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 …

‘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.

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 …

EXCLUSIVE: Robert Mercer backed a secretive group that worked with Facebook, Google to target anti-Muslim ads at swing voters  —  As the final weeks of the 2016 elections ticked down, voters in swing states like Nevada and North Carolina began seeing eerie promotional travel ads …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Police Fatally Shoot a Brooklyn Man After Falsely Believing He Had a Gun  —  New York City police officers shot and killed a black man who was known to be mentally ill on a Brooklyn street corner on Wednesday afternoon after he pointed what the officers believed was a gun at them, the authorities said.

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 …

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 …

The woman who got fired for flipping off President Trump just sued her former employer … Juli Briskman, the Virginia cyclist who flipped off the presidential motorcade and lost her job last fall, doesn't think we should be afraid to speak our minds.  —  That's why she went to court Wednesday …

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.

A Georgia city proclaimed April as Confederate History Month.  Then came the n-word. … A former elected official used the n-word several times during a public meeting, offending a black member of a Georgia city's board of commissioners.  —  The tense exchange between the two men happened …

China tariffs are ‘worst kind of news’ for Iowa farmers on the edge  —  Iowa is an agricultural powerhouse, exporting products all over the world.  That's why many are concerned about a possible trade war with China.  —  CONNECT  —  China's growing list of tariffs aimed at U.S. exports …

The Left's Year of Magical Thinking  —  It's Wednesday, November 7, 2018, and the Democrats have awakened to the taste of ashes in their mouths.  Despite the poll numbers and the pattern of history, Republicans have somehow managed to keep their losses small enough to retain control of the House.

Land for the Taking  —  The day after the meeting, Mr. Hamoud, a Sunni, returned to work and found that his department was now staffed 100 percent by Sunnis, the sect of Islam practiced by the militants.  The Shia and Christian colleagues who previously shared his office had all fled.

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.

Nearly 12 million people enrolled in 2018 health coverage under the ACA  —  A total of 11.8 million Americans signed up for Affordable Care Act health insurance for 2018, a drop of just 400,000 from the previous year despite widespread predictions that enrollment would plummet amid political …

How Bill O'Reilly Silenced His Accusers  —  Settlement agreements between Bill O'Reilly and two of his accusers — made public for the first time on Wednesday — filled in previously unknown details about tactics employed by the former Fox News host to silence women who came forward with sexual harassment allegations against him.

Assemblywoman makes bizarre rant against Jews at meeting  —  A Brooklyn legislator was accused Wednesday of delivering a bizarre tirade against Jews, while ripping Mayor de Blasio as a sellout during a local community board meeting this week.  —  Assemblywoman Diane Richardson's 50-minute rant during …