Trump's Threat to North Korea Was Improvised  —  BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — President Trump delivered his “fire and fury” threat to North Korea on Tuesday with arms folded, jaw set and eyes flitting on what appeared to be a single page of talking points set before him on the conference table at his New Jersey golf resort.

FBI conducted predawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort's home … FBI agents raided the Alexandria home of President Trump's former campaign chairman late last month, using a search warrant to seize documents and other materials, according to people familiar …

GOP Sen. Ron Johnson: McCain's brain tumor might have been factor in no vote on health care  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  (CNN)Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said Tuesday that he thinks that Sen. John McCain's brain tumor and the early morning hours may have affected the Arizona Republican's …

McMaster and the Commander  —  The NSC adviser is the latest target of Steve Bannon's media friends.  —  National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster listens during the daily press briefing at the White House, July 31.  —  Chief of Staff John Kelly is by all accounts imposing more discipline …

Atlanta gym owner makes no apologies for ‘No Cops’ sign … A shocking and vulgar sign about police officers has been posted in front of a local business in Atlanta.  The sign could be seen from the street with the curse word blurred out, but the message is clear: It says no cops allowed.

Trump Advisor Sex Scandal — Paul Manafort's Sick Affair  —  Target in FBI-Russia probe also cheated with woman half his age!

Has James O'Keefe Accidentally Stung Himself Again?  —  James O'Keefe III, the conservative activist famous for undercover stings, has dedicated his life to exposing the “misconduct” of others.  But he's developed a side business in accidentally exposing his own.

White House official goes after McConnell over ‘excessive expectations’ comment  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  (CNN)A close aide to President Donald Trump hit back Wednesday against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, exhibiting further tension between the White House and Congress …

Are Mercenaries Really a Cheaper Way of War?  —  The world is sliding in a strange direction when a Prince wishes to become a viceroy.  —  That's Erik Prince, the founder of the mercenary Academi, previously Xe, né Blackwater, who has been pushing a plan to privatize the war in Afghanistan.

Conservative Koch Brothers Are Secret Investors in ‘Wonder Woman’ (Exclusive)  —  Steven Mnuchin brought in the right-wing power brokers, as well as Bill Gates, to help fund such Hollywood projects as ‘Dunkirk’ and Steven Spielberg's upcoming ‘Ready Player One.’

Top Trump donor ponies up to take out Flake  —  One of Donald Trump's most generous political benefactors is providing a six-figure donation to a super PAC devoted to unseating Sen. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican who has been fiercely critical of the president.

There's something unusual about the job growth numbers  —  MORE FROM: … Job growth was decent in July — the fourth straight month of just-OK results on that front, which probably led to high fives at the White House.  —  But there's something unusual in the numbers.

Why I'm leaving the N.Y. Senate  —  On election night 2008, as our taxi crept through Times Square's spontaneous celebration, my fiance and I whooped out the window.  We were inspired by Barack Obama's election and excited about my own.  I had defeated a 30-year incumbent to become …

Anti-Trumpers Need To Fire On The Real Enemy Instead Of On Conservatives  —  We hoped they would go away after the election.  We hoped they would stop their whining and grandstanding once Donald Trump took office.  We hoped they would accept defeat and embrace our Republican president …

Upset by override on tobacco, LePage again proposes raising age to 21 to vote, join military  —  The Maine governor vents in a letter to lawmakers and in a radio interview, but the U.S. Constitution and military would stand in his way.  —  AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage said again Tuesday …

Trump to stay at Trump Tower for three nights  —  President Donald Trump on Sunday is scheduled to make his first visit to Trump Tower since his inauguration, according to a draft schedule shared with New York City law enforcement and reviewed by POLITICO.  —  The president is scheduled …