Trump loses patience with his White House counsel  —  White House counsel Don McGahn has largely stepped back from managing Donald Trump's response to the expanding Russia investigation, but that hasn't stopped the president from lashing out at him about it anyway.

Our politics are divided.  They have been for a long time.  And while I know that division makes it difficult to listen to Americans with whom we disagree, that's what we need to do today.  —  I recognize that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act has become a core tenet of the Republican Party.

Trump “tapes” scapegoat: Obama administration  —  President Trump told Fox & Friends' Ainsley Earhardt that his original tweet suggesting there could be tapes of his Oval Office conversations with ex-FBI Director James Comey came from concerns that the Obama administration may have been surveilling the White House:

Don't make things worse  —  The secrecy extended into the White House.  —  Rice , Haines and White House homeland-security adviser Lisa Monaco convened meetings in the Situation Room to weigh the mounting evidence of Russian interference and generate options for how to respond.

F.B.I. Investigating Deals Involving Paul Manafort and Son-in-Law  —  Federal investigators are examining financial transactions involving Paul Manafort and his son-in-law, who embarked on a series of real estate deals in recent years fueled by millions of dollars from Mr. Manafort, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Why Democrats can't quit Nancy Pelosi  —  Washington (CNN)Nancy Pelosi is sending a defiant message to House Democrats who are grumbling about her leadership: Come at me.  —  But while Pelosi's critics are increasingly vocal, they have not yet answered critical questions about who would fill …

Memo Shows Preet Bharara Was Concerned After Phone Call From White House  —  “Hi Mr. Bharara, this is Madeline Westerhout calling from President Donald Trump's office.”  —  Former US Attorney Preet Bharara sent an email to Justice Department officials in New York to express concern …

Prominent Democratic Fundraisers Realign to Lobby For Trump's Agenda  —  After President Donald Trump's upset election victory, Democratic insiders who worked on Hillary Clinton's failed presidential bid weren't necessarily relegated to the sidelines.  Many, in fact, are cashing in as lobbyists — by working to advance Trump's agenda.

Bipartisan support for some gun proposals, stark partisan divisions on many others  —  Republicans and Democrats find rare common ground on some gun policy proposals in the U.S. Large majorities in both parties continue to favor preventing people with mental illnesses from buying guns …

On health care, moderates quiet while conservatives yell  —  Only hours after the release of the Senate health care bill, four conservative senators put out a statement saying they can't support the bill in its current form.  As of now, moderates have held their fire, saying they need to finish reading and analyzing the bill.

The Senate's Health-Care Advance  —  The draft bill contains many conservative victories, which is why the left hates it.

DHS halts planned funding for anti-white extremism group  —  SCOOP: The Department of Homeland Security is restarting a stalled $10-million grant program for “Countering Violent Extremism” this morning.  Life After Hate, a group dedicated to deradicalizing neo-Nazis and stopping white extremism …

Cosby juror says he didn't believe ‘well-coached’ Constand  —  PITTSBURGH — A juror in Bill Cosby's sex assault trial said Thursday that he did not believe the testimony of accuser Andrea Constand because she willingly went alone to the entertainer's home and brought him gifts on more than one occasion.

Trump Indicates Tape Tweet Was Meant to Affect Comey Testimony  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday appeared to acknowledge that his tweet hinting of taped conversations with James B. Comey was intended to influence the fired F.B.I. director's testimony before Congress …

All That Stands Between Democrats And A Massive Freakout Is This Man  —  The pressure is on Ralph Northam to score a win in his race for Virginia governor.  Barack Obama is going to come off the sidelines to help.  —  Having lost a series of tantalizingly close congressional elections …