Sunday's Headlines: Iran’s government warns protesters they will ‘pay the price’ for mass unrest

In first year, Trump starts delivering on vow to shrink government; Democrats think 2018 will be a good year, but are they being realistic?; An 'effort to erase LGBTQ people':...

Democracy Dies in Darkness     The morning's most important stories, selected by Post editors   Iran's government warns protesters they will 'pay the price' for mass unrest Two protesters were killed overnight in Iran's largest demonstrations in eight years. The protests, which began Thursday to oppose rising costs and high unemployment, were poised to seriously challenge the administration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate politician who promised key economic reforms. By Erin Cunningham  •  Read more » In first year, Trump starts delivering on vow to shrink government By the end of September, all Cabinet agencies except Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs and Interior had fewer permanent staff than when President Trump took office in January — with most shedding many hundreds of employees, according to an analysis of federal personnel data by The Washington Post. By Lisa Rein and Andrew Ba Tran  •   Read more »   Analysis Democrats think 2018 will be a good year, but are they being realistic? There's a possibility the Democrats could take control of the House and make gains elsewhere in the midterm elections. But planning victory laps would be premature. By Dan Balz  •   Read more »   The Fix | Analysis An 'effort to erase LGBTQ people': Activists denounce Trump's firing of HIV/AIDS advisory council members Months after a half-dozen members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS resigned in protest of the administration's position on health policies, the White House fired the remaining members through a form letter. The council has advised the White House on HIV/AIDS policies for more than two decades. By Eugene Scott  •   Read more »   The show was supposed to bring black and white students together. It almost tore them apart. Over several years, the step show at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga became a point of pride and annual excitement — the centerpiece of homecoming weekend. Black and white Greek organizations practiced together, supporting one another onstage and off. In 2016, that changed as the campus became a microcosm of the country's racial issues. By Robert Samuels  •   Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT Opinions   2018: The Year in Preview By Marisa Bellack and Chris Rukan  •   Read more »   How the news media distorts black families By Nicole Rodgers and Rashad Robinson  •   Read more »   Trump's vendetta against federal law enforcement By Editorial Board  •   Read more »   The president's worthy choice to provide Ukraine weapons By Editorial Board  •   Read more »   In search of a word that won't offend 'old' people By Laura L. Carstensen  •   Read more »   A second revolution in Iran? Not yet. By Maziar Bahari  •   Read more » ADVERTISEMENT More News   Ticket prices go up for Trump's 'very glam' New Year's Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago Critics say a boost in ticket prices to $750 for the annual party shows how the president is profiting from his office. By Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Lori Rozsa and Ashley Parker  •  Read more »     Perspective The year in movies: Hollywood's biggest blockbuster wasn't on the screen Hollywood's year began in tumult, with Meryl Streep calling out Donald Trump and a gobsmacking gaffe at the Oscars in which the wrong "best picture" winner was announced. But the biggest blockbuster was not a movie: It was the Harvey Weinstein scandal. By Ann Hornaday  •   Read more »   In Brazil, soccer has been mainly a straight guy's sport. A new gay league is changing that. LiGay launched in May, held its first official tournament in November and now has 16 teams across the country. By Anna Jean Kaiser  •   Read more »   A Twitter user claims to have made the 'swatting' call that led police to fatally shoot Kansas man Los Angeles police arrested Tyler Barriss on Friday in connection with the death of a Wichita, Kan., man who was killed by police after someone called 911 to falsely report a shooting and hostage situation. By Avi Selk and Eli Rosenberg  •   Read more »   Berlin sets up New Year's Eve 'safe zone' for women amid sexual assault concerns After more than 1,200 women were sexually assaulted in various German cities on New Year's Eve in 2015, authorities have taken steps to prevent a recurrence. By Rick Noack  •   Read more »   She was a triathlete in great shape, so why was she breathless, lightheaded and in pain? Exercise-induced respiratory symptoms are fairly common in adolescents and young adults, yet this condition, which has been recognized since the early 1980s, is often missed by physicians. By Amanda Loudin  •   Read more »   Louisiana police nab suspected middleman in a 'Nigerian prince' scam Authorities said 67-year-old Michael Neu is facing 269 counts of wire fraud and money laundering. By Kristine Phillips  •   Read more »   Food New Year's Eve dinner at home ideas Choose from a splurge-worthy menu, bites for two and a retro-inspired spread to help you enjoy a festive meal without going out. By Kara Elder  •   Read more »   Solo-ish It's possible to find love on NYE Meet three couples who turned a midnight kiss into something lasting. By Megan McDonough  •   Read more »   Home & Garden How to score at government auctions Agencies sell stuff they don't need to the highest bidder, with plenty of bargains available. By Elisabeth Leamy  •   Read more »         Share Today's Headlines:    Twitter     Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. 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