Top Russian Official Tried to Broker ‘Backdoor’ Meeting Between Trump and Putin  —  WASHINGTON — A senior Russian official who claimed to be acting at the behest of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia tried in May 2016 to arrange a meeting between Mr. Putin and Donald J. Trump, according to several people familiar with the matter.

Sitting Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill, responding to Franken allegations, claims bedding 50 women  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill, a Democratic candidate for governor, apparently trying to head off any criticisms from his opponents, revealed his sexual escapades over the years on a Facebook post.

Conservatives Reap the Whirlwind of Their War on the Media  —  All news is “fake news”—at least if you're a diehard Roy Moore supporter.  —  With sexual misconduct allegations continuing to mount against the Republican Senate candidate in Alabama, Moore has defied calls to drop out of the race …

Greg Gianforte misled police after assault of Guardian journalist, report reveals … US congressman Greg Gianforte misled police after his assault of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs in May, falsely stating that Jacobs had initiated physical contact and that the “liberal media …

How a conservative group dealt with a fondling charge against a rising GOP star  —  On a fall evening two years ago, donors gathered during a conference at a Ritz-Carlton hotel near Washington to raise funds for a 31-year-old candidate for the Ohio legislature who was a rising star in evangelical politics.

Graphic: Navy admits to being involved in obscene skydrawings spotted in Okanogan Co. … WARNING: Some viewers may find the photos in this story offensive  —  OKANOGAN COUNTY, Wash. - Officials with the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island said one of their aircraft was involved in the obscene skywritings spotted in Okanogan County.

Aides give up on trying to control Trump's tweets  —  When candidate Donald Trump waged a Twitter war against Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who rebuked him from the stage of the Democratic National Convention, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were sent in for a …

‘A lot of boob stuff:’ Fla. Democratic Party chair apologizes after six women complain of ‘demeaning’ behavior  —  TALLAHASSEE — Six former Florida Democratic Party staffers and consultants say that current party chairman Stephen Bittel has created an unprofessional workplace environment …

Trump to Pay His Own Legal Bills, Set Up Fund to Cover Staff  —  Plan raises questions on whether paying staff bills is ethical  —  President's legal bills had previously been covered by RNC  —  President Donald Trump has started paying his own legal bills related to the Russia probe …

Vanity Fair Fashion Staff Nonplussed by New Editor's Personal Style  —  Radhika Jones joins the magazine next month with extensive literary and editorial experience.  —  WELCOME TO CONDÉ NAST: Radhika Jones is learning the ways of One World Trade.  Having been named the new editor …

The NFL Is Investigating Jameis Winston For Allegedly Groping An Uber Driver In 2016  —  “The League has been informed that you may have been the victim of such a violation perpetrated by Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Jameis Winston.  The League takes allegations of this nature very seriously …

Subway rider: I asked manspreader to stop, so he punched me in the face  —  A woman says she was slugged in the face by a racist lunatic on the subway — all because she asked him to stop “manspreading.”  —  The aftermath of Thursday's violent exchange was caught on video as a good Samaritan tries …

There's a Digital Media Crash.  But No One Will Say It  —  Yesterday I appeared on a panel about digital publishers who are ‘pivoting to video’.  I've written about this before.  But in case you're new to it, there have been numerous cases over the last six months to a year in which digital publishers …

I'm a feminist.  I study rape culture.  And I don't want Al Franken to resign.  —  As a feminist and the author of a book on rape culture, I could reasonably be expected to lead the calls for Al Franken to step down, following allegations that he forced his tongue down a woman's throat …

Trump administration has plans to wipe out work permits for H-1B spouses  —  The Trump administration has plans to stop granting work permits to spouses of H-1B holders, a move that would overturn a 2015 rule and affect thousands of foreigners currently in the United States …

Women On Clinton And Sanders Campaigns Allege Sexual Harassment  —  Lilian Adams and Zoey Jordan Salsbury worked on opposite sides of the Democratic presidential primary.  But they had similar problems.  —  Lilian Adams and Zoey Jordan Salsbury were teenagers when they started working …

Rev. Jesse Jackson Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis  —  The founder of Chicago's Rainbow PUSH coalition has remained a prominent religious and political figure  —  NOTE: Read Jackson's full letter to supporters here.  —  Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he announced Friday.

A Texas Sheriff Went After This Driver On Facebook For Her “F**k Trump” Sticker And Now She's In Jail  —  A Texas sheriff said in a now-deleted Facebook post that he could bring disorderly conduct charges against a truck driver for her massive “F**k Trump” sticker.

US puts Palestinians on notice: DC office may be shuttered  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration put the Palestinians on notice Friday that it will shutter their office in Washington unless they've entered serious peace talks with Israel, U.S. officials said, potentially giving President Donald Trump …

Two hurt in accidental shooting at East Tenn. church during discussion on church shootings  —  A man accidentally shot himself and his wife at an East Tennessee church on Thursday while he was showing off his gun during a discussion on recent church shootings, police said.

No, Bowe Bergdahl didn't wander off during court  —  Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, held for about five years by the Taliban after disappearing in Afghanistan, has taken off again — this time during his own court proceeding, says Duffel Blog.  —  “Bowe Bergdahl wanders off during court-martial,” said the October headline in Duffel Blog.