Stock Trades by Senator Perdue Said to Have Prompted Justice Dept. Inquiry  —  Investigators focused on a sale of at least $1 million of stock in Cardlytics, a financial firm whose board the senator once sat on.  They closed the case this summer without charges.

Trump pardons former national security adviser Flynn  —  Outgoing President Donald Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Wednesday for lying to FBI agents investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.  —  “It is my Great Honor to announce …

Trump's Pardon of Flynn Signals Prospect of a Wave in His Final Weeks in Office  —  Political allies and associates are starting to press for clemency as the president also considers extending his criminal justice overhaul by commuting lengthy sentences for other offenders.

Trump lawyer details far-fetched strategy to reverse Pennsylvania win for Biden  — A lawyer for President Donald Trump's campaign revealed that the campaign could be relying on pulling off a complicated — and possibly unprecedented — legal and legislative trick shot to undo President …

After warnings to avoid travel, Denver Mayor Hancock flies to visit family for Thanksgiving  —  Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has told people to avoid travel in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, which is at record levels in the city.  —  DENVER — Denver Mayor Michael Hancock boarded …

Georgia secretary of state: My family voted for Trump.  He threw us under the bus anyway.  —  I have fought to uphold the integrity of elections in Georgia.  It doesn't matter if the attacks come from the guy I voted for or not.  —  The past few weeks have been difficult for the voters of the Peach State.

Trump Races to Weaken Environmental and Worker Protections, and Implement Other Last-Minute Policies, Before Jan. 20  —  The Trump administration is rushing to approve dozens of eleventh-hour policy changes.  Among them: The Justice Department is fast-tracking a rule that could reintroduce firing squads …

Fox News staffers thought Newsmax was a joke.  But they're not laughing anymore  —  New York (CNN Business)Fox News is taking action to stave off newfound competition from Newsmax TV.  —  Producers on some Fox programs have been told to monitor Newsmax's guest bookings and throw some sand …

NRA reports alleged misspending by current and former executives to IRS  —  After years of denying allegations of lax financial oversight, the National Rifle Association has made a stunning declaration in a new tax filing: Current and former executives used the nonprofit group's money for personal benefit and enrichment.

Brian Deese likely pick for top White House economic post  —  President-elect Joe Biden is leaning towards naming former senior Obama administration official and current investment executive Brian Deese his top economic adviser in the White House, although pushback from the progressive wing …

C.I.A. Officer Is Killed in Somalia  —  The officer's combat death came as President Trump considers pulling back on American operations in the region.  —  WASHINGTON — A veteran C.I.A. officer was killed in combat in Somalia in recent days, according to current and former U.S. officials …

Trump calls into Pennsylvania hearing, rambles about voter fraud on speakerphone … President Donald Trump on Wednesday phoned into a Pennsylvania state Senate hearing where his legal team was appearing as part of their shriveling legal battle against the election results.

U.S. Unemployment Claims Jump for Second Straight Week  —  This briefing has ended.  Follow our latest coverage of markets, business and the economy.  —  Here's what you need to know:  —  Britain's economy is in the midst of its deepest recession in three centuries.

A growing number of Americans are going hungry  —  Graphics reporter focusing on data visualization and analysis  —  It was 5 a.m., not a hint of sun in the Houston sky, as Randy Young and his mom pulled into the line for a free Thanksgiving meal.  They were three hours early.

Who Really Runs The Drudge Report?  —  The Drudge Report has become a conformist shadow of its formerly bratty, oppositional self.  Why?

Honestie Hodges, Whose Handcuffing Changed Police Policy, Is Dead at 14  —  Honestie's handcuffing by the police in Grand Rapids, Mich., caused a national uproar and led to a new law enforcement policy on dealing with youths.  Honestie died of Covid-19.

Pentagon Purges Leading Advisors From Defense Policy Board  —  It's unclear why the Trump administration waited until its final months to shake up the influential group of outside experts advising top Pentagon leaders.  —  Several members of the top federal advisory committee to the U.S. Department …

Biden leans toward Tom Donilon as CIA chief  —  President-elect Joe Biden is leaning toward naming former Obama administration national security adviser Tom Donilon as his CIA director, two people familiar with the situation said.  —  The choice for the spymaster role is one of the toughest facing Biden …

Huge court win lets Trump present ballot evidence, could overturn Nevada result  —  In its first court victory, a Nevada judge has agreed to let the Trump campaign present its evidence that fraud and illegalities plagued the state's election, enough to reverse Joe Biden's win and set an example for other state challenges.

Starbucks barista says she was fired for refusing to wear Pride shirt  —  A New Jersey woman has filed suit against Starbucks, claiming she was wrongfully terminated for refusing to wear an official company Pride T-shirt that she says violated her religious beliefs.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon tests positive for coronavirus  —  Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced Wednesday.  —  “Governor Mark Gordon received results today of a COVID-19 test that showed he is positive for the virus,” the governor's office said in a statement.

The Logic of Pandemic Restrictions Is Falling Apart  —  Two weeks ago, I staged a reluctant intervention via Instagram direct message.  The subject was a longtime friend, Josh, who had been sharing photos of himself and his fiancé occasionally dining indoors at restaurants since New York City …

Scoop: Israeli military prepares for possibility Trump will strike Iran  —  The Israel Defense Forces have in recent weeks been instructed to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. will conduct a military strike against Iran before President Trump leaves office, senior Israeli officials tell me.

Trump, Carson tout covid-19 treatments as lifesavers.  But regular people find them harder to get.  —  The day after being discharged from the hospital last month, President Trump enthusiastically endorsed a new antibody cocktail, saying it had been a “cure” for his covid-19.

“How Many of These People Are Just Batshit Crazy?”:  CNN's Jake Tapper on Politics and Media in the Trump Era  —  The network's chief Washington correspondent sees a world in which Trump's power diminishes, but may not disappear completely.  The real question, though, is how America contends …

Joe Biden considers Roger Ferguson to lead National Economic Council, Gary Gensler for Deputy Treasury Secretary  — President-elect Joe Biden is considering TIAA CEO Roger Ferguson to be his National Economic Council director.  — Former Commodity Futures Trading Commission chairman Gary Gensler …

Transition Yes, Concession No  —  The wheels of transition are beginning to turn as the machinery of President Trump's election challenges are grinding to an eventual halt.  So is a concession speech in the cards?  Don't bet on it.  And there are solid arguments against it.