Stopping Robert Mueller to protect us all  —  The “deep state” is in a deep state of desperation.  With little time left before the Justice Department inspector general's report becomes public, and with special counsel Robert Mueller  —  having failed to bring down Donald Trump

Trump Grappling With Risks of Proceeding With North Korea Meeting  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump, increasingly concerned that his summit meeting in Singapore next month with North Korea's leader could turn into a political embarrassment, has begun pressing his aides and allies about whether …

RNC paid nearly half a million dollars to law firm representing Hope Hicks and others in Russia probes … The Republican National Committee paid nearly half a million dollars to a law firm that represents former White House communications director Hope Hicks and others in the Russia investigations, according to a new federal filing.

Hillary and Bill Clinton Go Separate Ways for 2018 Midterm Elections  —  For years they dominated the party, brandishing their powerful financial network and global fame to pick favorites for primary elections and lift Democrats even in deep-red states.  They were viewed as a joint entity …

A Border Patrol agent detained two U.S. citizens at a gas station after hearing them speak Spanish … A Montana woman said she plans to take legal action after a Border Patrol agent detained and questioned her and a friend — both U.S. citizens — when he overheard them speaking Spanish at a gas station.

The China bargain emerges  —  You could almost hear the markets breathe a sigh of relief this morning when Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced an armistice in the trade war.  —  Between the lines: This was basically foreseeable.  A few weeks ago, Axios had a story headlined …

How the Trump family sold U.S. foreign policy to the highest bidder  —  Today marks the 16-month anniversary of Donald Trump becoming the 45th president of the United States, and nowhere has our unlikeliest commander-in-chief placed a greater stamp on America's place in the world than his dramatic …

Paul Ryan's House is collapsing, and if the chaos keeps accelerating it could force him out of the speakership before his planned graceful exit at the end of the year:  —  The state of play: A group of about 20 moderate Republicans are threatening to help Democrats force a vote on a DACA bill.

The Mississippi Man Tried Six Times for the Same Crime  —  One morning nearly 22 years ago, four employees of a furniture store in a small Mississippi town were shot to death.  For months afterward, local law-enforcement seemed stumped by the crime.  Eventually, the top prosecutor …

Mario Batali Under Criminal Investigation For Sexual Misconduct: NYPD  —  Police confirm they're investigating the disgraced celebrity chef.  —  Mario Batali, the world-famous chef and restaurateur who has been accused by at least 11 women of sexual misconduct, is the subject …

An Email Referring To ‘Collusion’ Sheds Light On Cambridge Prof's Interactions With Trump Aide  —  Last July, Cambridge professor Stefan Halper contacted Carter Page with something resembling support for the Trump campaign aide, who has faced allegations that he is a Russian agent and a conduit …

China Considers Ending Birth Limits as Soon as This Year  — Plans to scrap controversial policy after about four decades  — Births fall despite 2015 decision to let parents have two kids  —  China is planning to scrap all limits on the number of children a family can have …

Will the Fervor for Impeachment Start a Democratic Civil War?  —  A push to remove Donald Trump from office may lead to disaster in the midterms.  —  Al Green cuts a distinctive figure around the Capitol.  He is, for starters, the only male member of the House of Representatives with a ponytail.