Matt Lauer's Pathetic Interview of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Is the Scariest Thing I've Seen in This Campaign  —  I had not taken seriously the possibility that Donald Trump could win the presidency until I saw Matt Lauer host an hour-long interview with the two major party candidates.

Dems sound alarm on Senate majority  —  The campaign chairman for Senate Democrats on Wednesday warned his colleagues that if the elections were held today, the party would gain only three Senate seats, according to lawmakers who were in the room.  —  That outcome would leave Democrats …

Pence breaks with Trump, says Obama born in Hawaii  —  SAN DIEGO — Mike Pence on Wednesday declined to say whether Donald Trump should apologize for suggesting Barack Obama was born outside the U.S., but he did say Trump's stance wouldn't hurt him with minority voters.

First on CNN: FBI director defends Clinton email probe, document releases  —  Washington (CNN)FBI Director James Comey is defending the bureau's Friday afternoon release of documents from the Hillary Clinton email investigation, saying “we don't play games” and that the documents were put out when ready.

Colin Powell Gave Hillary Clinton Tips on How to Avoid Email Scrutiny  —  Former secretary of state warned of danger in BlackBerry use  —  WASHINGTON—Former Secretary of State Colin Powell told Hillary Clinton at the start of her tenure at the State Department that he used a personal computer …

Ryan Lochte — Suspended for 10 Months  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  Ryan Lochte just got his punishment for his Rio gas station hijinks, and we're told the U.S. Olympic Committee was tough, but not career-ending.  —  USOC connected sources tell TMZ Sports ... Lochte has been suspended for 10 months.

Trump's shrinking swing state map  —  Two months from Election Day, Donald Trump's swing state map is shrinking.  —  Interviews with more than two dozen Republican operatives, state party officials and elected leaders suggest three of the 11 battleground states identified by POLITICO …

Obama DID meet with foul-mouthed Filipino leader after he apologized for calling U.S. president a ‘son of a bitch’  — Duterte had earlier warned Obama not to ask about extrajudicial killings during a planned meeting in Laos or ‘I will swear at you’  — But Philippines officials confirmed …

Trump turns defense hawk  —  For months, Donald Trump has blasted Congress for excessive defense spending, calling for buying fewer of the newest fighter jets and scaling back weapons purchases pushed by “special interests.”  —  But on Wednesday, he was singing from the traditional GOP …

Five or Six Things I Didn't Know About Brad Pitt, by Marlon James  —  The worst kind, too.  The kind who lets a plant starve to death.  The evidence, at two opposing corners of his office in Beverly Hills; skeletal remnants that long gave up hope of ever being watered.  He's been away for 10 months, he says.

Freedom Caucus eyes biggest power grab since Boehner  —  The House Freedom Caucus is eyeing its biggest power play since it pushed out John Boehner as speaker last year.  —  Members of the group of far-right agitators are considering a plan to run one of their own as a candidate …

Trump insists he can win New York  —  Donald Trump renewed his vow Wednesday evening to compete and ultimately win in New York, a state that has not voted Republican in a presidential election since 1984.  —  “Just so you understand, we are going to play New York.  You know, we're not just doing this for fun.

Cal Poly student Kristin Smart vanished 20 years ago.  Now, authorities are digging the campus for her body  —  The cold case took a new twist Tuesday when the FBI and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department announced they were excavating at three sites