Tws Staff

The Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings for the Confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court are underway. Here are his prepared remarks.

The Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings for the Confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court are underway. Dr. Ford says she is "terrified."

After six days of consulting her memory and her lawyer, Deborah Ramirez remembers something Brett Kavanaugh supposedly did that no one else present says happened.

Calls the judge's record on administrative law 'particularly impressive.'

A special politics chat featuring writers from THE WEEKLY STANDARD and FiveThirtyEight.

The Pulitzer Prize winner is remembered by friends, former colleagues and others whose lives he touched.

The highly-anticipated memo from Rep. Devin Nunes has now been officially released. You can read it in its entirety, for yourself, here.

Every State of the Union address experiences lengthy interruptions for applause, which is watched closely. Are only Republicans cheering? What about the Democrats? Did Chuck Schumer just roll his eyes?

Of the few minutes of his first State of the Union address that Donald Trump spent on foreign policy, he devoted the most time to North Korea.

Anyone who hoped that Donald Trump might diverge from his predecessors' penchant for a laundry list of promises must be disappointed.

Donald Trump began his first State of the Union Speech calling out to the honored guests sitting with first lady Melania Trump and then touting the tax cuts passed by the GOP in late December:

As we prepare for 2018—which absolutely, positively, has to be better than 2017—we’ve followed the example of the great Chris Wallace and asked the TWS staff for predictions for next year along four vectors: politics, sports, entertainment, and foreign policy.

As we prepare for 2018—which absolutely, positively, has to be better than 2017—we’ve followed the example of the great Chris Wallace and asked the TWS staff for predictions for next year along four vectors: politics, sports, entertainment, and foreign policy.

As we prepare for 2018—which absolutely, positively, has to be better than 2017—we’ve followed the example of the great Chris Wallace and asked the TWS staff for predictions for next year along four vectors: politics, sports, entertainment, and foreign policy.

As we prepare for 2018—which absolutely, positively, has to be better than 2017—we’ve followed the example of the great Chris Wallace and asked TWS staff for predictions for the coming year along four vectors: politics, sports, entertainment, and foreign policy.

The staff of THE WEEKLY STANDARD and contributors weigh in on the most pressing holiday question: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

THE WEEKLY STANDARD live-blogged the Alabama Senate special election between Republican Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones on Tuesday night. Moore campaigned under the shadow of credible allegations of sexual misconduct when he was in his 30s, though by the end he had the support of both President…

Senator John McCain, a key Republican swing vote on the upper chamber’s tax reform legislation, announced Thursday morning that he will vote yes despite reservations about what he sees are the measure’s imperfections.

Most Republican senators have been quick to distance themselves from Roy Moore since allegations emerged in the Washington Post late last week that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl when he was 32 and pursued relationships with three other teenagers. With legislators having time to review…

The following is an archival version of our Election Night 2017 live blog. Posts are in reverse chronological order.

Over at Commentary, our own Andrew Ferguson has a review of the “spiritual memoir” by Washington doyenne Sally Quinn, Finding Magic. Hoo boy, is it a doozy. “The book or the review?” you ask. Both. Read for yourself:

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 237 to 189 on Tuesday to ban most abortions after the fifth month of pregnancy, when infants are old enough to feel pain and survive if born prematurely. Only three Democrats supported the bill, while just two Republicans voted against it.

President Trump gave his first address to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, addressing the problematic states of Iran and North Korea, the conflict in Venezuela, and making a pitch for the sovereignty of nation-states.

Fred Barnes writes in the Wall Street Journal:

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has issued subpoenas to two associates of Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, CNN reported Tuesday.

It was a busy day at the White House, as Sean Spicer resigned after the White House named investment banker and GOP fundraiser Anthony Scaramucci the new communications director. Before he was a member of the administration, Scaramucci was a staunch defender of President Trump on Twitter and cable…

Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse joined WEEKLY STANDARD editor in chief Stephen F. Hayes at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs to discuss his new book: The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis—and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance.

Update 3:02 p.m. The hospital treating Steve Scalise reports that he is out of surgery and in critical condition.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday afternoon on Russia's potential interference in the 2016 election. Sessions also faced questions on President Trump's handling of the James Comey firing, the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, and…

After weeks of anticipation, former FBI director James Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, speaking publicly for the first time since President Donald Trump fired him last month.

