Ahead of inauguration, thousands rally for immigration and civil rights

Thousands rallied in Washington Saturday less than a week before President-elect Donald Trump takes office to make clear their opposition to his policies on immigration and social justice. The demonstrations came at two separate events.

Unreachable elected officials, school choice, bumblebees, Obamacare, Rep. Ted Poe

Since the election, I have been trying to contact my Texas senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, to voice my position as being opposed to repealing the Affordable Care Act, opposed to defunding Planned Parenthood, opposed to confirming Jeff Sessions as attorney general, opposed to confirming Rex Tillerson as secretary of state and to demand that the president-elect rid himself of all business conflicts of interest, and to support an independent counsel for investigation of Russian interference in this election to help the Republican candidate. My senators will not answer their phones or respond to letters or email.

Former senator helping Sessions in confirmation process

President-elect Donald Trump's choice for U.S. attorney general is getting some help from a former Senate colleague in making it through the confirmation process. Ex-Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona sat behind Sen. Jeff Sessions during the Judiciary Committee's two-day hearing and the Alabama Republican said at one point he was honored that Kyl was assisting him.

Missouri senators renew effort to get Delta Queen cruising

Missouri's U.S. senators are renewing efforts to get the legendary riverboat the Delta Queen cruising again on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Legislation filed this past week by Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Roy Blunt would reinstate an exemption for the Delta Queen to a federal law that prohibits overnight excursions on wooden vessels.

House Dems press FBI on Russia, possible link to Trump camp

House Democrats still seething over FBI Director James Comey's handling of the election-year inquiry of Hillary Clinton confronted the law enforcement officer over his refusal to say whether the FBI is investigating possible links between President-elect Donald Trump's campaign and Russia. The contentious, closed-door session Friday reflected the frustration of Democrats who blame Comey's statements and actions in part for Clinton's loss to Trump.

It Can Happen Here

"There is no simple lesson for us from the past, but one that seems to be speaking to us is that progress of any sort requires a broad coalition of various oppressed constituencies and their representations in the political center and left." On November 8 the rise of a right-wing nationalist regime in the United States became a realistic possibility, if not now then in the coming years.

AP Interview: Lynch says US must hold police accountable

In this Jan. 12, 2017 photo, Attorney General Loretta Lynch poses for a portrait during an interview with The Associated Press at the University of Baltimore School of Law in Baltimore. In this Jan. 12, 2017 photo, Attorney General Loretta Lynch poses for a portrait during an interview with The Associated Press at the University of Baltimore School of Law in Baltimore.

Trump Slams Rep. John Lewis and His District on Twitter

President-elect Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. President-elect Donald Trump fired back at Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., - and his congressional district - on Twitter Saturday morning, writing Lewis should focus on "fixing" his district rather than questioning his presidency.

Homeland Continues to Mirror Real-Life Politics in Season 6

We may be less than a week away from Donald Trump 's inauguration as the 45th president of the United States, but in an alternate universe, the first female president is preparing to take office. That would be Elizabeth Keane , the president-elect on Season 6 of Showtime's Homeland , played by new cast member Elizabeth Marvel .

Trump’s CEO meetings raise ethics questions

In this Jan. 13, 2017, photo, President-elect Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York. Trump's meetings this week with CEOs seeking federal approval for major mergers are raising red flags for ethics lawyers concerned that about the possible erosion of a firewall between the regulators tasked with approving the billion-dollar deals and the White House.

Holliday sees inaugural gig as for ‘the people,’ not Trump

In this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, actress and singer Jennifer Holliday poses for a photo during an interview in New York. Holliday, who will perform at Donald Trump's inaugural welcome concert next week, supported Hillary Clinton in the election and says her decision to participate is not a political statement..

Klinsmann believes US Soccer made progress before his firing

Freezing rain moved into the southern Plains early Friday, creating icy condition that prompted flight cancellations and school closures as forecasters warned that the weather could cripple the region through the... A thick glaze of ice covered roads from Oklahoma to southern Illinois on Friday amid a winter storm that caused numerous wrecks, forced school cancellations, grounded flights and prompted dire warnings for people to stay... A senior U.S. official says the Obama administration is aware of frequent contacts between President-elect Donald Trump's top national security adviser and Russia's ambassador to the United States.