Michael Cohen and the End Stage of the Trump Presidency  —  On May 1, 2003, the day President George W. Bush landed on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln in front of the massive “Mission Accomplished” sign, I was in Baghdad performing what had become a daily ritual.

Damascus defiant as U.S. strikes prove more limited than feared … BEIRUT — Syria, Russia and Iran shrugged off strikes on Saturday by the United States and its allies against three Syrian chemical weapons facilities, which drew angry condemnations but no indication that there would be a wider escalation.

In his new book, James Comey calls for ‘ethical leadership.’ But does he live up to it?  —  Review of 'A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership" by James B. Comey … A HIGHER LOYALTY: Truth, Lies, and Leadership  —  Flatiron Books.  304 pp.  $29.99

Kentucky governor claims that children were sexually assaulted, used drugs while teachers protested … Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) lashed out against teachers participating in a statewide protest Friday, saying educators exposed some of the “hundreds of thousands” of children to sexual assault and drug use by walking out of class.

Leave.EU, Arron Banks and new questions about referendum funding  —  Revealed: Leave donor faces data investigation as first documentary evidence of Cambridge Analytica Brexit ‘work’ uncovered … The Information Commissioner's Office is investigating Leave.EU and its donor Arron Banks …

Trump's miserable crew has never been so desperate  —  These are desperate times for the quislings of Trump.  The cost of collaborating with President Trump in the continued debasement of American democracy is becoming far too high.  Fifteen months into his presidency …

Video of two black men being removed from a Philadelphia Starbucks draws outrage, investigation  —  A video of two African American men being removed from a Philadelphia Starbucks has drawn national outrage and an “internal investigation” by police after it was posted earlier this week.

NRA turns against Gov. Scott over gun control  —  The National Rifle Association is calling on gun owners to abandon Gov. Phil Scott after he approved a package of gun-related laws this week.  —  “This governor in Vermont completely gave a one-finger salute to the Constitution and to gun owners …

Laura Ingraham Holds Onto Ratings as Advertiser Returns to Her Show  —  Laura Ingraham has maintained her ratings in her first week back since the ad boycott campaign launched against her show.  —  The Ingraham Angle was the leading cable news show in its time slot, averaging 2.69 million viewers throughout the week.

More popular vote-electoral college splits may be in our future … It's always being said that demographics are destiny.  But which demographics?  Democrats learned painfully in 2016 the meaning of that question, when Donald Trump upended the electoral map by capitalizing on the demographics …

School cancelled as hundreds of Colorado teachers walk out Monday  —  DENVER — Teacher walkouts in Kentucky, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and elsewhere have dominated the news as of late.  —  Now a walkout is planned for Colorado.  —  Englewood Schools announced Thursday classes …

The Al Gore Effect Comes to Minnesota  —  I got excited when I heard that all across the country, activists would be “marching for science” today.  Promoting, no doubt, information about X and Y chromosomes and the fact that-scientifically speaking-there are only two genders.  —  Just kidding.

Michael Cohen's visiting Prague would be a huge development in the Russia investigation … McClatchy reported on Friday evening that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's team has evidence of a trip by President Trump's personal lawyer to Prague in the late summer of 2016.

Trump drops 10 times more bombs on Syria than refugees he's let in  —  Only 11 Syrian refugees have been allowed into the U.S. this year, a figure that is dwarfed by the number of bombs Trump dropped on Syria in a single night.  —  The U.S. fired at least 118 missiles in an airstrike on Syria Friday night …

DOJ Alumni Statement Regarding Rod Rosenstein, Robert Mueller, and the Rule of Law  —  We, the undersigned, are proud alumni of the United States Department of Justice.  We served this institution out of a commitment to the founding American principles that our democratic republic depends upon …

Trump supporters rip decision to strike Syria  —  Some of President Donald Trump's staunchest backers tore into his decision to attack Syria late Friday night, arguing it was unnecessary, reactionary and even Clinton-esque.  —  In tweet storms and video responses, they compared Trump's decision …

Milos Forman, Oscar-Winning Director of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' Dies at 86  —  LOS ANGELES — Milos Forman, a filmmaker who challenged Hollywood with his subversive touch, and twice directed movies that won the Oscar for best picture, died on Friday.  He was 86.