Exclusive: U.S. to lift travel curbs on eight African countries  —  The Biden administration will lift travel restrictions on eight southern African countries imposed last month over concerns about the fast-spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant, the White House said Friday.

Manchin told White House he would support version of tax on billionaires  —  His offer comes as fellow a Democrat, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, raises new concerns, illustrating that the party has work to do  —  Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) told the White House last week that he would support …

Thompson says Jan. 6 committee focused on Trump's hours of silence during attack, weighing criminal referrals  —  The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is focusing intently on Donald Trump's actions that day as it begins to discuss whether to recommend …

White House reporters ask for virtual press briefings during the latest covid surge  —  With a fierce new variant of the coronavirus on the loose, White House reporters are urging press secretary Jen Psaki to move her daily briefings online — but it's an idea Psaki has been cool to so far.

Report shows the extent of Republican efforts to sabotage democracy  —  Research identifies at least 262 bills were introduced in 41 states this year with the intent to hijack the election process  —  The Republican assault on free and fair elections instigated by Donald Trump is gathering pace …

MAGA Diehards Melt Down Over Trump's Pro-Vax Push  —  Anger and confusion reign as Trump endorses vaccines many followers believe are poison  —  In the crisscrossed, Q-addled conspiracy world where Donald Trump is held up as America's great savior, and covid-19 vaccines are denounced as part …

Former police officer Kim Potter found guilty of manslaughter in Daunte Wright's death  —  Former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter has been found guilty of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop-turned-arrest in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center.

How the Soviet Union's collapse explains the current Russia-Ukraine tension  —  On Christmas Day 1991, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sat down at a table deep inside the Kremlin and prepared to deliver a monumental speech.  Associated Press reporter Alan Cooperman was among the few journalists allowed in.

Uncounted: Inaccurate death certificates across the country hide the true toll of COVID-19  —  Some counties, like Cape Girardeau, have seen a spike in deaths that aren't attributed to COVID-19.  Many of them, blamed on natural causes, are likely from the coronavirus

Giuliani associate Bernard Kerik plans to publicly release some documents requested by January 6 committee  —  Reporter: Records would be key to see Trump's activity prior to Jan. 6  —  Washington (CNN)Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik says he is planning to publicly release …

14-year-old girl in dressing room of Burlington fatally shot by LAPD  —  In an incident the police chief called “devastating and tragic,” an LAPD officer fatally shot a teenage girl at a Burlington clothing store during a chaotic confrontation that also left a suspect dead and another person injured.

A 19-year-old has been charged in the carjacking of U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, police say.  Four other teens were also arrested  —  A 19-year-old from Wilmington, Del., was charged in federal court Thursday with participating in Wednesday's gunpoint carjacking of U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon …

With omicron, you need a mask that means business  —  With another coronavirus variant racing across the U.S., once again, health authorities are urging people to mask up indoors.  Yes, you've heard it all before.  But given how contagious omicron is, experts say, it's seriously time to upgrade …

Two Georgia poll workers sue One America News, Giuliani over debunked fraud claims  —  Two Georgia election workers who were the target of vote-rigging conspiracy theories have sued the far-right One America News Network, its top executives, and former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer Rudy Giuliani …

Say it ain't Joe: Manchin's not the only big hurdle left for Biden's megabill  —  The Senate parliamentarian, a little-known nonpartisan rules referee, still has the power to ax big portions of the $1.7 trillion social spending plan.  —  Democrats are still courting the one person powerful enough …

State legislators, voters sue Maryland over allegedly gerrymandered congressional map helping Democrats  —  Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan previously called on DOJ to sue state over redistricting plan  —  Fox News Flash top headlines for December 23  —  A group of Republican Maryland legislators …

Pregnancy apps have become a battleground of vaccine misinformation  —  How the What To Expect site managed to clean up its big anti-vaccine problem  —  For generations of parents, Heidi Murkoff's 1984 pregnancy guide “What to Expect When You're Expecting” has been a trusty companion …

The Navy SEALs, a Christmas story  —  It might seem like a stretch to view the Navy SEALs, among the most fearsome warriors on the planet, as a Christmas story of humility and renewal, but let me explain.  —  Two years ago, the SEALs were near rock bottom.

‘Christmas’ Lights or ‘Holiday’ Lights?  —  The woke's vocabulary is a weapon in their culture war.  —  I never had kids and when I look at Facebook friends' photos of their own I realize that that's probably a good thing.  I am a graduate of the school of hard knocks.  I know how tough life can be.