Barr doesn't accept key inspector general finding about FBI's Russia investigation  —  Attorney General William P. Barr has told associates he disagrees with the Justice Department's inspector general on one of the key findings in an upcoming report — that the FBI had enough information …

Rep. Duncan Hunter to plead guilty in campaign finance scandal, leave Congress  —  Longtime congressman says he wants to spare his family the spectacle of a trial, which was to start Jan. 22  —  After years of denials and claims he was the target of a political witch hunt, Rep. Duncan Hunter …

Senate panel look into Ukraine interference comes up short  —  With the impeachment inquiry charging forward, President Donald Trump's allies have defended his demand for political investigations from Ukraine by claiming that the government in Kyiv tried to sabotage his candidacy and boost Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Biden says he doesn't need Obama's endorsement  —  EMMETSBURG, Iowa — Former Vice President Joe Biden on Monday said he didn't need Barack Obama's endorsement in the Democratic primary, even if the field were down to three people.  —  He also scoffed at the notion that Sen. Elizabeth Warren …

Democrats quietly debate expanding impeachment articles beyond Ukraine  —  House Democrats are quietly debating whether to expand articles of impeachment to include charges beyond abuse of power in the Ukraine controversy, setting up a potential internal clash as the party races to impeach President Trump by Christmastime.

North Dakota company that Trump touted gets $400 million border wall contract  —  A company that President Trump urged military officials to hire for border wall construction has been awarded a $400 million contract to build a span of new barrier across an Arizona wildlife refuge …

Melania Trump's Christmas decorations are lovely, but that coat looks ridiculous  —  First lady Melania Trump unveiled this year's White House Christmas decorations in a gauzy video in which she strolls through the public rooms marveling at their holiday luster.

Giuliani Associate Lev Parnas Cleared to Comply With Impeachment Subpoena  —  MANHATTAN (CN) - A federal judge paved the way on Monday for Rudy Giuliani's associate Lev Parnas to comply with a House subpoena for information relevant to the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Photo Manipulated to Show Schiff With Epstein  —  Quick Take  —  A doctored photo circulating on Facebook purports to show Rep. Adam Schiff with the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  The original photo shows Schiff with his father.  —  Full Story

Democrat Beto O'Rourke turns his attention to flipping the Texas House  —  A month after ending his presidential campaign, Democrat Beto O'Rourke has turned his attention to state politics — namely, an effort to help flip the Texas House of Representatives from Republican control to the Democrats.

Trump administration quietly releases Lebanon military aid  —  1 of 3  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has quietly released more than $100 million in military assistance to Lebanon after months of unexplained delay.  —  That's according to two congressional staffers …

‘A pretty strong betrayal’: Brazil's Bolsonaro joins other leaders in learning that a good personal relationship with Trump has its limits  —  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro learned the hard way Monday what many other leaders have discovered before him: A good personal relationship with President Trump has its limits.

China Uses DNA to Map Faces, With Help From the West  —  Beijing's pursuit of control over a Muslim ethnic group pushes the rules of science and raises questions about consent.  —  TUMXUK, China — In a dusty city in the Xinjiang region on China's western frontier, the authorities are testing the rules of science.

French Wine Could Face 100% Tariffs as Trump Confronts France Over Tech Taxes  —  A report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative renewed a conflict between the countries, which had negotiated a temporary truce in August.  —  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said on Monday …

The surprising second choices of Democratic primary voters upend political cliches  —  A war between ‘progressives’ and ‘moderates’?  Voters don't see things the way pundits do.  —  To many observers, the Democratic presidential primary has highlighted the “profound ideological divides between …

Bloomberg overtakes Harris in new poll  —  Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D) topped Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) in a new Hill-HarrisX poll of the Democratic presidential primary race.  —  The survey released on Monday found that support for the former mayor ticked …

Border Patrol threw away migrants' belongings.  A janitor saved and photographed them  —  From a distance, it's hard to make out the details of a bright yellow photograph that seems like a piece of Pop art.  But up close, the carefully arranged assortment of objects — colorful pills …

Iran state TV says ‘rioters’ shot and killed amid protests  —  A breakdown, by city and province, of the protest-related deaths reported by Amnesty International.  1 of 3  —  A breakdown, by city and province, of the protest-related deaths reported by Amnesty International.