Iraqi supporters of Iran-backed militia attack US Embassy  —  BAGHDAD (AP) — Dozens of angry Iraqi Shiite militia supporters broke into the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday after smashing a main door and setting fire to a reception area, prompting tear gas and sounds of gunfire.

Team Trump's Furious Hunt to Find Out Who ‘Liked’ a Chelsea Clinton Tweet  —  At least 10 Trump administration staffers were interviewed about whether they had dared to to hit the “like” button.  —  On the evening of July 10, 2017 staffers at the U.S. embassy in Brussels …

Warren confronts ghost of Howard Dean  —  Liberals swooned.  The Democratic establishment was on its heels.  Powered by small donors and grassroots energy, in late 2003 Iowa seemed Howard Dean's for the taking.  —  But then came the attacks — from both the center and the left.  The surge became a stall.

Chief: Local officer resigns after making up coffee cup incident  —  JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (KSNT) - In a joint press conference with McDonald's Monday night, the Herington Police Chief said the coffee cup incident was a hoax.  —  Chief Brian Hornaday said McDonald's didn't have anything …

Anti-Semitic attacks show a society at risk of falling apart  —  Frida Ghitis, a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist.  She is a frequent opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to the Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review.

Bret Stephens and the Perils of the Tapped-Out Column  —  New York Times columnist Bret Stephens ambushed and gravely wounded his own career on the evening of Dec. 27 when his piece about—bear with me here—the alleged superior intelligence of Ashkenazi Jews went live on the Times website.

Parnas Pushes to Share His Info With House Intel  —  The ex-Giuliani associate asked for permission to send the contents of an iPhone to Hill investigators.  —  Lev Parnas, a former Rudy Giuliani associate charged with financial crimes, is still sharing material with congressional investigators …

Alex Jones and InfoWars Ordered to Pay $100K in Court Costs for Sandy Hook Case  —  A Texas judge ordered Alex Jones and the InfoWars website to pay more than $100,000 in a single day.  —  A Texas judge has ordered Alex Jones and his InfoWars hoax website to pay more than $100,000 in court costs …

Texas shooting isn't as simple as it seems  —  James C. Moore is a communications consultant, political analyst, and author.  He has been writing and reporting on Texas politics for the past 40 years.  The views expressed here are the author's.  Read more opinion on CNN.

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit by Ex-Trump Aide Subpoenaed in Impeachment Inquiry  —  Judge Richard J. Leon acted after the House dropped its subpoena to Charles Kupperman and mooted the case, which had been closely watched for its implications about whether John Bolton would testify about President Trump's pressuring Ukraine.

2019 U.S. Population Estimates Continue to Show the Nation's Growth Is Slowing  —  Natural Increase Drops Below 1 Million for the First Time in Decades Due to Fewer Births and More Deaths  —  DEC. 30, 2019 — According to the U.S. Census Bureau's national and state population estimates released today …

Trump's threat to democracy  —  Polite society warns against the drawing of certain historical parallels.  But as another tumultuous year of Donald Trump's presidency draws to a close, it seems like a good time to ask: Where does one look for a political equivalent in a year …

Collins On How The Impeachment Trial Should Unfold … U.S. Senator Susan Collins is one of the few members of the Senate to have already participated in a trial of a President for removal from office.  Collins spoke with Maine Public's senior political reporter Mal Leary about the impeachment trial …

Top DOE official arrested for trying to set up sex with underage boy  —  A top deputy to city schools Chancellor Richard Carranza was busted in Wisconsin for allegedly trying to arrange sex with an underage boy online, police and sources told The Post.  —  Department of Education Deputy Chief …

Stocks fall slightly, but S&P 500 still on track for 2019 gain of nearly 30%  —  Geopolitical issues may limit gains in 2020, says JP Morgan's David Lebovitz  —  Stocks opened slightly lower on Tuesday as Wall Street wrapped up a banner year that saw equities surge to record highs …

Ghislaine Maxwell Scoffing at Law Thanks to ‘Serious Dirt’ on Powerful People, Former Friend Says  —  A former friend says the Epstein confidante was relieved at her former boyfriend's death—because it meant he could not turn on her.  —  Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend …

Joe Biden says he would consider a Republican for his running mate  —  Exeter, New Hampshire (CNN)Joe Biden told voters in New Hampshire on Monday that he would consider choosing a Republican as a running mate, but added, “I can't think of one right now.”  —  Biden discussed the possibility …

The Legacy of Destructive Austerity  —  The deficit obsession of 2010-2015 did permanent damage.  —  A decade ago, the world was living in the aftermath of the worst economic crisis since the 1930s.  Financial markets had stabilized, but the real economy was still in terrible shape …

West Virginia correctional cadets who gave Nazi salute in photo will all be fired  —  “Now, we must continue to move forward and work diligently to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” Gov. Jim Justice said in a statement Monday.  —  West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Monday …