The life and death of the Seth Rich conspiracy theory  —  When Seth Rich's Gmail account received an alert this week from Mega.com, attempting to start a new account on a website created by the New Zealand-based Internet businessman and convicted hacker Kim Dotcom, his family knew that something was off.

Pope Lends Weight to G-7 Push to Bind Trump to Climate Deal  —  G-7 leaders await Trump decision on emission cuts this weekend  —  Francis has called for urgent action to protect environment  —  Pope Francis joined an international chorus urging Donald Trump to meet U.S. commitments …

In upset, Democrat Pellegrino wins 9th District Assembly seat  —  Democrat Christine Pellegrino, left, won the race against Conservative Tom Gargiulo in a special election Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in the 9th Assembly District.  She will fill the seat that opened when Assemb.

US leak of Manchester attacker's name strikes new blow to intelligence sharing  —  Naming of Salman Abedi by ‘US officials’ hours before it was announced by UK authorities is latest in series of leaks that may damage credibility with allies … American officials have been criticised …

Outrage as Milo Yiannopoulos criticises Ariana Grande for being ‘pro-Islam’ after Manchester attack  —  Milo Yiannopoulos, the ultra-conservative British media personality in the US, has prompted outrage on social media after he criticised singer Ariana Grande for being “pro-Islam” …

Trump's budget cuts children's health insurance program  —  Medicaid could lose $800 billion under Trump  —  (CNN)President Donald Trump's budget plans to cut the Children's Health Insurance Program by at least 20% over the next two fiscal years and slash Medicaid, which covers millions more children.

TRUMP CALLED RODRIGO DUTERTE TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS MURDEROUS DRUG WAR: “YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB”  —  Photo Illustration: The Intercept/Getty Images  —  In a phone call from the White House late last month, U.S. President Donald Trump heaped praise on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte …

Republicans: Montana special election ‘closer than it should be’  —  GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Republican Greg Gianforte's closing motivational speech to voters ahead of Thursday's special House election in Montana is the same thing GOP strategists are whispering in private: “This race is closer than it should be.”

Melania and Ivanka Trump show the world what feminine power looks like  —  By now you're exhausted by all the head-swiveling news — the terrorist slaughter in Manchester; the president's trip to Everywhere; and investigation upon investigation of the possible collusion with Russia, obstruction of justice and liars by the dozen.

New GOP fear: nine months of failure  —  Republican leaders are coming to the bleak conclusion they will end summer and begin the fall with ZERO significant legislative accomplishments.  Privately, they realize it's political malpractice to blow at least the the first nine of months of all Republican rule …

FCC Will Not Take Action Over Stephen Colbert's Trump Remarks  —  The FCC will not take any action in response to complaints over a May 1 broadcast of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” in which the host quipped during his opening monologue that “the only thing [Trump's] mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's c— holster.”

The FISA court opinion  —  Circa has reported that there was a three-fold increase in NSA data searches about Americans and a rise in the unmasking of U.S. person's identities in intelligence reports after Obama loosened the privacy rules in 2011.  —  Officials like former National Security …

Trump retains outside lawyer Marc Kasowitz to help with Russia investigations  —  President Trump has retained the services of a trusted lawyer, Marc E. Kasowitz, to help him navigate the investigations into his campaign and Russian interference in last year's election, according to people familiar with the decision.

Trump SoHo Plans Layoffs  —  In its heyday, Trump SoHo was a destination.  Celebrity-filled limos regularly pulled up, and delighted tourists snapped selfies in front of the glassy tower.  Rooms at the five-star hotel cost over $700 a night, and the Koi restaurant on the ground floor rocked.

Icahn Guides Trump's Policy and Scores $60 Million  —  Billionaire's CVR Energy saves from plunge in energy credits  —  His crusade to excuse refiners from rules pays off in quarter  —  Government work has paid off handsomely for billionaire Carl Icahn.  —  CVR Energy Inc. …