Fired FBI director James Comey will testify on Thursday before the Senate Intelligence Committee about his dealings with President Trump, the FBI's investigation into Russia's interference in the U.S. election.

All the attention has been on Georgia this special election season. But the race for Montana's open House seat is set to conclude first, with a former GOP gubernatorial candidate trying to stave off an upset bid Thursday from a Bernie Sanders-backed musician and small business owner.

We are very sorry to learn of the death of the distinguished scholar and writer Peter Augustine Lawler, a valued contributor to many journals, including THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

Former FBI director James Comey will testify publicly before the Senate Intelligence Committee after Memorial Day, the panel's chairman and ranking member announced Friday evening.

Texas senator John Cornyn, a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, took himself out of the running for FBI director on Tuesday.

Editor at large William Kristol joins the Washington Examiner's Hugo Gurdon and Byron York to discuss the firing of FBI director James Comey.

Aetna announced late Wednesday it will withdraw from the last two Obamacare exchange states in which it was still participating, taking one of the nation's insurance giants off the law's markets entirely next year.

Bloomberg is reporting that President Trump is considering former Rep. Mike Rogers to replace James Comey as FBI director. Rogers is a former FBI agent; by the end of his seven terms in Congress he was the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Bloomberg's report suggest that Rogers "would…

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

Today in the New York Times our own Matt Labash joins Gail Collins in a chat about presidential pets, government shutdowns, and fake news.

From the Foundation for Constitutional Govenrment:

An American was arrested in North Korea this weekend as he attempted to leave the country. He is now the third American to be held prisoner in the totalitarian country.

The latest Conversation with Bill Kristol has been released by the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

Former President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are scheduled to appear together on a panel in Germany next month "to discuss civic engagement locally and globally," Obama's foundation and the German Protestant Kirchentag announced Tuesday.

With government funding set to expire April 28, the nation's military chiefs are warning that even a basic extension of government funding at last year's levels would be detrimental to the Armed Forces' capabilities.

Jim Webb, the decorated Vietnam war veteran and former U.S. senator and secretary of the Navy, has declined to accept an award at his alma mater the Naval Academy because some alumni were threatening to disrupt the ceremony. Aaron MacLean writes at the Washington Free Beacon:

It now appears increasingly likely that 41 or more Democratic senators will take the unprecedented step this week of filibustering a qualified Supreme Court nominee. As William Kristol wrote in the following WEEKLY STANDARD editorial, Senate Republicans shouldn't hesitate to defend the Constitution…

One day after audio surfaced of her questioning the implications of blocking Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch, Senator Claire McCaskill announced Friday that she would back a filibuster of his confirmation vote, moving the upper chamber closer to the potential "nuclear option" of…

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

On The Right Question, editor at large William Kristol joins Timothy P. Carney and Hugo Gurdon the Washington Examiner to discuss the failure of the American Health Care Act and what it means for President Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan's relationship and the GOP's ability to govern.

On this week's episode of The Right Question, editor at large William Kristol joins the Washington Examiner's editor Hugo Gurdon and chief political correspondent Byron York to discuss the fate of Obamacare repeal.

President Donald Trump shied away from sizing up Russian president Vladimir Putin's leadership during an interview aired Saturday, in an apparent divergence from past praise for the Russian leader.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said on Fox News Sunday he "feels very good" about the American Health Care Act's progress in the House on Thursday.

The multiple tragedies roiling Venezuela—widespread hunger, political repression, catastrophic inflation—continue apace. The Miami Herald reports:

The Federal Reserve raised a key interest rate for the second time in three months on Wednesday, a signal that the principals of the banking system view the economy's health as stable.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch has been well-received on Capitol Hill ahead of the start of his confirmation hearings next week, raising the possibility that Democrats won't filibuster his nomination.

Allison Stanger, the Middlebury College professor who ended up in a neck brace after protests at the private Vermont institution spiraled out of control, wrote a piece in the New York Times Monday reflecting on the mob scene that transpired.

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

Editor in Chief Stephen F. Hayes joins Byron York and Hugo Gurdon of the Washington Examiner on The Right Question to discuss the messy roll out of the GOP's Obamacare repeal.

