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Developing now, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018

A National Day of Mourning is being observed in the U.S. on Wednesday as the nation prepares to say its last farewell to former President George H.W. Bush at a state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has recommended a lenient sentence, with the possibility of no prison time, for Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn, citing his 'substantial' help in multiple investigations

China on Wednesday issued a vague statement promising to carry out the tariff cease-fire agreement reached by presidents Trump and Xi. U.S. stocks on Tuesday plunged 799 points over fears of recession and confusion over the U.S.-China trade 'truce.'

Senate lawmakers want answers after the FBI raided the home of an alleged whistleblower who provided documents on the Clinton Foundation and the Uranium One deal to a watchdog

Former CBS CEO Les Moonves obstructed the investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him, according to a report

THE LEAD STORY – FAREWELL TO 41: The nation will say its final farewell to former President George H.W. Bush as President Trump, four living former presidents and other high-ranking officials and dignitaries from around the world gather at the Washington National Cathedral to celebrate Bush’s life of public service ... George W. Bush will eulogize his father, as will former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and presidential historian Jon Meacham. President Trump is not expected to speak but will be in attendance with first lady Melania Trump.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are expected to attend along with former first ladies Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Rosalynn Carter. Also reportedly expected in the invitation-only crowd: Mike Lovejoy, a Kennebunkport electrician and fix-it man who has worked at Bush's Maine summer estate since 1990. After the state funeral, Bush will be flown back to Texas, where he will lie in repose at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston until Thursday morning's funeral there. He will be laid to rest at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Center in College Station, Texas.

FLYNN FLIPS? - Special Counsel Robert Mueller filed a memorandum Tuesday recommending a lenient sentence -- with the possibility of no prison time -- for convicted former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and stating that Flynn has offered "substantial" help to investigators about "several ongoing investigations" ... The heavily redacted memo’s release comes as additional sentencing memorandums are expected within days in the cases of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen and ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's attorney, downplayed the memo, calling Mueller's team "sick puppies" and arguing alleged Russian collusion still had not been proven. He told FOX News that Flynn had admitted to offenses comparable to "spitting on the sidewalk." - Reported by John Roberts, Gregg Re (gregg_re on Twitter), and Samuel Chamberlain (@SChamberlainFOX on Twitter)

Gregg Jarrett: Flynn sentencing memo is a big nothing

U.S.-CHINA TRADE TURMOIL: China has issued an optimistic promise to carry out the terms of the tariff ceasefire reached by President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping last weekend at the G20 summit, but has not succeeded in clearing up any confusion about the deal ... A Commerce Ministry statement on Wednesday said, "China will start from implementing specific issues on which consensus has been reached, and the sooner, the better." The statement gave no indication what those issues are.

China has yet to confirm Trump's claim Beijing promised to cut auto tariffs and immediately buy more American farm goods. That fueled the confusion and doubt on Wall Street that led to U.S. stocks plunging 799 points on Tuesday. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be closed Wednesday in observance of the national day of mourning for former President George H.W. Bush.

CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY ON URANIUM ONE: Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has written to FBI Director Christopher Wray and the Justice Department's internal watchdog to request information about a raid on the home of a former FBI contractor who gave the watchdog documents related to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the sale of Canadian mining company Uranium One to a Russian firm's subsidiary ... According to the Daily Caller, 16 FBI agents raided the Maryland home of Dennis Nathan Cain on Nov. 19. Cain, his lawyer Michael Socarras said, was accused of possessing stolen federal property.

In response, Cain reportedly claimed that he was a protected whistleblower under federal law recognized by the DOJ watchdog, Michael Horowitz. The documents in question allegedly show that federal officials failed to investigate possible criminal activity related to Clinton, the Clinton Foundation and Rosatom, the Russian nuclear company whose subsidiary purchased Uranium One in 2013. - Reported by Samuel Chamberlain

EYE ON A COVERUP?: Former CBS CEO Les Moonves, who resigned in September following a slew of sexual misconduct allegations made against him, "destroyed evidence" related to the case, according to a report released Tuesday night ... Moonves, 69, was trying to save his reputation at the network, and his multimillion-dollar severance package, when he "misled investigators" working on behalf of the company, the New York Times reported, citing a 59-page report drafted for the CBS board. The draft, according to the Times, said Moonves "engaged in multiple acts of serious nonconsensual sexual misconduct in and outside of the workplace, both before and after he came to CBS in 1995.”



THE SOUNDBITE

TIME FOR THE U.S. TO SEND A MESSAGE - "It's not in our interests to give the crown prince a pass for murder of an American resident with three American children. Because then you're going to have open season on Americans everywhere." - U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on "The Story with Martha MacCallum," vowing to come down "like a ton of bricks" on Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of Saudi activist Jamal Khashoggi. CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed Senate committee leaders on Tuesday on the Khashoggi investigation.



TODAY'S MUST-READ: John Stossel: Google and Facebook cross 'The Creepy Line' of censorship every day.



STAY TUNED

On FOX News:

FOX & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: A tribute to George H.W. Bush before his state funeral. A closer look at a child's fight against snowball ban in Colorado. Plus, special guests: Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberley Strassel; Anthony Scaramucci, former White House director of communications under President Trump; Charlie Hurt, Opinion editor for the Washington Times.

The State Funeral of George H.W. Bush, 2 p.m. ET: Tune in for FOX News' ongoing coverage with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino at the Washington National Cathedral.

On FOX Business:

Kennedy, 9 p.m. ET: Special guests include: Christian Whiton, senior fellow for strategy and public diplomacy at the Center for the National Interest.

On FOX News Radio:

The FOX News Rundown podcast: In the final days before his death in June, Charles Krauthammer left his son Daniel the task of finishing his book. Daniel Krauthammer joins the podcast to share stories of his late father and to discuss his final book, “The Point of It All: A Lifetime of Great Loves and Endeavors.” Charles’ friends and colleagues - FOX News anchor Bret Baier, FOX News senior political analyst Brit Hume, and FOX News political editor Chris Stirewalt - all give touching accounts of his life and legacy as a political pundit. Plus, Daniel Krauthammer provides commentary

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: Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberley Strassel, Allen West and Kennedy will look at the life and legacy of George H.W. Bush and the latest in the Robert Mueller investigation.

The Todd Starnes Show, Noon ET: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, discusses how Congress can fund the border wall, and former NFL player Burgess Owens takes on the league's latest controversies.

The Tom Shillue Show, 3 p.m. ET: Daniel Krauthammer discusses his father's legacy and final book, "The Point of It All." Plus: columnist Ron Hart and attorney Jonna Spilbor discuss the legacy of President George H.W. Bush and the latest on the Russian investigation.



#TheFlashback



2008: The Labor Department reports that an alarming half-million jobs vanished in November 2008 as unemployment hits a 15-year high of 6.7 percent.

1932: German physicist Albert Einstein is granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States.

1776: The first scholastic fraternity in America, Phi Beta Kappa, is organized at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.

FOX News First is compiled by FOX News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your day! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday morning.