Weekly jobless claims plunge to 199,000, the lowest level in more than 50 years  —  Claims fell more than 71,000 from last week, marking the eighth straight week of declines  —  The number of Americans filing initial unemployment claims fell to 199,000 — the lowest level since November 1969 — the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

Jan. 6 Organizers Used Anonymous ‘Burner Phones’ to Communicate with White House and Trump Family, Sources Say  —  A key planner of the Jan. 6 rally near the White House insisted the burner phones be purchased with cash, a source says  —  Some of the organizers who planned the rally …

White House to nominate new budget director months after Congress rejected Biden's initial pick  —  Biden will ask the Senate to confirm Shalanda Young for the important role.  She currently serves as the Office of Management and Budget's acting director.  —  The White House …

Do Not Fall for Joe Biden's Slick New Oil Trick  —  Joe Biden felt a need to escape the luxury of the White House for the holiday.  —  So just before burning a few tons of jet fuel and emitting fresh carbon emissions on the four-hour flight to Nantucket, President Climate Change ordered …

Spencer, Kessler, Cantwell and other white supremacists found liable in deadly Unite the Right rally … Prominent white supremacists Richard Spencer, Jason Kessler and Christopher Cantwell and others engaged in a conspiracy in advance of the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017, a jury has ruled.

Despite vaccines, the U.S. has lost more lives to Covid this year than last.  —  This was supposed to be the year vaccines brought the pandemic under control.  Instead, more people in the United States have died from Covid-19 this year than died last year, before vaccines were available.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘The old white ppl...knock dem TF out!’  Waukesha suspect shared social media posts promoting violence towards white people and claiming black people were the ‘true Hebrews’  — Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, allegedly drove the red Ford SUV that plowed through crowds on Sunday and charged …

Exxon lobbyist questions urgency of climate's catastrophic risks  —  Speaking on panel, ExxonMobil lobbyist highlights carbon capture's potential and says of global warming: ‘Is it catastrophic inevitable risk?  Not in my mind.’  —  Just last month, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods assured lawmakers …

Biden Includes Taiwan Among 110 Invitees to Democracy Summit  — Virtual summit is scheduled to take place from Dec. 9-10  — China may be angered by including Taiwan among the invitees  —  The Biden administration included Taiwan among the 110 invitees to its upcoming democracy summit …

The Democrats Are a Communist Party Now  —  The Communist Democrats don't want to defeat China.  They seek to replicate its totalitarian system.  —  Daniel Greenfield is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center specializing in investigative reporting on the Left and Islamic terrorism.

FBI acknowledges some agents may have Havana Syndrome symptoms  —  The FBI is promising to make sure employees who have symptoms consistent with Havana Syndrome get access to medical care after a former agent suffering almost daily headaches was rebuffed when he sought testing and treatment, according to documents obtained by NBC News.

Trumpist Election-Deniers Descend Into High School Drama  —  Lin Wood, Sebastian Gorka, Sidney Powell, and Michael Flynn are hurling accusations of money woes, betrayals, “fraud,” and ghosting.  —  In the aftermath of the contested 2020 vote, Trump's biggest election-fraud cheerleaders …

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ actor charged with joining Oath Keepers during Capitol breach  —  A Broadway actor and Michael Jackson impersonator starring as Judas in a traveling performance of “Jesus Christ Superstar” joined the Oath Keepers who breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, prosecutors alleged Tuesday.

Susan Rice needs those TPS reports  —  Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration.  With Allie Bice.  —  When people applied to join SUSAN RICE's staff at the White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC) this year …

O'Rourke seizes on Texas power grid in bid against Abbott  —  Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) is seizing on Texans' concerns over their energy grid following the devastating winter storm earlier this year in his bid to oust Gov. Greg Abbott (R).  —  The O'Rourke campaign sees the grid …

America's Pandemic Star Loses Some Luster  —  Is Vermont the envy of America no more?  The state long hailed for its pandemic response is experiencing one of the most intense COVID-19 surges in the country.  Cases are twice as high as they've been at any other point.

U.N. Nuclear Chief Leaves Iran Without a Deal on Factory Inspection, Diplomats Say  —  Talks between the IAEA and Iran continue  —  BERLIN—The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency left Iran late Tuesday after failing to reach a deal to allow inspectors access to a factory making equipment …

The Buttigieg presidential buzz has penetrated the White House  —  PHOENIX — Pete Buttigieg has long been a man in a hurry.  —  Since 2010, he has run for treasurer of Indiana, mayor of South Bend, chair of the Democratic National Committee, and president of the United States.

US to require vaccines for all border crossers in January  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will require essential, nonresident travelers crossing U.S. land borders, such as truck drivers, government and emergency response officials, to be fully vaccinated beginning on Jan. 22, the administration planned to announce Tuesday.

Seven doctors contract Covid after attending Florida anti-vaccine summit  —  Doctors tested positive or developed symptoms ‘within days’ of conference at which alternative treatments were discussed  —  Seven anti-vaccine doctors fell sick after gathering earlier this month for a Florida …

DoD Announces the Establishment of the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG)  —  Today, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, in close collaboration with the Director of National Intelligence, directed the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security …

Republican National Committee dismisses call for Ronna McDaniel to resign as chairwoman over outreach to LGBTQ voters  —  The Republican National Committee is pushing back against a state party leader's call for Ronna McDaniel to resign as RNC chairwoman over her outreach to the LGBTQ community.

Are the Courts Getting Ready to Crack Down on Reporters?  —  A ruling blocking The New York Times from covering a far-right activist group has ominous implications for the First Amendment.  —  In 1994, the CBS program 48 Hours prepared to air explosive video about unsanitary conditions …

Biden hits a new low in the NPR/Marist poll as inflation concerns rise  —  Americans' most pressing economic concern is inflation, and it's contributing to a decline in how they view President Biden, according to a new NPR/Marist poll.  —  Biden's approval is down to 42%, the lowest recorded in the survey since Biden took office.

The Biggest Victim in 2021 Redistricting So Far: Competition  —  Heading into Thanksgiving, new congressional maps have either passed or are awaiting signature in 20 states — almost half of the 44 states with two or more seats.  And although Republicans are poised for modest mapping gains, the most dramatic trend is anti-competitive.

EXCLUSIVE: Kamala Harris Bought $375 Pot on Paris Trip  —  Amid economic turmoil and calls to buy local in the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris dropped nearly $400 for a single pot at a boutique shop in Paris, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.

Peng Shuai and the High Stakes of Business in China  —  The Women's Tennis Association has taken an unusually bold—and costly—stance on behalf of the tennis star against the state that censored her.  —  When Peng Shuai, a Chinese tennis star, posted on Chinese social media, on November 2nd …

Frustrated with CIA, Trump administration turned to Pentagon for shadow war with Iran  —  In the final month of his presidency, Donald Trump signed off on key parts of an extensive secret Pentagon campaign to conduct sabotage, propaganda and other psychological and information operations in Iran …