China Syndrome: The US says it has reached an agreement with China for the return of an underwater drone the Chinese navy snatched out of international waters in the South China Sea. The Pentagon says the drone was being used …

In Transition: Donald Trump is expected to meet with President Obama at the White House today to talk about a transition to Trump’s new administration. But hours after Hillary Clinton and President Obama made conciliatory speeches about Trump’s election victory, …

Smokin’ in the Newsroom: In a sign that marijuana is the new martini,The New York Times editorial board has endorsed legalized weed, saying simply, “The federal government should repeal the ban on marijuana.” The Great Gray Lady says that after …

Israel: Dozens of people have been killed in Gaza as Hamas and Israel trade a flurry of fire. Hamas is firing longer-range rockets into Israel, falling near Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. At least 117 rockets hit Israel yesterday, one of …

Ukraine: Ukrainian officials say an “anti-terrorist” operation is underway to take back buildings occupied by pro-Russian militants in Eastern Ukraine. One Ukrainian security officer was killed today in a gun battle with militants in the eastern city of Sloviansk. One …

Syria: Peace talks in Switzerland immediately stumbled over the continued tenure of President Bashar al-Assad. Secy. of State John Kerry said Assad could not be part of a negotiated interim government and that, “The right to lead a country does …

Bridge Collapse: Leaked emails indicate that Gov. Chris Christie’s staff helped engineer a traffic jam at the George Washington Bridge last September in an act of retribution against the Democratic mayor of Ft. Lee, NJ. An Aug. 13 email from …

Nation: A federal judge in New York ruled that the NSA’s surveillance of phone calls is legal and vital to defense against terrorism. Federal Judge William Pauley threw out a petition by the American Civil Liberties Union. He wrote that, …

Deal: House and Senate negotiators reached a budget deal for the first time in three years, potentially avoiding another government shutdown in January. Washington’s Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said, “We have broken through the partisanship and gridlock.”   The agreement …

Charged: Federal prosecutors charged 23-year-old Paul Ciancia with the murder of a federal officer at LAX, a crime that could bring the death penalty. Investigators say Ciancia opened fire Friday with an assault rifle at a TSA pre-screening station, hitting …