The Latest: Hard-right caucus nearly scuttles tax work

House GOP conservatives may be making headway in their effort to keep the government open through Dec. 30 instead of setting up a pre-Christmas deadline for a potential bipartisan budget deal. Conservative Rep. Mark Meadows is among those who worry that the leadership's proposed Dec. 22 deadline might set up Republicans for a fleecing at the hands of Democrats.

US defies North Korea with war drills involving 230 aircraft

The U.S. and South Korea on Monday began a five-day joint air exercise on the Korean peninsula involving 230 aircraft and 12,000 American troops, the allies said in a joint statement. A day before the Vigilant Ace 18 drills, North Korea called for "merciless revenge" and said the nation would consider the "highest-level hard-line countermeasure in history," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Concealed Carry Bill To Go To House Floor For Vote This Week

Legislation that enables concealed carry holders in different states to carry legally in other states comes to the House floor for a vote Wednesday. North Carolina Republican Rep. Richard Hudson's Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee last week following a contentious mark up along party lines.

Manafort ghost-wrote an op-ed defending himself with the help of a Russian colleague

Court documents filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Monday reveal former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was ghost-writing an editorial alongside a Russian colleague that was meant to sway public opinion in his favor. Manafort, who was indicted by Mueller's team on conspiracy and money laundering charges on October 30 , had worked on the editorial as recently as November 30. The documents, filed in Federal District Court in Washington, D.C., indicate that Manafort was effectively attempting to try his own case in the press, something for which U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson had already admonished him, after Manafort's lawyers spoke to the media following his initial October 30 hearing.

Will the EPA give in to state governors on ethanol credit waivers?

The pressure is growing on Scott Pruitt and the Environmental Protection Agency to do something anything about the costs being imposed on consumers and the energy sector by the Renewable Fuel Standard. According to Politico's Morning Energy newsletter , there's a meeting scheduled for Thursday in which President Trump will be talking to Ted Cruz and other interested parties about the subject.

Supporters rally, demand due-process for US Rep. Conyers

Prominent clergy, Detroit elected leaders and community activists said Monday that they will go to the White House and U.S. House of Representatives - if necessary - to demand due process for Rep. John Conyers who faces allegations of sexual harassment from several women who once worked for him. "We are here for due process," said the Rev.

The Latest: Protesters block traffic amid Trump’s Utah visit

President Donald Trump stands with Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, left, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, center, after arriving at the Ronald R Wright National Air Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. Protesters gather before a visit by President Donald Trump to announce that he is scaling back two sprawling national monuments, Monday Dec. 4, 2017, in Salt Lake City.

Trump arrives in Utah to announce scaling back of monuments

President Donald Trump arrived in Utah on Monday to announce that he is scaling back two sprawling national monuments, a move that is welcomed by the state's top Republican officials but opposed by tribes and environmental groups. Trump traveled west to announce his intention to shrink the Bears Ears and the Grand-Staircase Escalante national monuments.