'It's stupefying to watch': Jim Acosta and Jake Tapper stunned by White House's ‘depressing’ wiretap defense  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  CNN's Jim Acosta spoke with “The Lead” host Jake Tapper after Sean Spicer's contentious press briefing on Thursday.

Sources: Sean Hannity once pulled a gun on Juan Williams  —  Sean Hannity is surrounded by jackasses.  —  The Wall Street Journal columnist who called Hannity the “dumbest anchor” on Fox News is a “jackass,” according to Hannity.  The forensic psychologist who suggested a blood vessel had popped inside Hannity's brain is a “jackass.”

White House Says Cutting Meals on Wheels Is ‘Compassionate’  —  President Trump's new budget would increase defense spending by $54 billion — while slashing funding for medical research, climate science, public housing, education, aid to the indigent, infrastructure, and many, many other things.

Five 9th Circuit Judges Dish Out Ruthless Take Down to Anti-Trump Travel Ban Decision  —  In one of the most ruthless opinions issued of fellow panel judges, five judges from across the political spectrum in the Ninth Circuit went out of their way to issue an opinion about a dismissed appeal …

Sebastian Gorka Denies Reported Affiliations with Vitézi Rend  —  Lord knows I've had my differences with The Forward before.  I have them still, and often.  They rarely unsettle me, if only because robust disagreements, especially on things that matter, are what we journalists should seek, not shun.

Mike Flynn Worked for Several Russian Companies, Was Paid More Than $50,000, Documents Show  —  Former Trump national security adviser had business connections with Russia beyond RT that hadn't been previously known  —  President Trump's former national security adviser, Mike Flynn …

Tillerson says diplomacy has failed as North Korea warns of nuclear war  —  U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida at the end of a joint press conference in Tokyo on March 16, 2017.  Tillerson called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear …

Former Texas Congressman Steve Stockman accused of violating federal election law  —  HOUSTON - Steve Stockman, who served two stints in the U.S. House of Representatives, spent part of Friday in federal court.  —  Stockman, a Tea Party favorite who courted controversy thorough two congressional terms …

Pro-Trump radio host Michael Savage claims he was assaulted outside Marin County restaurant  —  TIBURON — Michael Savage, the popular right-wing radio personality and fierce Donald Trump supporter, says he was assaulted by a man as he was leaving a Marin County restaurant Tuesday night.

Sen. Susan Collins says she can't support House ACA replacement in current form  —  The moderate Republican says ‘Older people living in rural America would be really left behind.’  —  Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said Thursday that she opposes the House Republican health care bill being debated in Congress.

Suspected Hack Attack Snagging Cell Phone Data Across D.C.  —  An unusual amount of highly suspicious cellphone activity in the Washington, D.C., region is fueling concerns that a rogue entity is surveying the communications of numerous individuals, likely including U.S. government officials …

Whom to trust when it comes to health-care reform?  Trump supporters put their faith in him.  —  NASHVILLE — Soon after Charla McComic's son lost his job, his health-insurance premium dropped from $567 per month to just $88, a “blessing from God” that she believes was made possible by President Trump.

IJR published an article that does not meet our editorial standards or represent IJR's vision or values.  We have retracted the story, and we deeply regret the error.

Gov. Scott appoints special prosecutor after Ayala says she won't pursue death penalty  —  In a press conference on the steps of the Orange County Courthouse, Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala announces that her office will no longer pursue the death penalty as a sentence in any case brought …

Sources: Trump expected to tap Wheeler as EPA deputy  —  President Donald Trump is expected to tap Andrew Wheeler, a coal lobbyist and former aide to Sen. Jim Inhofe, to be deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, sources familiar with the hiring process told POLITICO.

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Objects to Immigration Enforcement Tactics at California Courthouses  —  Expresses concerns in letter to Attorney General Sessions and Secretary Kelly  —  Dear Attorney General Sessions and Secretary Kelly:  —  As Chief Justice of California responsible …

Lack of Oxford Comma Costs Maine Company Millions in Overtime Dispute  —  A class-action lawsuit about overtime pay for truck drivers hinged entirely on a debate that has bitterly divided friends, families and foes: The dreaded — or totally necessary — Oxford comma, perhaps the most polarizing of punctuation marks.

Netflix is ditching five-star ratings in favor of a thumbs up  —  And it will show a percentage to “match” you with shows  —  Netflix vice president of product Todd Yellin said in a press briefing today that the video streaming company would be changing its ratings system …