Exclusive: Trump campaign had at least 18 undisclosed contacts with Russians: sources  —  Michael Flynn and other advisers to Donald Trump's campaign were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 calls and emails during the last seven months of the 2016 presidential race …

The Special Counsel Mistake  —  Rosenstein bends to political pressure, and here we go again.

Lieberman emerges as front-runner for FBI post  —  Joe Lieberman, the former Democratic vice-presidential nominee, is the front-runner to be named FBI director, according to several White House officials and advisers.  —  Senior administration officials have told others in the last 12 hours …

Chaffetz to announce early departure from Congress  —  Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is expected to announce Thursday that he is resigning before the end of this congressional term, according to three sources familiar with his plans.  —  Chaffetz did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

TRUMP CANCELS VISIT TO ANCIENT MASADA SITE AFTER ISRAEL REFUSES HELICOPTER LANDING  —  WORLD ISRAEL TRUMP  —  President Donald Trump has canceled a planned visit and speech at the ancient mountain fortress of Masada in Israel after authorities told him that he could not land his helicopter on top of the UNESCO-listed site.

Car slams into Times Square pedestrians, killing one, injuring others  —  A speeding car plowed into pedestrians on a sidewalk in New York City's busy Times Square on Thursday, killing one person and injuring a dozen, according to witnesses, and police said the incident did not appear to be an act of terrorism.

Russia tried to take over Pentagon Twitter accounts: report  —  Russia tried to gain access to the Twitter accounts of Defense Department officials using messages carrying malware, according to Time magazine.  —  Russia is said to have sent messages to over 10,000 Pentagon Twitter users …

Roger Ailes, who built Fox News into a powerhouse, dies at 77  —  Roger Ailes dead at 77  —  Roger Ailes, who transformed cable news and then American politics by building Fox News into a ratings powerhouse, died Thursday.  He was 77.  —  The death was announced by his family and reported on Fox News Channel.

U.S. aircraft conduct strike on Syrian army convoy  —  BEIRUT — The U.S. sent aircraft to strike Syrian regime vehicles on Thursday that violated a deconfliction zone set up around al-Tanf, an army base where special forces are training Syrian militias, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

This Is A Coup Against Our Right To Govern Ourselves  —  The blizzard of lies and distraction blowing through Washington is not just any routine stuffstorm, but a calculated attempt to bring down a president - our president, not the establishment's president.

Trump isn't a toddler — he's a product of America's culture of impunity for the rich  —  “When you're a star, they let you do it.”  —  Ross Douthat's column arguing for the superiority of “25th Amendment remedies” to impeachment for Donald Trump's various misdeeds is impressive in its ability …

House Dems Smash Fundraising Records Ahead of Midterms  —  House Democrats have already raised more money in online contributions this year ahead of the midterms than they did during all of 2015, the most recently comparable year, a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee official told NBC News.

If you work for Trump, it's time to quit  —  After the Comey firing and the Russia intel leak, the I'm-taking-one-for-the-team ship has sailed.  —  I've been a Republican political consultant for almost 30 years, and I've dispensed a lot of private advice.

Trump: The End Game  —  President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 17, 2017, to board Marine One for a short trip to Andrews Air Force Base, then to speak at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Commencement Ceremony.  —  Trump will be forced from the presidency.

Turkish Embassy calls violent clash with protesters in DC ‘self-defense’  —  The Turkish Embassy in Washington said on Wednesday that bodyguards for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were acting in “self-defense” when they were involved in a violent clash in front of the ambassador's residence …