Playbook: What the GOP's new Big 3 discussed this weekend  —  With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  TOP-ED — “The Price of American Retreat,” by Mitch McConnell for Foreign Affairs: “To pretend that the United States can focus on just one threat at a time …

Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration  —  For the press heading into a second Trump administration, there's a balancing act between being prepared and being fearful.  The return to power of Donald Trump, who has called journalists enemies …

Why Musk Doesn't Have Access to SpaceX's Biggest Government Secrets  —  Executives haven't sought higher security clearance for the CEO to avoid questions about his drug use and contact with foreign officials; the answers might no longer matter  —  The payloads SpaceX launches into the heavens …

Steve Bannon Is Already Claiming Trump Can Run Again in 2028  —  WHO'S GONNA STOP ME?  —  The political strategist says the Constitution doesn't count in this case.

Trump's ‘explosive’ economic growth claims are no match for the $36 trillion debt  —  The new president could face even more daunting challenges than his predecessors if he follows through on his tax and tariff pledges.  —  Jeff Bezos, Larry Fink and Donald Trump's Treasury pick Scott Bessent all agree …

His Family Voted to Support Trump's Deportation Plan.  That Includes Him.  —  His friends and family members in Rome, Ga., voted to support mass deportation.  Now he's scrambling to stay in the country.  —  Jaime Cachua with his son Julian.  He fears he will be deported.

Speaker Johnson faces ‘complicated’ decision on crucial Rules Committee chair  —  Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is barreling into a tricky — yet critical — decision over whom to appoint as the next chair of the House Rules Committee, a post that will set the tone for legislating and play …

Trump girds for battle with Democrats, Supreme Court over birthright citizenship  —  President-elect Trump, Democratic lawmakers and the Supreme Court are on a collision course over restricting birthright citizenship, which Trump has identified as a top priority for his incoming administration.

RFK Jr. seeks to win over Senate GOP skeptics as he begins HHS meetings  —  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be seeking to ease any skepticism over his confirmation this week as he begins meetings with Senate Republicans over his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“Trump's Stooge” Gets His Reward  —  Former Congressman Devin Nunes, the head of Truth Social, is set to be chairman of The President's Intelligence Advisory Board.  —  Devin Nunes, the ex-California congressman and current head of Trump's struggling social media platform, Truth Social …

Harris debates her future: A run for California governor that would take 2028 off the table  —  Top aides and people close to Kamala Harris have divided over whether she should head home to run for California governor in 2026 — and it all comes down to whether they believe she could win …

Bernie Sanders believes Hunter Biden pardon sets a ‘dangerous’ precedent  —  Sanders discusses Biden's legacy, one way he will work with President-elect Trump  —  Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had two thoughts about President Biden pardoning his son Hunter Biden after previously saying he would not …

Graham Says Hegseth Plans to Release Accuser From Confidential Agreement  —  Senator Lindsey Graham said that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's defense secretary pick, promised to release his accuser from a settlement that his lawyer has said was already breached.

Romney defends Trump after ‘overwhelming’ win: 'Can't complain'  —  Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) is contending people “can't complain” about President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks given Trump signaled he would make such picks before he was elected.  —  Romney, a longtime critic of the president-elect …