The standoff between Trump and Sessions escalates … The public standoff between the White House and the nation's senior law enforcement official took another strange turn Tuesday as President Trump escalated his verbal attacks on Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was urged by fellow conservatives to stand his ground.

GOP senators must do whatever it takes to get to 50 votes on Obamacare repeal, says HHS secretary  — Do whatever “gets us to 50 votes so that we can move forward on a health-care reform legislation,” Tom Price says.  — A plan to repeal and replace Obamacare by Senate Republicans failed …

Trump announces ban on transgender people in U.S. military  —  President Trump said he will ban transgender people from serving in the military in any capacity, a reversal of the Obama administration decision that would have allowed transgender recruits to serve, he announced Wednesday on social media.

U.S. energy secretary duped into fake interview with Russian comedians  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry optimistically discussed expanding American coal exports to Ukraine and other energy matters during a lengthy phone call this month with a Russian prankster who Perry thought was Ukraine's prime minister.

Wasserman Schultz aide arrested trying to leave the country  —  Imran Awan, a House staffer at the center of a criminal investigation potentially impacting dozens of Democratic lawmakers, has been arrested on bank fraud and is prevented from leaving the country while the charges are pending.

Many Republicans Doubt Clinton Won Popular Vote  —  A plurality of Republicans say President Donald Trump received more of the popular vote in 2016 than his Democratic rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  —  According to a new Morning Consult/POLITICO poll …

Sec. of State Tillerson ‘taking a little time off’ but not resigning  —  1.6k Shares  —  Rex Tillerson has no plans to resign as Secretary of State and is “just taking a little time off,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday amid reports Tillerson was considering stepping down.

To America, It Looks Like Chaos.  For Trump, It's Just Tuesday.  —  It started Monday morning with Donald Trump calling his own attorney general “beleaguered.”  It continued with an Air Force One flight to West Virginia and a rambling, partisan speech to thousands of hollering Boy Scouts.

Trump Finds Reason for the U.S. to Remain in Afghanistan: Minerals  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump, searching for a reason to keep the United States in Afghanistan after 16 years of war, has latched on to a prospect that tantalized previous administrations: Afghanistan's vast mineral wealth …

Clinton book to double down on Russia, Comey message  —  's upcoming book will double down on Russia's interference and James Comey's involvement in her stunning election defeat, according to sources familiar with the memoir.  —  Privately, Clinton has told friends and longtime associates that she …

Why the Rust Belt just gave Donald Trump a hero's welcome  —  Donald and Melania Trump in Youngstown, Ohio.  —  MORE FROM: … YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO — This town was on fire.  —  By 1 in the afternoon on Tuesday every main thoroughfare in downtown Youngstown was filled with happy people heading towards the Covelli Centre.