Former White House officials say they feared Putin influenced the president's views on Ukraine and 2016 campaign  —  Almost from the moment he took office, President Trump seized on a theory that troubled his senior aides: Ukraine, he told them on many occasions, had tried to stop him from winning the White House.

Trump Lawyers Ask If Pelosi Delay Means He Isn't Impeached Yet  — White House theory on impeachment status largely rhetorical  — Trump says ‘unconstitutional’ not to give articles to Senate  —  Lawyers close to President Donald Trump are exploring whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision …

Trump Should Be Removed from Office  —  It's time to say what we said 20 years ago when a president's character was revealed for what it was.  —  In our founding documents, Billy Graham explains that Christianity Today will help evangelical Christians interpret the news in a manner that reflects their faith.

Twelve Million Phones, One Dataset, Zero Privacy  —  EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY, everywhere on the planet, dozens of companies — largely unregulated, little scrutinized — are logging the movements of tens of millions of people with mobile phones and storing the information in gigantic data files.

Van Drew pledges ‘undying support’ for Trump as he switches parties  —  After breaking with Democrats on impeachment, Rep. Jeff Van Drew decided to joint the GOP.  —  President Donald Trump on Thursday meets with Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched his party affiliation to the GOP.  Evan Vucci/AP Photo

A D.C. strip club had been there for years.  But a new name is sparking protest.  —  For several decades, the neighbors had maintained an uneasy coexistence with the Northwest Washington strip bar, at one point forging an agreement that banned the proprietor from putting up signs that contained any hint of sexual innuendo.

White House defends Trump as ‘counter-puncher’ after he suggests late Michigan congressman in hell  —  The president suggested the late Rep. John Dingell was “looking up.”  —  WASHINGTON — After President Donald Trump lashed out against a Michigan congresswoman for supporting his impeachment …

Queens man impeached  —  Former Jamaica Estates resident Donald Trump was impeached Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives.  He is the third president to be impeached in United States history — and the first from Queens.  —  Trump is accused of pressuring the Ukrainian government …

First in POLITICO Playbook: Mark Meadows to leave Congress, plus what McConnell will say on impeachment  —  “OBVIOUSLY, I'VE LOOKED AT THIS AS A TEMPORARY JOB,” Meadows told us in an interview Wednesday, speaking of serving in the House.  “Endorsed term limits — never ran on a term-limit pledge.

J.K. Rowling's latest tweet seems like transphobic BS.  Her fans are heartbroken.  —  JKR just ruined Harry Potter, Merry Christmas.  —  Eagle-eyed Harry Potter fans have spent several years voicing their growing concerns that their hero, author J.K. Rowling, might be transphobic.

‘Meet the Press’ to shine light on political disinformation  —  In this Nov. 17, 2019 photo released by NBC, Moderator Chuck Todd appears on “Meet the Press” in Washington.  A special “Meet the Press” episode on disinformation in politics is scheduled for Dec. 29.

Pompeo gets a new deputy amid speculation of a Senate run  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has a new deputy, assuring a degree of continuity at the helm of U.S. diplomacy should he resign for a potential Senate bid.  —  The Senate voted overwhelmingly 90-3 on Thursday …

Exclusive: Phrase ‘White Nationalists’ Cut From Measure To Screen Military Enlistees  —  Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the measure's author, fears other lawmakers are not taking the threat of white nationalists in the military seriously.  —  A measure in the National Defense Authorization Act meant …

Of Course Last Night's Impeachments Had the Most ‘Yes’ Votes in History  —  Jonathan Allen tweets: “Unprecedented: Trump now holds the record for most votes ever acquired on an article of impeachment at 230.  He's also No. 2 at 229.”  I guess the implication is that this makes Trump's …

Harvey Weinstein Accused of Sexually Assaulting 16-Year-Old Model in New Lawsuit  —  Kaja Sokola alleges she was assaulted in 2002 after coming to the U.S. from Poland to work as a model at the age of 16.  —  On the heels of an announcement that The Weinstein Co. has come …

‘Lot of issues’: Former Obama doctor says Biden ‘not a healthy guy’  —  Former President Barack Obama's once-longtime doctor said the medical records Joe Biden's campaign disclosed are concerning and incomplete.  —  “He's not a healthy guy,” Dr. David Scheiner, who was Obama's personal physician …

The False claim comparing Jesus before Pontius Pilate and Trump's impeachment  —  During the House debate on the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, Rep. Barry Loudermilk closed his remarks with a statement that drew its own headlines.  —  “Before you take this historic vote today …

Top Indian official abruptly cancels meeting with congressional leaders over Kashmir criticisms  —  India's external affairs minister abruptly canceled a meeting with senior members of Congress this week after U.S. lawmakers refused demands to exclude a congresswoman who has criticized …

A Lonely Plea: ‘Anybody Need a Grandma for Christmas?’  —  A woman from Tulsa, Okla., with no place to go for the holidays became a painful reminder of the isolation felt by many older Americans.  —  This month on Craigslist, tucked among ads for worn couches and dusty pianos, was an odd and poignant offer from a woman in Tulsa.

Iowa man sentenced to 16 years for setting LGBTQ flag on fire  —  An Ames man was sentenced Wednesday to about 16 years in prison after he set fire to a church LGBTQ flag in June.  —  Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, last month was found guilty of a hate crime — a class “D” felony — third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire.

Republicans are outmatched, outwitted and outclassed  —  The gap between the two parties was never more evident than in the floor speeches Wednesday night on the articles of impeachment.  The parties operate not only in different ideological universes but also on entirely different intellectual levels.

How 2 Soviet Émigrés Fueled the Trump Impeachment Flames  —  “Lev and Igor” were obscure businessmen who became fixtures of the Republican donor set.  Then they played an unlikely role in the proceedings gripping the nation.  —  On a warm summer evening last year …

Why the Child Tax Credit is the wrong policy for low-income families  —  Congressional efforts to expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in this year's spending bill were unsuccessful, but Congress seems intent on increasing it, as it has done so regularly since the CTC was first legislated more than 20 years ago.

Who's Behind the Mysterious PAC Dropping Huge Sums to Reelect Susan Collins?  —  From its TV spots to its digital ads to its financial backing, all signs point towards 1820 PAC's involvement with the US Chamber of Commerce.  —  BEAST INSIDE  —  One of the most vulnerable Republican 2020 Senate incumbents …

House votes to amend constitution to pick judges by district  —  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Majority Republicans in the state House on Wednesday took the first step to amend the Pennsylvanian Constitution so that appeals court judges would be elected by district rather than statewide.

Inside the Secret List of Demands Warren Gave Hillary  —  Elizabeth Warren had a list for Hillary.  —  In December 2014, Clinton's team began worrying that Warren was reconsidering a presidential run and arranged a meeting between the two principals at Clinton's home in Washington.

The big, ugly lie driving Trump's rant about being impeached  —  Now that President Trump has been impeached by the House, it has already been widely observed that Trump has not shown a hint of contrition, as Bill Clinton did, or any sense of obligation to accept a shred of responsibility …

Obama golfed in Hawaii as Trump was being impeached  —  While President Trump was hunkered down in the White House monitoring impeachment proceedings Wednesday, his predecessor in the Oval Office was hitting the links in Hawaii.  —  Photos show Barack Obama — a native of Honolulu …

Ilhan Omar is called an adulteress in court as her Democratic aide lover and his wife formally divorce - and he leaves the hearing grinning and clapping in glee  — Ilhan Omar's campaign fundraiser strategist and lover Tim Mynett, 38, has officially divorced from his wife Beth Jordan, 55, DailyMail.com can reveal