Nebraska to announce decision on Keystone XL pipeline

Nebraska regulators are set to decide Monday whether to approve or deny an in-state route for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. It's the last major regulatory hurdle facing project operator TransCanada Corp. The Nebraska Public Service Commission's ruling is on the Nebraska route TransCanada has proposed to complete the $8 billion, 1,179-mile pipeline to deliver oil from Alberta, Canada, to Texas Gulf Coast refineries.

GOP’s Sasse Likes Tax Bill, But Won’t Call it Key to 2018

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse says Republican leaders are overstating how much passing tax-cut legislation can protect their party in next year's elections. The Nebraska Republican, who addressed an evangelical conservative group Saturday night, told reporters after his speech that he likes the tax bill moving in the Senate.

Trump’s Tweets Are Hurting Him, And His Aides Can’t Stop Him

A new study indicates that President Trump's Twitter rants may be having a negative impact on the very people he's going to need to continue staying loyal to him: Ten months into his presidency, the failure of any one single scandal to sink his administration has led some in the media to suggest that Trump is like "Teflon," with the grime that would stick to other politicians simply slipping right off. But the numbers show that nothing could be further from the truth - Trump's scandals aren't just damaging him, they're causing swing voters to reevaluate both his priorities and the very health of the economy.

Grassley alters Senate policy for 2 judicial nominees

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said Thursday he's going ahead with confirmation hearings for two appellate court nominees, Davis Straus of Minnesota and Kyle Duncan of Louisiana, even though they have not received the support of both of their home-state senators. In each case, a senator declined to return a so-called blue slip marking their support for the judicial nominee from their state.

Democrat Jones leads Republican Moore by 8 points in Alabama, per Fox News poll

A Fox News poll released Thursday has Republican Roy Moore, left, trailing Democrat Doug Jones among likely voters by a 50 percent to 42 percent margin. A Fox News poll released Thursday has Republican Roy Moore, left, trailing Democrat Doug Jones among likely voters by a 50 percent to 42 percent margin.

Deval has clearest path to 2020 nomination

With Democrats claiming victory in the 2017 elections and Donald Trump's approval ratings mired in the mid-30s, political chatter has turned predictably to 2020 and who could, or should, be the Democrats' presidential nominee. The chatter has intensified with Joe Biden's book tour; in Massachusetts, the buzz hovers over U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton.

Cuba rejects ‘arbitrary’ tightening of US sanctions

Cuba has rejected outright new US restrictions that took effect on November 8, describing them as confirming an "upsurge" of the blockade imposed by Washington since 1962. Cuba's top diplomat for the Americas, Josefina Vidal, said during a press conference on November 7 that the new measures to prevent US trade with and travel to the Caribbean island were "arbitrary."

New money: Mnuchin and Carranza signatures now on the dollar bill

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin took a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on Wednesday to see firsthand the production of new $1 bills, the first currency that will bear his signature. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza were on hand at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Wednesday to see the production of the new dollar bill bearing their signatures.

Catholic cardinal condemns a oeforces of divisiona and fear

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops decried what he said were "the forces of division" in the country, as he called Monday for immigration policies that keep families together and a "humane" approach to policing the border. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Texas, affirmed the government's authority to protect national security.

Utah’s Curtis set to be sworn in as newest GOP House member

Congress gets its newest member on Monday when Republican John Curtis of Utah is sworn in amid an intense push by GOP leadership to score a major legislative victory before the end of the year. Curtis, 57, is the mayor of the Mormon stronghold of Provo.

Trump to Meet Duterte as Ties Recover From Obama Dust-Up

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sit down for a formal meeting with Rodrigo Duterte on Monday as ties warm a year after the Philippine leader cursed out Barack Obama and publicly pivoted toward China. Trump and Duterte shook hands Monday morning before a ceremony to open two days of meetings in Manila hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

PAPER: Why Hillary Clinton’s 2020 Comeback Is Ruined Forever

In Hillary Clinton's dreams, the former secretary of state is a decade younger and many of the errors from her failed 2016 presidential run have long been forgotten. Then what? She launches a third and final bid for the White House - and wins! There's just one problem, a big one, actually - Former DNC boss Donna Brazile appears to have put the final nail in Clinton's political coffin.

Zinke says Democrats holding Interior nominees – hostage’

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says Senate Democrats are holding the department's nominees "hostage" to a political agenda that includes opposition to his review of presidentially designated monuments. In a sharply worded letter to Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate's No.