The Latest: Ohio senator to oppose Sessions nomination

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio says he won't support his Senate colleague Jeff Sessions, who is President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. Brown says he met with Sessions this week and says the Alabama Republican has a civil rights record "at direct odds with the task of promoting justice and equality for all."

U.S. spy chief ‘resolute’ on Russia cyber attack, differs with Trump

The top U.S. intelligence official said yesterday he was "even more resolute" in his belief that Russia staged cyber attacks on Democrats during the 2016 election campaign, rebuking persistent skepticism from Republican President-elect Donald Trump about whether Moscow was involved. James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said he had a very high level of confidence that Russia hacked Democratic Party and campaign staff email, and disseminated propaganda and fake news aimed at the Nov. 8 election.

Former CIA Director James Woolsey Abruptly Leaves Trump Transition

In a short announcement this afternoon, former CIA Director James Woolsey took himself off the Trump transition team, effective immediately. In a statement first reported by CNN, Woolsey's spokesman announced, "Effective immediately, Ambassador Woolsey is no longer a Senior Adviser to President-elect Trump or the transition," The statement went on to say, "He wishes the President-elect and his Administration great success in their time in office."

When It Comes To Russia, So Far Donald Trump Mostly Stands Alone

The Republican Party has embraced President-elect Donald Trump's positions on immigration, trade, the deficit and conflicts of interest, but when it comes to Russia, Trump and his party are not even close to being on the same page. Trump has repeatedly and consistently expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin and has refused to accept intelligence community findings that Russia hacked Democratic Party emails during the campaign.

12:48 Congress begins Russia hacking probe, Trump still skeptical of U.S. intelligence

Senior U.S. intelligence officials will testify in Congress on Thursday on Russia's alleged cyber attacks during the 2016 election campaign, even as President-elect Donald Trump casts doubt on intelligence agencies' findings that Moscow orchestrated the hacks, Reuters reported. The hearings come a day before Trump is due to be briefed by intelligence agency chiefs on hacks that targeted the Democratic Party.

Trump reportedly plans to revamp top intelligencies agencies

President-elect intends to restructure CIA, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, amid more social media attacks on intel community over Russia hacking assessments President-elect Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Wednesday, December 28, 2016, in Palm Beach, Fla. President-elect Donald Trump, a fierce critic of the US intelligence community in recent weeks, is planning to restructure two top spy agencies once he takes office later this month, people familiar with the planning told US media on Wednesday.

What You Missed Over the Holidays

In the last 24 hours, House Republicans unveiled a plan Monday to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics and then reversed its plans Tuesday - and that's how the whole holiday season has been. President Barack Obama on Dec. 29 announced sanctions against Russia for meddling in the U.S. presidential election, though the next day, President-elect Donald Trump praised Vladimir Putin for not retaliating.

Plane with expelled Russian diplomats leaves US

President Putin's refusal to expel US diplomats came after Russia's foreign ministry asked him to send home 35 in a tit-for-tat retaliation for the expulsion of the same number of its staff by President Barack Obama. Photo: AFP A plane carrying 35 Russian diplomats expelled from the United States over Moscow's alleged interference in the presidential election took off from Washington on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported.

Trump to continue making news, policy via Twitter, spokesman says

President-elect Donald Trump won't end the onslaught of posts on Twitter that fed his unconventional campaign, even after taking on the formalized duties of the Oval Office later this month. Making news and issuing statements on social media sites that also include Facebook and Instagram will “absolutely” continue, despite earlier promises by Trump to cut back, incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Sunday on ABC's “This Week.” “You know what? The fact of the matter is that when he tweets, he gets results,” Spicer said.

Plane with expelled diplomats leaves US: Russian media

A plane carrying 35 Russian diplomats, expelled from the United States over Moscow's alleged interference in the presidential election, took off from Washington on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported. President Putin's refusal to expel US diplomats came after Russia's foreign ministry asked him to send home 35 in a tit-for-tat retaliation for the expulsion of the same number of its staff by President Barack Obama "The plane has taken off, everyone is on board," said the Russian embassy in Washington, quoted by the state-owned Ria Novosti agency.

Expelled Russian Diplomats Leave United States

Russian diplomats who were expelled by order of U.S. President Barack Obama left Washington on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported, citing Russia's embassy. Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over the hacking of U.S. political groups during the 2016 presidential election.

Sen. Tom Cotton urges Trump to take toughe…

Sen. Tom Cotton on Sunday urged President-elect Donald Trump to take a firmer stance on Russia, saying Moscow needs a new set of "boundaries" in the global order. Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," the first-term Arkansas Republican said the U.S. must make clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin will face consequences for his actions.

Senator McCain says U.S. stands with Ukraine against Russia

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko shakes hands with U.S. Senator John McCain during a meeting with Ukrainian servicemen in Shirokino settlement near Mariupol, Ukraine, December 31, 2016. Mikhail Palinchak/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko greets U.S. Senator John McCain during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, December 30, 2016.

Putin congratulates Trump, not Obama, in New Year’s statement

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump, rather than President Barack Obama, in his annual New Year's greetings statement to foreign heads of state and government. However, Putin did convey his seasonal greetings to Obama, his family and the American people in a separate statement earlier Friday, while responding to the latest wave of US sanctions against Russia.