Raid on Trump's Lawyer Sought Records on ‘Access Hollywood’ Tape  —  The F.B.I. agents who raided the office and hotel of President Trump's lawyer on Monday were seeking all records related to the “Access Hollywood” tape in which Mr. Trump was heard making vulgar comments about women …

Paul Ryan won't run for re-election  —  Speaker Paul Ryan told House Republicans this morning that he will not run for re-election in November.  —  Why it matters: House Republicans were already in a very tough spot for the midterms, with many endangered members and the good chance that Democrats could win the majority.

Bannon pitches White House on plan to cripple Mueller probe and protect Trump … Stephen K. Bannon, who was ousted as White House chief strategist last summer but has remained in touch with some members of President Trump's circle, is pitching a plan to West Wing aides and congressional allies …

Woman: Sexual encounter with Greitens was not consensual.  Lawmakers find her credible  —  When she tried to leave, sobbing after a non-consensual sexual encounter, she says the man who would be governor physically stopped her.  —  What happened next, she testified under oath …

Scott Pruitt's Idea to Update an E.P.A. Keepsake: Less E.P.A., More Pruitt  —  When Scott Pruitt wanted to refashion the Environmental Protection Agency's “challenge coin” — a type of souvenir medallion with military origins that has become a status symbol among civilians …

Pompeo failed to disclose Chinese business connection  —  WASHINGTON  —  CIA Director Mike Pompeo failed to disclose last year that he owned a Kansas business that imported oilfield equipment from a company owned by the Chinese government.  —  That omission, on the questionnaire Pompeo …

A Congressman's Profanity Laced Tirade in a Safeway Grocery Store  —  One of the President's congressional defenders has privately decided he hates Trump and wants to unload.  —  “If we're going to lose because of him, we might as well impeach the motherf**ker,” said the congressman …

Deputy national security adviser Nadia Schadlow resigns  —  Washington (CNN)Nadia Schadlow, the US deputy national security adviser for strategy, has resigned and will leave her position at the end of the month, multiple administration officials told CNN.  —  Schadlow is the third senior …

Tucker Carlson Assad Bombing Civilians Chemical Gas Attack Response Noah Rothman  —  Tucker Carlson debated a magazine editor who claimed the host “willfully misled his audience and advanced Russian geopolitical narratives” by cautioning against anti-Assad actions in Syria following the chemical attack on civilians there.

NRA, In New Document, Acknowledges More Than 20 Russian-Linked Contributors  —  The National Rifle Association has accepted contributions from about 23 Russians, or Americans living in Russia, since 2015, the gun rights group acknowledged to Congress.  —  The NRA said in a letter to Sen. Ron Wyden …

Women are lining up to date Rudy Giuliani  —  The about-to-be-consciously uncoupled Rudy Giuliani is coming off to Upper East Side sex kittens like catnip.  They're purring at him.  Sidling — if not actually front-ling — in his direction.  —  It seems power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

Senate panel moves to take up bill protecting Mueller  —  The Senate Judiciary Committee is moving forward with legislation to limit President Trump  —  's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller  —  (R-Iowa) wants to add the bill to the panel's business meeting agenda scheduled for Thursday …

Single mom of five goes viral with inspiring law school graduation photo  —  Ieshia Champs has wanted to be a lawyer since she was 7 years old.  In her teenage years, however, the odds began stacking up against her and it appeared that her dream might be permanently out of reach.

Kelly cedes control to new faces amid latest Trump tumult  —  WaPo: Kelly threatens to quit in fit of anger  —  Washington (CNN)As Reince Priebus was approaching his final days in the West Wing, staffers had a running joke: if you got between the frenzied chief of staff and the Oval Office …

RUSSIA PREPARES FOR WAR WITH U.S., INSTRUCTING CITIZENS TO BUY WATER AND GAS MASKS  —  Claiming that some Americans are preparing for a coming war with Moscow, Russian state-owned television explained to the country's residents how to stock their bunkers with water and basic foodstuffs in case a war breaks out.

California Responds to Federal Request for National Guard Personnel  —  SACRAMENTO - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today responded to the federal government's request for additional California National Guard personnel with the following letter.  The accompanying agreement …

Corker: Tax cuts could be 'one of the worst votes I've made'  —  (R) said his vote on the GOP tax law could be one of the worst of his career if estimates that it will add $1.9 trillion to deficits over a decade prove correct.  —  “If it ends up costing what has been laid out here …

Women pose for open carry pics in solidarity with college student who had gun in her graduation photo  —  You might remember Twitchy's post from Tuesday about University of Tennessee senior Brenna Spencer, who managed to trigger liberals with her graduation photo, which was both pro-gun and pro-Trump:

Trump weighs plan to allow states to require drug testing for some on food stamps  —  The Trump administration is considering a plan that would allow states to require certain food stamp recipients to undergo drug testing, handing a win to conservatives who've long sought ways to curb the safety net program.

Washington Lies In a Parallel Universe  —  In the real world, the Trump administration is humming along.  Its domestic policies are sensible and have been remarkably successful in a short time.  Abroad, the administration has pursued American interests, again with considerable success.

Sinclair chairman broke restraining order and allegedly threatened neighbor  —  David D Smith, 67, whose company owns many local TV stations, is in dispute with neighbors in two states: 'We wish he'd just go away' … The executive chairman of the Sinclair television group has run into trouble …