AT WAR WITH THE TRUTH … A confidential trove of government documents obtained by The Washington Post reveals that senior U.S. officials failed to tell the truth about the war in Afghanistan throughout the 18-year campaign, making rosy pronouncements they knew to be false and hiding unmistakable evidence the war had become unwinnable.

Barr Allows for Release of Additional Details About Ex-Spy Behind Steele Dossier  —  The British former spy was told on the eve of its release that a highly anticipated inspector general's report would contain further information about him than he had expected.

The Indispensable Man: How Giuliani Led Trump to the Brink of Impeachment  —  Not so long ago, it seemed to Rudolph W. Giuliani that he would be presiding over a hefty part of the world.  —  Holding court a few nights after the 2016 election in a private cigar bar on Fifth Avenue …

BREAKING: As Impeachment Moves Ahead Trump Surges in Battleground States  —  Firehouse/Optimus December Battleground State Poll: As Impeachment Moves Ahead, President Trump Well-Positioned Against Leading Democratic Contenders  —  This week we continued our quarterly battleground polling series in Michigan …

Seven Outright Falsehoods in GOP Staff Report on Impeachment  —  On December 2, 2019, Republican staff of the three committees overseeing the impeachment inquiry published a report prepared for the GOP Chairs: Representatives Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan, and Michael McCaul.

Kamala Harris Leads Senators In Demanding ‘Immediate Removal’ Of Stephen Miller  —  More than half of Senate Democrats say Miller's “demonstrable white nationalist ideology has been directly translated” into Trump administration policy.  —  Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) …

Supreme Court upholds Kentucky abortion law mandating ultrasounds  —  The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Kentucky law, mandating doctors perform ultrasounds and show fetal images to patients before they can perform abortions.  —  The high court declined, without comment …

Pelosi, White House Near Handshake Deal on New Nafta Agreement  — Mexico's chief negotiator Seade returns to Washington Monday  — Democrats want to show they can legislate amid impeachment  —  The Trump administration and House Democrats are on the verge of announcing a handshake deal …

Paul A. Volcker, Fed Chairman Who Waged War on Inflation, Is Dead at 92  —  Mr. Volcker helped shape American economic policy for decades, notably by leading the Federal Reserve's brute-force campaign to subdue inflation in the 1970s and '80s.  —  Paul A. Volcker, who helped shape American economic policy …

Judiciary Committee Trump impeachment hearing: Live updates  —  Committee attorneys are laying out evidence from the House Dems' Ukraine probe.  —  LIVE NOW  —  The House Judiciary Committee on Monday is hearing testimony from Democratic lawyers laying out their case for President Donald …

Exclusive: Fox News to Replace Shep Smith With Veteran Anchor Bill Hemmer  —  Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer is taking over Shepard Smith's 3 p.m. slot at Fox News, Mediaite has learned.  —  Hemmer, who joined the network in 2005 after working as an anchor at CNN, currently co-hosts Fox News show America's Newsroom with Sandra Smith.

India Prepares to Block Naturalization for Muslims  —  A bill establishing a religious test for immigration to India is expected to pass Parliament, a major step for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist agenda.  —  HYDERABAD, India — India took a major step toward …

The massive triumph of the rich, illustrated by stunning new data  —  The triumph of the rich, which is one of the defining stories of our time, is generally described as largely the reflection of two factors.  The first, of course, is the explosion of income among top earners …

Claremont Nativity scene depicts Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees separated in cages  —  A Methodist church in Claremont unveiled a Nativity scene Saturday night depicting Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees in cages, likening one of the most well-known images of the Christmas season to photos …

Sanna Marin of Finland to Become World's Youngest Prime Minister  —  At 34, Ms. Marin will head a coalition made up of five parties, in a government led by women.  —  HELSINKI, Finland — Sanna Marin, 34, is set to become the world's youngest sitting prime minister when she is sworn in this week in Finland …

Michelle Obama speaks out on impeachment proceedings: 'It's surreal'  —  The former first lady opened up about a number of issues in an exclusive interview with TODAY's Jenna Bush Hager.  —  Michelle Obama views the impeachment proceedings involving President Donald Trump as “surreal,” …

Devin Nunes's explanations for his Parnas phone calls are getting increasingly outlandish  —  Devin Nunes at a hearing in Washington, DC on December 4, 2019.  Drew Angerer/Getty Images  —  Devin Nunes isn't doing a very plausible job answering questions about his involvement in the Ukraine caper.

Trump business dealings argued at federal appeals court in emoluments case  —  A Department of Justice attorney representing President Trump against allegations he is illegally profiting from his office, told a federal appeals court Monday that Congress would have to pass a new law if it wanted …

Mob Looted Tax-Break Towers Rising Along The High Line: Feds  —  They'll stand as shining symbols of affluence next to The High Line: two towers known as The XI, housing a hotel and 234 condos going for up to $25 million, rising to take their place in the city skyline.

Pelosi gets standing ovation at Kennedy Center Honors  —  Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) received a standing ovation at a Trump-less Kennedy Center Honors late Sunday, which largely stayed away from political talk but had moments that alluded to the tense partisan climate around the country.