Donald Trump Jr. asked Russian lawyer for info on Clinton Foundation  —  Donald Trump Jr. asked a Russian lawyer at the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting whether she had evidence of illegal donations to the Clinton Foundation, the lawyer told the Senate Judiciary Committee in answers to written questions obtained exclusively by NBC News.

More charges could be coming against former Trump aide in Russia probe  —  Manafort, Gates remain under house arrest  —  (CNN)Robert Mueller may not be through with Rick Gates, a deputy Trump campaign aide and one of the four people who have been charged as part of the special counsel probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Weinstein's Complicity Machine  —  HARVEY WEINSTEIN BUILT his complicity machine out of the witting, the unwitting and those in between.  He commanded enablers, silencers and spies, warning others who discovered his secrets to say nothing.  He courted those who could provide the money …

U.S. to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel's Capital, Trump Says, Alarming Middle East Leaders  —  President Trump told Israeli and Arab leaders on Tuesday that he plans to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a symbolically fraught move that would upend decades of American policy …

Trump's Endorsement of Roy Moore Points Up a G.O.P. Problem: Chaos  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump's sudden decision on Monday to endorse Roy S. Moore and direct the Republican National Committee to restore funding for the embattled Senate candidate in Alabama undercut party officials who have disavowed him.

Oral Argument Ends With Sparring Between Sotomayor and Baker's Lawyer  —  Ms. Waggoner returns for her rebuttal.  It quickly turns into a wrestling match between the baker's attorney and Justice Sotomayor.  —  Justice Sotomayor notes that Masterpiece Cakeshop is a corporation — does that affect the constitutional claims, she asks.

AP Exclusive: Top gossip editor accused of sexual misconduct  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The top editor for the National Enquirer, Us Weekly and other major gossip publications openly described his sexual partners in the newsroom, discussed female employees' sex lives and forced women to watch …

The White House press briefing, always a spin zone, is now approaching uselessness  —  Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders rejected the notion that the White House frequently is untruthful.  “We believe the truth is fundamental and to suggest otherwise is outrageously insulting,” she said by email.

I.O.C. Gives Russia Major Punishment for Winter Olympics  —  LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Russia's Olympic team has been barred from the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.  The country's government officials are forbidden to attend, its flag will not be displayed at the opening ceremony and its anthem will not sound.

‘They all knew’: Media elites roared in laughter at obscene 2008 ‘roast’ sending up Matt Lauer's office sexcapades  —  UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 24: Ann Curry ,Matt Lauer and Meredith Rivera at the NY Friars Club “Roast” of Matt Lauer held in the Hilton Hotel (Photo by Richard Corkery/NY Daily …

Nevada Democrat accused of sexual misconduct says he won't resign  —  Amid allegations of sexual harassment, embattled freshman Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen vowed he will not resign from his post, despite calls from Democratic leaders that he step aside.  —  Instead, Kihuen is digging …

Kirstjen Nielsen Confirmed As New DHS Secretary  —  Well, the Department of Homeland Security has a new secretary.  Kirstjen Nielsen was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to helm the department.  Nielsen will be taking over for her former boss, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who previously held that position (via NYT):

‘Death to Democrats’: How the GOP Tax Bill Whacks Liberal Tenets  —  SALT deductions, education benefits among those under attack  —  Conservatives bolstered by other provisions in GOP tax plans  —  Some of the biggest losers under the Republican tax overhaul include upper-middle class families …

If Sen. Orrin Hatch won't retire, Mitt Romney should shove him aside  —  Republicans who've repudiated President Trump need to start taking their party back.  —  Love him or hate him (I'm admittedly in the first camp), Mitt Romney is a gentleman.  That's why he's waiting patiently …

Sam Seder's Firing Proves, Once Again, That Corporations Like MSNBC Can't Stop Getting Rolled by the Far Right  —  Yesterday, the Wrap reported that MSNBC was cutting ties with its contributor Sam Seder, host of the progressive podcast Majority Report, after the following old tweet of his, archived here, was unearthed:

Don't call us snowflakes - it damages our mental health, say young people  —  Being called a “snowflake” is damaging to mental health, young people say.  Figures show that the majority of young people think the term is unfair - and even more think it could have a negative effect of its own.

God's Plan for Mike Pence  —  No man can serve two masters, the Bible teaches, but Mike Pence is giving it his all.  It's a sweltering September afternoon in Anderson, Indiana, and the vice president has returned to his home state to deliver the Good News of the Republicans' recently unveiled tax plan.

Islamist suicide plot to assassinate Prime Minister Theresa May foiled  —  A terror plot to assassinate Prime Minister Theresa May has been foiled, Sky sources have confirmed.  —  Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: “It's the latest in a number of terror plots that police and MI5 believe they've foiled this year.

Trump science job nominees missing advanced science degrees  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — When it comes to filling jobs dealing with complex science, environment and health issues, the Trump administration is nominating people with fewer science academic credentials than their Obama predecessors.

Democrats place hold on McFarland nomination  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  (CNN)Democrats have placed a hold on the nomination of KT McFarland to be ambassador to Singapore until she answers their questions about her knowledge of communications between former national security adviser Michael Flynn …