North Korean leader says past diplomacy only confirmed US hostility

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward Pyongyang and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats, state media said Friday. ...

Trump chooses loyalist Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Matt Gaetz withdraws

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department, turning to a longtime ally after his first choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration amid scrutiny over sex trafficking...

Democrats strike deal to get more Biden judges confirmed before Congress adjourns

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate won't hold votes on four of President Joe Biden's appellate court nominees as part of a deal with Republicans to allow for speedier consideration of other judicial nominations and bring Biden within striking distance of the 234 total judicial confirmations that...

Republicans rally around Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon pick, as Gaetz withdraws for attorney general

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another...

Trump's team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing?

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump 's team still hasn't signed agreements that are required to formally begin the transition process to the White House — meaning the government can't provide security clearances and briefings to incoming administration officials and the FBI can't...

SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step down

Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who was aggressive in his oversight of cryptocurrencies and other financial markets, will step down from his post on Jan. 20. Gensler pushed changes that he said protected investors, but the industry and many Republicans bristled...

Gary Gensler, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, will step down on Jan. 20

Matt Gaetz says he is withdrawing his name from consideration to be Trump's attorney general

Cowboys and Commanders ride losing streaks into the NFC East rivals' 1st meeting this season

Dallas (3-7) at Washington (7-4) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Commanders by 10 1/2 Against the spread: Cowboys 2-8; Commanders 7-4 Series record: Dallas leads 78-48-2. Last meeting: The Cowboys clinched the NFC...

Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Elon Musk first suggested a new effort to cut the size of government, Donald Trump didn't seem to take it seriously. His eventual name for the idea sounded like a joke too. It would be called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a reference to an online meme...