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Monday's Mini-Report, 1.22.18

Today's edition of quick hits.

Today's edition of quick hits:

* The latest school shooting: "A teenage girl was wounded at a Texas high school Monday morning after a 16-year-old suspect opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun, authorities said."

* Afghanistan: "The Taliban's bloody, 14-hour siege on a major hotel in Kabul ended on Sunday, after six assailants terrorized much of the city with explosions and gunfire."

* This seems like a bad idea: "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to scale back or discontinue its work to prevent infectious-disease epidemics and other health threats in 39 foreign countries because it expects funding for the work to end, the agency told employees."

* An incredible story: "The arrest last week of a former CIA officer suspected of spying for China exposed one of the most significant intelligence breaches in American history. But the damage is even worse than first reported, sources familiar with the matter tell NBC News."

* White House: "A year into Donald Trump's presidency, records show five of his top staffers still have not secured final approval of their financial reports -- disclosures that are required by law to ensure Americans that these senior officials aren't personally benefiting from their White House jobs."

* DOJ: "Usually, when the FBI arrests a terrorist and the Justice Department charges them, it's a big deal. Combatting terrorism is one of the Justice Department's top priorities, and terror cases are a great way for federal prosecutors and agents to make names and build careers. The press and the public are very interested. Officials will typically blast out a press release, and, if it's a big takedown, might even hold a press conference. The Justice Department didn't do any of that when federal prosecutors unsealed terrorism charges last week against Taylor Michael Wilson."

* I still find this so strange: "Rene Boucher, 58, was charged on Friday with assaulting a member of Congress, a felony, months after his sneak attack on Sen. Rand Paul in November, according to officials. Federal prosecutors said Boucher 'had enough' after he witnessed Paul stack brush into a pile on his own lawn, but near Boucher's property."

* This one's worth your time: "Thirteen years into the job, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. remains a conservative -- but he has shifted to a more moderate position among the conservative justices on the court, a small change with potentially dramatic consequences."

* I've been meaning to mention this story: "Trump administration appointee Carl Higbie resigned Thursday as chief of external affairs for the federal government's volunteer service organization after a CNN KFile review of racist, sexist, anti-Muslim and anti-LGBT comments he made on the radio."

* Sean Wilentz thinks it's time to compare Donald Trump to some of the worst presidents in American history. His case is compelling.

Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.