The strange story of that ‘Blacks for Trump’ guy standing behind POTUS at his Phoenix rally  —  At a number of political rallies over the year, a character calling himself “Michael the Black Man” has appeared in the crowd directly behind Donald Trump, impossible to miss and possibly planted.

As Trump ranted and rambled in Phoenix, his crowd slowly thinned  —  PHOENIX — Just before President Trump strolled onto the rally stage on Tuesday evening, four speakers took turns carefully denouncing hate, calling for unity and ever so subtly assuring the audience that the president is not racist.

Trump Holds Steady After Charlottesville; Supporters Think Whites, Christians Face Discrimination  —  PPP's newest national poll finds that Donald Trump's approval rating is pretty steady in the wake of the Charlottesville attack, probably because his supporters think that whites and Christians …

MSESPN Pulls Asian Announcer Named Robert Lee Off UVa Game To Avoid Offending Idiots  —  UPDATE: ESPN ISSUES OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON MOVING ROBERT LEE FROM VIRGINIA GAME:  —  “We collectively made the decision with Robert to switch games as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding …

James Clapper calls Trump speech ‘downright scary and disturbing’  —  (CNN)James Clapper, former director of National Intelligence, said Wednesday morning he questioned President Donald Trump's fitness for office.  —  “I really question his ability to be — his fitness to be — in this office …

Exclusive: Hillary Clinton in her own words  —  Hillary Clinton reflects on the 2016 campaign in her new book ‘What Happened.’ Morning Joe has an exclusive first look. ...  more Duration: {{video.duration.momentjs}}

Bundy Ranch standoff trials … A federal jury in Las Vegas did not return any guilty verdicts Tuesday against four men accused of taking up arms against federal agents during the Bundy Ranch standoff in 2014.  —  Jurors dealt government prosecutors a stinging defeat in the case when …

Trump and McConnell Locked in a Cold War, Threatening the G.O.P. Agenda  —  The relationship between President Trump and Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, has disintegrated to the point that they have not spoken to each other in weeks, and Mr. McConnell has privately expressed uncertainty …

Charlottesville: United Nations warns US over ‘alarming’ racism  —  UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination expresses alarm at growth of far-right groups and hate crimes  —  A UN committee charged with tackling racism has issued an “early warning” over conditions in the US …

U.S. Has More Troops in Afghanistan Than Publicly Disclosed  —  Pentagon hasn't included 3,500 who slip in and out of theater in force tally  —  WASHINGTON—The Pentagon maintains more than 12,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, defense officials said, currently about 3,500 more than it publicly acknowledges …

‘This Is Not Hazing.  This Is Rape’: Inside a Texas Town's Football Nightmare … LA VERNIA, Texas—When Jennifer's* son made varsity—as a freshman, no less—it should have been cause for celebration.  —  Here, football is king.  The town is one of the oldest communities in the Lone Star State …

Trump prepared to go to mat for wall funding  —  President Donald Trump's vow Tuesday to close down the government if he doesn't get money for the border wall mirrors private comments he has made to advisers in recent days - and could cause significant rifts within his own party if he follows through.

I'm a founder of the Satanic Temple.  Don't blame Satan for white supremacy.  —  Calling hatred Satanic just lets people off the hook.  —  Soon after the violent white supremacist protests in Charlottesville this month, religious leaders and pious politicians began the usual drudgery …

Sunnyside building decorated with Nazi propaganda, Jim Crow images terrifies neighbors  —  SUNNYSIDE, Queens — Residents say they will rally Wednesday because they are fearful and intimidated by Nazi propaganda, Jim Crow-era images and a condo board president allegedly donning a President Donald Trump mask.

Iowa Seeks Ambitious Waiver to Reshape Health Law Within Its Borders  —  State looking to shore up individual insurance market  —  Iowa officials filed a federal application to alter major aspects of the Affordable Care Act next year, the most ambitious so far of a growing crop of state efforts …

'He's anti-left, anti-PC, anti-stupid': Trump supporters in their own words  —  Trump is breath of fresh air.  He's totally not a political person.  He's a businessman: he's anti-left, he's anti-PC, he's anti-stupid.  He just wants to go in and make the best deal for Americans that he can.

Kim Wall Is Confirmed Dead as Danish Inventor Is Investigated  —  COPENHAGEN — The Copenhagen police announced on Wednesday that a torso found this week in local waters was that of Kim Wall, a Swedish freelance journalist whose disappearance after boarding a Danish inventor's submarine has stunned many Scandinavians.