In fundraising speech, Trump says he made up trade claim in meeting with Justin Trudeau … President Trump boasted in a fundraising speech Wednesday that he made up information in a meeting with the leader of a top U.S. ally, saying he insisted to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau …

Trump administration sanctions Russian spies, trolls over U.S. election interference, cyber attacks … The Trump administration on Thursday imposed fresh financial sanctions on Russian government hackers and spy agencies to punish Moscow for interfering in the 2016 presidential election …

Trump Organization Tied to Deal to Keep Ex-Porn Star Quiet  —  An assistant general counsel at the president's flagship holding company intervened in arbitration proceeding in California to enforce a nondisclosure deal with former porn star  —  Documents marked “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL PROCEEDING” …

John Skipper Details His ESPN Exit and a Cocaine Extortion Plot  —  The former network chief goes public in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about the real reason behind his abrupt departure from Disney after 27 years, a confession to Bob Iger and his hope to work in sports media again.

Russian spy: Moscow vows swift response on expulsions  —  Moscow has vowed there will be a swift response to the expulsion of 23 of its diplomats by Britain.  —  President Vladimir Putin would make a final decision and “won't take long” to respond, his spokesman said.

Trump Says a Democrat Won in Pennsylvania Because He's ‘Like Trump’  —  If Donald Trump is worried about Democrats using an upset victory in Pennsylvania as a blueprint for winning big in the midterms, he didn't let on.  —  Trump broke his silence on the election at a private fundraiser …

U.S. officials: Saudi crown prince has hidden his mother from his father, the king  —  WASHINGTON — When Saudi Arabia's crown prince visits the White House next week, he's expected to be welcomed as a reformer who's expanded women's rights in one of the most restrictive countries in the world …

Sister of Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof given $5,000 bond, not allowed to return to SC school  —  COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -  —  The younger sister of Charleston church shooter, Dylann Roof was given a $5,000 bond on Wednesday after she was arrested for bringing weapons and drugs onto the campus of A.C. Flora High School.

Trump is a freak of political nature.  Here's how you can beat him.  —  Philippe Reines has been a spokesman and adviser to Hillary Clinton since 2002, including during the 2016 campaign.  —  Campaigned in the wrong states.  Ineffective message.  Uninspiring orator.  Represented all that is wrong with Washington.

Larry Kudlow may have been more wrong about the economy than anyone alive  —  It was the eve of the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression.  Many on Wall Street worried that a recession loomed and that the housing bubble was bursting.  —  And then there was Larry Kudlow …

Dog gone: United Airlines mistakenly flies family German shepherd to Japan … United Airlines is investigating after mistakenly flying a Kansas family's dog to Japan.  —  KCTV reports that Kara Swindle and her two children flew from Oregon to Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday on a United flight.

The real problem with the New York Times op-ed page: it's not honest about US conservatism  —  It wants to challenge its readers, but not with the ugly truth.  —  The New York Times editorial page has come in for a great deal of criticism since it fell under the leadership of James Bennet …

Amazon didn't kill Toys ‘R’ Us.  Here's what did  —  You won't be hearing the Toys ‘R’ Us jingle anymore  —  Don't blame Amazon for the death of Toys “R” Us.  —  It's true, online shopping didn't help matters, but the struggles of Toys “R” Us predate the boom in online shopping.

Protests planned across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead  —  Marielle Franco, known for criticism of police tactics, was killed in apparent assassination … Protests are planned across Brazil after a popular Rio city councillor and her driver were shot dead by two men in what appears to have been a targeted assassination.

White Supremacists Are Increasingly Spreading Their Message With Public Banners  —  White supremacists are increasingly hanging banners in public places, such as from highway overpasses and rooftops, to promote their views, according to a report released on Thursday by the Anti-Defamation League.

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on pivotal public health step to dramatically reduce smoking rates by lowering nicotine in combustible cigarettes to minimally or non-addictive levels  —  For Immediate Release  —  When I returned to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year …

Fortress Sweden: Inside the plan to mobilize Swedish society against Russia  —  WASHINGTON — Roughly 220 miles of ocean separates Sweden from the heavily militarized Russian port of Kaliningrad.  The country's long, narrow shape leaves it vulnerable to air assault from multiple sides.

Alert (TA18-074A)  —  Russian Government Cyber Activity Targeting Energy and Other Critical Infrastructure Sectors  —  Systems Affected  —  Overview  —  This joint Technical Alert (TA) is the result of analytic efforts between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Inside the shady private equity firm run by Kerry and Biden's kids  —  “My frustration,” writes Peter Schweizer in his new book, “Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends,” “is not that the solid reporting on Trump has been too tough …

Extreme secrecy surrounds Comey book manuscript  —  James Comey's book is getting the Harry Potter treatment.  —  “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership,” the upcoming memoir from former FBI Director James Comey, is set for publication on April 18 — and with anticipation rivaling …

How Trump Might Replace Sessions with Pruitt as Attorney General  —  Gabriel Sherman of Vanity Fair reports of “two Republicans in regular contact with the White House” who say that President Trump “has discussed a plan to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions” and to replace him with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

This Is What Record-Low Unemployment Looks Like in America  —  What will happen when the U.S. unemployment rate falls below 4 percent, which is expected to occur by this summer?  One way to tell is to look at cities where joblessness is already lower than that.  Bloomberg News reporters traveled to Iowa, Georgia, and Maine.

What If Pompeo Talked About Jews the Way He Talks About Muslims?  —  Try this simple experiment.  Take Mike Pompeo's statements about Muslims, and his alliances with anti-Muslim bigots.  Then imagine that he had made similar statements about Jews, and forged similar ties to anti-Semites.

Cuomo responds to Percoco: Attacks are ‘political garbage,’ will push to ban outside income  —  ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will make banning outside income for state legislators a campaign issue this year in response to federal felony convictions against the governor's former top aide and long-time friend Joe Percoco.