Top GOP leader: Senate to probe reports of Russia hacking

The top Senate Republican said Monday that Congress will investigate a CIA assessment that Russia interfered in the November election on behalf of Donald Trump, an intelligence conclusion that the incoming commander in chief has called "ridiculous." Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters that an inquiry would be conducted by the Senate intelligence panel.

Tillerson choice for State Department raises questions of corporate vs. national interest

ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson speaks during the IHS CERAWeek 2015 energy conference in Houston, Texas April 21, 2015. REUTERS/Daniel Kramer/File Photo The central question facing Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Rex Tillerson if he becomes U.S. secretary of state is whether a lifelong oil man with close ties to Russia can pivot from advancing corporate interests to serving the national interest.

YouTuber Zoella reveals that she has been accused of LYING about her anxiety

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Trump: Russian hacking claims – ridiculous’

Donald Trump on Sunday called a recent CIA assessment of Russian hacking "ridiculous" and says he's not interested in getting daily intelligence briefings - an unprecedented public dismissal by a president-elect of the nation's massive and sophisticated intelligence apparatus. Trump's remarks come as key congressional Republicans joined Democrats in demanding a bipartisan investigation into the Kremlin's activities and questioned consideration of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson - who has close business ties with Moscow - as head of the State Department.

Position Taken? Transition sources say Trump will nominate ExxonMobil …

President-elect Donald Trump will nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state, according to two sources close to the transition. The sources warned that nothing is official until the president-elect announces it, which is likely to come over the next few days.

Some GOP senators call for bipartisan Russia election probe, as their leaders stay mum

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a "Thank You USA" tour rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Dec. 9, 2016. Two Senate Republicans joined demands for a bipartisan probe into Russia's suspected election interference allegedly designed to bolster Donald J. Trump as questions continue to mount about the president-elect's expected decision to nominate a secretary of state candidate with close ties to Russia.

Trump rejects intel, lawmakers vow probe of Russia hacking

President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday called a recent CIA assessment of Russian hacking "ridiculous" and says he's not interested in getting daily intelligence briefings - an unprecedented rejection of the nation's massive and sophisticated intelligence apparatus. Trump's remarks come as key congressional Republicans joined Democrats in demanding a bipartisan investigation into the Kremlin's activities and questioned consideration of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson - who has close business ties with Moscow - as head of the State Department.

Priebus: ‘Premature’ to Say Tillerson for Secretary of State is a ‘Done Deal’

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus , who is slated to become President-elect Trump's chief of staff, today praised ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson , who has emerged as the likely pick for secretary of state. But Priebus cautioned that it's a "little premature to be claiming" the secretary of state choice for the incoming Trump administration is a "done deal."

URGENT a ” Bipartisan group of senators calls for probe of Russian role in 2016 US elections

A bipartisan quartet of high-profile senators said Sunday that "recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American." "Congress's national security committees have worked diligently to address the complex challenge of cybersecurity, but recent events show that more must be done," said Sens. Chuck Schumer, the incoming Senate Democratic leader, Sen. John McCain, the Armed Services Committee chairman, fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Sen. Jack Reed, the top Armed Services Committee Democrat, in a Sunday morning statement."

Bipartisan group of senators calls for probe of Russian role in 2016 US elections

A bipartisan quartet of high-profile senators said Sunday that "recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American." The group - two Republicans and two Democrats - called for an investigation into American intelligence agencies' conclusion that Russian hacking was intended to help President-elect Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.

Obama Orders – Full Review’ of Rumored Cyber Attacks on 2016 Election

As one of his last acts in office, President Barack Obama has ordered a "full review" of supposed cyber attacks on the 2016 election, despite the fact that there is no proof that any occurred. Obama has ordered the nation's intelligence agencies to conduct this review and report back to him before he leaves office on January 20. "The president has directed the intelligence community to conduct a full review of what happened during the 2016 election process and to capture lessons learned from that and to report to a range of stakeholders, to include the Congress," Obama's homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, said at an event on Friday.

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

ABC's "This Week" - Reince Priebus, Republican National Committee chairman and chief of staff to President-elect Donald Trump; Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. CBS' "Face the Nation" - Kellyanne Conway, Trump adviser; Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Tim Scott, R-S.C. CNN's "State of the Union" - Vice President Joe Biden; Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md.; Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

Trump rethinks need for torture

President-elect Donald Trump, in an interview with The New York Times , suggested a turnabout on the need for torture as a tool in the fight against terrorism, which he repeatedly endorsed during the campaign. Trump suggested that he has changed his mind about the usefulness of waterboarding and other forms of torture after talking with James Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general, who headed the U.S. Central Command.

Pentagon Warns Stopgap Spending Bill Could Hurt Terrorism Fight

Problematic shortfalls arising from a stopgap spending bill would occur in the Pentagon's operations and maintenance and training and equipment, according to the Defense Department's comptroller. The Pentagon comptroller has warned Congress that continuing to rely on stopgap spending bills will undermine U.S. forces in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a memo exclusively obtained by CQ Roll Call.