Exclusive: Mueller Enlists the IRS for His Trump-Russia Investigation … Special counsel Bob Mueller has teamed up with the IRS.  According to sources familiar with his investigation into alleged Russian election interference, his probe has enlisted the help of agents from the IRS' Criminal Investigations unit.

Yes, Google Uses Its Power to Quash Ideas It Doesn't Like—I Know Because It Happened to Me  —  The story in the New York Times this week was unsettling: The New America Foundation, a major think tank, was getting rid of one of its teams of scholars, the Open Markets group.

Leaders of American Industry on DACA  —  Entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the country are releasing an open letter encouraging President Trump to preserve the DACA program and calling on Congress to pass the bipartisan DREAM Act or similar legislation that provides …

Trump Attorneys Lay Out Arguments Against Obstruction-of-Justice Probe to Mueller  —  In meetings and memos, lawyers argue president didn't obstruct justice by firing former FBI Chief Comey  —  WASHINGTON—Lawyers for Donald Trump have met several times with Special Counsel Robert Mueller …

Outgoing sheriff Clarke expected to take job in Trump administration  —  David Clarke, the controversial outgoing sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wis., is expected to take a job in the Trump administration, according to two sources familiar with the matter.  —  Clarke resigned as sheriff on Thursday.

During a summer of crisis, Trump chafes against criticism and new controls … President Trump spent the final days of August dutifully performing his job.  He tended to the massive recovery from Hurricane Harvey.  He hit the road to sell his tax cut plan.

Manafort Notes From Russian Meet Contain Cryptic Reference to ‘Donations’  —  WASHINGTON — Paul Manafort's notes from a controversial Trump Tower meeting with Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign included the word “donations,” near a reference to the Republican National Committee …

Hillary Clinton charging top dollar for VIP treatment during book tour events  —  Those seeking access to Hillary Clinton during her fall book tour should be prepared to fork over some serious cash because VIP tickets for the events come with a steep asking price.

Pence shows Trump how to sweat it out with Texas victims  —  Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday offered up a playbook for President Donald Trump's follow-up visit to hurricane-ravaged Texas this weekend, hugging storm victims, directly offering words of encouragement, and dripping sweat as he helped clear debris.

Kris Kobach's new job: Columnist for Breitbart  —  Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is now a regular columnist on the far-right news site run by President Donald Trump's former chief strategist.  —  Kobach, a candidate for Kansas governor who is running on a platform of combating illegal immigration …

Donald Trump Jr. to be paid $100,000 for UNT Kuehne Series speech  —  Donald Trump Jr. will be paid $100,000 to speak at the University of North Texas' Kuehne Speaker Series on Oct. 24, according to executed contracts between UNT and Trump Jr. obtained by the North Texas Daily.

Treasury inspector general to review Mnuchin's flight to Fort Knox  —  The U.S. Treasury's Office of Inspector General is reviewing the flight taken by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his wife, Louise Linton, last week to Louisville and Fort Knox, Ky., following criticism of their use …

Trump Weighs Tying Debt Limit Increase to Harvey Aid  —  Approach intended to spur quick action to avoid U.S. default  —  Request for $5.95 billion aid package may come Friday  —  President Donald Trump is considering attaching an increase in the U.S. debt limit to an initial $5.95 billion …

It's time Congress returns to regular order  —  (FILES) This file photo taken on March 23, 2017 shows a view of the US Capitol dome on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC.  The top ‘AAA’ long-term debt rating of the United States will be in danger if lawmakers do not raise borrowing limits in a timely fashion …

A Beating in Berkeley  —  Antifa mayhem and malice in Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park  —  As white supremacists go, Joey Gibson makes for a lousy one.  For starters, he's half Japanese.  “I don't feel like I'm Caucasian at all,” he says.  Not to be a stickler for the rules …

Garcetti isn't ruling out a 2018 run for governor or senator in California  —  Eric Garcetti started the week toying with a 2020 presidential run on a trip to New Hampshire, but the Los Angeles mayor is still keeping his options open for a 2018 run closer to home.

Kenya Supreme Court Nullifies Presidential Election  —  NAIROBI, Kenya — In a historic ruling and a first in Africa, the Kenyan Supreme Court nullified on Friday the re-election of a sitting president, ordering a new vote to be held within 60 days after its stunning decision that balloting last month had been tainted by irregularities.

Republicans Want to Sideline This Regulator.  But It May Be Too Popular.  —  WASHINGTON — With the election of President Trump, the nation's consumer watchdog agency faced a quandary: how to shield the Obama-era institution from a Republican administration determined to loosen the federal government's grip on business.

Trump is slashing Obamacare's advertising budget by 90%  —  The White House will also cut the in-person outreach program by $23 million.  —  The Trump administration plans to deeply cut Obamacare outreach and advertising, officials announced Thursday.  They will reduce Obamacare advertising …

The Latest: Russia considering next move in spat with US  —  The Latest on a diplomatic spat between the United States and Russia (all times local):  —  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow still has to study the United States' decision to shut its consulate in San Francisco before considering any possible retaliation.

SoOperPodcast #260!  Pink Drink-Swilling Trotskyite Neo-Con Platonist MeowCast!!  —  THIS WEEK!!  We talk about all sorts of stuff including the Hurricane Harvey and Howie Kurtz making jokes about football brain damage, and conspiracy theories and trotskyite traitors, and David Clarke resigning …

Trump Energy official who said controversial comments were result of hacking resigns  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  (CNN)William C. Bradford, a Trump administration appointee who heads the Energy Department's Office of Indian Energy, resigned Thursday after claiming this week inflammatory comments …

RNC chief of staff resigns amid rash of departures  —  Sara Armstrong, the top staffer at the Republican National Committee, is departing, according to three people familiar with the move — the latest in a string of exits from the committee.  —  Armstrong, the RNC's chief of staff …