All your Mueller investigation questions will be answered soon...maybe.

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Tuesday 12.04.18

If you're looking for a last-minute gift idea, Richard Branson says he's hoping Virgin Galactic will take people to space before Christmas. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.

By AJ Willingham
Russia investigation 
 
Some of the mystery surrounding the Mueller investigation may finally be lifted this week. Some critical court filings focusing on Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, are due today, and documents related to his ex-campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and attorney Michael Cohen are set to be released by the end of the week. The filings -- in the form of sentencing memos -- could offer some key new details about the investigation, and they could be damaging to President Trump. If you've been waiting for some serious clues about what the conclusion to this investigation may be -- and what the point of it all is -- experts say these filings could be the answer. 
 
Brexit 
 
Brexit woes continue for the UK. Prime Minister Theresa May is facing serious backlash, even from within her own party, because of the rollout of her Brexit bill, which would solidify the terms of the UK's exit from the European Union. Critics argue she ignored a vote to publish the full legal advice on her bill, and others worry the bill's terms may not make for a clean break from the EU. May is due to address Parliament today to drum up support, but if the bill fails, her leadership could be in serious jeopardy. Meanwhile, a top EU legal adviser announced that the British government has the power to unilaterally stop the Brexit process, if it wants. If you still aren't keen on this whole Brexit thing, here's our guide for non-Brits.
 
North Carolina election
 
Possible evidence of voter fraud in a North Carolina House election is rocking the state. While investigating claims that absentee ballots were tampered with in a tight congressional race, North Carolina officials noticed many were signed by the same small group of people -- some of whom are connected to a longtime operative working for the GOP candidate's campaign. North Carolina requires witnesses, typically relatives or friends, to sign absentee ballots. But 161 absentee ballots shared the same small group of witnesses, many who apparently know each other. A common connection runs through Leslie McCrae Dowless, an operative who worked for the campaign of Mark Harris, the Republican who leads the race by 905 votes. Dowless reportedly has denied any wrongdoing. 
 
Tumblr
 
Say good-bye to Tumblr as you know it. The popular blogging platform announced a serious crackdown on adult content, baffling devotees. Starting December 17, the platform will no longer allow any depictions of sex acts, even illustrated (if you know Tumblr, you know that's a big deal). It will also not allow any sexual depictions of "female-presenting nipples." (Rest assured, written erotica and fan fiction are still allowed). The crackdown comes after Tumblr admitted it had trouble identifying and removing content related to child sex abuse. Tumblr, like many social media platforms, has struggled with filtering and moderating content that toes the line of free speech, such as porn and hate speech. But many users of the platform, which attracts young, creative types and large media fandoms, think the most recent changes aren't a good fix. 
 
Sri Lanka 
 
Sri Lanka is in a constitutional crisis that has effectively left the South Asian country without a functioning government. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is refusing to step down even though he lost two no-confidence votes last month, and now the country's Court of Appeals has temporarily barred him and his Cabinet from carrying out official duties. Even though the decision puts the country's leadership in limbo, letting Rajapaksa continue to govern would cause "irreparable" damage to the country, one judge said. Rajapaksa is appealing the decision to the Supreme Court. The controversial Prime Minister was appointed in October in a decision that triggered nationwide protests. 
 
Final good-byes 
President George H.W. Bush will lie in state again today at the US Capitol, and the public is again invited to pay its respects. President Trump will also meet privately with the Bush family. A funeral service will be held tomorrow at the Washington National Cathedral. 
 
Content By: CNN Underscored
 
Your friends and family members might not be the type to drop dough on something like a voice-activated speaker system or a stylish new winter wardrobe. Good thing the holiday season is the perfect excuse to give them the gifts they really want -- and need. Your first task is actually finding and ordering a gift that's sure to impress. To make searching the web for the perfect present for each person on your list less of a seemingly impossible task, head over to CNN Underscored where you can browse hundreds of top gifts to give this year. These include modern tech devices, products with a perfect customer rating on Amazon and even homesick candles that can remind loved ones of where they grew up.

When you make a purchase, CNN Underscored receives revenue.

People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.

Here's how they train service dogs like George H.W. Bush's dog Sully
Save this for when you stop crying over that photo of him by Bush's casket

Poll asks: What does it mean to be a 'real American'? 
And not ONE question about apple pie

Preschoolers get served Pine-Sol instead of apple juice 
We have a lot of questions and all of them are......HOW?!

The new 'Captain Marvel' trailer is here and people are verklempt
Save us, Carol Danvers

Passersby call 911 for a man clinging to life off the side of a house, but it turns out it was just a 'Christmas Vacation'- inspired decoration. 
If your Christmas decorations don't scare the neighbors, they're NOT FESTIVE ENOUGH. 
$5.3 million

The estimated cost of a new facility planned by the University of North Carolina that will house the Confederate monument, "Silent Sam." The monument has been the subject of controversy, but because of state laws, it can't be moved to a museum off campus. 


Of all the ugliness in politics, the utter disrespect George Conway shows toward his wife, her career, place of work, and everything she has fought SO hard to achieve, might top them all.
 
Eric Trump, in a tweet criticizing White House counselor Kellyanne Conway's husband. George Conway has been baldly critical of the Trump administration (yet not his wife). 
Dashing through the sNO THANK YOU 
These ducks are experiencing snow for the first ... and, er, preferably last time. (Click here to view.) 
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