Exclusive: Mueller's team questioning Russian oligarchs  —  Mueller's team questioning Russian oligarchs  —  Washington (CNN)Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has taken the unusual step of questioning Russian oligarchs who traveled into the US, stopping at least one and searching …

EPA ethics official says he didn't have all the facts on Pruitt's lease  —  Pruitt: I didn't know about staffers' raises  —  (CNN)The Environmental Protection Agency's top ethics watchdog clarified his earlier analysis of whether Administrator Scott Pruitt's rental arrangement broke the federal gift rule …

An Update on Our Plans to Restrict Data Access on Facebook  —  Two weeks ago we promised to take a hard look at the information apps can use when you connect them to Facebook as well as other data practices.  Today, we want to update you on the changes we're making to better protect your Facebook information.

Threatening legal fight, Nunes demands document that kicked off FBI Trump-Russia investigation  —  House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., has sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray demanding an uncensored copy of the document …

The case for extreme worry  —  To White House insiders, this is the most dangerous phase of Donald Trump's presidency so far, from the brewing trade war with China that he denies is a trade war, to the perilously spontaneous summit with North Korea.  —  The big picture: Checks are being ignored …

For Mueller, a Feared Weakness Becomes a Strength  —  WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election, transformed this week what has appeared to be a weakness — his relative lack of independence — into a strength.

Trump administration to impose fresh sanctions against Russia … The United States is expected to impose additional sanctions against Russia by Friday, according to U.S. officials.  —  The sanctions are economic and designed to target oligarchs with ties to President Vladimir Putin, the officials said.

Sinclair's Boss Responds to Criticism: 'You Can't Be Serious!'  —  David D. Smith, the chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group, says the media is getting his company all wrong.  —  His remark, in a lengthy email exchange with The New York Times, came in response to renewed scrutiny of Sinclair …

‘You Hate America!’:  How the ‘Caravan’ Story Exploded on the Right  —  WASHINGTON — It was the kind of story destined to take a dark turn through the conservative news media and grab President Trump's attention: A vast horde of migrants was making its way through Mexico toward the United States, and no one was stopping them.

Rex Tillerson's $12 million army of consultants  —  It was one of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's core goals: radically reshaping the State Department to make it leaner, cheaper and modernized to the standards of a former private-sector CEO.  —  Now that Tillerson has been fired …

NYPD cops fatally shoot black man holding metal pipe police mistake for gun on Brooklyn street  —  Police fatally shot a mentally troubled black man on a Brooklyn street Wednesday afternoon, after police said he “took a two-handed shooting stance” and aimed what turned out to be a metal pipe at them.

Camilla Parker Bowles Busted Flicking Through Program At Ceremony … If she wants to be queen, she is going to have to try harder than this.  —  Prince Charles' wife Camilla Parker Bowles has been slammed after she appeared to be so bored in attendance at the opening ceremony …

Trump sending National Guard troops to Mexico border, but they won't have contact with immigrants  —  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday directing National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to fight illegal immigration, but it is not likely to allow …

Lawyer who cut deals for Daniels and McDougal says the whole truth has not been told  —  (CNN)The attorney who represented a porn star and Playboy model in deals that buried their allegations of sexual encounters with Donald Trump in exchange for six-figure payouts said the “whole truth” about the now-public scandal has not been told.

Dwayne Johnson: The Pain and the Passion That Fuel the Rock  —  Hollywood's most dependable good guy on saving the day in ‘Rampage,’ his beef with Vin Diesel, presidential rumors and more  —  If the world seemed a little bit sluggish this morning - if the birds weren't singing as sweetly …

Ex-fiancee says Las Vegas GOP campaign adviser made her his slave  —  GOP consultant Benjamin Sparks (Photo obtained by Las Vegas Review-Journal)  —  GOP consultant Benjamin Sparks is pictured in this undated photo obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.  Sparks is accused of sexually enslaving and battering his ex fiancee.

Patriots' Julian Edelman May Have Thwarted a School Shooting  —  The New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman was in Texas visiting his former teammate Danny Amendola late last month when he received a direct message on his Instagram account: “Dude, there is a kid in your comment section …

GOP lawmaker to introduce legislation to mandate picture of president, VP at post offices  —  Rep. Dan Donovan (R-N.Y.) is planning to introduce legislation that will mandate that post offices of the U.S. Postal Service display photos of the president and the vice president.

What's Wrong With ‘Illiberal Democracy’?  —  On Sunday, Hungary's right-wing prime minister, Viktor Orban, is up for re-election, possibly on track to his fourth term in office.  Mr. Orban has spent the past several years weakening his country's democratic checks and balances …

Trump gets testy as national security team warns of risks of Syria withdrawal  —  Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump grew irritated with his top military brass and national security team on Tuesday when they advised him an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Syria would be unwise …

The True Damage of Trump's ‘Fake News’  —  Many people, including many Republican lawmakers, dismiss President Trump's attacks on The Washington Post, CNN and other news organizations as just one of those crazy — but ultimately harmless — things he does to blow off steam.  They're wrong.

John Bolton runs into potential ethics issues before he becomes Trump's national security advisor  — John Bolton is continuing to meet with White House attorneys over possible conflicts of interest.  — Bolton resigned from his foundation in March.  His two political action committees …

The Contract With Authoritarianism  —  In 1994, Newt Gingrich, brandishing his Contract with America, led a Republican revolution that swept aside Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate, initiating an epoch of conservative ascendancy that lingers on.

Rachel Maddow Beats Sean Hannity, Takes Title As Most-Watched Cable News Host  —  MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has toppled Sean Hannity from his perch atop the cable news ratings, winning a decisive victory in March, according to data released Wednesday by Nielsen.