Monday, December 31TRUMP DIGS IN OVER SHUTDOWN President Donald Trump fired out angry Twitter blasts at the Democrats as the partial government shutdown rolled into its second week with no end in sight. While Trump dug in over funding for his border wall, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tried to pass off the president’s signature campaign promise as just a “metaphor” for greater border security. [HuffPost] [Tweet | Share on Facebook]TRUMP ‘RE-EVALUATING’ SYRIA WITHDRAWAL Graham also said Trump is “re-evaluating” his controversial plan to withdraw all U.S. troops in Syria. “I think the president’s trip to Iraq was eye-opening,” Graham said. “The commanders there told him that ISIS was in a world of hurt ― not completely destroyed, but well on their way.” [HuffPost]KELLY BLAMES SESSIONS FOR SEPARATING BORDER KIDS Outgoing White House chief of staff John Kelly says former Attorney General Jeff Sessions is to blame for the Trump administration’s controversial zero-tolerance immigration policy, which separated children from parents who illegally crossed into the U.S. from Mexico. [HuffPost]MCCHRYSTAL: TRUMP LIES Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal won’t be joining the Trump administration anytime soon. “It’s important for me to work for people who I think are basically honest, who tell the truth as best they know it,” McChrystal, the former top commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, said. [HuffPost]TRUMP CANCELS PAY RISE Amid a partial government shutdown, Trump ordered a pay freeze for federal workers, blocking an automatic increase from going into effect Jan. 1. [HuffPost]NBC DISMISSES CLIMATE CHANGE DENIERS In a special “Meet the Press” episode dedicated to global warming, NBC’s Chuck Todd said he wouldn’t “give time to climate deniers,” adding, “The science is settled even if political opinion is not.” [HuffPost] COPS ARREST TEXAS GUNMAN Police in Texas arrested a gun-wielding man dressed in tactical-style clothing on Sunday after he told officers he was headed to church to fulfill “a prophecy.” [HuffPost]MIGRANT BORDER CHILDREN SLAPPED AROUND Surveillance videos obtained by The Arizona Republic show migrant children being slapped, pushed and dragged by employees at a shelter run by Southwest Key Programs. [HuffPost]NRA’S TERRIBLE YEAR This year was a very bad year for the NRA. And 2019 could be even worse. [HuffPost]‘DISAPPOINTING’ Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has reacted to being called a “shiny object” by outgoing Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). [HuffPost]RESCUES ONLY California has become the first state to ban stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits that aren’t rescues. [HuffPost]DUTERTE ABUSED MAID Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly admitted to sexually abusing his maid when he was a teenager. [HuffPost] Meghan Markle’s half-sister has reportedly been placed on Scotland Yard’s “Fixated Persons” watch list.A fitness YouTuber has died after being tased by police as he stabbed his Tinder date. [HuffPost]The Rock surprised his mom with a new home for Christmas, capturing the heartwarming moment in a video posted to Instagram.Here are six times Trump “hit a new low” in 2018.Kensington Palace has released a video compilation showcasing the favorite 2018 moments of Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.This writer argues that conservative Christians were the political pawns of 2018.In a celebration of press freedom, several prominent journalists will launch the Times Square ball drop as New Yorkers ring in the New Year.“Aquaman” remained king of the box office, taking $188 million domestically and nearly $750 million worldwide.Twitter users are sharing the most ridiculous gifts they received for Christmas.Conservative columnist Kurt Schlichter is facing a wave of backlash for his callous dismissal of a story on the death of a Yemeni mother’s 2-year-old son.The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Portland, Oregon, fired two employees days after they were accused of racially profiling a black hotel guest who was taking a call on his cellphone in the lobby.Louis C.K.’s leaked stand-up rant proves he’s learned nothing in 2018.Here's how Harvey Weinstein changed entertainment news forever.As the country prepares to ring in the New Year, The Washington Post released a scathing fact check of Trump’s “year of lies,” rapping him for thousands of falsehoods in 2018. HuffPost is now a part of Oath and a part of Verizon. On May 25, 2018 we introduced a new Oath Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn More.Start your workday the right way with the news that matters most — all with a dash of signature Morning Email snark. Does somebody keep forwarding you this email? Get your own copy. It's free! Sign up here.Check out HuffPost Politics for more of the good stuff.©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost |