McCain returning home to Arizona, will likely miss tax vote

The fourth-largest wildfire in California history continues to grow and threaten thousands of homes despite armies of fire crews and fleets of bulldozers and aircraft. President Trump is poised to bask in the triumph of his first major legislative victory with the likely passage of tax legislation this week.

On SNL, Donald Trump’s White House celebrates Christmas by…

The White House gang was all there in the latest "Saturday Night Live" cold open, with Alec Baldwin reprising his role as US President Donald Trump - this time reflecting on his "amazing first year in office." "That's right, you can finally say that again, because the war on Christmas is over," Baldwin's Trump says.

Sen. Ted Cruz just got in a Twitter battle with Mark Hamill

Registration will allow you to post comments on timesunion.com and create a timesunion.com Subscriber Portal account for you to manage subscriptions and email preferences. Mark Hamill and Ted Cruz got into a Twitter battle Sunday, but Cruz lost terribly.

Trump insists he’s not firing special counsel Mueller

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is not considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller even as his administration was again forced to grapple with the growing Russia probe that has shadowed the White House for much of his initial year in office. Trump returned to the White House from Camp David and was asked if he would consider triggering the process to dismiss Mueller, who is investigating whether the president's Republican campaign co-ordinated with Russian officials during last year's election.

South Africa’s ruling ANC party votes for new leader Monday

The fourth-largest wildfire in California history continues to grow and threaten thousands of homes despite armies of fire crews and fleets of bulldozers and aircraft. The fourth-largest wildfire in California history continues to grow and threaten thousands of homes despite armies of fire crews and fleets of bulldozers and aircraft.

Trump’s likely tax victory overshadowed by probe

In a Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump talks with reporters as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House via Marine One in Washington, to spend the weekend at Camp David in Maryland. President Donald Trump's team on Sunday was again forced to grapple with the growing Russia probe that has shadowed the White House for much of the president's initial year in office.

Trump has ambitious plans to campaign in 2018 midterms, including in Pa.

President Donald Trump is not on the ballot in 2018, but the White House is planning a full-throttle campaign to plunge the president into the midterm elections, according to senior officials and advisers familiar with the planning. Trump's political aides have met with 116 candidates for office in recent months, according to senior White House officials, seeking to become involved in Senate, House and gubernatorial races - and possibly contested Republican primaries as well.

Top Spook Looks Back on 2016

Michael Morell, former acting head of the CIA, became a political animal in August 2016 when he endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. This month, he came to grips with the consequences of that decision -- that it might have played into President Donald Trump's distrust of the intelligence community.

Florida Gov. Scott mulls next political move

For more than a year, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has engaged in a guessing game about his political future: Will he challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2018? President Donald Trump has already publicly called on Scott to run, but Scott again this week insisted he had not made up his mind. And he sidestepped questions about whether the upset win of Democrat Doug Jones in the neighboring state of Alabama is a sign that a GOP candidate could have difficulty next year in a state that has backed candidates of both parties.

NBC Made Payment To Staffer After Sexual Harassment Claim Against…

Scoop: Mueller obtains "tens of thousands" of Trump transition emails - Special Counsel Robert Mueller has obtained "many tens of thousands" of Trump transition emails, including sensitive emails of Jared Kushner, transition team sources tell Axios.

Trump criticizes FBI and says no pardon for Flynn ‘yet’AFP

US President Donald Trump on Friday lashed out at the FBI inquiry into possible collusion between Moscow and his campaign, and refused to rule out pardoning former aide Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying about his contacts with Russia. Trump said it was too early to discuss any pardon for his ex-national security advisor -- which would prompt a political firestorm.

After Alabama loss, Trump has ambitious plans to campaign in 2018 midterms

President Donald Trump is not on the ballot in 2018, but the White House is planning a full-throttle campaign to plunge the president into the midterm elections, according to senior officials and advisers familiar with the planning. Trump's political aides have met with 116 candidates for office in recent months, according to senior White House officials, seeking to become involved in Senate, House and gubernatorial races - and possibly contested Republican primaries as well.

The Latest: Trump defends tax cuts as good for Americans

Trump defends tax cuts as good for middle class as congressional Republicans signal they have enough votes to pass bill before Christmas President Donald Trump is defending the Republicans' tax cut plan, pushing back against criticism that it will benefit the wealthy more than the middle class. Speaking to reporters at the White House Saturday before leaving for Camp David, Trump said the middle class will benefit because the tax cut will draw companies back from overseas, creating jobs.

Trudeau Says Trump Was Elected ‘To Make America Great Again’

Despite the increasing likelihood of a renegotiated NAFTA collapsing, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remains positive about his relationship with President Donald Trump. In a Christmas interview with CTV News, Trudeau said he remains positive about working with Trump because the president was elected "to make America great again."

Trump defends tax plan, proclaims economy set a to rocka

Closing in on the first major legislative achievement of his term, President Donald Trump on Saturday defended the Republican tax cut as a good deal for the middle class while boldly suggesting it could lead to explosive economic growth. The legislation, which the GOP aims to muscle through Congress next week, would lower taxes on the richest Americans.