Jerry Falwell Jr. can't imagine Trump 'doing anything that's not good for the country'  —  He lives with his wife, Becki, in Bedford County, Va.  —  You said recently that conservatives and Christians should stop electing nice guys.  Aren't Christians supposed to be nice guys?  —  Of course, of course.

Trump goes after retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal for ‘big, dumb mouth’  —  President Donald Trump took on retired four-star Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal today, saying he “got fired like a dog” and is known for his “big, dumb mouth” — comments that come on the heels of the general criticizing the president.

Trump invites congressional leaders to White House for wall briefing  —  The meeting would be the first time the president has sat down with Democrats since the shutdown started.  —  President Donald Trump has invited congressional leaders to a Wednesday afternoon briefing on the border wall …

Netflix pulls episode of comedy show in Saudi Arabia  —  Netflix has removed an episode of a comedy show critical of Saudi Arabia after the internet streaming service received a complaint from the kingdom, renewing concerns about government control over freedom of expression on online platforms.

MSNBC is surging  —  MSNBC host Rachel Maddow can speak at length on many topics.  The whims and demographics of her cable-news audience, however, are not among them.  “I think I may just be lucky that we're at a time in the news cycle where there is an appetite for that kind of explanatory work …

Brazil Is About To Show The World How A Modern Democracy Collapses  —  Far-right president Jair Bolsonaro is a threat to Brazilian democracy — and a model for authoritarianism that leaders around the world will follow.  —  RIO DE JANEIRO — The tanks began to roll into Rio de Janeiro …

Beyond ‘no comment’: The White House has no response — at all — to many media questions  —  The New York Times published a powerful story last week about President Trump's growing isolation in the White House, with colorful details such as Trump's tendency to interrupt advisers during meetings to call them …

How Biden Has Paved the Way for a Possible Presidential Run  — A series of careful financial decisions and the creation of nonprofits and academic centers staffed by close advisers would help a campaign-in-waiting for Joseph R. Biden Jr.  — He is expected to reveal his plans early this year.

American Accused of Spying in Russia Is a Marine Veteran, Family Says  —  LONDON — The American man who was arrested last week in Russia on a spying charge is a Marine Corps veteran who was in Moscow to attend a wedding, his family said on Tuesday.  —  Russia's Federal Security Service …

How Trump Got Bad at Twitter  —  The late-December tweet from @RealDonaldTrump was brief and absurd: “Farm Bill signing in 15 minutes!  #Emmys #TBT.”  It was accompanied by a clip from the 2005 Emmy awards in which the future leader of the free world, wearing a straw hat and overalls …

POLITICO Playbook: Welcome to 2019.  ‘JUST CALM DOWN AND ENJOY THE RIDE.’  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  Good Tuesday morning and Happy New Year!  It's 2019, and it's Day 11 of the partial government shutdown.  Members of Congress are starting to filter back into town.

How the shutdown is reaching a breaking point  —  Nine federal departments haven't received a cent in federal funding in more than a week.  —  They've limped along on leftover money, coasted through the quiet days of the holidays and paid staff with checks already prepped before the lapse.

These 16 Polls Show How American Thinking Has (And Hasn't) Changed In 80 Years  —  Generations past and present weigh in on everything from hitchhikers to financial windfalls to the honesty of Congress.  —  For more than 80 years, pollsters have been asking Americans from all walks of life …

Strategic Command apologizes for tweet about dropping bomb  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees America's nuclear and missile arsenal, boasted in a New Year's Eve tweet that it's ready if ever needed “to drop something much, much bigger” than the Times Square ball.

Why the West Coast Is Suddenly Beating the East Coast on Transportation  —  [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]  —  When New York City's transportation commissioner returned from a recent trip to California, she seemed downright jealous.