Trump sought release of classified Russia memo, putting him at odds with Justice Department … On Wednesday, as Republicans were clamoring to make public a secret document that they think will undercut the investigation into Russian meddling, President Trump made clear his desire: release the memo.

The Plot Against America  —  I. The Wisdom of Friends  —  The clinic permitted Paul Manafort one 10-minute call each day.  And each day, he would use it to ring his wife from Arizona, his voice often soaked in tears.  “Apparently he sobs daily,” his daughter Andrea, then 29, texted a friend.

The Necessity of Stephen Miller  —  After 12 years of failed attempts at immigration reform, the current round of negotiations are turning on a strangely personalized question: When a deal is being made, should Stephen Miller be at the table?  —  Miller is the White House's point man for immigration policy …

Jay-Z slams Trump's ‘shithole’ comment as ‘hurtful’  —  Jay-Z says Trump's words expose the racism lurking “behind closed doors”  —  (CNN)Hip-hop legend Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter described President Donald Trump's “shithole countries” comment as disappointing and hurtful.

Can Joe Kennedy Beat the State of the Union Curse?  —  This year's opposition response to the State of the Union address has two elements to lift it from its status as a star-crossed, sometimes futile exercise: One, the president's name is Donald Trump; two, the responder is named Kennedy.

Testimony in Corruption Case Hinges on the Meaning of ‘Meatballs’  —  When is a meatball not a meatball?  —  That was the question in a federal courtroom in Pennsylvania on Thursday, where the mayor of Allentown, Pa., is on trial for charges wholly unrelated to that beefy fixture of nonnas' kitchens across the country.

Trump Hits Alps, but Melania Is Frosty in Florida  —  WASHINGTON — Melania has learned a few things from the master.  —  The first lady will never be as brilliant at trolling as her husband.  He is an idiot-savant who plays in the roiling ocean of Twitter as naturally as a blubbery-necked sea lion.

Donald Trump tells Theresa May he won't visit the UK unless she bans protests  —  Trump sets no-protest condition for visit to UK.  —  Donald Trump is refusing to visit the UK unless Theresa May can ensure that he is not met with protests.  —  Bloomberg revealed that Trump complained …

Republicans redefine morality as whatever Trump does  —  Someday, likely three years from now, perhaps sooner, perhaps — gulp — later, President Trump will depart the stage.  —  But what will be left of us?  —  New evidence suggests that the damage he is doing to the culture is bigger than the man.

Why Trust the FBI?  —  There is a reason for the crisis of faith in our institutions  —  The “failing” New York Times Company is earning about $30 million a quarter, and in the third quarter of 2017 alone it added more paid subscribers than either the Seattle Times/Post-Intelligencer or the Los Angeles Daily News has in total.

Hillary Clinton Let Him Stay.  Women Say His Harassment Continued.  —  Touching, inappropriate comments, and an untenable work environment: A woman who worked on Hillary Clinton's campaign made those complaints about her boss, a faith and values adviser, in 2007.  He was punished, but not fired, by Clinton.

America's Mirror on the Wall  —  One year ago, Donald Trump stood in front of a nation still in shock at the outcome of the 2016 election, and listening as the president-elect spoke in his inaugural address to see what he would be about: preventing “American Carnage.”  —  The landscape that he painted was bleak.

Rubio fires chief of staff for improper relations with subordinates  —  Sen. Marco Rubio has fired his chief of staff after determining he violated office policies regarding proper relations between a supervisor and subordinates.  —  Rubio said in a statement that an investigation concluded …

The Latest: Russian opposition leader Navalny arrested  —  MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest on Russian protests Sunday (all times local):  —  Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protest demonstrations called by him took place across the country.

Sean Hannity's Twitter page compromised, vanishes for hours  —  Fox News host Sean Hannity's Twitter account was compromised and was unavailable for a few hours on Saturday, inspiring speculation by his conservative followers that a government cabal they call the “deep state” or a rogue employee could be to blame.