March 10, 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. On this occasion, we look back on how THE WEEKLY STANDARD's Jonathan V. Last acknowledged the final episode of the ground-breaking program:

The U.S. government is preserving all options for dealing with an increasingly belligerent North Korea, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said Wednesday.

THE WEEKLY STANDARD's Christopher Caldwell has a piece in First Things about "American carnage,"—the opioid crisis.

Joseph. W. Rogers, the founder of Waffle House, has died at 97. In 2014, Geoffrey Norman paid tribute to the famous restaurant chain in these pages. We reproduce his piece below:

THE WEEKLY STANDARD's editor at large Bill Kristol joined C-SPAN's Washington Journal Monday morning to discuss President Donald Trump's claim that his Oval Office predecessor ordered a wiretap of him as a candidate, as well as a special editorial the magazine published in response.

An appearance by American Enterprise Institute scholar Charles Murray at Middlebury College was violently disrupted last week, as Jenna Lifhits reported in these pages. Now, Murray has recounted his experience:

WEEKLY STANDARD editor at large William Kristol joined a panel featuring F.H. Buckley, Rich Lowry, James Pierson, Peter Thiel, and Roger Kimball to discuss the current political moment. The conversation, convened by the Manhattan Institute, examined the following:

Lou Reed would have been 75 years old today. On the occasion of his death in October 2013, THE WEEKLY STANDARD's Lee Smith wrote a rememberance. We reproduce it below:

Montana representative Ryan Zinke is now set to become President Donald Trump's Interior secretary, after the Senate approved him in a bipartisan, though not overwhelming vote on Wednesday.

Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is set to be confirmed as President Trump's secretary of Commerce on Monday night, as the Senate begins the week advancing two of the several remaining cabinet selections yet to take their posts.

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

WEEKLY STANDARD editor-at-large Bill Kristol joined David Axelrod for a podcast discussion. Here is the description:

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

The Trump administration is set to undo federal guidance issued by their predecessors last year that threatened public schools with the loss of federal funding if they didn't allow transgender students to use the school facilities matching their gender identity, according to a report.

In November 2016, incoming National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster addressed the Virginia Military Institute. The video is worth watching. Here it is:

Small-scale demonstrations continued at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp in Cannon Ball, N.D., on Monday, with holdouts facing a Wednesday deadline to vacate the area and allow the Army Corps of Engineers to help expedite cleanup of what North Dakota's governor called "five or six months of…

South Carolina representative Mick Mulvaney was confirmed to lead the Office of Management and Budget on Thursday morning by a razor-thin 51-49 vote, overcoming the opposition of fellow Republican John McCain.

Update: Several news outlets are reporting that Andy Puzder has withdrawn his nomination for Secretary of Labor.

The Senate voted 57-43 on Wednesday morning to block an Obama-era regulation that would have affected the gun rights of federal disability recipients whose benefits are managed by a third party due to a mental impairment. The rule, proposed last May, would have required the Social Security…

Commentary editor John Podhoretz has a column in the New York Post on the wider implications—and brushed-over dangers—of the leaked information that felled former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

WEEKLY STANDARD contributor and American Enterprise Institute scholar Andy Smarick, along with collaborator Kelsey Hamilton, has released a new paper that "[compares] the combined government experience of President Donald Trump's initial domestic policy cabinet appointees to that of the first…

Democratic antagonism toward attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions continued Wednesday ahead of a confirmation vote, with former presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders following Elizabeth Warren's lead from the night before.

THE WEEKLY STANDARD editor at large Bill Kristol joined The Lead with Jake Tapper on Tuesday afternoon to discuss President Donald Trump, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, and the administration's relationship with the truth.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly took partial blame Tuesday for the confusion that ensued after President Donald Trump issued an executive order temporarily barring travel from seven countries as well as the inflow of refugees.

Missouri governor Eric Greitens signed legislation Monday making his state the twenty-eighth to pass a right to work measure into law.

Executive editor Fred Barnes joins the Washington Examiner's Byron York and host, editor Hugo Gurdon, to discuss how the Supreme Court vacancy and administrative control of executive branch agencies benefitted Donald Trump in his electoral college upset.

