How Michael Cohen, Denied White House Job, Was Seen as Its Gatekeeper  —  After paying off a pornographic film actress and doing other tasks to help his boss win the presidency, Michael D. Cohen was surprised to find that the doors to the White House were mostly closed to him.

Trump gives freed Americans flag-waving, wee-hours welcome  —  JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) — Staging a made-for-TV, still-of-the-night arrival ceremony, President Donald Trump welcomed home three Americans freed by North Korea and declared their release a sign of promise toward his goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

Liberman: We hit almost all Iranian infrastructure in Syria  —  “If Iran hits us with rain - we will hit them with a deluge,” the defense minister said hours after Israel struck Iranian targets in Syria.  —  Defense Minister Liberman hopes fighting with Iran in Syria over for now and the message is clear, May 10, 2018 (Reuters)

Trump is no longer the worst person in government … Donald Trump, with his feral cunning, knew.  The oleaginous Mike Pence, with his talent for toadyism and appetite for obsequiousness, could, Trump knew, become America's most repulsive public figure.  And Pence, who has reached this pinnacle …

Why the Democrats Just Lost the Senate  —  While Nancy Pelosi is shopping for speaker's gavels, Chuck Schumer should be preparing for another term as minority leader.  —  For Democrats, the Don Blankenship dream is over.  The coal-mining baron and ex-con was a pleasant diversion …

Pence says it's time for Mueller to wrap it up  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence says it's time for special counsel Robert Mueller to conclude his probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election.  —  He says: “In the interests of the country, I think it's time to wrap it up.”

STATEMENT BY SASC CHAIRMAN JOHN McCAIN ON THE NOMINATION OF GINA HASPEL TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE CIA  —  Washington, D.C. ­- U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on the nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the CIA:

Don Jr. moving on from Vanessa with Fox host Kimberly Guilfoyle  —  Amid his divorce from his wife of 12 years, Donald Trump Jr. has started dating stunning Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle.  —  Multiple sources exclusively tell Page Six that Don Jr. and Guilfoyle, a co-host of “The Five …

How Europe can save the Iran deal  —  ROME — There is no way around it.  U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal may have pleased his political base and delighted the leaders of Israel and Saudi Arabia, but for America's European allies, it is an utter and unjustified betrayal.

Adelson gives $30 million to help GOP save the House  —  The donation to the Congressional Leadership Fund is a big boost to Republicans facing a tough midterm environment.  —  Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has cut a $30 million check to the House GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund …

“People Get Subpoenas, Shit Gets Real”: What John Edwards Should Teach the Media About Covering Trump  —  If you were in Las Vegas and could win $1 million by placing a simple prop bet on whether Trump enjoyed some pee play with Russian hookers in Moscow in 2013, would you bet yes or no?

Baltimore County Executive, Democratic candidate for governor Kevin Kamenetz dies  —  Kevin Kamenetz, Baltimore County Executive and Democratic candidate for governor died this morning of cardiac arrest.  —  Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz — a Democratic candidate for governor …

Fans of Sean Hannity, Black Lives Matter among targets of Russian influence campaign  —  The ads highlight how Russia's efforts focused on divisive cultural issues  —  Russian propaganda efforts used ads on Facebook and Instagram to push divisive messages to fans of a variety …

Spotify Removes R. Kelly Music From Its Playlists As Part of New Hate Content & Hateful Conduct Policy: Exclusive  —  Beginning today (May 10), Spotify users will no longer be able to find R. Kelly's music on any of the streaming service's editorial or algorithmic playlists.

McCain Confirms He Gave Trump Dossier to Comey: ‘Duty Demanded I Do’ It … In his new book, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) confirms that he gave a controversial dossier about President Trump to former FBI chief James Comey.  —  “I agreed to receive a copy of what is now referred to as 'the dossier …

Novartis paid Trump's lawyer's firm far more than any of its actual lobbyists  —  W  —  ASHINGTON — The $100,000 monthly fee Novartis paid a company set up by President Trump's personal attorney to help it better understand “U.S. healthcare policy matters” in the Trump era is almost four times …

Schneiderman Can Use Campaign Cash in Ways Donors Never Imagined  —  Eric Schneiderman has amassed more than $8.5 million in campaign donations, according to his most recent filing with the state in January.  —  But New York State doesn't require him to return the funds, even though he's not running for re-election.