House GOP health care peacemaking deteriorates  —  There was an effort yesterday to get House GOP conservatives — the House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee — to meet with GOP moderates — the Tuesday Group — to talk about a path forward after last week's failed health care effort.

FBI Director James Comey tried to reveal Russian tampering months before election  —  U.S. JAMES COMEY FBI RUSSIA 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION  —  FBI Director James Comey attempted to go public as early as the summer of 2016 with information on Russia's campaign to influence …

Trump Russia dossier key claim ‘verified’  —  The BBC has learned that US officials “verified” a key claim in a report about Kremlin involvement in Donald Trump's election - that a Russian diplomat in Washington was in fact a spy.  —  So far, no single piece of evidence has been made public proving …

What George W. Bush Really Thought of Donald Trump's Inauguration  —  The inauguration of Donald Trump was a surreal experience for pretty much everyone who witnessed it, whether or not they were at the event and regardless of who they supported in the election.

Lawmakers vote Thursday on deal to repeal HB2  —  RALEIGH  —  North Carolina lawmakers could repeal House Bill 2 on Thursday under a deal struck late Wednesday night by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican legislative leaders.  —  Senate leader Phil Berger announced the deal shortly …

Watch real climate scientist shoot down climate “skeptic” at GOP's sham “science” hearing  —  Donald Trump's presidency continues to be a disaster for the environment.  The Energy Department's Climate Office banned use of the phrase “climate change,” and Trump recently signed an executive order …

Don't torpedo Senate rules for Gorsuch: Nan Aron  —  If a nominee for a lifetime job on our highest court can't get 60 votes, don't go ‘nuclear.’ Change the nominee.  —  For four days this month, court-watchers were glued to C-SPAN or the web for the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Creating a National Precinct Map … In January 2011, I sent an email to the Washington State Democratic Party asking about precinct results from the 2008 presidential caucus race.  State party chairman Jaxon Ravens replied simply with the question, “Why would you want them?”

Ivanka Trump, Shifting Plans, Will Become a Federal Employee  —  Ivanka Trump, the elder daughter of President Trump, is becoming an official government employee, joining her husband in serving as an unpaid adviser to her father in the White House.  —  Ms. Trump already has an office in the West Wing …

Trump Administration Signals It Would Seek Mostly Modest Changes to Nafta  —  One change would be in government-procurement section of deal that could open up door for ‘Buy American’ policies  —  WASHINGTON—The Trump administration is signaling to Congress it would seek mostly modest changes …

Why Trump's unpopularity is historically unique  —  President Trump is not the first president to see his approval rating drop to 35 percent, as it did in Gallup's most recent tracking poll.  —  But he is the first president on record to go that low without it owing to one of three things: war, Watergate or economic strife.

Trump, Ryan Both Hit Record Low Approval  —  PPP's newest national poll finds Donald Trump's approval rating falling to its lowest level yet in our polling.  Only 40% of voters approve of the job he's doing, to 53% who disapprove.  —  Health Care:  —  The upshot of last week's health care debate …

Paul Ryan on Russia probe, health care bill “growing pain”  —  Despite mounting calls for House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes to recuse himself from the investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, House Speaker Paul Ryan has thus far stood by the chairman.

U.S. War Footprint Grows in Middle East, With No Endgame in Sight  —  BEIRUT, Lebanon — The United States launched more airstrikes in Yemen this month than during all of last year.  In Syria, it has airlifted local forces to front-line positions and has been accused of killing civilians in airstrikes.

Seattle sues Trump administration over threat to ‘sanctuary’ cities  —  The city of Seattle sued U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday over its executive order seeking to withhold federal funds from “sanctuary cities,” arguing it amounted to unconstitutional federal coercion.

Brexit: UK publishes ‘Great Repeal Bill’ plan to replace EU laws  — The bill will convert thousands of pieces of EU law into domestic law as Britain leaves the European Union  —  London (CNN)The scale of the task facing UK legislators as they try to extricate Britain from the European Union …

Volkswagen Says It Has EPA Approval to Sell Repaired Diesels  —  Sales of 2015 model diesels can begin after software update  —  Diesel still unlikely to play major future role in U.S. for VW  —  Volkswagen AG will soon do what's been impossible since its emissions crisis began: sell diesel-powered cars in the U.S.

Dustin Hoffman and son invested $3 million in now-bankrupt real estate venture of Paul Manafort's son-in-law  —  Businessman Jeffrey Yohai, left, and actor Jacob Hoffman, center, at nightspot Baby's All Right in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 20, 2015.  Hoffman and his father, “The Graduate” …

Trump Leaves Science Jobs Vacant, Troubling Critics  —  WASHINGTON — On the fourth floor of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the staff of the White House chief technology officer has been virtually deleted, down from 24 members before the election to, by Friday, only one.

It Took Three People Two Months to Create Hillary Clinton's Campaign Logo  —  Hillary Clinton's infamous campaign logo was created by a three-person team of designers who were invited to work on the “secret” design project four months before the official campaign launch in April 2015 …