Behind scenes, NBC execs concede Matt Lauer forum performance was “disaster”  —  NBC News knows the “Commander-in-Chief Forum” was not Matt Lauer's finest hour.  —  One executive, speaking anonymously, was blunt about it: “Disaster.”  —  The morning after Lauer's back-to-back interviews …

What Really Happened at Donald Trump's Intelligence Briefing  —  What ‘body language’ is Trump talking about?  —  As U.S. officials cast doubt on Donald Trump's claim he read the “body language” of intelligence officials at a recent briefing, NBC News has learned exclusive details …

NYPD: Hillary Clinton Was Wearing “Invisible” Earpiece To Receive Stealth Coaching During Live NBC TV Town Hall  —  Hillary Clinton was sporting a mini earbud wired to receive stealth communications from her campaign handlers during Wednesday's Commander-in-Chief Forum carried live on NBC from New York City, True Pundit has learned.

‘What Is Aleppo?’  Gary Johnson Asks, in an Interview Stumble  —  Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor and Libertarian Party presidential nominee, revealed a surprising lack of foreign policy knowledge on Thursday that could rock his insurgent candidacy when he could not answer …

Donald Trump: How I'd Run the Country (Better)  —  This is what it felt like to be Donald J. Trump in 2004, when The Apprentice was on the air, and he was bros with Regis, and the Iraq War was still at the top of America's collective consciousness.  Funnily enough, what he said 12 years ago helps us understand his (il)logic today.

Inside the collapse of Trump's D.C. policy shop  —  The Trump campaign built a large policy shop in Washington that has now largely melted away because of neglect, mismanagement and promises of pay that were never honored.  Many of the team's former members say the campaign leadership never took …

5,300 Wells Fargo employees fired for creating over 2 million phony accounts  —  Everyone hates paying bank fees.  But imagine paying fees on a ghost account you didn't even sign up for.  —  That's exactly what happened to Wells Fargo customers nationwide.

Megan Rapinoe: 'It's [expletive] unbelievable.  Saddened by it'  —  Following the Seattle Reign's 2-1 defeat to the Washington Spirit on Wednesday, Megan Rapinoe responded to the Spirit's decision to play the national anthem while the teams were in the locker room.

AP deletes Clinton Foundation tweet  —  The Associated Press announced on Thursday that it is deleting a two-week old tweet about the Clinton Foundation.  —  “The Associated Press today is deleting a 2-week-old tweet about Hillary Clinton's meetings as Cabinet secretary after concluding …

Mike Pence defends Donald Trump comments on Vladimir Putin: ‘inarguable’  —  Washington (CNN)Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Thursday defended his running mate's statement that Vladimir Putin is a stronger leader than President Barack Obama, calling it “inarguable.”

Hillary's Health Concerns Serious, Say Most Doctors Polled by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)  —  Concerns about Hillary Clinton's health are “serious—could be disqualifying for the position of President of the U.S.,” say nearly 71% of 250 physicians responding …

Fear of a Female President  —  Except for her gender, Hillary Clinton is a highly conventional presidential candidate.  She's been in public life for decades.  Her rhetoric is carefully calibrated.  She tailors her views to reflect the mainstream within her party.

‘Blue lives matter’ law used in arrest of New Orleans man who shouted slurs at police: warrant  —  Raul Delatoba was arrested Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, and charged with a hate crime and other offenses after New Orleans police say he verbally attacked NOPD officers and a witness who saw him damage a window at the Royal Sonesta Hotel.

Watch: San Antonio mattress store's ad for 9/11 sale spoofs towers falling  —  A San Antonio mattress store has drawn widespread criticism after posting a video on Facebook promoting a “Twin Towers Sale.”  —  In the video, Miracle Mattress manager Cherise Bonanno says that there's no better …

Prosecutors will drop case against former Va. governor Robert McDonnell  —  Federal prosecutors will not attempt to retry former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, on corruption charges, ending a years long saga that rocked the Commonwealth's political class and cut short the rise of a Republican star.

Op-Ed FCC chairman: Here are the new proposed rules for set-top boxes  —  Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler at the FCC in Washington.  (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press)  —  There's never been a better time to watch television in America.

Summer haze!  Malia Obama is pictured ‘near a large bong at UPenn frat house’ wearing her ‘Smoking Kills’ T-shirt... weeks after she puffed on a suspicious cigarette at Lollapalooza  —  A picture circulating on social media appears to show Malia Obama near an item that resembles a large bong.