House majority leader to colleagues in 2016: ‘I think Putin pays’ Trump  —  KIEV, Ukraine — A month before Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, one of his closest allies in Congress — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy — made a politically explosive assertion in a private conversation …

Deputy attorney general appoints special counsel to oversee probe of Russian interference in election  —  The Justice Department has decided to appoint a special counsel to investigate possible coordination between Trump associates and Russian officials seeking to meddle in last year's election …

First Republican raises impeachment for Trump  —  (R-Mich.) on Wednesday said reports that President Trump pressed ousted FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation would merit impeachment if true, becoming the first Republican lawmaker to broach the idea.

Any Half-Decent Hacker Could Break Into Mar-a-Lago  —  We tested internet security at four Trump properties.  It's not good.  —  Two weeks ago, on a sparkling spring morning, we went trawling along Florida's coastal waterway.  But not for fish.  —  We parked a 17-foot motor boat in a lagoon …

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke accepts job in Department of Homeland Security  —  Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. will leave office next month to accept a federal appointment as an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

What Does Barack Obama Really Think of Donald Trump?  'He's Nothing But a Bullsh-ter'  —  She packs her own lunch, and he still isn't allowed to drive.  Subscribe now for all about Michelle and Barack Obama's lives after moving out of the White House - only in PEOPLE

This is How Your Government Responds to Unfavorable News Coverage  —  Monday night, as the story of the President giving classified information to the Russians was in full evolution, I get a call from this guy:  —  RC Hammond, the State Department's communications advisor, who had his facts wrong about what was reported and by whom.

Jimmy Fallon Was on Top of the World.  Then Came Trump.  —  Ambling onto the Art Deco set of “The Tonight Show” for his monologue rehearsal one Monday afternoon, Jimmy Fallon gave the crowd here at Studio 6B a warm, practiced welcome before trying out a new batch of jokes about the French election …

Russian State-Run Bank Financed Deal Involving Trump Hotel Partner  —  A Russian-Canadian developer put money into a Donald Trump hotel project in Toronto after receiving hundreds of millions from a deal involving Russian state-run bank VEB.

‘THIS IS CRAZY’: Austin man sues date for texting during movie  —  A man is suing a Round Rock woman for texting during a movie date at the Barton Creek Square theater, according to a petition filed in small claims court in Travis County.  —  Brandon Vezmar, 37, of Austin filed the claim Thursday against his date.

FBI NOT PROBING DNC STAFFER SETH RICH'S MURDER, DESPITE WIKILEAKS CLAIM  —  U.S. SETH RICH #DNCLEAKS DNC HACK DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE  —  The FBI is not investigating the unsolved murder of former Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich, Newsweek has learned.

Pence Takes Steps to Build War Chest as White House Stumbles  —  Political action committee registered Wednesday with FEC  —  Neither Biden nor Cheney had active leadership PACs in office  —  While President Donald Trump's White House grapples with the fallout from his firing of the former FBI director …

Why liberal democracy only dies when conservatives help  —  Liberal democracy is not dead, but it's not well.  From Hungary to Poland to even the United States, far-right populists have won power, and, in a few cases, are busy consolidating it.  —  In some sense, it shouldn't be too surprising …

Alex Jones settles Chobani lawsuit and retracts comments about refugees in Twin Falls, Idaho  —  Inside the Chobani Yogurt factory in Twin Falls, Idaho.  —  Alex Jones backed down.  Again.  —  The far-right conspiracy theorist agreed Wednesday to settle a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Greek yogurt manufacturer Chobani.

The 25th Amendment Solution for Removing Trump  —  It was just three days and a lifetime ago that I wrote a column about Donald Trump's unfitness for the presidency that affected a world-weary tone.  Nothing about this White House's chaos was surprising given the style of Trump's campaign, I argued.

Trump Said to Rule Out Moving Israel Embassy to Jerusalem  —  The embassy will remain in Tel Aviv for now, official says  —  Administration seeks to avoid provoking Palestinians  —  President Donald Trump has decided not to immediately move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem …