From the Start, Trump Has Muddied a Clear Message: Putin Interfered  —  WASHINGTON — Two weeks before his inauguration, Donald J. Trump was shown highly classified intelligence indicating that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had personally ordered complex cyberattacks to sway the 2016 American election.

CBS News poll: Most Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of Putin summit  —  Only a third of Americans (32 percent) approve of the way Donald Trump handled his summit in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a CBS News poll shows.  Sixty-eight percent of Republicans approve.

Maria Butina Spent Years Wooing US Conservatives.  Here's How She Did It.  —  It's hard to tell how much of the story 29-year old Maria Butina told Americans about herself for years is real.  But it's clear that her persona — a scrappy girl from Siberia fighting for Russian gun rights …

House GOP refuses to renew election security funding as Democrats fume over Russian interference  —  House Republicans plan to vote Thursday on a spending bill that excludes new money for election security grants to states, provoking a furious reaction from Democrats amid a national controversy over Russian election interference.

Reporters, Facing a Hostile White House, Try a New Tactic: Solidarity  —  Reporters, Facing a Hostile White House, Try Solidarity  —  The Town at the Heart of  —  Nicaragua's Opposition Movement  —  Masaya is one of the few places in Nicaragua where President Daniel Ortega's crackdown on protesters has faltered.

Citizenship shouldn't be a birthright  —  Michael Anton is a lecturer and research fellow at Hillsdale College and a former national security official in the Trump administration.  —  A Supreme Court confirmation fight always raises constitutional hopes and stokes constitutional fears.

New York Is Said to Open Tax Inquiry Into Trump Foundation  —  The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has opened an investigation into whether the Donald J. Trump Foundation violated state tax laws, a move that could lead to a criminal referral for possible prosecution …

Mark Zuckerberg clarifies: 'I personally find Holocaust denial deeply offensive, and I absolutely didn't intend to defend the intent of people who deny that.'  —  The Facebook founder has attracted controversy for how the social network deals with content that is offensive to many, such as Holocaust deniers

State Supreme Court removes measure to split California into three states from November ballot  —  The California Supreme Court decided Wednesday to remove from the November ballot a measure aimed at dividing California into three states.  —  In a brief order, the court said it acted …

Governor who has kept Supreme Court waiting for a new justice asks court to expedite his case  —  Today is Day 497 since Justice Kathryn Werdegar announced that she would be retiring from the Supreme Court and it's been almost 11 months since she actually left the court.

Brexit: European Commission publishes Communication on preparing for the UK's withdrawal from the EU  —  The European Commission has today adopted a Communication outlining the ongoing work on the preparation for all outcomes of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.

A GOP congressman once lamented not being able to call women ‘sluts’ anymore  —  (CNN)A Republican congressman from Minnesota has a long history of making deeply misogynistic comments on the radio, including lamenting that women can no longer be called “sluts.”

Senate GOP breaks record on confirming Trump picks for key court  —  Senate Republicans broke a record on Wednesday for the number of appeals court judges confirmed during a president's first two years.  —  Senators voted 50-49 on Andrew Oldham's nomination to be a judge on the 5th Circuit …

Alt-Right Troll To Father Killer: The Unraveling Of Lane Davis  —  Lane Davis was a far-right, pro-Trump media figure looking for his big break.  Then he stabbed his father to death.  —  Nearly everyone on Samish Island knew Chuck Davis, a bighearted retiree who lived in the handsome gray shingle house …

Interior watchdog opens probe of land deal linking Zinke, Halliburton chairman  —  The Interior Department's internal watchdog has launched a full investigation into a real estate deal involving a foundation established by Ryan Zinke and developers including Halliburton Chairman David Lesar …

Trump's military parade expected to cost nearly as much as ‘tremendously expensive’ canceled war games  —  Here's how other countries do military parades  —  Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump's military parade in DC is likely to cost nearly as much as the now canceled military exercise …

Man who is 90 per cent covered in tattoos has his genitals removed because they spoiled the view of his body art  —  A cancer survivor who tattooed almost 90 per cent of his body has had his genitals removed - because they spoiled the view of his body art.  —  Adam Curlykale, 32 …

Christie to offer ‘frank appraisals’ of Trump allies in new book  —  Chris Christie's got some complaining to do.  —  The former New Jersey governor, fired as chairman of President Donald Trump's transition team and passed over for top administration jobs, is promising to dish about everyone …

Russian state TV: Trump ‘smells like an agent of the Kremlin’  —  Trump's attacks on America this week are providing great fodder for Russian propagandists.  —  In the aftermath of Trump's disgraceful and humiliating performance at Monday's summit with Vladimir Putin, Russian state media …

Anti-Trump protests outside White House, in Times Square decry DC ‘corruption’  —  Demonstrators gather in Times Square to protest President Trump.  —  Demonstrators protesting President Trump and his administration gathered at rallies in cities across the country on Wednesday with a goal to “confront corruption and demand democracy.”

Ted Nugent bars guns from his concert in last-minute switch  —  Musician Ted Nugent, a vocal gun rights advocate, reportedly barred guns from being allowed into a venue he performed at in Virginia on Tuesday night.  —  A local NBC affiliate reported that Nugent's management made the decision …

Michelle Obama Launches Voter Registration Campaign with Tom Hanks and Lin-Manuel Miranda  —  Lin-Manuel Miranda is not throwing away his opportunity to vote this November — and he doesn't want you to either.  —  Miranda has joined forces with former First Lady Michelle Obama …

Nunes declares war on the media  —  The California GOP congressman says his local paper is working with ‘radical left-wing groups.’  —  LOS ANGELES — Devin Nunes is sitting on an eye-popping pile of money he's raised in recent months, with little reason to spend it yet.

Watchdog: Secret Service for Eric, Donald Trump Jr. trips cost $230,000 in 1 month  —  Secret Service protection for President Donald Trump's two adult sons cost more than $230,000 in one month last year, according to documents obtained by a government watchdog.