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Developing now, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018:
- President Trump's legal team sends Steve Bannon a cease-and-desist letter after day of war of words
- Much of the southeast sees rare snowfall as cities brace for "bomb cyclone"
- The House Intel committee reaches deal with the Justice Department on Fusion GPS documents related to Trump "dossier"
- Iranian ambassador accuses Trump of inciting unrest with "absurd tweets"
THE LEAD STORY: President Trump’s lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter Wednesday night threatening ‘imminent’ legal action against former top strategist Steve Bannon, capping a whirlwind day of a war of words between the two men ... The letter is a response to sharply critical comments that Bannon reportedly made to journalist Michael Wolff about Trump’s campaign and leadership. Charles Harder, Trump’s attorney, charges in the letter that Bannon violated a non-disclosure agreement signed during the campaign by disclosing confidential information, speaking to the media about the campaign and disparaging members of the Trump family. Additionally, Harder suggests that Bannon told lies that defamed and slandered Trump.
- Bannon calls Trump a 'great man' just hours after war of words
- 'Backstabbing, harassing, lying': Don Jr. slams Bannon
BEWARE OF THE 'BOMB CYCLONE': Much of the southeastern U.S. was slammed by a brutal winter storm Wednesday, with Florida, Georgia and South Carolina seeing a rare blast of snow and sleet — the worst snowstorm to hit some cities in decades ... Forecasters have warned the same weather system could soon strengthen into a “bomb cyclone” as it continues to travel north on the East Coast. The storm could “produce strong, damaging winds — possibly resulting in downed trees, power outages and coastal flooding,” according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS on Wednesday recorded 5 inches of snow and significant accumulations of ice in Charleston, South Carolina. Across the Georgia-South Carolina state line, the weather service reported 1.2 inches of snowfall in Savannah. Floridians in Tallahassee saw snow for the first time in 28 years.
- What is a 'bomb cyclone'?
- 'Bomb Cyclone' biz winners and losers
HOUSE INTEL BREAKTHROUGH ON FUSION GPS: The House and Justice Department reached a deal late Wednesday to provide records relevant to investigations of possible Trump 2016 campaign ties to Russia that could shed a light on whether the infamous Trump-Russia “dossier” was used to justify surveillance on Trump campaign officials and kick-start the FBI investigation ...The deal comes after FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein met with House Speaker Paul Ryan to talk about the demands by the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee to turn over documents related to the probe into the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election campaign to prop-up the Republican candidate against Hillary Clinton, Reuters reported.
- Chuck Grassley pushes Fusion GPS founders to testify in public
- Manafort sues Mueller, Rosenstein, claims Russia probe has gone too far
- Michael Goodwin: Democrats will run on impeachment in 2018 (and that will only help Trump)
IRAN'S THEATER OF THE 'ABSURD': An Iranian ambassador lambasted President Trump for encouraging disruption in Iran with his “absurd tweets,” and crossing “every limit” in international relations by expressing support for Iran’s anti-government protestors ... Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo, in a letter to U.N. officials, accused Washington of intervening “in a grotesque way in Iran’s internal affairs,” and singled out Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for “personally stirring up trouble.” At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in Iran during a week of anti-government protests and unrest over economic woes and official corruption.
- Judge Andrew Napolitano: In 2018 Donald Trump will... (It's time for this year's office pool)
- State Department to launch social media strategy to back Iranian protesters
- Fox News Opinion: Iran protests: Here is what the US should do now
- White House to announce cuts in 'security assistance' for Pakistan
AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS
CLINTON INVESTIGATION IRREGULARITIES: "It doesn't take a Congressional investigation [to show that] nothing about that investigation was right" – Chris Swecker, former assistant FBI director on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," sounding off on a report that congressional investigators found 'irregularities' in the FBI's handling of the Hillary Clinton email case. WATCH
TRUMP-BANNON WAR, IN CONTEXT: "Trump had won the nomination without Bannon... Trump governed without Bannon." – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, on "Your World with Neil Cavuto," saying Steve Bannon has "an exaggerated sense of self-importance" and that he is "a guy who's been fired, who's been trying to claim a bunch of things." WATCH
ACROSS THE NATION
Texas Amber Alert girls found safe in Colorado; suspected kidnapper caught.
