Politics

Politico reports: President Donald Trump and congressional leaders are getting ready to punt on a major shutdown fight over Trump’s border wall for at least a week. The president said he would back a two-week delay of a government shutdown battle after the death of former President George H.W. Bush. Government funding expires on Dec. 7 for several departments, including …

Axios reports: Former FBI Director James Comey tweeted Sunday that he had reached a deal to take part in a hearing with House Republicans behind closed doors but with the ability to release a transcript the next day, stating the deal was ” the closest I can get to public testimony.” Comey had been subpoenaed by House Republicans to discuss …

ABC News reports: The leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee said Sunday on “This Week” that there is now a witness in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, President Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who he said confirms that “the president and his business are compromised.” “There is now testimony, there is now a witness, who confirms that in …

The Associated Press reports: France’s most violent urban riot in more than a decade engulfed some of central Paris on Saturday as “yellow jacket” activists torched cars, smashed windows, looted stores and tagged the Arc de Triomphe with multi-colored graffiti. Protesters angry about rising taxes and the high cost of living clashed with French riot police, who closed off some …

Haaretz reports: The police and Israel Securities Authority on Sunday recommended indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau and his wife, Sara, as well as media mogul Shaul Elovitch and his wife, Iris, for bribery and other corruption charges in the investigation dubbed Case 4000. This is the third case in which the police have recommended charging the prime minister with bribery. …

The New York Times reports: President Trump announced his intention late Saturday to quickly withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement, a move intended to force House Democrats to enact a revised version of the pact despite concerns that it fails to protect American workers. If the president follows through on his threat, congressional leaders will …

ABC News reports: President Donald Trump is hitting pause in the escalating trade war with China after a meeting with President Xi Jinping. Just a day after Trump threatened to bludgeon China by doubling U.S. tariffs on $200 billion worth of goods, the White House said a planned increase from 10 percent to 25 percent on Jan. 1 will not …

CNBC reports: President Donald Trump has postponed a press conference designed to tout the “great success” of the Group of 20 meeting in Argentina, citing the death of former president George H.W. Bush. Via Twitter, the president said on Saturday that he would wait until after his return to the United States to brief the press on the confab of …

Via press release from the Carter Center: Rosalynn and I are deeply saddened by the death of former President George H.W. Bush. His administration was marked by grace, civility, and social conscience. Through his Points of Light initiative and other projects, he espoused a uniquely American volunteer spirit, fostering bipartisan support for citizen service and inspiring millions to embrace community …

The Hill reports: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend funeral services for former President George H.W. Bush, who died on Friday at the age of 94, the White House announced. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Saturday that a state funeral is being arranged with accompanying honors for Bush at the …

Via press release from the Clinton Foundation: Hillary and I mourn the passing of President George H.W. Bush, and give thanks for his great long life of service, love, and friendship. I will be forever grateful for the friendship we formed. From the moment I met him as a young governor invited to his home in Kennebunkport, I was struck …

Via White House press release: Melania and I join with a grieving Nation to mourn the loss of former President George H.W. Bush, who passed away last night. Through his essential authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family, and country, President Bush inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service—to be, in his words, “a thousand points …

Via press release from former President Barack Obama: America has lost a patriot and humble servant in George Herbert Walker Bush. While our hearts are heavy today, they are also filled with gratitude. Not merely for the years he spent as our forty-first President, but for the more than 70 years he spent in devoted service to the country he …

The Associated Press reports: The Associated Press is retracting its call of a winner for U.S. House in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. The AP had called the race for Republican Mark Harris on Nov. 9 after Democrat Dan McCready conceded the election and said he would not request a recount. Unofficial results show Harris with a lead of 905 …

Each one a hacker in a different way, of course. Newsweek reports: Democratic Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman own President Donald Trump and can do whatever they want. The comment was made in a tweet attached to a video of the Russian and Saudi leaders …

The San Francisco Chronicle reports: Sarah Palin and her family are safe following two intense earthquakes in Alaska, however, as she tweeted Friday, her residence is not. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a 7.0 magnitude quake near Anchorage, Alaska, at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Five minutes later, another, measuring at 5.8, struck again nearby. According to seismologists, both earthquakes had “epicenters …

The Washington Post reports: In a move that some ethics advocates say could be an opening to limit dissent, the federal government has issued new guidance for the political activity of federal government workers, warning that weighing in on impeachment or talking about “the Resistance” may constitute prohibited activity. The Office of Special Counsel is charged with enforcing the Hatch …

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports: Gavin Clarkson, a recent candidate for New Mexico secretary of state, experienced a one-of-our-50-is-missing moment earlier this month when applying for a marriage license in the nation’s capital. Clarkson, who lives in Las Cruces, and his then-fiancée visited the District of Columbia Courts Marriage Bureau on Nov. 20 to apply for a marriage license. But, …

Courthouse News reports: A new poll released Thursday shows that a majority of Americans, as well as almost two out of three Republicans, believe in the threat of climate change, a position at odds with President Donald Trump’s belief on the subject. The Monmouth University poll revealed that nearly 8 in 10 Americans more extreme weather patterns due to global …

Vanity Fair reports: Cohen’s plea also re-ignited fears that the president’s son, Don Jr., will be next to be indicted. “Don’s been telling people he’s very worried after today,” a source said. (Don Jr.’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) Mueller now appears to be driving the West Wing agenda, with the principals in a reactive …