Trump, Schumer agree to pursue plan to repeal the debt ceiling  —  President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have agreed to pursue a deal that would permanently remove the requirement that Congress repeatedly raise the debt ceiling, three people familiar with the decision said.

Trump Jr. Says He Wanted Russian Dirt to Determine Clinton's ‘Fitness’ for Office  —  WASHINGTON — Donald Trump Jr. told Senate investigators on Thursday that he set up a June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer because he was intrigued that she might have damaging information about Hillary Clinton …

Betsy DeVos: The Era of Weaponized Title IX in Campus Rape Cases Is Over  —  In a major speech assailing the deprivation of due process protections under the Obama administration, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will vow to rein in the federal guidance compelling colleges to adjudicate sexual assault disputes between students.

Democrats dread Hillary's book tour  —  President Donald Trump may be the only person in politics truly excited about Hillary Clinton's book tour.  —  Democratic operatives can't stand the thought of her picking the scabs of 2016, again — the Bernie Sanders divide, the Jim Comey complaints …

The First White President  —  It is insufficient to state the obvious of Donald Trump: that he is a white man who would not be president were it not for this fact.  With one immediate exception, Trump's predecessors made their way to high office through the passive power of whiteness …

Steve Bannon says Catholic Church has “economic interest” in “unlimited illegal immigration”  —  In his first extensive interview since leaving the Trump administration, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is speaking out about President Trump's decision to end the DACA program.

The Fake Americans Russia Created to Influence the Election  —  Sometimes an international offensive begins with a few shots that draw little notice.  So it was last year when Melvin Redick of Harrisburg, Pa., a friendly-looking American with a backward baseball cap and a young daughter …

Amazon Announces Plans for Huge New North America Offices  —  Amazon said on Thursday that it was searching for a second headquarters in North America, a huge new development that would cost as much as $5 billion to build and run, and would house as many as 50,000 employees.

Hurricane Irma Skirts Puerto Rico, Leaves 1 Million Without Power  —  Hurricane Irma carved a merciless path of destruction through the Caribbean, killing at least nine and leaving thousands homeless before plunging more than 1 million residents of Puerto Rico into darkness.

Poll Highlights Lingering Divisions in the GOP  —  More than 60% of President Trump's primary voters said they were uneasy with social changes that have made the U.S. more diverse and tolerant, versus 35% of Republicans who supported other primary candidates

Graydon Carter to End 25-Year Run as Vanity Fair's Editor  —  Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair, plans to step down from the magazine in December after a 25-year tenure, leaving the role that established him as a ringmaster of the glittery spheres of Hollywood, Washington and Manhattan media.

The UN ambassador is the breakout star of Trump's Cabinet.  But will she succeed?  —  Nikki Haley was under consideration to become Donald Trump's secretary of state when she flew to New York to meet the President-elect for the first time since his election victory.  —  The South Carolina governor was torn.

Kid Rock gets political during electric show at Van Andel Arena  —  Gallery: Kid Rock talks politics from the stage at Van Andel  —  GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Amid accusations of campaign finance violations and protests calling for his Michigan concerts to be cancelled, Kid Rock didn't shy away …

Court records: Wife of Trump Org ethics attorney arrested after tryst with Fauquier inmate  —  An ongoing investigation into “suspicious” activity in the back seat of a car involving an inmate trustee at the Fauquier County jail led to the Tuesday arrest of Teresa Jo Burchfield …

Harvard Shows How It Should Be Done  —  Giving a speech on a college campus is easy, if the adults are in charge.  —  I was apprehensive as I flew to Boston on Wednesday.  Protests were being organized for the lecture I was to give at Harvard that evening, and the intel made me think that another Middlebury might be in the works.

Hulk Hogan's lawyer sets sights on new target: Jezebel  —  Charles Harder (center) with Hulk Hogan (right) and David Houston AP  —  The lawyer who brought down Gawker with Hulk Hogan is now taking aim at its sister blog, Jezebel.  —  Hogan's attorney Charles J. Harder filed …

Senate passes hurricane aid, government funding package  —  The Senate on Thursday passed legislation that would temporarily lift the nation's debt ceiling and fund the government, while delivering the first installment of emergency aid for victims of Hurricane Harvey.