Are there still public servants who will say no to the president?  —  Preet Bharara, a scholar in residence at New York University Law School, was U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 until this March.  —  The most dramatic hearing I helped to arrange as chief counsel …

G.O.P. Senators, Pulling Away From Trump, Have ‘a Lot Less Fear of Him’  —  WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans, increasingly unnerved by President Trump's volatility and unpopularity, are starting to show signs of breaking away from him as they try to forge a more traditional Republican agenda and protect their political fortunes.

Meet the Press - May 14, 2017  —  CHUCK TODD:This Sunday, the firing of James Comey.  Why did President Trump do it, and why now?  —  Was it based on a justice department recommendation?  The administration said this.  —  VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE:  —  Because of the actions that the deputy attorney general outlined.

Callista Gingrich set to be named ambassador to the Vatican  —  Washington (CNN)Callista Gingrich, the wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, is the preferred nominee to be the next ambassador to the Vatican.  —  The White House hopes to announce her nomination before President Donald Trump meets …

With a New Collaborations Album, Todd Rundgren Talks About Loving Reznor, Fagen and Robyn... and Loathing Trump  —  Todd Rundgren's new album, “White Knight,” is a grab-bag of collaborations with fellow artists — among them, Trent Reznor, Daryl Hall, Bettye LaVette, Robyn, Donald Fagen …

Trump thinks that exercising too much uses up the body's ‘finite’ energy  —  President Trump reportedly eschews exercise because he believes it drains the body's “finite” energy resources, but experts say this argument is flawed because the human body actually becomes stronger with exercise.

Republicans getting nervous about Dem recruitment  —  I'm beginning to hear senior Republicans fret about Democrats recruiting unusually high quality House candidates for the 2018 midterms.  They worry that with Trump in turmoil, accomplished progressives view next year as a their best chance in ages to win a congressional seat.

Lawrence O'Donnell's Future At MSNBC Is Unclear  —  As his contract nears its end, a renewal doesn't appear to be on the horizon for “The Last Word” host.  —  Lawrence O'Donnell, host of MSNBC's “The Last Word,” has just four weeks left in his contract, and the cable network does not appear to be interested in renewing his deal.

Political chaos in Washington is a return on investment for Moscow  —  Russia has yet to collect much of what it hoped for from the Trump administration, including the lifting of U.S. sanctions and recognition of its annexation of Crimea.  —  But the Kremlin has gotten a different return …

Opinion on Trump Stable Despite Tumult Over Comey Firing, Poll Finds  —  More Americans disapprove than approve of president's decision to fire FBI director, Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey shows  —  WASHINGTON—More Americans disapprove than approve of President Donald Trump's decision …

The need for urgent collective action to keep people safe online: Lessons from last week's cyberattack  —  Early Friday morning the world experienced the year's latest cyberattack.  —  Starting first in the United Kingdom and Spain, the malicious “WannaCrypt” software quickly spread globally …

Dead man lying  —  Unyielding dishonesty and belligerence have landed Trump one investigation away from impeachment  —  We've reached a magical time in the great story unfolding before us, the time when everybody knows that Trump is guilty, but the verdict is not yet in.

Fake News on the 2018 Election From the Associated Press  —  The Associated Press headlines: “In swing districts, voters vent over health care, fear Trump.”  A more accurate headline would be, “A handful of rabid Democrats hate President Trump.”  But that wouldn't be news.  The AP begins:

Trump calls for more women's health care, paid family leave options  —  In a statement celebrating Women's Health Week, President Donald Trump on Sunday called on improving health care access for “quality prenatal, maternal, and newborn care,” in addition to ensuring paid family leave for both mothers and fathers.

Jerry Brown's New Budget Includes Millions to Defend Illegal Aliens from Deportation  —  Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown unveiled his May revisions to the state budget proposal he rolled out in January.  Buried deep among billions of dollars in proposed new spending are millions …

George Conway is the man at the center of everything  —  If it weren't for George Conway, the nation might never have met Monica Lewinsky, and Donald Trump might never have met Kellyanne.  —  In the 1990s, George was a quiet but critical presence in what Hillary Clinton would dub …

In Beijing, Vladimir Putin Plays Two Piano Tunes From His Childhood  —  MOSCOW — He has ridden shirtless on a horse in Siberia, piloted a hand glider with migratory birds, swum with dolphins, tossed judo opponents, and dived into the depths of Lake Baikal and the Black Sea.

Torch-wielding protesters gather at Lee Park  —  Several dozen torch-wielding protesters gathered in Charlottesville's Lee Park just after 9 p.m. Saturday, chanting “You will not replace us,” “Russia is our friend” and “Blood and soil.”  —  After about 10 minutes, Charlottesville police arrived …