Senate Judiciary Commitee chairman Chuck Grassley, who will play the key role in overseeing Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch's confirmation process, talked up his relationship with ranking member Dianne Feinstein in an interview with Roll Call's Niels Lesniewski.

A government lawyer said in federal court Friday morning that more than 100,000 visas have been revoked as a result of President Donald Trump's executive order on refugees and immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. But a State Department official later placed the estimate at almost half…

President Trump will "halt implementation of a rule that requires financial advisers to act in the best interests of their clients," NPR reports. Ike Brannon wrote on that proposed regulation for THE WEEKLY STANDARD back in 2015:

Two GOP senators said Wednesday they would vote no on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be secretary of education, potentially dragging the vice president into a tie-break scenario to push through one of President Donald Trump's most controversial cabinet selections.

After the successful effort last year by Senate Republicans to deny Merrick Garland, Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, a confirmation vote, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer told Americans "...we're not playing tit for tat here. We want a mainstream nominee because that's the right thing…

The nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court has thrilled conservatives, but it's also earning praise from some prominent liberal legal scholars.

President Trump announced Tuesday night his nomination of Neil Gorsuch to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.

Multiple legal experts have criticized former acting Attorney General Sally Yates for allowing her personal views of President Trump's executive order on refugees and travel to the United States to interfere with the Justice Department's role of defending what is lawful.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday he will vote no on the confirmation of five additional nominees to President Trump's cabinet, adding to his list of Betsy DeVos, Rex Tillerson, and Jeff Sessions as individuals he would oppose.

Former President George H.W. Bush was discharged from a Houston hospital Monday after being treated for pneumonia.

House speaker Paul Ryan took note Friday that now is "the first time in a while" Congress and the White House have been like-minded on advancing pro-life causes.

President Trump is making good on his campaign promises to curtail illegal immigration, signing two executive orders at the Department of Homeland Security headquarters Wednesday afternoon. Of the two directives, one pertains to the construction of a 2,000-mile wall along the Mexican border; the…

Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal said he would vote against Rep. Tom Price to be secretary of Health and Human Services because the Georgia lawmaker and physician is "trying to destroy a woman's right to health care."

Editor-at-large Bill Kristol discussed Sean Spicer's first press briefing and President Trump's unpresidential first days with Jake Tapper on Monday. Spicer was "disastrous" Saturday and "better" at Monday's first official briefing, Kristol said. The president's conduct, on the other hand, shows no…

This morning, Jonathan V. Last's article "Trumpism Corrupts: Spicer Edition" was discussed on Morning Joe:

A New York Times report on the eve of Rick Perry's confirmation hearing for Secretary of Energy Wednesday alleged that the former Texas governor had only recently discovered that the job largely involves nuclear issues. But Perry acknowledged in 2014 that the Department of Energy is responsible for…

Frequent WEEKLY STANDARD contributor Ike Brannon has a new Cato Institute research paper out that looks at the costs of repealing Deferred Access for Childhood Arrivals:

The White House conceded Tuesday that it wouldn't close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility by the time President Obama leaves office later this week, but it hasn't stopped releasing detainees in the run-up to Inauguration Day.

Top Republican lawmakers are ripping President Obama's last-minute decision to commute the bulk of former Army Private Chelsea Manning's 35-year prison sentence.

On CNN, Arkansas senator Tom Cotton expressed disappointment with President Obama's commutation of Private Chelsea Manning, saying his cooperation with WikiLeaks "caused serious national security harm."

President Obama has commuted most of the 35-year prison term of U.S. intelligence leaker Chelsea Manning, whose disclosures were coveted by then-al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

During Monday's edition of Andrea Mitchell Reports on MSNBC, THE WEEKLY STANDARD editor at large Bill Kristol sided with CIA Director John Brennan's assessment that President-elect Donald Trump "[did not have] a full appreciation of Russian capabilities … intentions and actions." Trump tweeted his…

Republican senator Marco Rubio told reporters Monday he is still mulling whether to support secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson, a decision that could bode ill for the former Exxon Mobil CEO's confirmation hopes.

