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 …

White House pitches deal for wall money — and no shutdown  —  The White House is pushing a deal on Capitol Hill to head off a government shutdown that would lift strict spending caps long opposed by Democrats in exchange for money for President Donald Trump's border wall with Mexico, multiple sources said.

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.

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!

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 …

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.

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.

Senate Republican leader raises questions on Foxconn deal, says he doesn't have votes yet … CONNECT  —  MADISON — The leader of the state Senate said Wednesday that he does not yet have the votes to approve a $3 billion incentive package to lure Foxconn Technology Group of Taiwan …

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.’

Unarmed Russian Air Force jet overflies the Pentagon, Capitol, CIA  —  (CNN)An unarmed Russian Air Force aircraft overflew the US Capitol, the Pentagon, Central Intelligence Agency and Joint Base Andrews at low altitude on Wednesday as part of a longstanding treaty that allows the militaries …

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 …

More than 60 women consider suing Google, claiming sexism and a pay gap  —  Scandal over discrimination at the company deepens as dozens of current and former staff say they earned less than men despite equal qualifications … More than 60 current and former Google employees are considering bringing …

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 …

EXCLUSIVE: Freedom Foundation sues Seattle over controversial new income tax  —  The Freedom Foundation sued Seattle Wednesday over its controversial new income tax on the rich, which critics call “an assault” on the law that sets a dangerous precedent.  —  The tax, passed by the Seattle City Council …

Google's diversity efforts fall flat  —  In 2014, Google started publishing employee demographic data and pledging to invest in major initiatives to recruit a more diverse workforce, spending at least $265 million on the efforts.  —  Why it matters: Google has been thrown into the controversy …

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.