Gingrich, Christie are the leading candidates to be Trump's running mate  —  Donald Trump's campaign has begun formally vetting possible running mates, with former House speaker Newt Gingrich emerging as the leading candidate followed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

WH defends Lynch from Clinton meeting fallout  —  The White House on Thursday defended Attorney General Loretta Lynch from criticism over her private meeting with former President Clinton.  —  The meeting took place in the midst of a federal investigation into his wife, Hillary Clinton

Trump points to plane, says it could be Mexico ‘ready to attack’  —  Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump  —  on Thursday pointed to a plane flying above his event and said it could be a Mexican plane preparing to attack.  —  “That could be a Mexican plane up there …

EXCLUSIVE: State Department Won't Release Clinton Foundation Emails for 27 Months  —  Department of Justice officials filed a motion in federal court late Wednesday seeking a 27-month delay in producing correspondence between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's four top aides …

Biden: Bernie Sanders Is ‘Going To Endorse’ Hillary Clinton  —  Vice President Joe Biden is confident that Bernie Sanders is going to endorse Hillary Clinton and that the Democratic party will unify.  —  “Oh, I've talked to Bernie, Bernie's going to endorse her, this is going to work out …

House to vote on gun legislation  —  A week after Democrats staged a nearly 26-hour sit-in demanding a vote on gun control measures, Speaker Paul Ryan  —  (R-Wis.) said the House will vote next week on legislation to block suspected terrorists from buying guns.

Conviction vacated, new trial granted for Adnan Syed of “Serial” … A Baltimore judge has vacated the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, the subject of the popular “Serial” podcast that explored his case, and granted his request for a new trial.  —  The order from retired Judge Martin Welch …

who killed 13-year-old girl in her sleep  —  Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik  —  This morning, a 17-year-old Palestinian terrorist stabbed and murdered a 13-year-old Israeli girl, Hallel Yaffa Ariel, while she slept in her bed.  The Palestinian terrorist Muhammad Taraireh …

Trump's conspiracy theories find an audience  —  Sometimes, Donald Trump sounds as though he is just passing on information, as he did after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died.  “They say they found a pillow on his face,” Trump told a radio interviewer, “which is a pretty unusual place to find a pillow.”

Sources: Donald Trump Listened In On Phone Lines At Mar-A-Lago  — Several workers said Trump used the equipment to secretly listen in on phone calls in the mid-2000s.  —  At Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach resort he runs as a club for paying guests and celebrities, Donald Trump …

Navy report: Failure at every level for US ships captured by Iran  —  Iran video appears to show U.S. sailor in tears  —  Washington (CNN)A devastating new report by military investigators released Thursday found that the 10 sailors captured by Iranians in January suffered from “failed leadership” …

Spotify says Apple won't approve a new version of its app because it doesn't want competition for Apple Music  —  “We cannot stand by as Apple uses the App Store approval process as a weapon.”  —  Getty  —  Spotify says Apple is making it harder for the streaming music company to compete by blocking a new version of its iPhone app.

After Saying He Forgave Loans to Campaign, Trump Won't Release Proof  —  When Donald Trump said last Thursday he was forgiving over $45 million in personal loans he made to his campaign, the announcement drew plenty of coverage.  Many even reported Trump's statement as if the deal was done.

Nothing sorry about Trump One  —  ABOARD TRUMP ONE — The candidate loosened his tie and offered me some advice.  —  “Whatever you do, don't apologize,” he said.  “You never hear me apologize, do you?  That's what killed Jimmy the Greek way back.  Remember?  He was doing okay 'til he said he was sorry.”

Rationalia, Ho!  —  Kevin Williamson's piece on “Rationalia” may be the best thing he's written in a while — which is quite a high bar.  But I may be biased because it is so in my wheelhouse.  For those of you who read the Tyranny of Clichés or any of my extended rants …

Mika's hush-hush divorce fuels Joe romance chatter  —  MORE FROM:  —  “Morning Joe” hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough could soon go public as a couple.  Page Six has exclusively learned that Brzezinski and her husband of 23 years have quietly divorced.

Travelers to Dominican Republic Lead New York City in Positive Zika Tests  —  More than half of those who have tested positive for the Zika virus in New York City had traveled in recent months to the Dominican Republic, the city's health department said on Wednesday, releasing data from its latest round of testing.