Ex-Trump aide says he'll likely cooperate with Mueller  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A former Trump campaign aide spent much of Monday promising to defy a subpoena from special counsel Robert Mueller, even throwing down the challenge to “arrest me,” then backed off his defiance by saying he would probably cooperate in the end.

North Korea Is Willing to Discuss Giving Up Nuclear Weapons, South Says  —  SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has told South Korean envoys that his country is willing to begin negotiations with the United States on abandoning its nuclear weapons and that it would suspend …

Flynn selling house to pay legal bills in Trump probe  —  Michael Flynn, the retired Army general and ex-Trump national security adviser who pleaded guilty last year to lying to FBI agents about his Russian contacts, has put his Virginia home up for sale to pay mounting legal fees, friends and family members told ABC News.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is expected to announce her resignation Tuesday morning  —  Nashville Mayor Megan Barry speaks to the press in Old Hickory after a ribbon cutting ceremony Michael Schwab  —  Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is expected to announce her resignation at a press conference Tuesday morning.

Australian diplomat whose tip prompted FBI's Russia-probe has tie to Clintons  —  The Australian diplomat whose tip in 2016 prompted the Russia-Trump investigation previously arranged one of the largest foreign donations to Bill and Hillary Clinton's charitable efforts, documents show.

Trump Reaffirms Commitment to Tariffs but Opens Door to Compromise  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump, facing an angry chorus of protests from leaders of his own party, including the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan, insisted on Monday that he would not back down from his plan to impose across-the-board tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Why Are Democrats Helping Trump Dismantle Dodd-Frank?  —  This week, the Senate begins debate on the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, known as the Crapo bill for its primary sponsor, Mike Crapo, a Republican senator from Idaho.  The bill would roll back or eliminate parts of the Dodd-Frank Act.

'It's almost nasty': Dems seek crackdown on sleeping in the Capitol  —  A bloc of House Democrats is calling for an ethics investigation into the widespread practice of lawmakers sleeping in their offices, arguing it's an abuse of taxpayer funds.  —  More than two dozen members …

The ‘anti-Trump’ Oscars were a ratings disaster.  Conservatives are delighted. … The 90th Academy Awards on Sunday was two things: an evening of pointed political statements and one with record-low viewership.  —  And many on the right have been quick to claim that those things went hand in hand.

Premium Twitter feeds are for suckers  —  I know, because I read them.  —  Facebook and Twitter have both pledged never to charge users a monthly fee for their basic services, partly in response to persistent hoaxes claiming otherwise.  And why would they?

The lemongrass burrito is the new America.  Can either party keep up?  —  Irvine, California (CNN)If recent population trends continue at their current pace, it's likely that by Election Day this November, minorities will constitute the majority of the population in the Congressional District centered …

Russian spy: Boris Johnson warns Kremlin over Salisbury incident  —  The UK would respond “robustly” to any evidence of Russian involvement in the collapse of former spy Sergei Skripal, Boris Johnson has said.  —  Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are critically ill in hospital …

EPA appointee gets approval to consult for outside clients  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A key aide to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has been granted permission to make extra money moonlighting for private clients whose identities are being kept secret.

“He Can Go from a B Player to an A Player”: At Rolling Stone, Ryan Lizza Is Writing, Jann and Gus Wenner Are Still Kicking Around, and Jay Penske Is the Media Tycoon du Jour  —  Jay Penske, the scion of an auto-racing empire, has a legitimate shot to turn the baby-boomer culture bible around—if he can make it safe for millennials.

Russia suspected of using ‘dumb’ bombs to shift blame for Syria war crimes  —  UN sources say Moscow's use of weapons similar to those used by Syrian regime could be attempt to mask involvement in airstrikes … The Russian air force has used unguided “dumb” bombs in Syria …

Utah House committee rejects bill that would restrict gun access for people at risk of shooting themselves or others  —  A House committee rejected by a 7-4 margin a bill that would create a restraining order that could restrict access to guns for people at risk of shooting themselves or others.

The Trump presidency could cost the nation more than we realize  —  As the saying goes, you don't miss the water until the well runs dry: This deeply aberrant presidency threatens to cost the nation much more than even some of President Trump's harshest critics may realize.

Trump Lawyer's Payment to Porn Star Was Reported as Suspicious by Bank  —  First Republic alerted Treasury Department about Michael Cohen's $130,000 wire transfer to former adult-film actress Stormy Daniels  —  The bank used by President Donald Trump's personal lawyer to wire $130,000 …