Manafort Under Scrutiny For $40 Million In “Suspicious” Transactions  —  As the special counsel investigated President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, authorities obtained details on “suspicious” banking activity that was first unearthed in 2014 and 2015.

Exclusive: Mueller's interest in Kushner grows to include foreign financing efforts  —  Washington (CNN)Special counsel Robert Mueller's interest in Jared Kushner has expanded beyond his contacts with Russia and now includes his efforts to secure financing for his company from foreign investors during …

Fox News Plans a Streaming Service for ‘Superfans’  —  Thanks to a relentless news cycle — and a dedicated fan in the Oval Office — Fox News has defied the downward trends in the television business, notching its highest-rated year in 2017 even as audiences dwindled for many networks.

Respect First, Then Gun Control  —  This has been an emotional week.  We greet tragedies like the school shooting in Florida with shock, sadness, mourning and grief that turns into indignation and rage.  The anger inevitably gets directed at the N.R.A., those who support gun rights …

A Facebook Executive Apologizes To His Company—And To Robert Mueller  —  ON FRIDAY MORNING, just before 10am on the West Coast, the office of special counsel Robert Mueller published his indictment of 13 Russian operatives for interfering in the US election.  The document was 37 pages, and it mentioned Facebook 35 times.

Don't blame ‘Washington.’ Blame the GOP.  —  Dysfunctional Washington refuses to work out its differences to solve problems that matter to Americans.  —  So say pundits and policy activists, perhaps hoping that diffuse criticism, rather than finger-pointing, will yield a government willing to govern.

After Florida School Shooting, Russian ‘Bot’ Army Pounced  —  SAN FRANCISCO — One hour after news broke about the school shooting in Florida last week, Twitter accounts suspected of having links to Russia released hundreds of posts taking up the gun control debate.

The New Pennsylvania House Districts Are In.  We Review the Mapmakers' Choices.  —  Reviewing the decisions made to redraw the map in one of the country's most gerrymandered states.

Tax Overhaul Gains Public Support, Buoying Republicans  —  The tax overhaul that President Trump signed into law now has more supporters than opponents, buoying Republican hopes for this year's congressional elections.  —  The growing public support for the law coincides with an eroding Democratic lead …

EXPOSED: School Shooting Survivor Turned Activist David Hogg's Father in FBI, Appears To Have Been Coached On Anti-Trump Lines [VIDEO]  —  As previously reported:  —  In less than a week since they survived a mass murdering gunman attack on their school, two student who quickly became media stars …

Rob Porter's Charisma and Ambition Disguised Flare-ups of Anger  —  WASHINGTON — People who crossed paths with Rob Porter in Harvard classrooms or the hallways of Capitol Hill describe him in glowing terms: He was articulate enough to be secretary of state.  Intelligent enough to be a Supreme Court justice.

5 things that are more complicated than buying a gun in Florida  —  The 19-year-old accused of killing 17 people on Valentine's Day at his former high school in Parkland, Florida, allegedly bought seven rifles in the last year, a federal law enforcement source has told CBS News.

Lawmaker who led #MeToo push invited staffer to play spin the bottle, complaint says … California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, one of the leading voices behind the #MeToo movement, is facing accusations that she sexually harassed staffers — including one who said she fired him after he refused …

THE LATEST NEWS FROM AROUND SAN FRANCISCO  —  How dirty is San Francisco?  An NBC Bay Area Investigation reveals a dangerous mix of drug needles, garbage, and feces throughout downtown San Francisco.  The Investigative Unit surveyed 153 blocks of the city - the more than 20-mile stretch …

Pa Supreme Court on 4-3 Vote Adopts Advisor Nate Persily's Maps for Pennsylvania Congressional Redistricting; GOP's Litigation Options Do Not Look Good  —  Posted on February 19, 2018 12:15 pm by Rick Hasen  —  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court (with three dissents) [links below] …

For the weary White House, Florida shooting offered a ‘reprieve’ from scandals … The White House was under siege.  —  Domestic abuse allegations against a senior aide were ignored, pointing to a potential high-level coverup.  Two Cabinet secretaries were caught charging taxpayers for luxury travel.

History experts in New York Times op-ed: Trump worst president ever, Obama in top 10  —  Donald Trump is America's worst president, says a New York Times opinion piece that's based on a survey of 170 members of the American Political Science Association's Presidents and Executive Politics section.