Feds tapped Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's phones  —  Federal investigators have wiretapped the phone lines of Michael Cohen, the longtime personal lawyer for President Donald Trump who is under investigation for a payment he made to an adult film star who alleged she had an affair with Trump …

Another Top EPA Official Is Leaving, Sources Say  — Liz Bowman's exit follows two other departures just this week  — At least 10 federal investigations target EPA Chief Pruitt  —  A third top EPA official is leaving the agency amid intensifying scrutiny of Administrator Scott Pruitt's travel, spending and condo rental.

Trump Place Does Not Have to be a Forever Name, Judge Says  —  Over the opposition of lawyers for a company owned by President Donald J. Trump, State Supreme Court Judge Eileen Bransten ruled Thursday that a condominium on the Upper West Side could remove the bronze letters spelling out his name from its 46-story building.

Special counsel Robert Mueller focusing sharply on links between Trump confidant Roger Stone and former campaign official Rick Gates, sources say  — Special counsel Robert Mueller is focusing intensely on alleged interactions between former top Trump campaign official Rick Gates and political operative Roger Stone.

Ban assault weapons, buy them back, go after resisters: Ex-prosecutor in Congress  —  Ban assault weapons and buy them back.  It might cost $15 billion, but we can afford it.  Consider it an investment in our most important right, the right to live.  —  Gary Jackson never stood a chance.

Charlie Rose's misconduct was widespread at CBS and three managers were warned, investigation finds … Incidents of sexual misconduct by Charlie Rose were far more numerous than previously known, according to a new investigation by The Washington Post, which also found three occasions …

Army Green Berets Secretly Help Saudis Combat Threat From Yemen Rebels  —  WASHINGTON — For years, the American military has sought to distance itself from a brutal civil war in Yemen, where Saudi-led forces are battling rebels who pose no direct threat to the United States.

The New York Times Company Reports 2018 First-Quarter Results  —  NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)— The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) announced today first-quarter 2018 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $.13 compared with $.08 earnings per share in the same period of 2017.

The FBI Is in Crisis and America Is Paying the Price  —  Former FBI Director James Comey leaves a Senate hearing on June 8, 2017, after testifying about Donald Trump Stephen Voss  —  In normal times, the televisions are humming at the FBI's 56 field offices nationwide, piping in the latest news as agents work their investigations.

The Gambler Who Cracked the Horse-Racing Code  —  Bill Benter did the impossible: He wrote an algorithm that couldn't lose at the track.  Close to a billion dollars later, he tells his story for the first time.  —  Horse racing is something like a religion in Hong Kong, whose citizens bet more than anyone else on Earth.

Trump's North Korea strategy won't go far with Iran  —  As much as President Trump would like credit for solving the Iran nuclear problem, he will not get far trying to replicate the approach his administration has taken toward North Korea.  The facts on the ground in each country are simply too different.

Laser from Chinese Base Aimed at U.S. Military Pilots In Africa's Skies, Pentagon Charges  —  Incidents in recent weeks increase tensions, threaten Flight safety, U.S. says  —  WASHINGTON—Chinese military personnel are targeting American flight crews in the skies over the east African nation …

Facebook Placed An Employee Who Harvested User Data For Cambridge Analytica On Leave  —  Facebook is now conducting an investigation into Joseph Chancellor, who co-founded a company that sold Facebook user information used by Cambridge Analytica.  —  A Facebook employee …

Three black teens are finalists in a NASA competition.  Hackers spewing racism tried to ruin their odds. … The three D.C. students couldn't believe the news.  They'd developed a method to purify lead-contaminated water in school drinking fountains, and NASA announced last month …

Man accused of threatening gay clubs in Lakeview accidentally released from Cook County Jail  —  Shane Sleeper, who was in the custody of Cook County Jail, was accidentally released from custody on Wednesday, Chicago police say.  (Chicago police)  —  A man charged with threatening violence …

Dems +8 On House Ballot  —  McConnell, Schumer, Ryan, Pelosi viewed negatively  —  West Long Branch, NJ - Democrats hold an 8 point lead over Republicans in the generic House ballot as public opinion on the new tax reform law continues to be divided.  The Monmouth University Poll also finds …

Corker-Blackburn drama risks must-win Senate seat for GOP  —  The GOP incumbent's kind words for former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen have given centrist Republicans tacit permission to break ranks.  —  Republicans are increasingly unnerved by the rift between retiring Sen. Bob Corker and Marsha Blackburn …

James Comey rails on NRA, says he'd be a ‘crappy candidate’ in Miami book tour appearance  —  James Comey never wanted to write a book.  The thought of signing onto that kind of “ego deal” seemed unbearable.  —  “And then I got fired,” Comey told nearly 2,000 supporters in Miami on Wednesday …

Kelly Finds Himself in a Familiar Place in the Trump White House: Eyeing the Exits  —  WASHINGTON — When President Trump learned this week that his chief of staff, John F. Kelly, reportedly called him “an idiot” on several occasions, he expressed little in the way of frustration or anger …

Mother, 19, stabbed boyfriend during sex after telling him men should only be used for ‘human sacrifice’  —  A young mother has been jailed for 11 years for stabbing her occasional boyfriend as they has sexual intercourse after texting him to say men should only be used as “human sacrifice”.