GOP Operative Sought Clinton Emails From Hackers, Implied a Connection to Flynn  —  Peter W. Smith portrayed the former general as having been an ally in an effort, independent of the Trump campaign, to find personal emails deleted by Hillary Clinton.

Trump tweets shocking assault on Brzezinski, Scarborough  —  Trump attacks ‘Morning Joe’ hosts on Twitter  —  Even by President Trump's standards, these tweets were shocking.  —  On Thursday morning, while MSNBC's “Morning Joe” was on the air, Trump posted a pair of hateful tweets about co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.

Breaking: MSNBC and Greta Van Susteren Agree to Part Ways  —  In an era where liberal anger is driving ratings, the former Fox anchor's show never caught fire.  —  “Remember me?”  Greta Van Susteren crooned to the camera as she raised the curtain on her new MSNBC show on January 9.  “I'm baaack.”

Ted Cruz has a big idea that just might unlock a Senate health care deal  —  Here's how it works.  —  An amendment is under consideration that maybe, just maybe, could unlock the whole Senate Republican health bill.  It might knock over the dominoes necessary for a deal, starting with regulations …

It turns out the liberal caricature of conservatism is correct  —  It's depressing.  But it's true.  —  Marc Thiessen, the George W. Bush speechwriter who now writes a column for the Washington Post op-ed page, is aghast at the Senate GOP's health care bill.

House Russia probe eyes longtime Trump bodyguard-turned-White House aide Keith Schiller  —  Congressional investigators now want to interview Keith Schiller, President Donald Trump's longtime bodyguard-turned-White House aide, as part of their investigation into Russian interference …

House passes Kate's Law, as part of illegal immigrant crackdown  —  House Republicans took action Thursday to crack down on illegal immigrants and the cities that shelter them.  —  One bill passed by the House would deny federal grants to sanctuary cities and another, Kate's Law …

Much ado about nothing (burger)  —  Reporter fires back on ‘fake news’ attack  — Jones says he thinks it's unlikely Trump will be forced from office over the Russia investigation but that doesn't mean he thinks there's nothing there  —  CNN political commentator Van Jones is president …

Pence to Replace His Chief of Staff  —  WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff will depart the White House in the coming weeks and will be replaced by a long-serving aide, in the first major staff change of his office, officials said on Thursday.

Army vet beaten to death after saving two teens  —  (CNN)A 62-year-old veteran died saving a pair of teenagers from a brutal attack, and now he's being hailed as a hero.  —  James Farmer Jr. was asleep in his car in downtown Denver on June 16 when he woke up to a homeless man attacking the two teens.

A chilling National Rifle Association ad gaining traction online appears to be ‘an open call to violence’  —  A National Rifle Association ad that has gained traction on social media this month urges Americans to join “freedom's safest place” as protesters and members of the “resistance” …

A Right-Leaning Foreign-Policy Think Tank Shuts Down  —  The Foreign Policy Initiative, a well-known, right-leaning think tank in Washington, is shutting down its operations.  —  FPI will close this summer, most likely in August, according to four sources with knowledge of the situation.

NYT Finally Retracts Russia-gate Canard  —  Exclusive: A founding Russia-gate myth is that all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies agreed that Russia hacked into and distributed Democratic emails, a falsehood that The New York Times has belatedly retracted, reports Robert Parry.

Bridges takes chilled approach in heated political rhetoric … Jeff Bridges played a president in “The Contender,” a political flick released nearly two decades ago in the wake of President Bill Clinton's White House scandals.  —  But when it comes to critiquing the role of today's real-life president …

EVEN TRUMP CAN'T MAKE GOLDMAN SACHS POPULAR  —  Having pulled off the monumental achievement of getting elected with zero help from Wall Street, President Trump is at risk of throwing it all away.  He seems to be turning his White House over not only to liberal Democrats …

White House could offer to roll back sanctions in first Trump-Putin meeting  —  G20 meeting of two presidents could see Russia regain access to diplomatic compounds blocked after interference in 2016 US election, say former officials … Donald Trump has told White House aides to come …

Caught on camera: Man chased, struck by SUV in Walmart parking lot; man and driver charged  —  A pregnant woman tells News 13 she chased a man and hit him with her SUV in a Walmart parking lot after she says he attempted to steal her purse.  —  It happened around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Walmart on Bleachery Boulevard.

Trump vows to create ‘American energy dominance’  —  President Trump is formally seeking a review of energy policies to help the nuclear power industry prosper.  —  Trump announced the review during a speech at the Energy Department's headquarters, which came as part of the administration's Energy Week celebration.

'It's Amazing I Haven't Ruined Myself'  —  ONCE REVERED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST HEROES IN RED SOX HISTORY, TODAY CURT SCHILLING IS KNOWN AS MUCH FOR OFFENSIVE MEMES AS FOR HIS BLOODY SOCK.  IS HIS GOAL TO DOMINATE RIGHT-WING MEDIA—OR TO WIN A SPOT IN THE SENATE?

‘Game of Thrones’: Emilia Clarke, the Queen of Dragons, Tells All  —  How HBO's insanely popular hit show turned a young British actress into a feminist, a fantasy icon and a royal fan favorite  —  Read our ‘Game of Thrones’ cover story on the Queen of Dragons, Emilia Clarke …