‘Nerves of steel’: She calmly landed the Southwest flight, just as you'd expect of a former fighter pilot … The pilot's voice was calm yet focused as her plane descended with 149 people on board.  —  “Southwest 1380, we're single engine,” said Tammie Jo Shults, a former fighter pilot with the U.S. Navy.

Trump says initial high-level meeting between U.S. and North Korea ‘went very well’  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump expressed optimism Wednesday that his planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un can help make the world safer, and he said his envoy, CIA Director Mike Pompeo …

Hannity's rising role in Trump's world: ‘He basically has a desk in the place’  —  The phone calls between President Trump and Sean Hannity come early in the morning or late at night, after the Fox News host goes off the air.  They discuss ideas for Hannity's show, Trump's frustration …

The day outspoken Barbara Bush regretted speaking her mind  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Barbara Bush leaned over the seat on Air Force Two and glared at me.  It was 1984, and her husband, Vice President George Bush, was running for re-election with President Ronald Reagan.

Mattis Wanted Congressional Approval Before Striking Syria.  He Was Overruled.  —  WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis urged President Trump to get congressional approval before the United States launched airstrikes against Syria last week, but was overruled by Mr. Trump …

The Hill says goodbye to 50 Most Beautiful  —  After nearly 15 years, The Hill is bidding a beautiful bye-bye to its annual 50 Most Beautiful list.  —  While it's had a remarkably gorgeous run, The Hill team feels the time has come for 50 Most Beautiful to be added to that big, beautiful list in the sky.

Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer endorses Kevin de León in his insurgent bid against Sen. Dianne Feinstein  —  Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de León in his insurgent challenge to fellow Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein …

How Tony Podesta, a Washington Power Broker, Lost It All  —  The Democratic lobbyist had money, connections and a rarified art collection.  Then came a divorce, Paul Manafort and Donald Trump, and his world came crashing down  —  Brody Mullins and Julie Bykowicz  —  Tony Podesta was in line to be king of K Street.

Fresno State professor stirs outrage, calls Barbara Bush an ‘amazing racist’  —  A Fresno State professor called former first lady Barbara Bush an “amazing racist” who raised a “war criminal,” and expressed no concern that she could be fired or reprimanded for her outspokenness on social media.

Comey: ‘The Republican Party has left me and many others’  —  Former FBI Director James Comey was a registered Republican for most of his life, but now he believes “the Republican Party has left me and many others.”  —  “I just think they've lost their way and I can't be associated with it …

GOP alarmed by tax law's falling poll numbers, privately blame Trump  —  President Trump is undermining voter support for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with erratic messaging after it was gaining popularity, alarming Republicans counting on the law to save the party's vulnerable House majority.

New House FEC Reports: Rating Changes in 7 Districts  —  Speaker Paul Ryan's retirement plans could complicate the House GOP's fundraising math.  In 2017, Ryan's joint fundraising committee brought in $44 million and transferred $32 million to the NRCC.  His exit could leave GOP donors skittish.

Island-wide blackout hits Puerto Rico; officials probe cause  —  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — An island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday as the U.S. territory struggles with an increasingly unstable power grid nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria.

In Pro-Trump Tennessee, Democrats Count on a Familiar Face to Flip a Senate Seat  —  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — President Trump won 92 of Tennessee's 95 counties in the 2016 election, making this state a seemingly daunting target for Democrats hoping to flip a seat in the Senate.

How To Spot A Deepfake Like The Barack Obama-Jordan Peele Video  —  This “deepfake” video starring Jordan Peele as Barack Obama shows how easy it's getting to create convincing audio and video fakes.  Here's how to fight back. … You're looking at the future of fake news and propaganda.

Complying With New Privacy Laws and Offering New Privacy Protections to Everyone, No Matter Where You Live  —  In recent weeks we've announced several steps to give people more control over their privacy and explain how we use data.  Today we're introducing new privacy experiences for everyone …

Scott Pruitt Has Become Ridiculous  —  The editorial board represents the opinions of the board, its editor and the publisher.  It is separate from the newsroom and the Op-Ed section.  —  Despite stiff competition, Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency …

De Blasio's rat-killing demonstration is a complete disaster  —  One wily rat made NYCHA look like a Mickey Mouse operation Tuesday in Brooklyn.  —  Mayor de Blasio and workers from the Housing Authority were outwitted by the rodent during a press event at a Bushwick project …

California has eight of 10 most polluted U.S. cities  —  A new study be The Health Effects Institute explains that most of the world is breathing air deemed dangerous by The World Health Organization.  Tony Spitz has the details.  Buzz60  —  Forget the Golden State.  California should be called the Smoggy State.

Freedom Caucus seeks to make McCarthy pay to become speaker  —  The Freedom Caucus is prepared to exact a price from Kevin McCarthy if he wants to be the next speaker of the House — three years after foiling his first bid for the job.  —  A POLITICO survey of about 20 of the conservative …

‘It Smells Like Death’: Alabama Town Endures NYC ‘Poop Train’  —  A stinking trainload of human waste from New York City is stranded in a tiny Alabama town, spreading a stench like a giant backed-up toilet - and the “poop train” is just the latest example of the South being used as a dumping ground for other states' waste.

Democrats United Against Trump But Torn on Election Agenda  —  Party factions competing over which issues to push in November  —  Democrats enjoy intensity edge but geographical disadvantage  —  Democrats are conflicted over the path back to power, caught between catering to a base …

Cuomo Plans to Restore Voting Rights to Paroled Felons  —  ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Wednesday that he intends to restore voting rights to felons on parole, a move that would open the ballot box to more than 35,000 people.  —  The mechanism through which Mr. Cuomo plans …

Senatorial attack on the First Amendment  —  On April 11, 11 Democratic senators and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders  —  sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai requesting that the proposed merger between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media be denied.

Head budget official says office will open probe into Scott Pruitt's spending  —  Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said the office is opening a probe into Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt's spending since he took over the helm of the agency.

House Panel Considers Ban on Killing Dogs and Cats for Meals  —  Pet-slaughter prohibitions would be be extended nationwide  —  Dog-and-cat eating rare in U.S., angers animal-welfare groups  —  Making a meal out of a dog or a cat may soon land you in jail.

Pence readying for breakneck campaign blitz  —  Vice President Mike Pence is racking up the travel miles.  —  After a quick day trip on Wednesday to Mar-a-Lago for meetings with President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Pence will return to crisscrossing the country …

Tennessee lawmakers punish Memphis for removing statues  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Republican-dominated House in Tennessee voted Tuesday to punish the city of Memphis for removing Confederate monuments by taking $250,000 away from the city that would have been used for a bicentennial celebration next year.