Donald Trump faces many signs of potential political trouble; here are a few of them  —  WASHINGTON - Most presidential candidates look for signs of trouble during campaigns - but none before Donald Trump saw the threats of criminal convictions and getting thrown off the ballot.

House GOP traps itself in impeachment box  —  Republicans are barreling toward an impeachment vote, still short of a majority.  But if they skip one altogether, it might look like failure to the base.  —  Now that House Republicans have formalized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden …

Deputy AG says GOP attacks on DOJ have contributed to an ‘unprecedented rise’ in threats  —  Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly disparaged Monaco and other Justice Department officials involved in the various legal cases against him.  —  Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco decried Republican claims …

The elephant in the Giuliani defamation courtroom  —  A jury has ordered Rudy Giuliani to pay $148 million — covering compensatory and punitive damages, and emotional suffering — for defaming Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, two poll workers in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2020.  He quickly filed for bankruptcy.

Martin O'Malley's confirmation as Social Security commissioner is a win for the American people  —  Last week, the Senate confirmed Martin O'Malley to be the next Commissioner of Social Security.  This is a major achievement: It marks the first time in over 25 years that the Senate has confirmed …

The Chicks co-founder dies at 65  —  A founding member of the country band The Chicks, formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, has died at the age of 65.  —  “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks,” a Saturday post by the band on Instagram read.

Ramaswamy on possibility of job in Trump administration: 'I'm not a plan B person'  —  Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pushed back on the prospect of taking a job with the Trump administration if the former president takes back the White House in 2024, saying he is “not a plan B person.”

Tanker hit off India coast by drone from Iran, says US  —  A chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean was hit by a drone launched from Iran on Saturday, the US military says.  —  A fire on board the Chem Pluto was extinguished.  There were no casualties.  —  Iran has not commented.

Israel has waged one of this century's most destructive wars in Gaza  —  The damage in Gaza has outpaced other recent conflicts, evidence shows.  Israel has dropped some of the largest bombs commonly used today near hospitals.  —  The Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip has been unlike any other in the 21st century.

The Far-Right Pushes a New Conspiracy Theory to Discredit Jack Smith  —  A new conspiracy theory rising on the right is being deployed to help Donald Trump.  —  It claims that Jack Smith, the special counsel who is prosecuting Trump for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election …

Gore says grassroots pressure is ‘critical element’ in curbing climate change  —  Former Vice President Al Gore on Sunday argued grassroots pressure is a “critical element” in curbing climate change in the coming year.  —  “It sounds dire, but it is dire,” Gore said Sunday during CNN's …

A flood of retirements is shaking up the 2024 battle for the House  —  So far, more Democrats in competitive races have announced their retirements than Republicans.  —  WASHINGTON — Members of Congress have headed home for the holidays — and some will come back having decided …