In the latest episode of Conversations with Bill Kristol, THE WEEKLY STANDARD senior editor Andrew Ferguson joins editor at large Bill Kristol to discuss his career in writing, journalism and conservatism, the revenge of the baby boomers, and academia.

Georgia Democratic representative John Lewis said that President-elect Donald Trump is not a "legitimate president" during an interview with Meet the Press set to air on Sunday.

The House voted 268-151 Friday afternoon to waive retired Marine Gen. James Mattis from a restriction that would prevent him as serving as secretary of defense, sending the bill to the president's desk.

The Senate easily cleared a waiver Thursday afternoon allowing retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to serve as secretary of defense, teeing up similar action from the House as Democrats in the lower chamber threatened to protest the measure.

In this week's edition of the Kristol Clear newsletter, editor at large William Kristol has announced another contest for readers with the potential for great prizes! (And be sure to sign up for Kristol Clear and our other great newsletters.)

Editor at large Bill Kristol warned Trump supporters against justifying President-elect Donald Trump's doubts about intelligence assessments affirming Kremlin attempts to sway the results of the 2016 election. Trump has reaffirmed those doubts in recent days by siding with WikiLeaks founder Julian…

Police tell the Chicago Tribune that four black people who earlier this week broadcast live on Facebook their violent attack on a white man with special needs could be charged with hate crimes. The attackers were shown to be yelling about Donald Trump and race. The Tribune has more:

Republican senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham are joining forces to propose legislation that will cut off American taxpayer funding of the United Nations until the international body reverses its December 24 Security Council resolution on Israel.

The House GOP majority reversed course Tuesday on a move that would have weakened an independent congressional watchdog, after party leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump, voiced their opposition to the original action.

In the latest episode of Conversations with Bill Kristol, the WEEKLY STANDARD editor at large speaks with National Review senior editor Jonah Goldberg about politics and culture. Watch the video below, via the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

Australia's foreign minister, Julie Bishop, says her country would have opposed the recent United Nations resolution that condemned Israeli settlements. The United States abstained from voting on the resolution. Here's the Sydney Morning Herald:

The Obama administration is set to announce expanded sanctions on Russia this week—perhaps as soon as Thursday, according to one report—in response to the country's tampering with this year's U.S. presidential election.

Stopping short of apologizing for his country's attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his "sincere and everlasting condolences" Tuesday to those who lost their lives.

This Christmas, you may find time for some holiday reading between church, opening presents, drinking eggnog, and watching the cable TV marathon of A Christmas Story. THE WEEKLY STANDARD humbly provides some links from our archives, in no particular order, to just some of the terrific stories and…

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for what German Chancellor Angela Merkel called a "gruesome" attack on a Berlin Christmas market Monday, which killed a dozen people and injured nearly 50 more, many of them seriously.

A man arrested in connection with a truck attack that killed a dozen people in Berlin Monday has been released, the Associated Press reports, with German authorities citing a lack of evidence.

On MSNBC's Morning Joe Tuesday, editor at large Bill Kristol discussed the idea of reintroducing liberty into the political discourse following a presidential election where the idea was absent on both sides.

At least nine people have died and many more injured after a truck rammed into a Christmas market in Berlin Monday evening, according to German police.

The head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, has been convicted of criminal charges in a French court. She could face up to a year in prison. Here is the New York Times:

The electoral college will meet Monday. The New York Times has a rundown of what to expect:

On Fox News Sunday, RNC Chairman and soon-to-be White House chief of staff Reince Priebus told Chris Wallace the president-elect would acknowledge Russian intervention in the election if the intelligence agencies would just "come out and say it" via joint report.

Arizona senator John McCain criticized President Obama's response to Russian attempts to influence the presidential election and doubled down on calls for a congressional select committee to investigate the Kremlin's involvement.

Some endnotes and digressions from the latest episode of the Weekly Substandard podcast:

According to a new study from the Center for Health and Economy, Obamacare premium hikes will cost taxpayers an additional $10 billion in the coming year. With rising premiums come rising subsidies.

Virginia congressman Don Beyer wants to delay the electoral college vote. Here's the Washington Post:

WEEKLY STANDARD senior editor Andrew Ferguson and Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Matthew Continetti discuss conservatism in the era of Donald Trump with Peter Robinson of the Hoover Institution in this edition of the Uncommon Knowledge video series.

