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.

Senate Votes Down Broad Obamacare Repeal  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate voted narrowly on Tuesday to begin debate on a bill to repeal major provisions of the Affordable Care Act, but hours later, Republican leaders suffered a setback when their most comprehensive plan to replace President Barack …

Russia Warns of ‘Painful’ Response If Trump Backs U.S. Sanctions  —  U.S. measures leave no room for better relations, Ryabkov says  —  Russia readying economic, political retaliation, senator says  —  Russia threatened to retaliate against new sanctions passed by the U.S. House of Representatives …

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.

Tillerson takes time off as State Dept. refuses to say he is happy in his role  —  Sources: Tillerson thinking about early exit  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  — Nauert dodged a question about Tillerson's feelings over the White House's involvement in foreign policy decisions

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 …

Trump makes ‘presidential’ pitch at Ohio rally  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump returned to the campaign stage Tuesday, holding a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, where he defended his unconventional approach as necessary to change the country for the better.

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.

Senators on hot mic: Trump is ‘crazy,’ 'I'm worried'  —  At the end of a Senate subcommittee hearing on Tuesday morning, Chairman Susan Collins (R-Maine) didn't switch off her microphone.  Apparently speaking to Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the ranking Democrat of the committee …

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.

Did Ron Johnson Almost Torpedo the Motion to Proceed?  —  Shortly before noon, reporters caught Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson on the Senate subway platform and informed him of “skinny repeal,” the last-ditch option leaders were using to entice Republican senators to support the motion to proceed on health care reform.

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 …

I'd Like to Report a Scam Against the Elderly  —  The foul fog of elder scam has fallen over the White House, looting Donald Trump of what precious little credibility remains in his possession.  No need to panic, though—the perpetrator has been identified.

U.S. Muslims Concerned About Their Place in Society, but Continue to Believe in the American Dream  —  Findings from Pew Research Center's 2017 survey of U.S. Muslims  —  The early days of Donald Trump's presidency have been an anxious time for many Muslim Americans, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.