Trump's Recall of Moscow Deal Matches Cohen's, President's Lawyers Say  —  President Trump's recollection of discussions about building a Trump Tower in Moscow aligned with those of his longtime fixer Michael D. Cohen, the president's lawyers said on Thursday after Mr. Cohen admitted in court …

Scott to oppose Farr nomination to federal bench in NC, ending chances of confirmation  —  Sen. TIm Scott said Thursday he will oppose the nomination of Thomas Farr to the federal bench, assuring the controversial pick will not be confirmed.  —  The South Carolina Republican was the deciding vote …

EXCLUSIVE: CNN Fires Marc Lamont Hill Following Israel Comments  —  CNN severed ties with contributor Marc Lamont Hill on Thursday, following comments the university professor made in a speech at the United Nations.  —  “Marc Lamont Hill is no longer under contract with CNN,” a CNN spokesperson told Mediaite.

Mueller's Steady Stream of Russia Revelations Is Driving Trump Crazy  —  Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture.  Today, Trump's panic over Mueller, Mike Espy's loss in Mississippi …

Deutsche Bank Offices Are Searched in Money Laundering Investigation  —  One hundred seventy officers searched the headquarters of Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and five other sites in the area early Thursday as part of a money-laundering investigation involving hundreds of millions of euros, prosecutors in Frankfurt said.

Feds raid Ald.  Burke's City Hall, ward offices  —  Federal agents showed up unannounced at the City Hall office of Finance Committee Chairman Ed Burke, kicked everyone out and papered over the windows Thursday morning.  —  The nature of their visit was not known, but Ald.

Mic has laid off the majority of its staff  —  The publisher is trying to sell the remainder of the company to Bustle Digital Group.  —  Mic is laying off the majority off its staff while the digital publisher works on a deal to sell the remainder of its assets to Bustle Digital Group.

U.S. life expectancy declines again, a dismal trend not seen since World War I  —  Life expectancy in the United States declined again in 2017, the government said Thursday in a bleak series of reports that showed a nation still in the grip of escalating drug and suicide crises.

Pelosi shuts down critics in tense meeting  —  Nancy Pelosi was having none of it.  —  A trio of her fiercest Democratic critics — lawmakers trying to bar her from reclaiming the speaker's gavel — were trying to pin her down on exactly when she planned to relinquish power.

Ryan casts doubt on ‘bizarre’ California election results  —  Weeks after House Republicans lost their majority, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Thursday cast serious doubts about the “bizarre” election system in California, where it appears that seven GOP-held seats will flip to Democratic control.

Jeff Flake caves again — withdrawing his ‘no’ vote on controversial judge so Pence could break the tie  —  Outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) flaked again when he withdrew his “no” vote against controversial judicial nominee Jonathan Kobes.  —  Flake has pledged to stage an epic protest …

Two Celebrities Charged With Unlawfully Touting Coin Offerings  —  The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and music producer Khaled Khaled, known as DJ Khaled, for failing to disclose payments they received …

Europe's Jew Hatred, and Ours  —  A new CNN poll reveals that one in four Europeans are anti-Semitic.  —  Ms. Weiss is an editor and writer in the Times Opinion section.  —  Paris.  Toulouse.  Malmo.  Copenhagen.  Brussels.  Berlin.  —  For most people, they are lovely cities where you might happily take a holiday.

Trump labor secretary out of running for attorney general after Miami Herald report  —  WASHINGTON  —  Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta is out of the running to be President Donald Trump's attorney general following a Miami Herald report that he oversaw a sweetheart deal for a wealthy financier accused …

How Donald Trump appeals to men secretly insecure about their manhood  —  From boasting about the size of his penis on national television to releasing records of his high testosterone levels, President Trump's rhetoric and behavior exude machismo.  His behavior also seems to have struck a chord with some male voters.

The media got it all wrong on the new US climate report … Activists tend to exaggerate the impacts of climate change while underestimating the costs of tackling it.  The reception to the new US climate assessment was instructive.  The report largely attempts to remain soberly scientific …

Orthodox Jewish boy attacked on Brooklyn street … A 9-year-old Orthodox Jewish boy was randomly attacked by a stranger in Brooklyn in what police are investigating as a possible hate crime — the first of two similar incidents that occurred within an hour of each other, authorities said Thursday.

The 10 Best Books of 2018  —  The editors of The Times Book Review choose the best fiction and nonfiction titles this year.  —  Asymmetry  —  In “Asymmetry,” two seemingly unrelated sections are connected by a shocking coda.  The first, “Folly,” is the story of a love affair.