Michigan Republican party chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel is slated to succeed Reince Priebus as head of the RNC next year, according to a statement from President-elect Donald Trump, after she was named deputy chair Wednesday.

Montana representative and former Navy SEAL Ryan Zinke has been selected as Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Interior Department, according to multiple reports.

The Syrian regime has established control over eastern Aleppo, a previously rebel-held section of the city, according to a top Russian official.

Former Texas governor Rick Perry is Trump's pick for Energy Secretary, the AP reported Tuesday morning. Perry has been a clear favorite for the post among conservatives who value his anti-regulatory stance.

Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic senator from Massachusetts, apppears to have launched a fact-free attack on a Democratic ally. Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times has the story:

Ex-Democratic representative and convicted felon Chaka Fattah received a 10-year prison sentence Monday after being found guilty of federal racketeering and bribery charges earlier this year.

General John F. Kelly will lead the Department of Homeland Security. From the Associated Press:

China continues to seeth over Donald Trump's overtures to Taiwan. First, there was in the phone call between Trump and Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen. Now, the Washington Post reports:

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

A U.S. district judge denied a motion to halt a recount of Wisconsin ballots cast in the presidential election Friday, while similar legal action is pending Pennsylvania and Michigan's re-tabulation was stopped this week.

World War II and Korean War pilot, Mercury Seven astronaut, and former United States Senator John Glenn died Thursday at an Ohio State University medical center in Columbus. He was 95 years old.

Harry Reid is bidding the Senate farewell today. Back in 2013, Michael Warren profiled the senator, whom he called a "small man in a big job."

Portland, Oregon, will penalize companies whose pay schemes its city council disapproves of. From the New York Times:

American life expectancy has fallen for the first time since 1993. Here's the Washington Post:

Radio host Dennis Prager will appear on the Washington Examiner's Facebook live program Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 ET. Watch the program here.

Donald Trump will name Iowa governor Terry Branstad his ambassador to China, reports Bloomberg. Here's the story:

President-elect Donald Trump introduced his selection for Secretary of Defense, retired Marine general James Mattis, at his Tuesday night rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Mattis, known by his nickname of "Mad Dog", joined Trump briefly on stage.

Federal prosecutors want 17 to 21 years of prison time for former Pennsylvania representative Chaka Fattah, the 11-term Democrat who was convicted on federal racketeering and bribery charges in June.

Missouri governor-elect Eric Greitens preached a message of forgiveness and unity Tuesday after his wife was robbed at gunpoint the day before outside a St. Louis coffee shop. Greitens's wife, Sheena, was unharmed, and three teenagers are now in custody in relation to the incident.

Vote totals in states where former presidential candidate Jill Stein and the Green party have requested recounts hadn't budged much as of Tuesday morning, the Associated Press reports, with the process in Michigan still in its nascent staged amid a flurry of court action.

Roger Pielke, Jr., a professor at the University of Colorado, has an interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal:

George Will writes:

A man sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday for plotting an ISIS-inspired assault on the U.S. Capitol defiantly shouted that Allah, not the presiding judge, was "in control" as he was escorted out of a federal district courtroom in Cincinnati.

North Carolina governor Pat McCrory conceded defeat Monday in his reelection battle against Democrat Roy Cooper, bringing a razor-thin contest that had been extended by a recount process to a close.

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

Donald Trump will make Ben Carson his Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Austrians have rejected a far-right presidential candidate. From the Wall Street Journal:

The Italian prime minister will resign. Reuters has more:

Contributing editor Elliott Abrams joined editor William Kristol on the latest installment of Conversations with Bill Kristol to discuss the death of dictator Fidel Castro, his repressive history, how the left has romanticized it, and how the Trump administration might handle relations with Cuba.

French president Francois Hollande will not seek reelection next year, he said Thursday, becoming the first incumbent in decades not to seek a second term.

The creator of the McDonald's Big Mac, Jim Delligatti, died in his home outside Pittsburgh Monday at age 98. The former franchisee came up with the idea for the sandwich in the mid-1960s, and it's been a staple of fast food ever since.

