Meet the Hundreds of Officials Trump Has Quietly Installed Across the Government  —  A Trump campaign aide who argues that Democrats committed “ethnic cleansing” in a plot to “liquidate” the white working class.  A former reality show contestant whose study of societal collapse inspired …

Exclusive — Sen. Rand Paul on Paul Ryan's Obamacare Lite: Speaker ‘Trying to Pull the Wool Over the Eyes of the President’  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a top conservative in the U.S. Senate, unloaded on House Speaker Paul Ryan's Obamacare 2.0 replacement plan—that does not repeal Obamacare …

Physicians reject House ACA replacement bill  —  The American Health Care Act (AHCA), released by Congress this week, is intended to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  But as introduced, it does not align with the health reform objectives that the AMA set forth in January to protect patients.

‘There are no sacred cows’: Breitbart's honeymoon with establishment wing of Trump White House may be over  —  Breitbart, the website that has fervently supported President Donald Trump's campaign and nascent presidency, signaled this week that its brief cease-fire with the establishment wing …

Huntsman offered Russia ambassadorship  —  Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has been offered the job of U.S. ambassador to Russia and is in the process of submitting paperwork to accept the position, two administration sources have confirmed.  —  Huntsman, who served as ambassador …

Purple America Has All But Disappeared  —  President Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton was among the narrowest in history, and the country is deeply split on his job performance so far.  But if you feel like you hardly know anyone who disagrees with you about Trump, you're not alone …

Fox Is Said to Settle With Former Contributor Over Sexual Assault Claims  —  Last summer, as it wrapped up multiple settlements after the Roger Ailes sexual harassment scandal, Fox News and its parent company, 21st Century Fox, were trying hard to end the ugliest chapter in its 20-year history.

Sean Spicer wrongly claims Fox reporter's phones were ‘tapped’  —  White House press secretary Sean Spicer wrongly claimed Wednesday that a Fox News reporter had his phones tapped while Barack Obama was president.  —  “James Rosen had his phone, multiple phones tapped,” Spicer said at the daily press briefing.

Report: Brownback to be named ambassador to the UN for food and agriculture  —  Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will be named the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations for Food and Agriculture, according to a public radio report.  —  A possible appointment to the Trump administration for Brownback …

Ivanka Trump's Landlord Is a Chilean Billionaire Suing the U.S. Government  —  President Donald Trump's daughter and her husband, White House adviser Jared Kushner, live in a Kalorama house owned by a Chilean business titan.  His company is suing the U.S. over a Minnesota mine  —  By

Marines have arrived in Syria to fire artillery in the fight for Raqqa  —  Marines from an amphibious task force have left their ships in the Middle East and deployed to Syria, establishing an outpost from which they can fire artillery guns in support of the fight to take back the city of Raqqa …

China gives green light for Trump branded massage parlours, bars and concierge services  —  China has granted preliminary approval for 38 new Trump trademarks, paving the way for President Donald Trump and his family to develop a host of branded businesses from hotels to insurance to bodyguard …

Ted Cruz: New health care bill doomed in the Senate without changes  —  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said Wednesday that he has “significant concerns” about the new House health care plan, though he's optimistic those differences can be resolved.  —  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz gave a pessimistic prediction Wednesday …

Comey: 'You're stuck with me'  —  CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — James Comey said Wednesday at a Boston College conference on cybersecurity that he plans to serve his entire 10-year term as FBI director.  —  “You're stuck with me for another 6 ½ years,” Comey told attendees from the law enforcement and private sectors.

CNN/ORC Poll: Melania Trump's approval ratings are way up  —  Photos:  —  First lady Melania Trump  —  The first lady walks with Sara Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, February 15.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington to strengthen US-Israel relations …

Watch: The Azure Window is lost and gone forever  —  ‘It is as we never had an Azure Window’  —  The site where the Azure Window once stood is now unrecognisable.  Video: Marietta Marra  —  Updated 2.39pm - Added Environment Minister comments  —  The Azure Window has collapsed …

Russia Turns Wikileaks CIA Dump Into Disinformation  —  For the second time in a matter of months, U.S. intelligence agencies have suffered a devastating breach of their hacking secrets.  —  But unlike the last breach in August, an American Central Intelligence Agency worker, not Russian hackers …

More On:  —  “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon watched his show's ratings take a hit yet again on Tuesday as competitor “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” won its fifth straight week in overall viewers — and sources say Fallon's being forced to change his strategy to win back eyeballs.

Republicans Give Rich Investors a Tax Break in Obamacare Revamp  —  The top 0.1 percent can expect their tax bills to fall an average of $165,000 if the NIIT is nixed.  Most taxpayers, even high earners, will scarcely feel the savings.  —  by  —  House Republicans have a plan to remake …

Islamic State leader Baghdadi abandons Mosul fight to field commanders, U.S. and Iraqi sources say  —  U.S. and Iraqi officials believe the leader of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has left operational commanders behind with diehard followers to fight the battle of Mosul …

Former Trump aide Flynn says lobbying may have helped Turkey  —  President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who was fired from his prominent White House job last month, has registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent for $530,000 worth of lobbying work …

Worried the CIA Hacked Your Samsung TV?  Here's How to Tell  —  A data dump from WikiLeaks says the CIA can spy on you through your internet-connected Samsung television, which means government spies could know a lot more about you than whether you love Girls.  —  MORE SPYING

Man who beat murder case killed minutes after leaving jail  —  Kamari Belmont, inset, was fatally shot shortly after leaving Cook County Jail on March 6, 2017, according to authorities.  —  A man who beat his murder case when prosecutors failed to give him a speedy trial was killed minutes …