Consumer bureau's top lawyer sides with Trump in leadership clash  —  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's top lawyer sided with the Justice Department over President Donald Trump's appointment of Mick Mulvaney to lead the CFPB as a leadership battle over the controversial watchdog agency escalated.

Al Franken on whether he will face more groping allegations: 'I don't know.  I can't say.'  —  Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) spoke to a handful of Minnesota media outlets on Sunday in response to the four allegations of sexual misconduct against him, saying he is “embarrassed and ashamed” …

“She Didn't Want This Come Hell or High Water”: Inside Melania Trump's Secretive East Wing  —  Understanding the most enigmatic First Lady—and unusual marriage—in modern political history.  —  I. “NOT MY THING”  —  Back in 2014, when Donald Trump was considering yet again a run for president …

Bharara compares Trump to Jan Brady after Russia tweet  —  For U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara invoked the classic sitcom “The Brady Bunch” after President Trump lamented coverage of the Russia investigation, comparing Trump's “Russia, Russia, Russia” comment to Jan Brady's famous “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” line.

Senate GOP tax bill hurts the poor more than originally thought, CBO finds  —  The Senate Republican tax plan gives substantial tax cuts and benefits to Americans earning more than $100,000 a year, while the nation's poorest would be worse off, according to a report released Sunday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Tax reform hangs in balance in critical week for GOP  —  It's do-or-die time for Senate Republicans on tax reform.  —  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) doesn't appear to have locked down 50 votes for his party's tax overhaul, with at least half a dozen GOP senators showing varying levels …

THE LAST DETAIL  —  When Donald Trump won the presidency, many Americans hoped John McCain would live up to his maverick image and resist his agenda.  But after the senator was diagnosed with brain cancer in July, his contrarian resolve revealed itself in unexpected ways that may shape his legacy—and our future.

Congress races to fix secret hush money system as “a lot more” revelations expected  —  Capitol Hill veterans expect that “a lot more” sexual-harassment settlements by lawmakers will be uncovered.  So now there's a race to strengthen workplace rules that are scandalously archaic.

More Than 180 Women Have Reported Sexual Assaults at Massage Envy  —  Across the US, people go to Massage Envy spas in search of a soothing, affordable escape.  More than 180 people say what they got instead was sexual assault.  But the billion-dollar company says that's not its problem to solve.

Trump's Russian Schizophrenia  —  The United States should send arms to Ukraine to help in its “self-defense” against Russian aggression.  It should hold Russia accountable for its illegal “occupation” of territory there, and push for international peacekeepers.

The case for Roy Moore  —  ANALYSIS/OPINION:  —  Whence goeth that Yellow Dog?  —  Once upon a time, even a Yellow Dog could get elected in places like Alabama — so long as he was a Democrat.  —  That dog done run off and nowadays a Democrat can't hardly win, even when running against an accused pedophile.

Meredith Corporation To Acquire Time Inc. To Create Premier Media And Marketing Company Serving Nearly 200 Million American Consumers  —  Meredith Adds Leading Media Brands to Already Strong Portfolio of National and Local Media Properties, Creating Media Powerhouse With $4.8 Billion in Revenues …

Readers Accuse Us of Normalizing a Nazi Sympathizer; We Respond  —  The Reader Center is a newsroom initiative that is helping The Times build deeper ties with our audience.  —  We have asked our national editor, Marc Lacey, to respond to feedback on our recent profile of a white nationalist.

FBI gave heads-up to fraction of Russian hackers' US targets  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI failed to notify scores of U.S. officials that Russian hackers were trying to break into their personal Gmail accounts despite having evidence for at least a year that the targets were in the Kremlin's crosshairs, The Associated Press has found.

Tufts postpones Scaramucci event after he threatens to sue student, paper  —  Tufts University postponed a Monday event featuring Anthony Scaramucci, a former Trump White House spokesman, after he threatened to sue a student and the school newspaper for defamation following the publication of an op-ed column criticizing him.