Inside Hillary Clinton's Secret Takeover of the DNC  —  Before I called Bernie Sanders, I lit a candle in my living room and put on some gospel music.  I wanted to center myself for what I knew would be an emotional phone call.  —  I had promised Bernie when I took the helm …

Republicans Stick With Big Corporate Tax Cuts in House Bill  —  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act seeks the biggest transformation of tax code in more than 30 years; leaves top individual tax rate at 39.6%  —  WASHINGTON—House Republicans, seeking the biggest transformation of the U.S. tax code …

Sam Clovis, Trump's nominee for USDA's top scientist, confirms he has no hard science credentials  —  The U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientist nominee, Sam Clovis, who now serves as the agency's senior White House adviser, confirmed in an Oct. 17 letter obtained by The Washington Post …

Prosecutors Consider Bringing Charges in DNC Hacking Case  —  At least six Russian government officials are identified as part of ongoing investigation  —  The Justice Department has identified more than six members of the Russian government involved in hacking the Democratic National Committee's computers …

Robert Mercer to Step Down as Head of Renaissance Technologies  —  Robert Mercer, a billionaire investor who is a big backer of many conservative causes and a patron of former White House adviser Steve Bannon, is stepping down as co-chief executive of Renaissance Technologies, the giant hedge fund.

The Trumpification of Ed Gillespie  —  It would be hard to find a better example of the “corrupt Washington establishment” that President Trump calls “the swamp” than Ed Gillespie.  —  The Republican nominee in Virginia's gubernatorial election, Gillespie is an insider's insider …

Russia hackers had targets worldwide, beyond US election  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The hackers who upended the U.S. presidential election had ambitions well beyond Hillary Clinton's campaign, targeting the emails of Ukrainian officers, Russian opposition figures, U.S. defense contractors …

Rick Perry suggests fossil fuels help prevent sexual assault  —  suggested Thursday that expanding the use of fossil fuels could help prevent sexual assault.  —  Speaking during an energy policy discussion about energy policy with “Meet the Press'” Chuck Todd and Axios CEO and founder Jim VandeHei …

Michael Flynn Followed Russian Troll Accounts, Pushed Their Messages in Days Before Election … Former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn followed five Twitter accounts based out of the Russian-backed “troll factory” in St. Petersburg—and pushed their messages at least three times …

Mueller Reveals New Manafort Link to Organized Crime … Buried deep in Robert Mueller's indictment of Paul Manafort is a new link between Donald Trump's former campaign and Russian organized crime.  —  The indictment (PDF), unsealed on Monday, includes an extensive look into Paul Manafort's byzantine financial dealings.

Awaiting Trump's coal comeback, miners reject retraining  —  WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Reuters) - When Mike Sylvester entered a career training center earlier this year in southwestern Pennsylvania, he found more than one hundred federally funded courses covering everything from computer programming to nursing.

Hours after Trump calls US justice system ‘a laughingstock,’ White House denies he ever did  — The White House on Wednesday flatly denied that President Donald Trump had ever called the American criminal justice system “a joke and a laughingstock.”  — Reporters were stunned …

Nancy Pelosi Has Trump Right Where She Wants Him  —  Nancy Pelosi was upset, but holding it in.  Donald Trump was in a good mood, and letting it out.  —  “I think we'll get things done,” Trump told her.  —  It was November 9, the afternoon after the election.

James Comey book title: “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership”  —  Remember the time that fired FBI Director James Comey testified that during a private White House dinner, President Trump had told him: “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty”?  —  Well, Axios can reveal …

Condé Nast to Cease Teen Vogue in Print, Cut 80 Jobs and Lower Mag Frequencies  —  The publisher continues to slash costs as it builds up its digital business.  —  Condé Nast is expected to complete its final round of cuts by next Thursday, WWD has learned.

Jake Tapper, of CNN, Defends ‘Allahu Akbar’ as ‘Beautiful’ After New York City Terror Attack  —  CNN anchor Jake Tapper said the Islamic phrase “Allahu akbar” can be said “under the most beautiful of circumstances” just minutes after a terrorist attack in New York City.

House Democrats file lawsuit over access to Trump hotel documents  —  Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the General Services Administration over access to documents related to President Donald Trump's Washington, D.C., hotel.

Democrats: Stop rehabilitating George W. Bush  —  Democrats have had a problem during the Trump administration: How to properly bash the president?  With a party leadership unfortunately composed largely of humorless squares, even Trump's playground taunts give him a certain advantage in the zinger department.