Trump Ordered Mueller Fired, but Backed Off When White House Counsel Threatened to Quit  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump ordered the firing last June of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation, according to four people told of the matter …

An affair with Trump?  Nikki Haley on ‘disgusting’ rumors and her rise to a top foreign policy role  —  NEW YORK — Nikki Haley became a trusted member of Donald Trump's inner circle over the past year, but she's recently re-familiarized herself with a downside of professional success …

Operation Sabotage the Memo  —  What are Adam Schiff, the Justice Department and the FBI trying to hide?  —  Rep. Adam Schiff has many talents, though few compare to his ability to function as a human barometer of Democratic panic.  The greater the level of Schiff hot, pressured air, the more trouble the party knows it's in.

The White House's immigration proposal is dead on arrival  —  The White House framework on immigration reform that leaked yesterday — then was released early — is a non-starter those on the left, having spoken to progressive immigration leaders in close touch with top Democrats.

Donald Trump says sorry to Britain  —  Piers Morgan has frequently spoken about his friendship with Donald Trump - and now Piers has finally interviewed the US President in what was his first international interview since taking office.  —  This unmissable interview took place in Davos …

Joe Kennedy to deliver Democratic response to State of the Union address  —  WASHINGTON - Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III, one of the Democratic Party's rising political stars, has been tapped by top party leaders to deliver the official Democratic response to President Trump's State of the Union address next week.

Rep. Pat Meehan will not seek reelection after sexual harassment furor  —  Rep. Pat Meehan will not seek reelection amid a furor over his use of taxpayer dollars to settle a sexual harassment claim against an aide, and the national response to his describing the woman as his “soul mate.”

Trump wins over global elites at Davos.  All it took was a $1.5 trillion tax cut.  —  DAVOS, Switzerland — Donald Trump may have finally gained entry into the exclusive global club of the corporate elites he has long scorned — and which has scorned him.  All it took was a $1.5 trillion tax cut …

Dutch agencies provide crucial intel about Russia's interference in US-elections  —  Hackers from the Dutch intelligence service AIVD have provided the FBI with crucial information about Russian interference with the American elections.  For years, AIVD had access to the infamous Russian hacker group Cozy Bear.

U.S. economic growth slowed in 2017's fourth quarter, missing Trump's targets  —  The U.S. gross domestic product, a broad measure of the economy, increased by 2.3 percent in 2017.  GDP growth slowed in the year's fourth quarter to an annualized rate of 2.6, breaking a two-quarter streak of growth of more than 3 percent.

The Trumps asked to borrow a Van Gogh for the White House.  The Guggenheim offered an 18K gold toilet instead.  —  The emailed response from the Guggenheim's chief curator to the White House was polite but firm: the museum could not accommodate a request to “borrow” a painting by Vincent Van Gogh …

Jemele Hill is Leaving SC6 for The Undefeated  —  ESPN's SportsCenter will need a new co-host as Jemele Hill is expected to leave the show for a position with The Undefeated.  —  ESPN SportsCenter anchor Jemele Hill is leaving the 6:00 p.m. SC6 edition of SportsCenter to join the staff of The Undefeated …

Trump: No more aid unless Palestinians talk peace; Jerusalem is ‘off the table’  —  Sitting next to Netanyahu in Davos, US president says Israel ‘wants to make peace,’ Palestinians ‘disrespected’ US in refusing to meet Pence  —  DAVOS, Switzerland — In unscripted remarks to the press on Thursday …

James Franco Was Scrubbed From Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue Cover  —  “We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him,” a Vanity Fair spokesperson says.  —  Vanity Fair debuted its anticipated Hollywood Portfolio today …

Kris Kobach's Office Leaks Last 4 Social Security Digits of Nearly Every Kansas Lawmaker and Thousands of State Employees, Including Kris Kobach  —  This is starting to just get sad.  —  Prior to receiving notice from Gizmodo this morning, Kris Kobach's office was leaking sensitive information belonging …

Cecile Richards on Her Life After Planned Parenthood  —  According to Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood for over a decade, protesters who wave anti-abortion signs outside one of the organization's clinics will sometimes return — a week, a month or a year later — for an annual medical exam.

Ellison exploring Minnesota AG run  —  Keith Ellison, the progressive congressman and deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, is exploring a run for Minnesota attorney general, according to four people he's discussed the possibility with.  —  Lori Swanson, the current attorney general …

CNN reinstates Ryan Lizza  —  CNN is reinstating Ryan Lizza, the Washington political reporter who was fired from the New Yorker for alleged sexual misconduct.  “Upon learning of The New Yorker's decision to sever ties with Ryan Lizza in December, CNN pulled him from future on-air appearances …

Enemy of the State  —  Bill Browder helped craft U.S. policy toward Russia.  Was it for the better?  —  On June 6, 2016, Bill Browder, a London-based billionaire, sent an email to Kyle Parker, a congressional staffer, with the subject line “Veselnitskaya house.”

Deep in Clinton country, voters stand by their candidate  —  The pilings of long-gone piers still jut out of the murky Hudson River in New York County, N.Y., reminders of a shipping industry that's all-but-vanished from the region.  There's almost no manufacturing left in the towering buildings …