Fred Barnes, the WEEKLY STANDARD executive editor, joined the Wall Street Journal's Mary Kissel Tuesday for the paper's Opinion Journal webcast. Barnes discussed his recent Journal op-ed about how incoming Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has the unenviable task of defending Barack Obama's…

House Democrats selected current minority leader Nancy Pelosi to continue her job when the next session of Congress convenes in January, fighting off a challenge for her post from Ohio representative Tim Ryan.

The issue of repealing and replacing Obamacare is going to be central to the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Donald Trump administration. The president-elect's choice for the job, Georgia representative Tom Price, has spent plenty of time working on the matter in his role as…

In a joint statement, Brookings Institution scholar William Galston and WEEKLY STANDARD editor Bill Kristol offer a defense of the "basic institutions and principles of liberal democracy" which they argue are under assault. Read the full statement below:

Fred Barnes, in the Wall Street Journal:

The man who attacked several people with a knife at Ohio State University Monday is of Somali descent and is a permanent legal resident of the United States. CNN reports:

President-elect Donald Trump's narrow victory of just more than 10,000 votes in Michigan was certified by the state's Board of Canvassers on Monday, officially making him the first Republican White House hopeful to win there since former President George H.W. Bush in 1988.

President-elect Donald Trump has offered Nikki Haley the role of United State ambassador to the United Nations. The two-term Republican governor of South Carolina has reportedly accepted:

Donald Trump's incoming administration will not further investigate former secretary of state Hillary Clinton's private email server scheme nor her family's charitable foundation, MSNBC's Morning Joe reported Tuesday.

The following is an excerpt from the Nov. 21 Kristol Clear newsletter—which you can have delivered to your inbox each week by signing up here.

From the Foundation for Constitutional Government:

Incoming Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that President-elect Donald Trump and the Republicans controlling Congress do not have a mandate to implement their agenda.

Incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said the government will not have a registry of people "based on a religion" but did say he would not rule out anything with respect to preventing radicalized people from entering the United States. Speaking with Chuck Todd on NBC's Meet the Press…

Philip K. Howard writes in the American Interest of the signal and opportunity of the Trump Revolution:

WEEKLY STANDARD editor William Kristol provided his post-election analysis with the Brookings Institution's William Galston and Boston College professor Susan Shell at Harvard University last week. Moderated by Harvard professor and frequent Conversations with Bill Kristol guest Harvey Mansfield,…

On Fox News's Special Report Thursday night, host Bret Baier and panelist Laura Ingraham discussed the role of former House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Rogers in heading up national security planning for Donald Trump's transition. Both mentioned that conservatives are concerned with his…

The WEEKLY STANDARD's Bill Kristol appeared on the latest episode of Mike Murphy's Radio Free GOP podcast, where they discussed their careers in politics and the nation's capital, and analyzed Donald Trump and the 2016 presidential election. Their conversation begins around the 30-minute mark below:

Hillary Clinton delivered her concession speech in the presidential race late Wednesday morning at the New Yorker hotel, blocks from the venue planned for her victory party the night before—where, not long after 2 a.m., Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta had taken the podium to send…

From the Foundation For Constitutional Government:

Rebuilding America Now PAC has a new ad airing in Northern Virginia attacking Hillary Clinton for her opposition to the name of the Washington Redskins football team.

On Friday, Bill Kristol joined MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss the state of the race.

On Wednesday, Bill Kristol joined MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss the state of the race. With regard to early voting patterns and other early indicators, Kristol said, "It still looks to me like Hillary Clinton wins."

Donald Trump should pledge to serve one term as president, suggested WEEKLY STANDARD editor Bill Kristol. Speaking with Brit Hume on Fox News Monday night, Kristol explained that such a pledge might endear the Republican nominee to swing voters who remain unsure about Trump but find Hillary Clinton…

Below is an excerpt from this week's Kristol Clear newsletter, written by WEEKLY STANDARD editor Bill Kristol. Sign up here to receive Kristol Clear in your inbox every Monday morning.

