CNN/ORC Poll: Trump alone at the top again  —  (CNN)Donald Trump is once again alone at the top of the Republican field, according to the latest CNN/ORC Poll, with 36% of registered Republicans and Republican-leaning independents behind him, while his nearest competitor trails by 20 points.

Couple seemed quiet and withdrawn — until explosion of violence  —  RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Syed Rizwan Farook seemed happy, quiet and devoutly religious both before and after his journey to Saudi Arabia last year.  His co-workers noticed only two changes after the trip: The restaurant inspector …

Dem Sen. Cites Success of Gun Laws in California a Day After San Bernardino  —  In the wake of yesterday's horrific shooting in San Bernardino, California, Senate Democrats are attempting another strong gun control push.  They are pushing for universal background checks and banning individuals …

Scott Weiland, frontman for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, dies at 48  —  Scott Weiland at KROQ's Weenie Roast at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine in June 2001.  —  Scott Weiland, a performer known for his grunge rock voice and struggles with addiction, has died, according to his wife, Jamie.

Senate approves bill repealing much of ObamaCare  —  The Senate on Thursday passed legislation repealing the core pillars of ObamaCare, taking a major step toward sending such a bill to the president's desk for the first time.  —  Republicans hailed it as a political messaging victory …

Trump: ‘My numbers go way up’ after tragedies  —  Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Thursday suggested his popularity increases after tragedies, pointing to his rise in polls after last month's Paris terrorist attacks.  —  Trump made the comment while pushing back on a GOP memo …

Loretta Lynch: “Actions Predicated On Violent Talk” Toward Muslims Will Be Prosecuted  —  WASHINGTON — Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Thursday warned that the Justice Department could take aggressive action against people whose anti-Muslim rhetoric “edges towards violence” …

Clinton-aligned group claims to have mole in Koch machine  —  Hillary Clinton's well-financed ally David Brock has a team that claims to be coordinating with moles inside the corporate and political empire of the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.  —  During a rare tour …

Chris Christie: ‘Iran is a Greater Threat Than ISIS’  —  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the semi-resurgent candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, came to Washington last week to address members of the Council on Foreign Relations (the organization known, at least to Senator Ted Cruz, as the “pit of vipers").

Lawmaker proposes 72-hour waiting period for firearms purchases … Missouri House of Representatives members work during the annual veto session in Sept. Rep. Stacey Newman has filed a bill that would make obtaining a gun as difficult as obtaining an abortion, including a 72-hour waiting period.

After grumbling, Trump says he will participate in CNN debate  —  Donald Trump said Thursday that he is unexcited about the upcoming primary debate and irritated by CNN's coverage of his campaign, but confirmed that he will appear at the network's GOP forum scheduled for Dec. 15 in Las Vegas.

Republicans' Climate Change Denial Denial  —  Future historians — if there are any future historians — will almost surely say that the most important thing happening in the world during December 2015 was the climate talks in Paris.  True, nothing agreed to in Paris will be enough, by itself, to solve the problem of global warming.