Trump is now repaying Putin for helping him win the presidency  —  THE MORNING PLUM:  —  The events of the past few days — culminating in President Trump's meeting today with Russian President Vladimir Putin — have rendered this interpretation inescapable: Trump is currently in the process …

Bombshell Bourdain interview is published one month after his suicide: Celebrity chef unloads on 'rapey, gropey and disgusting Bill Clinton and hopes Weinstein is ‘beaten to death in jail’  — Anthony Bourdain gave a lengthy, wide ranging interview to journalist Maria Bustillos for her recently launched magazine Popula

POLITICO Playbook Power Briefing: Everything you need to know about Trump and Putin's joint appearance  —  By JAKE SHERMAN (sherman@politico.com; @JakeSherman), ANNA PALMER (anna@politico.com; @apalmerdc), DANIEL LIPPMAN (daniel@politico.com; @dlippman), AKELA LACY (alacy@politico.com …

Plutonium went missing in San Antonio, but the government says nothing  —  Losses of civilian nuclear material are usually disclosed but when the government loses nuclear bomb ingredients it stays mum  —  Two security experts from the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory drove to San Antonio …

Germany: We can no longer fully rely on U.S. White House  —  BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's foreign minister said on Monday Europe could not rely on Donald Trump and needed to close ranks after the U.S. president called the European Union a “foe” with regard to trade.

What Robert Mueller Knows—and 9 Areas He'll Pursue Next  —  The special counsel has collected a mountain of evidence in the Trump-Russia investigation, but so far only a tiny amount of it has been revealed in official indictments.  Here are nine areas where we should expect answers as the inquiry unfolds.

FCC sends Sinclair mega-deal to likely doom  —  FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Monday he has “serious concerns” about Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition of Tribune Media, saying he would send the transaction through a lengthy administrative process often viewed as a deal-killer.

Russia Hawk Axed From National Security Council Right Before Trump-Putin Summit … Shortly before Donald Trump detonated a NATO summit, shanked the beleaguered British prime minister and prepped for a face-to-face love session with Vladimir Putin, his White House quietly divested itself …

The Midwest eases its Trump swoon and flirts again with Democratic candidates  —  NEW ALBANY, Ohio — Troy Balderson, the Republican candidate for Congress, wanted to make one thing clear: He would not support President Trump on everything.  —  He would “not ever support separating families” to control immigration.

I'm running for Senate as a Republican.  My Democrat parents are so furious they're backing my opponent  —  My decision to be a Democrat was never a decision.  It was just expected of me.  It was understood.  Born into a family of Democrats, my grandfather would often spend weekends talking …

Yes, Normal Republican Elites Are a Threat to Democracy  —  Brett Kavanaugh would make a perfectly normal Supreme Court justice.  The appellate judge boasts all of the conventional credentials for that post (as his former professors at Yale Law will eagerly inform you).

Vanishing Point  —  As the GOP increasingly comes to resemble a personality cult, is there any red line—video tapes?  DNA evidence? a war with Germany—President Trump could cross and lose party support?  “Very doubtful,” say a dozen GOP members of Congress stuck hard behind the MAGA eight ball.

This Is the Moment of Truth for Republicans  —  There are exactly two possible explanations for the shameful performance the world witnessed on Monday, from a serving American president.  —  Either Donald Trump is flat-out an agent of Russian interests—witting, unwitting, from fear of blackmail …

Shock over ruling that ‘brides of Christ’ need not be virgins  —  Consecrated virgins say they are disappointed by Vatican's new guidance  —  Christian women who have pledged lifelong virginity as “brides of Christ” have expressed shock at a Vatican document that suggests literal virginity is not a prerequisite for their consecration.

The Finance 202: Trump's trade offensive is producing brutal local headlines  —  THE TICKER … President Trump's trade war is serving up a public relations migraine for the administration in local press across the country.  —  Coverage from the front lines of where the tariffs …

Ocasio-Cortez Floats a “Sub-Caucus” of Progressives Willing to Vote Together as a Bloc  —  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is exploring forming a “sub-caucus” of progressives in the House that would be willing to vote as a bloc to leverage their power, she said in a recent podcast interview.