In an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, complained about the independent candidacy of Evan McMullin. The conservative former CIA agent and congressional staffer has been gaining on Trump in Utah (an historically strong Republican state) and…

Bill Kristol says the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its director, James Comey, should come forward as soon as possible with the nature of their reopened investigation into Hillary Clinton's email server. Joining Cokie Roberts on ABC's Good Morning America Saturday morning, the WEEKLY STANDARD…

Charles Krauthammer writes in his syndicated column Friday about the United Nations's cultural agency's recent decision to condemn the state of Israel—and the Obama administration's apparent acquiesence to the global campaign by nations hostile to Israel against the United States's strongest ally…

In his weekly column at the Washington Free Beacon, Matthew Continetti takes note of Clarence Thomas's 25 years on the Supreme Court. Taciturn on and off the bench, Thomas has in recent days spoken at the Heritage Foundation as well as to WEEKLY STANDARD editor Bill Kristol on Conversations.…

Bill Kristol, editor of THE WEEKLY STANDARD, joined Jay Caruso and Neal Dewing of the Fifth Estate podcast to discuss the future of conservatism after the 2016 election, among other topics:

In the latest issue of Commentary, WEEKLY STANDARD senior editor Andrew Ferguson reviews the latest nonfiction offering from Tom Wolfe, The Kingdom of Speech. Here's an excerpt from the review:

Republicans may have an opportunity to salvage the election on the congressional level by making an explicit pitch to voters that they can stop Hillary Clinton on Obamacare and taxes. Online editor Michael Warren joined MSNBC's Morning Joe on Wednesday to discuss the lessons of 1996, as well as why…

Economist and scholar Charles Wolf Jr. has died at the age of 92. The RAND Corporation, Wolf's home for more than 60 years, has released a statement.

Former Pennsylvania attorney general and Hillary Clinton ally Kathleen Kane received 10 to 23 months of jail time on Monday, months after resigning her position upon being convicted of multiple criminal offenses, including two felony counts of perjury.

Below is an excerpt from this week's Kristol Clear newsletter, written by WEEKLY STANDARD editor Bill Kristol. Sign up here to receive Kristol Clear in your inbox every Monday morning.

Republicans are still fighting tooth and nail to maintain their majority in the Senate, but their prospects in the House don't look nearly as dubious, even with the X-factor of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy looming over many office-seekers.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Clarence Thomas began his tenure on the United State Supreme Court on October 23, 1991—25 years ago this Sunday. The associate justice recently joined Bill Kristol for an episode of Conversations that looks back at Thomas's life, his time on the Court, and issues of culture and society. Watch the…

In his column at the Washington Free Beacon, Matthew Continetti writes about the crisis of intellectual conservatism in the Age of Trump. Here's an excerpt:

Talking with Fox News's John Fox on Thursday, Stephen Hayes talked about Donald Trump's knack for turning legitimate issues into outlandish conspiracy theories.

Bill Kristol joined MSNBC's Morning Joe on Thursday morning and responded to Donald Trump's refusal at the debate the previous night to say he would accept the results of the presidential election.

On Twitter, Bill Kristol discusses Donald Trump's refusal to say he would accept the results of the election.

In her latest column for the Washington Examiner, WEEKLY STANDARD contributing editor Noemie Emery offers a brief recent history of philandering and promiscuous politicians:

On Monday, senior writer Stephen Hayes replied to partisan criticisms of his recent reporting on failed efforts by a State Department official to convince the FBI to reclassify an email on Hillary Clinton's server.

A writer by the pseudonym of Run Mitt Run has written an appeal to Donald Trump to withdraw from the race—for his own good. Here's an excerpt:

Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature on Thursday. Here's a look back at some of what THE WEEKLY STANDARD has had to say about the musician:

Editor's note: As the new Star Wars film "Rogue One" approaches, we're looking back at senior writer Jonathan V. Last's "Case for the Empire." The following is an excerpt of a follow up case for the Empire at The Federalist.

I don't read many novels, but I picked up Middlemarch recently after reading an essay about George Eliot by Gertrude Himmelfarb. It struck me as kind of a woman's book, but I loved it, all 800-plus pages of it. (Yes, I know the author was a woman.) Middlemarch is so good that I bought copies for…

Anything by P. G. Wodehouse.

I hate to sound like I'm gloating, like I'm some kind of big shot, but I can practically guarantee that my "best book I've read this year" is better than your "best book I've read this year." That's because my best book may be the best book ever written--or best novel, anyway. I admit this only…