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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Trump on whether he holds Putin responsible: “I would, because he's in charge of the country”  —  President Trump told “CBS Evening News” anchor Jeff Glor Wednesday it's “true” Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election, and he “would” hold Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for interference.

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.”

House Dems unveil new midterm campaign slogan  —  House Democrats have finalized their campaign slogan heading into the last months before the midterm election: “For the People.”  —  The new motto, which Democratic leaders unveiled in a private meeting with members Wednesday morning …

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 …

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 …

EXCLUSIVE: Riverside gun store confronts Sacha Baron Cohen after he comes to business in disguise  —  RIVERSIDE, CA (FOX 11) - A Riverside gun store owner has harsh words for Sacha Baron Cohen after he says he caught the actor showing up to his business in disguise and under false pretense, and it was all caught on surveillance video.

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 …

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 …

State Department Silent on MH17 Anniversary Following Trump-Putin Firestorm  —  The department prepared to criticize Russia's role in the 2014 downing of a civilian airliner over Ukraine, but the statement was never released.  —  Every year since a Russian missile downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …

American Conservatives Played A Secret Role In The Macedonian Fake News Boom Ahead Of 2016  —  A joint investigation by BuzzFeed News and partners has uncovered new information that rewrites the story of the fake news boom in the Macedonian town of Veles.  —  A week before Election Day in 2016 …

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 …

Trump's tariffs on Mexico are causing layoffs in the United States  —  POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — When a Mexican company bought Mid Continent Nail Corp. in 2012, workers at the factory here feared it was the beginning of the end.  Their jobs, they suspected, would be given to lower-paid workers in Mexico …

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.”

Special counsel still investigating Roger Stone  —  Stone: Think I'm probably person in indictment  —  Washington (CNN)Robert Mueller's special counsel's office appears to still be investigating Trump adviser Roger Stone and working on a case in court involving one of his former associates.

Bacon Is Bad For Your Mental Health, Say Researchers  —  According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, people who eat meats cured with nitrates are three times more likely to experience a manic episode.

A Stabbing On Samish Island: The Radicalization 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 …

Now the party of Trump, GOP's midterm pitch is protecting him  —  Subscribe to McClatchy's Beyond the Bubble show on iTunes here or Stitcher.  —  WASHINGTON — Headed into a election that's expected to favor Democrats, a top GOP Senate strategist says Republicans are counting …