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.

Israel in major raids on ‘Iran’ targets in Syria after rocket fire  —  An image released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) early on May 10, 2018 purportedly shows what the official news agency said was air defence systems intercepting Israeli missiles over Syrian airspace, without specifying the location

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 …

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 …

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.”

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 …

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:

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 …

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 …

Five Top ISIS Officials Captured in U.S.-Iraqi Sting  —  BAGHDAD — Five senior Islamic State officials have been captured, including a top aide to the group's leader, in a complex cross-border sting carried out by Iraqi and American intelligence, two Iraqi officials said Wednesday.

“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?

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.

Eric Greitens takes aim at Republicans, leaves liberal measures on midterm ballot  —  Embattled Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, is declining to block from the November ballot three initiatives that could boost Democratic turnout in the midterm.  —  Greitens faces possible impeachment …

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 …

Protestants decline, more have no religion in a sharply shifting religious landscape (POLL)  —  The nation's religious makeup has shifted dramatically in the past 15 years, with a sharp drop in the number of Americans who say they're members of a Protestant denomination …

Miami Police Union Says Head-Kicking Cop “Used Great Restraint,” Shouldn't Be Charged … Hours after Miami Police Officer Mario Figueroa was charged with misdemeanor assault today after film surfaced of the cop trying to kick a handcuffed man in the head, the city's police union released …

The Obama Legacy Deserves To Be Destroyed  —  Smash the rickety legacy of executive abuse!  —  It's strange that a president who had such a transformative effect on our national discourse will leave such a negligible policy legacy.  But Barack Obama, whose imperial term changed …

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.