17 in ’17: Trump’s most eye-popping tweetsa oeCan you imagine what the…

From threatening North Korea with nuclear annihilation and Mexico with a military invasion to taunting his critics and undermining members of his own Cabinet, Trump has used Twitter in ways that have riled Washington and unnerved America's allies. While his staff and Republican leaders have pleaded with him to rein in his Twitter use, Trump insists it lets him speak directly to Americans by bypassing "biased" news outlets.

Georgia woman caught in racist rant at Dollar Tree

Pictured: Sheriff's deputy killed by gunman who fired 100 ROUNDS in 'ambush attack' that left four other cops and two civilians injured in New Year's Eve tragedy near Denver Police arrest man found with an arsenal of weapons on the top floor of a Houston hotel on New Year's Eve - in chilling echo of the Vegas massacre - just hours before a huge 'ball drop' party was set to take place below Palestinians remove their envoy from Washington in protest after President Trump proclaims Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel and plans to move U.S. embassy there Are you an energetic horse or a lonely pig? Feng Shui expert reveals what 2018 has in store for YOU - according to the Chinese Zodiac Man, 34, is arrested for giving unwanted massage to a boy, 13, as they waited at an airport luggage carousel before handing him money to say 'thank you' Dramatic video captures massive 40 car pile-up as ... (more)

Do You Still Think Al Franken Is Leaving the Senate? Well

How many people were predicting that Minnesota Senator Al Franken was bluffing, when he gave his angry speech, announcing his departure from the Senate? Following his announcement, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton appointed his Lt. Governor Tina Smith to take Franken's place, but many saw Franken's announcement as a ploy.

High school issue a test for new council

WITH THE new City Council wasting no time reversing course on the Lowell High School project, the two remaining pro-Cawley Stadium councilors will have to decide quickly what their role in the process will be. Councilor Rodney Elliott has said on several occasions that, while he was disappointed by the results of the November election, he must respect the will of the voters.

Unlikely source propelled Russian meddling inquiry

During a night of heavy drinking at an upscale London bar in May 2016, George Papadopoulos, a young foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, made a startling revelation to Australia's top diplomat in Britain: Russia had political dirt on Hillary Clinton. About three weeks earlier, Papadopoulos had been told that Moscow had thousands of emails that would embarrass Clinton, apparently stolen in an effort to try to damage her campaign.

After rocky first month, Trump ends first year with strong finish

If President Donald Trump's first month in office was notable for its mixture of chaos and dysfunction, the last month of 2017 showed a constant combatant who had reason to believe that his refusal to back down paid off with passage of a sweeping tax overhaul. Senator Dean Heller reacts as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans to discuss healthcare at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 19, 2017.

Is criminal justice reform really “poised to take off in 2018”?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this lengthy Washington Examiner article headlined "Criminal justice reform poised to take off in 2018." Here are excerpts: Criminal justice reform came back with such renewed energy this year after sputtering out in Congress in 2016 that meaningful bipartisan legislation is poised for success in 2018.

RightNOW Women PAC Releases

RightNOW Women PAC is proud to support and endorse the following candidates for the 2018 election cycle: Marsha Blackburn , Beth Lindstrom , Carla Nelson , Jenifer Sarver , and Leah Vukmir . I am so grateful to have the support of RightNOW Women PAC, a group that will make a big difference in my race against Senator Elizabeth Warren, " says Beth Lindstrom , Republican candidate for U.S. Senate from Massachusetts.

Australian diplomat’s tip a factor in FBI’s Russia probe

An Australian diplomat's tip, and not a ,dirty dossier, from a former MI6 spy, appears to have triggered FBI probe into Russian meddling in the US election In May 2016, Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos met an Australian diplomat for a night of heavy drinking at a London bar He told Alexander Downer, the Australian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, that Russia had obtained dirt on Hillary Clinton Trump backers have alleged the Russia probe was ignited by a salacious dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele An Australian diplomat's tip, and not a 'dirty dossier' from a former MI6 spy, appears to have helped persuade the FBI to investigate Russian meddling in the US election.

Is the U.S. Military Ready for a War with North Korea?The National Interest

Earlier this month, Senator Lindsey Graham said that if the United States goes to war against North Korea , it would be, "an all-out war against the regime; there is no surgical strike option." It would be bloody, he conceded, "but don't ever lose sight of how this war endsa we win it."

Senators’ Russia trip scuttled because of ‘black list’

The Russian Embassy says it refused entry to Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire, because she's on a "black list" created in response to U.S. sanctions. Shaheen and Republican Sens. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, and John Barrasso, of Wyoming, planned to travel to Russia in January, but the trip is now canceled.

Hundreds of new laws to take effect in 2018

It was a big year in the Illinois statehouse with lawmakers ending an historic budget impasse and approving an income tax hike, overhauling how public schools get funding and allowing automatic voter registration. The laws cover numerous topics, including the expansion of taxpayer-funded abortions, celebrating Barack Obama's presidency, allowing tax credits for private school scholarships, criminal justice reforms and a circus-related ban.