$30,000 rumor?  Tabloid paid for, spiked, salacious Trump tip  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Eight months before the company that owns the National Enquirer paid $150,000 to a former Playboy Playmate who claimed she'd had an affair with Donald Trump, the tabloid's parent made a $30,000 payment …

Ryan may be forced to leave speakership by summer  —  Paul Ryan said he plans to remain as speaker and not call an early leadership election, but well-wired Republicans tell Jonathan Swan and me that Ryan may be forced out sooner.  —  What we're hearing: One source close to leadership told us …

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 …

Exclusive: Inside the GOP plan to discredit Comey  —  Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump's allies are preparing an extensive campaign to fight back against James Comey's publicity tour, trying to undermine the credibility of the former FBI director by reviving the blistering Democratic criticism …

Broad attack on Syria would face risk from air defenses, escalation with Russia … President Trump's desire to prevent future chemical attacks in Syria has fueled speculation that the U.S. leader may authorize an attack that is more far-reaching than the one he launched a year ago.

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 …

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 …

Holocaust Is Fading From Memory, Survey Finds  —  For seven decades, “never forget” has been a rallying cry of the Holocaust remembrance movement.  —  But a survey released Thursday, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, found that many adults lack basic knowledge of what happened …

Gingrich compares FBI raid of Trump lawyer to Nazi secret police  —  Former Speaker Newt Gingrich tore into the FBI after its raid of President Trump  —  ‘s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, likening agents’ actions to those of the secret police during the Nazi regime.

Parkland teacher faces charge after his gun is fired in public bathroom  —  Deputies report that it's fortunate nobody was hurt in mishap  —  DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. - A pistol-packing Marjory Stoneman Douglas teacher who said he'd be willing to be trained to carry a gun to protect …

Trump Court Pick Thinks Planned Parenthood ‘Kills Over 150,000 Females A Year’  —  Wendy Vitter refused to tell senators if she still agrees with a speech she gave at a 2013 anti-abortion rally.  —  WASHINGTON One of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, Wendy Vitter …

Firing Rosenstein would cross a red line for the rule of law  —  Source: Trump considering firing Rosenstein  —  Fred Wertheimer is the founder and president of Democracy 21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that seeks to promote government accountability and integrity.

I Downloaded the Information That Facebook Has on Me.  Yikes.  —  Ask our reporter, Cecilia Kang, questions about the Facebook hearings now on The New York Times Politics Facebook page.  —  When I downloaded a copy of my Facebook data last week, I didn't expect to see much.

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.

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 …