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.

In Mocking Franken Over Claims of Sexual Misconduct, Trump Joins a Debate He Started  —  WASHINGTON — Last fall, Donald J. Trump inadvertently touched off a national conversation about sexual harassment when a recording of him boasting about groping women was made public at the same …

GOP chairman breaks with Trump on elephant trophy imports  —  The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee slammed President Trump Friday for allowing imports of hunted elephant trophies from Zimbabwe.  —  Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), who has prioritized fighting wildlife crime …

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.

‘Girls’ Writer Murray Miller Accused of Raping Underage Actress Aurora Perrineau (Exclusive)  —  “Passengers” star says she woke up in 2012 with Murray “on top of me having sexual intercourse with me”  —  Actress Aurora Perrineau has gone to police to accuse “Girls” writer …

Republican Governors' 2018 Dilemma: What to Do About Trump?  —  AUSTIN, Tex. — For nearly a decade, meetings of the Republican Governors Association were buoyant, even giddy, affairs, as the party — lifted by enormous political donations and a backlash against the Obama administration …

Al Franken Doesn't Get the Joke  —  The Senate grills a judicial nominee, Don Willett, about his corny tweets.  —  Washington  —  Democratic senators didn't have many questions for Justice Don Willett about his decisions and dissents as a member of the Texas Supreme Court.

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

LIFE UNDER KIM JONG UN  —  Recent North Korean escapees relate how the secretive country has changed under the “Great Successor.” … When Kim Jong Un became the leader of North Korea almost six years ago, many North Koreans thought that their lives were going to improve.

Kushner received emails from Sergei Millian — an alleged dossier source who was in touch with George Papadopoulos  — Jared Kushner was copied on emails sent to the Trump campaign last year from Sergei Millian, a Belarus-born businessman who was reportedly a key source in the explosive dossier alleging ties between Trump and Russia.

Navy says it will hold Whidbey Island aircrew accountable for tracing giant phallus over Okanogan County  —  ryanc@spokesman.com  —  (509) 598-0014  —  Look!  Up in the sky!  —  It's a bird.  —  It's a plane.  —  No, it's a phallic skydrawing, and a military aircraft is the culprit.

Rep. Wilson's former intern caught on Grindr using racist epithets  —  At a time of growing concern about racism in gay social media apps, a former campaign intern for Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) was recently caught using racist epithets on Grindr while on Capitol Hill.

Ryan Seacrest Denies Behaving “Inappropriately” To E! Stylist, Channel Investigating  —  As more and more allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct emerge in Hollywood, Ryan Seacrest today took the preemptive move of denying acting badly before any accusation went public.

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.

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.

The Uber Tipping Equilibrium  —  What is the effect of tipping on the take-home pay of Uber drivers?  Economic theory offers a clear answer.  Tipping has no effect on take home pay.  The supply of Uber driver-hours is very elastic.  Drivers can easily work more hours when the payment per ride increases …