Exclusive interview: Trump ‘absolutely’ looking at breaking up 9th Circuit  —  President Trump said Wednesday that he has “absolutely” considered proposals that would split up the 9th Circuit, where judges have blocked two of his executive actions.  —  “There are many people that want to break up the 9th Circuit.

White House Proposes Slashing Tax Rates for Individuals and Businesses  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump on Wednesday proposed sharp reductions in both individual and corporate income tax rates, reducing the number of individual income tax brackets to three — 10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent …

Republicans tell Trump to hold up on NAFTA withdrawal  —  The Trump administration alarmed Republicans on Wednesday with its consideration of an executive order that could lead to the United States' withdrawal from NAFTA — with some lawmakers warning that such a move would be a “disaster.”

Ivanka Trump's new fund for female entrepreneurs  —  Ivanka Trump told me yesterday from Berlin that she has begun building a massive fund that will benefit female entrepreneurs around the globe.  Both countries and companies will contribute to create a pool of capital to economically empower women.

Isis faces exodus of foreign fighters as its ‘caliphate’ crumbles  —  Exclusive: Two Britons and one US citizen are among dozens who have surrendered or been caught at Turkish border … Martin Chulov in Istanbul, Jamie Grierson in London and Jon Swaine in New York

Freedom Caucus endorses revised ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill  —  The House Freedom Caucus on Wednesday announced it will back the GOP's healthcare plan now that an amendment allowing states to opt out of key ObamaCare rules is included.  —  The group of roughly 30 hard-line conservatives held …

White House to continue Obamacare payments, removing shutdown threat  —  The White House is telling lawmakers that it will continue paying Affordable Care Act cost-sharing subsidies, potentially defusing a bruising conflict between Democrats and Trump administration officials that had sparked …

Ann Coulter On Verge of Pulling Out of Speech at Berkeley  —  Ann Coulter said Wednesday that she is likely to cancel her planned appearance at the University of California, Berkeley, because she faced threats of violence and felt she was left without the support of local law enforcement who have said it cannot guarantee her safety.

Views on Russian influence reflect partisan finger-pointing (POLL)  —  It's a partisan cold war right here at home: A majority of Democrats think now-President Donald Trump's campaign tried to help Russia influence the 2016 election, while a majority of Republicans think former President …

Bail increased for veteran, soldier accused in execution of veteran's PTSD therapy dog  —  Marinna Rollins told her Facebook friends on April 17 that she found a new home for her PTSD therapy dog, Cam.  —  Instead, she and her boyfriend, soldier Jarren Heng, are accused of shooting Cam multiple times with a rifle execution-style.

The NYT's new columnist defends his views on Arabs, Black Lives Matter, campus rape  —  On April 12, the New York Times's vaunted editorial page got a new addition.  Bret Stephens, formerly a columnist at the Wall Street Journal, will join Ross Douthat and David Brooks among the stable of in-house conservatives at the Gray Lady.

RNC Chair: GOP base will walk away in midterms if wall isn't built  —  (CNN)Republican National Committee chair Ronna Romney McDaniel said Wednesday that failing to fulfill Donald Trump's campaign promise to build a wall along the Mexican border will hurt the party in the 2018 midterm elections.

Bribe Cases, a Secret Jared Kushner Partner and Potential Conflicts  —  President Trump's son-in-law, a top adviser, had help building a real estate empire from a member of one of Israel's wealthiest families.  —  It was the summer of 2012, and Jared Kushner was headed downtown.

WHO BUN IT?  Brit bunny riddle as rabbit destined to be world's biggest dies on United Airlines jet to US  —  Three foot Simon died in the cargo section of a Boeing 767 after leaving Heathrow  —  SCANDAL-hit United Airlines is facing a new PR disaster — after a valuable giant rabbit died mysteriously on one of its planes.

Roy Moore running for Senate, resigns from Supreme Court to challenge Luther Strange  —  Roy Moore today announced he is resigning from his position as the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court to run for the United States Senate.  —  “I'll stand for the rights and liberties of the people …

In defense of Nordstrom's $425 dirty jeans … Six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon: $5.34.  —  Copy of Hillbilly Elegy (hardcover): $15.67  —  Designer jeans caked in fake dirt and mud: $425.  —  The appearance of escaping a liberal bubble: priceless ... at least that seems like the inspiration …

VIDEO: Pelosi breakdown?  Garbles words, mispronounces countries in short speech  —  Nancy Pelosi's mission on Tuesday was to give a brief speech and not renew questions about her health.  —  She couldn't do it.  —  During Pelosi's brief 7-minute speech to Refugees International …

Daniel Halper joins Drudge Report  —  Matt Drudge, the founder and editor of the influential site DrudgeReport.com, has hired Daniel Halper, two sources familiar with the move confirmed to POLITICO.  —  Halper was most recently Washington bureau chief of The New York Post, a position he held for just under a year.