LOVETT: Question marks surround Cuomo as he heads into 2018

With more than $26 million in his campaign kitty, accomplishments to point to and good poll numbers, Gov. Cuomo should be cruising into his re-election year in the bluest of blue states. The federal corruption trials of several close associates, an ongoing FBI investigation into his administration, a looming state budget deficit of at least $4.4 billion, subway system problems, as well as continued anger from the left all represent potential potholes for a governor who not only is seeking a third term, but is believed to have presidential ambitions.

Nikki Haley: The De Facto Agent of Influence

The most recent claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "running" Donald Trump as if the U.S. president is a Russian intelligence asset comes from former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. "[Putin] knows how to handle an asset, and that's what he's doing with the president," Clapper told CNN last Monday.

Unclear if Iowa lawmakers will touch privatized Medicaid

There appears to be consensus among Democrats and Republicans in the Iowa Legislature that there are problems with the state's privatized Medicaid program, but there is less agreement over what, if anything, legislators should do about it when they return to the Capitol in a few weeks. Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled statehouse are expected to address a range of topics when they gather in January, including taxes and water quality.

Amid influx of new residents to Central Florida, urgent action needed …

Metro Orlando was ranked as one of the nation's hardest places to find affordable housing before Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico three months ago, and tens of thousands of residents started leaving the island for Central Florida. Many are now living temporarily with family or friends, but are understandably impatient to move into their own homes.

Largest power outage in Maine history is top story of 2017

A storm packing hurricane-force gusts roared into Maine, stunning residents and emergency officials by leaving more people in the dark than the infamous ice storm of 1998. It took utility crews more than a week to restore power, raising questions of Central Maine Power's preparedness and the state's ability to withstand a more powerful storm.

Marc Thiessen: Trump should make vulnerable Democrats who opposed…

President Trump raised eyebrows when he invited Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp to fly with him aboard Air Force One for a tax-reform rally in her home state of North Dakota earlier this year. For a vulnerable Democrat running for reelection in a deep-red state that Trump won by 36 points, appearing with the president was a political gift.

Year in Review: The Return of Sheila Oliver

After a tumultuous period as Assembly speaker from 2010 to 2014, Sheila Oliver fell prey to the same New Jersey Democratic bosses who had orchestrated her rise. She was seen as too independent-minded and not enough of a team player during a heady time when Democrats were busy cutting all kinds of deals with Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

Gov. Rick Scott should abandon his selfish plan to pack courts on his way out the door

Gov. Rick Scott talks about his decision to file a public records request with the Florida Supreme Court over a case with big implications for the court's future. Gov. Rick Scott talks about his decision to file a public records request with the Florida Supreme Court over a case with big implications for the court's future.

Air Force F-35A Lightning II one step closer to Madison base

The United States Air Force announced on Thursday that the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field, Dane County Regional Airport is one of two preferred candidate bases to receive the F-35A Lightning II. Governor Scott Walker says the decision is "outstanding" for the state.

GOP tax bill passes Congress

President Donald Trump looks back toward Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan, as he speaks about the passage of the tax bill on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Must credit: Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford President Donald Trump looks back toward Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan, as he speaks about the passage of the tax bill on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Sanchez: America’s Party of God doubles down on Trump

After stating his pride in his Presbyterian beliefs, Donald Trump appeals to evangelical and religious voters by again calling to repeal the Johnson Amendment, stating the tax rule infringes on religious groups' free speech. Aug. 27, 2016.

Trump Receives Pre-Holiday Ego Boost From His Cabinet, GOP Leaders

Fresh off his only major legislative victory, President Donald Trump on Wednesday basked in the adulation showered upon him by a trifecta of Cabinet members, congressional Republican leaders and his own White House press team. In the morning came the celebratory Cabinet meeting that doubled as an ego boost, with administration officials praising the president for what they saw as the progress of his agenda so far.

Brownback sees rolled-back Kansas cuts still shaping debate

Outgoing Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback argues his experiment in aggressive tax-cutting pioneered a national debate over helping small business owners that has influenced Congress and other states, even though his home-state lawmakers rolled it back. In a year-end interview with The Associated Press, the conservative Republican governor predicted other states will look at lowering personal income taxes for small-business owners and pointed to provisions of a GOP federal tax overhaul as a sign that the idea has taken root.

Republican, Democratic governors urge Congress to save DACA

Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich , Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and nine others wrote congressional leaders Wednesday that their cities and towns are seeing more than 100 young people lose protective status every day while the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is in limbo. Other governors signing the letter were Democrats from Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania and North Carolina; Republicans from Nevada, Massachusetts, Vermont and Utah; and Alaska's governor, who's independent.

Senate Approves GOP Tax Plan, House to Revote Wednesday

In a vote in the early Wednesday morning hours, the Senate approved the final version of the first overhaul of the US tax code in more than 30 years, handing President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans their most significant legislative victory of 2017. The bill passed along party lines, 51-48 with the final result announced by Vice President Mike Pence who presided over the vote.

This could be why Chris Christie is suddenly pointing the finger at Jared Kushner

Chris Christie made news Tuesday for saying Jared Kushner "deserves to be scrutinized" by special counsel Robert Mueller - but there's another reason he may be dangerous to President Donald Trump. The outgoing New Jersey governor stressed that he's not accusing Kushner of breaking the law, but he said Trump's son-in-law would certainly draw the interest of Mueller and his team of prosecutors.