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.

Trump makes 'hell'-acious crack about deceased Rep. John Dingell, wife responds  —  The president spoke about the former lawmaker at a campaign rally in his home state of Michigan.  —  President Donald Trump made a macabre quip about late Democratic Rep. John Dingell at his rally in Michigan …

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.

Putin: Trump impeachment ‘far-fetched,’ Senate will acquit  —  MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin called the U.S. impeachment process “far-fetched” Thursday, making a seemingly obvious prediction that Donald Trump will be acquitted in the Senate.

CNN Poll: Joe Biden holds lead heading into December debate  —  (CNN)Joe Biden continues to hold a lead in the race for the Democratic nomination for president and remains the candidate potential Democratic voters think has the best shot to defeat Donald Trump, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS.

U.S. Envoy to Ukraine Was Asked to Step Aside Ahead of Pompeo Visit  —  Timing counters earlier suggestions that Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor's precise departure date was predetermined  —  Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor was instructed by a top aide to Secretary …

Graham warns Giuliani: 'I hope you know what you're talking about'  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned on Wednesday that if Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's personal lawyer, is going to publicly suggest a “cover-up” involving the Bidens and Ukraine “then I hope you know you're talking about.”

President Trump's Fox obsession reshaped the political universe in 2019 … In 2019, President Donald Trump's obsession with Fox News had a major impact on the nation's political environment, driving the administration's responses to a sea of scandals and crises that have culminated …

Surveillance footage outside of Jeffrey Epstein's cell during first suicide attempt is missing  —  Surveillance footage of the outside of Jeffrey Epstein's cell at the troubled Metropolitan Correctional Center during his first suicide attempt has gone missing, prosecutors revealed Wednesday.

The Finance 202: Conservative economists say Trump's promises about his tax cuts did not come true  —  President Trump cites massive tax cuts, his signature legislative achievement, among wins that should dissuade lawmakers and voters from supporting his impeachment.

ANALYSIS: In impeachment vote, how Republicans got to zero  —  After rushed and intense proceedings into the Ukraine affair, the House has voted to impeach President Trump.  The vote was 230 to 197 for the first article of impeachment charging the president with abuse of power and 229 to 198 …

The House's Sad, Predictable, Partisan, and Historic Impeachment of Donald Trump  —  It was a sad day—on that, at least, everyone could agree.  On her way to the House floor, soon after 9 a.m., to begin the historic debate on the impeachment of Donald Trump, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, told reporters that she felt “sad.”

Trump Administration Battles New Sanctions on Russia  —  On Tuesday, President Trump claimed he was tougher on Russia than his predecessor.  At the same time, his subordinates strongly opposed a bill imposing new sanctions on Moscow.  —  The Trump administration is quietly fighting …

Kemp's Senate pick sparks rift in lieutenant governor's office  —  Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan's decision to stand beside Gov. Brian Kemp as he unveiled Kelly Loeffler as his pick for a U.S. Senate seat triggered the abrupt resignation of his top aide, according to senior GOP officials.

In the End, Impeachment Was the Only Choice  —  When historians look back at this era, their curiosity will settle not on the question of why the House impeached President Trump, but why it impeached him for this particular offense.  Trump has spent three years violating laws and norms …

The Best of Books 2019  —  The best books we reviewed this year, selected by Foreign Affairs editors and book reviewers.  —  EDITORS' PICKS  —  Keefe's fine, searching book shows that the political agreement formally resolving the conflict in Northern Ireland marked only the beginning of a long …

2019: The Year of Stability  —  Big events of the year, including impeachment, don't materially change the odds in races for president, Congress  —  Dear Readers: The Crystal Ball will be away for the holidays next week.  Our next issue will come out on Thursday, Jan. 2.  We wish all of our readers Happy Holidays.

Elizabeth Warren to hold private meeting with tribal leaders Sunday in effort to atone for past claims  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) will meet privately with tribal leaders this weekend during her first trip to her home state of Oklahoma as a presidential candidate …

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 …