white-only racism workshop  —  A Missouri school is considering a segregated safe space for white students to talk about their racism and white privilege.  —  Vincent Flewellen, chief diversity officer at Webster University in St. Louis, has plans for a new program based off a book …

For Bill Simmons's The Ringer, Podcasting Is the Main Event  —  Former ESPN commentator Bill Simmons is embracing his role as a contrarian in the media industry.  His young company The Ringer has bet big on digital audio, with a network of 28 podcasts that garner about 35 million downloads a month.