Morning Brief: The top news and buzzy moments you need to know

Welcome to the Morning Brief where we give you a rundown of everything you may have missed the night before and what's trending this morning. To dive deeper into these stories click on the links.

1. Trump: Pardon for Manafort 'not off the table'
When asked about a pardon for Manafort, Trump told the Post: "It was never discussed, but I wouldn't take it off the table. Why would I take it off the table?"

2. New report details alleged Moonves cover-up
Former CBS Corp. chairman-CEO Leslie Moonves tried to buy the silence of an actor and her manager about a decades-old sexual assault claim by arranging for the woman to be cast in a CBS series.

3. Suicides, overdoses push down U.S. life expectancy
The drug overdose rate rose 9.6 percent compared to 2016, while suicides climbed 3.7 percent, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics.

4. Black Christmas trees are a hot holiday decorating trend
Searches for black trees are up 70 percent compared to last year on Wayfair.com, the home furnishings company told “Good Morning America.

5. NBA star's shoe deal leaves Twitter baffled
Kawhi Leonard is signing an endorsement deal with New Balance -- and Twitter users were confused

6. U.N.: 2018 temperatures set to be among hottest on record
The World Meteorological Organization pointed out that the 20 warmest years on record have been in the past 22 years, and that "2018 is on course to be the 4th warmest year on record."

7. FBI pleads for help after 13-year-old's body found
The body of abducted 13-year-old Hania Aguilar was believed to be recovered this week in North Carolina but the search for answers is far from over.

8. Scientists condemn gene-edited baby claims
The Chinese government on Thursday ordered a temporary halt to research activities for people involved in the editing of human genes, after a Chinese scientist said he had edited the genes of twin babies.

9. 'Jersey Shore' star upset over how son's autism was publicized
In an interview with Hollywood Life, Jenni “JWoww” Farley revealed that Greyson was recently diagnosed with the developmental disorder, which has impacted his speech and ability to communicate.

10. LeBron James piles on the pressure with hopes that his son plays at Duke
A day after repeating his desire to play in the NBA with LeBron James Jr. aka Bronny, James was on Instagram making college plans for the 14-year-old.