DNC deputy chair Keith Ellison signals support for Antifa.
Trump dissolves voter fraud commission after states balk at data requests.
MAINSTREAM MEDIA MADNESS
CBS News fires political director over allegations of 'inappropriate behavior': report.
Hoda Kotb gets Matt Lauer's job, but only a fraction of his or Megyn Kelly's NBC paychecks.
Matt Lauer still sending notes to 'Today' producers, report says.
MINDING YOUR BUSINESS
Tech shares push U.S. stocks to new records.
McDonald's relaunches 'Dollar Menu' amid fast food wars.
Accelerating housing market boosts homebuilder stocks.
NEW IN FOX NEWS OPINION
Cal Thomas: Trump's record should delight any conservative -- even at The New York Times.
Don’t do it, Mitt! Romney is exactly the hero the Senate deserves, but not the one it needs right now | I’m a Trump supporter and I hope Mitt Romney becomes Utah’s next senator
John Moody: Why Trump can envy, but not imitate, China.
HOLLYWOOD SQUARED
Stephen Colbert campaigns for Trump's 'Dishonest & Corrupt Media Awards.'
Jon Bernthal has blunt response to alt-right fans of 'The Punisher.'
Meryl Streep calls out Melania and Ivanka Trump for 'silence' on sexual harassment.
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?
Chef who claimed she spiked vegan dishes with meat quits after receiving death threats.
Ancient DNA gives glimpse of ancestors of Native Americans.
Cancer patient starts 'cap wigs' initiative to fight emotional pain of hair loss.
STAY TUNED
On Fox News:
Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Tomi Lahren, Trump campaign adviser Michael Caputo and Dr. Sebastian Gorka all sound off on the Bannon-Trump war of words, and Trump administration-congressional leaders negotiations over immigration; Sen. Rand Paul on tax reform and the legislative agenda ahead for Congress. Plus, 'Cooking with Friends' with Steve Cortes and his party chicken
The Story with Martha MacCallum, 7 p.m. ET: Dana Loesch on Fusion GPS and the Trump dossier and the latest in the Mueller Russia probe.
The Ingraham Angle, 10 p.m. ET: Newt Gingrich on the latest developments in the unrest in Iran.
Fox News @ Night, 11 p.m. ET: Rep. Mark Meadows on the latest in Trump administration-congressional negotiations on DACA.
On Fox Business:
Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: House Majority Whip Steve Scalise; Lanhee Chen, former policy director for Mitt Romney; Jess Lockwood, professional world champion bull rider.
Varney & Company, 9 a.m. ET: Sens. Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy; Bart Chilton, former commissioner at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott; former Sen. Joe Lieberman
Countdown to the Closing Bell, 3 p.m. ET: CES 2018 preview with Gary Shapiro, Consumer Technology Association CEO; Dem. Rep. John Garamendi sounds off on California becoming a sanctuary state.
On Fox News Radio:
The Fox News Rundown podcast: Chris Stirewalt takes on the fiery between Bannon and Trump. Also, a tip from an Australian diplomat may have pushed the FBI to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election, according to a New York Times report. But some in the GOP leadership are blaming political bias. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, weighs in. Plus, commentary by Fox News Radio talk host Tom Shillue.
Want the Fox News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.
The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET to Noon ET: Rep. Will Hurd on the latest on the unrest in Iran and North Korea's new threats; Marie Harf on President Trump's handling of Iran and North Korea this week; Chris Wallace on the implications of the Bannon-Trump war.
#OnThisDay
1974: President Richard Nixon refuses to hand over tape recordings and documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.
1904: The U.S. Supreme Court, in Gonzalez v. Williams, rules that Puerto Ricans were not aliens and could enter the United States freely; however, the court stops short of declaring them citizens.
1868: "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins, considered by some the first full-length English detective novel, begins to be serialized in Britain and the U.S. in All the Year Round and Harper's Weekly.
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