Democrats Seethe After Georgia Loss: ‘Our Brand Is Worse Than Trump’  —  Democrats seethed, second-guessed and sought to regroup on Wednesday after a disappointing special election defeat in Georgia, with the party's campaign chief in the House of Representatives outlining alternative paths to taking power …

Senate health-care draft repeals Obamacare taxes, provides bigger subsidies for low-income Americans than House bill  —  Senate leaders on Wednesday were putting the final touches on legislation that would reshape a big piece of the U.S. health-care system by dramatically rolling back Medicaid …

A Bunch Of CIA Staff Got Fired For Stealing Snacks From Vending Machines  —  The group of employees shared a vending machine hack to steal more than $3,000 in snacks.  —  Several CIA contractors were kicked out of the agency for stealing more than $3,000 in snacks from vending machines …

EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Tom Cotton Intern Calls British ‘Faggots’ and Paul Ryan a ‘Cuck’ in Audio Recording  —  GOP Senator Tom Cotton's intern is not shy about spouting off incendiary comments, as the young Republican calls Speaker Paul Ryan “a cuck” and the British “faggots.”

Trump, Russia and a Shadowy Business Partnership  —  An insider describes the Bayrock Group, its links to the Trump family and its mysterious access to funds.  It isn't pretty.  —  The special counsel's investigation of the White House has come more sharply into focus.

Former Homeland Security chief: The FBI had evidence of collusion with Russia  —  No, the FBI did not open an investigation into possible collusion between the Trump team and Russia on a “mere hunch.”  —  Contrary to Donald Trump's Twitter-rages and baseless accusations that he and his campaign team …

ISIS Is Said to Destroy Historic Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul  —  BAGHDAD — The Islamic State on Wednesday night destroyed Mosul's centuries-old Al Nuri Grand Mosque and its distinctive leaning minaret, one of Iraq's most famous landmarks, according to the Iraqi and American militaries.

Next up: a special counsel to probe Team Obama's obstruction of justice  —  MORE FROM: … By using fired FBI Director James Comey to attack the new Republican administration, Democrats have opened up a legal can of worms for the Obama administration.  —  Under sworn questioning …

Congressional Black Caucus expected to decline Trump meeting  —  The Congressional Black Caucus is expected to reject an invitation to meet with President Donald Trump, according to four sources close to the group.  —  The Trump administration, sources said, has done nothing to advance …

Law Enforcement Shares Findings of the Investigation into the June 14 Alexandria, Virginia Shooting  —  Today, law enforcement officials shared findings to date of the investigation into the shooting that occurred at the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.

Texas Couple Exonerated 25 Years After Being Convicted of Lurid Crimes That Never Happened  —  Twenty-five years after they were convicted of a crime that never happened, Fran and Dan Keller were formally exonerated on June 20 in Austin, Texas.  —  The couple's prosecution in 1992 was part …

What Happened To Black Lives Matter?  —  Donald Trump's election and presidency has inspired the biggest outpouring of liberal activism in more than a decade.  But Black Lives Matter seems less visible than a year ago.  After a meteoric rise to prominence, the movement is struggling mightily …

Montana Dems Get Gianforte New Suit for First Day in Congress  —  Helena - Today, convicted criminal Greg Gianforte - who, after infamously picking up another person, slamming him to the ground, and then punching him, blamed it on the victim - will be sworn into Congress.

Saudi Arabia Rewrites Succession as King Replaces Heir With Son, 31  —  BEIRUT, Lebanon — King Salman of Saudi Arabia promoted his 31-year-old son, Mohammed bin Salman, to be next in line to the throne on Wednesday, further empowering a young, activist leader at a time when the kingdom …

Sheriff Clarke Accuses Andrew Kaczynski of ‘Electronic Terrorism’  —  Conservative blog Media Equalizer has been running an extensive three-part series on Sheriff David Clarke's response to CNN's Andrew Kaczynski, whose reporting sunk Clarke's would-be role at the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump Organization seeks hefty tax break for Westchester golf club  —  The Trump Organization wants its tax bill cut in half at one of its high-end golf clubs, part of a longstanding Trump practice of using legal challenges and appeals to lower his corporate tax bills.

Dem Sen. Chris Murphy: Russia Issue Is Becoming A “Distraction” That Is Hurting Democrats  —  Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy tells MSNBC's ‘Morning Joe’ how their focus on the “Russia” probe is distracting Democrats.  —  WILLIE GEIST, MORNING JOE: You know, Senator, Harold Ford was talking …

Immigrant Literacy: Self-Assessment vs. Reality  —  Jason Richwine, PhD, is an independent public policy analyst based in Washington, D.C., and a contributing writer at National Review.  —  To measure the English ability of immigrants in the United States, researchers often rely on the opinion of the immigrants themselves.

DeVos picks CEO of for-profit lender to run federal student loan system  —  Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's pick to lead the department's $1.3 trillion student loan system is the CEO of a private student loan company.  —  A. Wayne Johnson, who was tapped as chief operating officer of Federal Student Aid …

Portman met secretly with North Koreans to lobby for Warmbier's release  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Rob Portman met secretly last December with North Korean's delegation to the United Nations in an effort to gain the release of or at least get information about Otto Warmbier …