Trump Tower Russia meeting: At least eight people in the room  —  CNN Special Report “The First Son: The Life of Donald Trump Jr.” airs Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.  —  Washington (CNN)The June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort included at least eight people.

White House shakes up legal team as probe gathers steam … Under intensifying fire over its handling of the Russia investigations, the White House is shaking up its legal team, bringing on board a veteran Washington criminal defense lawyer just as another high-profile attorney turns …

The Projection President  —  In Paris on Thursday, Donald Trump said, “A lot of people don't know” that “France is America's first and oldest ally.”  That may be true.  But commentators noted that when Trump uses the “a lot of people don't know” formulation, it's usually a sign that he didn't know himself.

Startup That Got a Seat at White House Roundtable Is Part-Owned by Kushner Family  —  Venture-capital firm run by Kushner's brother partly owns OpenGov, whose CEO last month attended summit with Donald Trump, leaders of Apple, Amazon, Microsoft  —  Prominent technology-industry leaders …

A 39-year-old man is mysteriously still a ‘kid’  —  All children, except two, grow up: Peter Pan and Donald Trump Jr.  —  “He's a good boy,” President Trump said of his scandal-engulfed son, in remarks that started off the record and then became on the record, apparently because he liked them so much.

Even the intellectual left is drawn to conspiracy theories about the right.  Resist them.  —  How not to write about “radical” libertarians.  —  It's always hard in politics for people to take their opponents' views seriously, but it has become ever harder in Trump's America.

London acid attacks: 5 victims assaulted in 70 minutes  —  London (CNN)Five men were attacked with acid in London on Thursday night with one man suffering life-changing facial injuries in what police are treating as linked assaults.  —  The five attacks, which took place over 70 minutes …

Jamie Dimon blows up at DC's dysfunction, says he's tired of ‘listening to the stupid s—’  — On the bank's earnings call, CEO Jamie Dimon answered a question about his view on Washington's impact on the economy.  —  JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon expressed frustration …

Private Email of Top U.S. Russia Intelligence Official Hacked  —  As concerns about cyberattacks grow, hackers are going after Russia wonks.  —  On Tuesday morning, a hacker going by the name Johnnie Walker sent a group email to an unknown number of recipients claiming to have a trove …

House Republicans weigh massive partisan spending bill  —  House GOP leaders will decide next week whether to brave an ugly floor fight over a massive GOP spending bill — a proposal applauded by some rank-and-file Republicans but that risks embarrassment if it fails.

The Lies of Donald Trump's Critics, and How They Shape His Many Personas  —  An in-depth analysis of the false allegations and misleading claims made against the 45th President since his inauguration.  —  8K  —  Over the past two years, many thousands of broadcast hours and probably millions …

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in a rare and candid moment, talks about the frustrations of his job  —  His boss contradicts him.  Sometimes sends him off to clean up messes.  Makes him explain controversial policies.  —  When you have been chief executive of one of the largest companies on the planet …

Steve King compares military pay for gender transition to Ottoman's castrating slaves  —  Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in a Friday speech on the House floor compared proposals to have the Pentagon pay for gender transition to the Ottoman practice of castrating slaves serving in the empire's infantry units.

More than 3,000 Colorado voters have canceled their registrations since Trump election integrity commission request  —  The withdrawals began in earnest earlier this month, after a presidential advisory commission on election integrity requested publicly available voter information from all 50 states.

Moral Vacuum in the House of Trump  —  Donald Trump's grandfather Friedrich emigrated to the United States when he was 16, in 1885.  He ventured west to seek his riches and finally settled in Seattle, where he opened a restaurant that, according to family historian Gwenda Blair, likely included a section for a bordello.

Americans want to help the homeless — as long as they don't get too close.  This explains why.  —  In the spring, voters in Los Angeles decided to raise their own sales taxes to alleviate homelessness.  Other large American cities — including not just Los Angeles, but also Seattle and Portland …

Lessons in disaster: A top Clinton adviser searches for meaning in a shocking loss  —  NEW HAVEN, Conn. — If all had gone as planned, and as most in Washington had expected, Jake Sullivan would be hard at work just steps from the Oval Office.  —  He was the elite of the Washington elite …

The Wasted Mind of Ben Sasse  —  The Nebraska senator has urgent, persuasive ideas for saving American politics.  Why won't he act on them?  —  Ben Sasse is not OK with Donald Trump's tweets.  On June 29, the president began yet another day by barfing out insults on Twitter, this time regarding MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski's face.

Pope tacks sign on his apartment door: ‘No Whining’  —  2 MIN READ  —  VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - If anyone had any doubts how Pope Francis feels about people who always complain, the answer is now tacked to the door of his frugal suite in a Vatican residence: “No Whining”.