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.

Prisoner release event highlights the best and worst of Trump  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump's tarmac greeting of the three American prisoners that North Korea released was a definite achievement for the White House ahead of the upcoming summit over North Korea's nuclear program.

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 …

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 …

Dick Cheney: Restart enhanced interrogation programs  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney said the U.S. should restart its enhanced interrogation techniques — often considered torture — after the issue was thrust to the forefront during Gina Haspel's confirmation fight to become CIA director.

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 …

'I think it's time to wrap it up': Pence tells Mueller he's had a year to run his Russia probe but won't say it's a ‘hoax’  — Vice President Pence says it's time for Special Counsel Robert Mueller to be done with his year-long investigation into Russia's election meddling in 2016

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.

Israel launches massive military strike against Iranian targets in Syria … MOUNT BENTAL, Golan Heights — The Israeli military said Thursday that it had bombed dozens of Iran-linked military facilities in Syria, as tensions between the three countries soared.

Giuliani Resigns From Law Firm Amid Tensions Over Comments About Trump  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, abruptly resigned from his law firm after weeks of tensions over his public comments.  —  Mr. Giuliani took a leave of absence last month from the firm …

Sheldon Adelson kicks in $30M to stop Democratic House takeover  —  Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has cut a $30 million check to the House GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund, a massive cash infusion that top Republicans hope will alter the party's electoral outlook six months before Election Day.

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 …

‘Vladimir Putin Is an Evil Man’  —  In an excerpt from his new memoir, Sen. McCain discusses his longstanding opposition to the Russian strongman—and his own role in receiving ‘the Steele dossier’ about Donald Trump  —  I regularly attend an annual security conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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 …

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 …

GOP strategist says ‘fall may be brutal’ for party after North Carolina primary upset  —  Tuesday's surprising upset in the 9th District Republican primary sets the stage for not only one of North Carolina's most competitive congressional elections but one of the most closely watched in the country.

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 …

Georgina Chapman on Life After Harvey Weinstein  —  “I have moments of rage.  I have moments of confusion.  I have moments of disbelief!” says Chapman.  —  Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, June 2018  —  On the day in late February when I arrive at Georgina Chapman's town house …

WATCH: Policy Advisor For Trump-Tied ‘America First’ Group Praises Nazis: They Should've Kept ‘Going’ (Exclusive)  —  Last December, in a Florida hotel room just three miles from President Donald Trump's “Winter White House,” a policy advisor for the Trump-tied nonprofit America …

“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?

Which Side Are You On?  —  Should taxes on households making $250,000 or more a year be raised?  When you ask Democrats this question, you get a very interesting answer: Those on the bottom of the income distribution appear to want lower taxes on high earners than those on the top do.

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 …

Military Cites Broad Failures, but Assigns No Direct Blame in Deadly Niger Ambush  —  WASHINGTON — A long-awaited Defense Department investigation of a Special Forces mission in Niger last fall found widespread problems across all levels of the military operation, but concludes that …

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley on President Trump's Nominees  —  The audio:  —  05-10hhs-grassley  —  The transcript:  —  HH: I am so pleased to welcome United States Senator Charles Grassley.  He is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  It's great to have you on, Senator, good morning.

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.