Haley blames a ‘Democratic plant’ for Civil War question that tripped her up  —  The former South Carolina governor also said that the war was, indeed, about slavery.  —  Hours after declining to do so, Nikki Haley said on Thursday morning that she believed slavery was, indeed, the cause of the Civil War.

Jan. 6 riot suspect revealed as Trump administration employee who praised Hitler: report  —  A full-time employee of the Trump administration appears to have taken part in the Jan. 6 insurrection, according to a new analysis.  —  USA Today reported that Oliver Krvaric, who was working at the time as a …

The conservative pin-up calendar is harmless kitsch, not pornography  —  In the dumbest possible online nontroversy that has been branded #Calendargate, a handful of conservatives — and disproportionately, conservative women — are apoplectic over a calendar featuring photo shoots of various right-wing bloggers and “influencers.”

Christie says Trump will ‘burn America to the ground’  —  Chris Christie is stepping up his rhetoric attacking GOP presidential frontrunner and rival former President Trump, releasing a new ad declaring Trump will “burn America to the ground.”  —  Christie, the former New Jersey governor …

Colorado Republican Party Says It Asked Supreme Court to Keep Trump on Ballot  —  The party's petition urged the justices to review a ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court, which said the former president had engaged in insurrection and is ineligible to hold office.

2024 may be the hottest year in recorded history  —  2024 may be even hotter than the “gobsmackingly” hot 2023, which featured extreme — and often deadly — weather and climate events around the globe. … But ‘the normal pattern’ may not exist anymore," said Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University.

Independent lawyers begin prosecuting cases of sexual assault and other crimes in the US military  —  The U.S. military on Thursday opened a new chapter in how it investigates and prosecutes cases of sexual assault and other major crimes, putting independent lawyers in charge of those decisions …

Biden Knew Carter Was in Trouble in 1979.  Now He's in the Same Boat.  —  Both presidents faced inflation and foreign-policy challenges as they sought a second term  —  WASHINGTON—When an unpopular Democratic incumbent president was struggling to build support for a second term …

Things Seem Really Bad Right Now.  But Let's Put 2023 Into Perspective  —  It feels like an eternity since the year started with a palpable sense of optimism... A reflection on where democracy stands at the end of 2023 - and what lies ahead  —  As 2023 comes to an end …

Gas prices will fall in 2024 and Americans will spend $32 billion less on fuel, GasBuddy predicts  —  New York CNN —  Gas prices will fall in 2024 for the second year in a row, according to GasBuddy projections shared exclusively with CNN.  —  GasBuddy, which had a forecast for 2023 …

House Ethics launches investigation into Florida Democrat  —  Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) is under investigation over complaints that she may have violated campaign finance laws.  —  MIAMI — The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday that it's investigating Florida Democrat …