The Covington Scissor  —  Welcome to another controversy algorithmically designed to tear America apart.  —  In a short story published last October, “Sort by Controversial,” Scott Alexander imagines a Silicon Valley company that accidentally comes up with an algorithm to generate what it calls a “Scissor.”

Power struggle paralyzes ‘irrelevant’ White House press shop  —  Washington (CNN)White House press briefings, in steady decline even before the partial government shutdown, have now ground to a halt as a prolonged power struggle among President Donald Trump's aides leads to a muddled messaging strategy …

Senate Leaders Reach Deal That Offers Possible Path to Reopen Government  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate will vote Thursday on two separate bills that would bring an immediate end to the partial government shutdown: one backed by President Trump that includes $5.7 billion for his border wall …

Trump's Lawyer Said There Were “No Plans” For Trump Tower Moscow.  Here They Are.  —  Trump's lawyer claims the Moscow tower was barely more than a notion.  “There were no drafts.  Nothing in the file.”  Documents obtained by BuzzFeed News tell a different story.

Divorce filing: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says her husband physically attacked her  —  Years before her divorce, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst was assaulted by her husband after she confronted him about his alleged affair with their daughter's babysitter, she wrote in court filings.

Mueller wants to know about 2016 Trump campaign's ties to NRA  —  Washington (CNN)Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has expressed interest in the Trump campaign's relationship with the National Rifle Association during the 2016 campaign.  —  “When I was interviewed by the special counsel's office …

Mitch McConnell Got Everything He Wanted.  But at What Cost?  —  The president whom the Senate Republican leader helped elect has turned out to be the one thing he can't control.  —  At sunrise, there it was: a red-tailed hawk, its gyre widening over the United States Capitol building …

The Young Left's Anti-Capitalist Manifesto  —  A few months ago a friend wrote me an email with the subject line, “What is Sean McElwee.”  —  This is the kind of question that occurs to a person who spends a lot of time on Twitter.  In 2018, McElwee's tweets seemed to abound in liberal cyberspace.

Top diplomat for European affairs resigns from State Department  —  A. Wess Mitchell, the top diplomat in charge of European affairs, will resign from the State Department next month, creating a key vacancy at a time when European leaders are questioning President Trump's commitment to historic alliances.

Supreme Court Revives Ban on Transgender Military Service  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday revived the Trump administration's policy of barring most transgender people from serving in the military.  In a brief, unsigned order, the justices lifted nationwide injunctions that had blocked the policy.

Fox News anchor Baier, family in car crash, released from hospital  —  Fox News anchor Bret Baier and his family were in a car accident while vacationing in Montana on Monday, which CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert described as serious.  —  “We just found out that he and his family …

Trump's phony ‘compromise’ has now been unmasked as a total sham  —  President Trump and his allies have spent days talking up the idea that his new proposal to reopen the government constitutes a “compromise.”  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has vowed to bring the proposal …

Judge denies Mark Harris request to certify his win despite election fraud investigation  —  The state's investigation into alleged election fraud by the Mark Harris campaign will continue, a judge ruled Tuesday morning.  —  Harris is the Republican candidate who appeared to narrowly win …

Trump's health secretary refuses Democrats' request to testify on separated kids  —  HHS Secretary Alex Azar has declined a request to testify on the Trump administration's policy of separating migrant families at the border, angering House Democrats who accused the administration of …

Trump Polling At Only 41-42% Against Possible Democratic Foes  —  PPP's newest national poll finds that at the midway point of Donald Trump's term as President, he's a clear underdog for reelection.  —  Trump gets just 41 or 42% in head to head match ups against 7 likely Democratic candidates for President.

“5 minutes of sheer terror”: Hackers infiltrate East Bay family's Nest surveillance camera, send warning of incoming North Korea missile attack  —  Fake ICBM missile warning over Nest system sends East Bay family into panic  —  ORINDA — Laura Lyons was preparing food in her kitchen Sunday …

Former Aide Depicts Chaotic Decision-Making Process in Trump White House  —  In book ‘Team of Vipers,’ Cliff Sims describes how internal subterfuge helped stall trade agenda  —  WASHINGTON—President Trump began reconsidering his campaign promise to label China a currency manipulator …

US banker with ties to Putin's inner circle sought access to Trump transition: Sources  —  Nine days after Donald Trump won the presidency, as scores of supporters clamored for meetings with his transition team, the Hollywood producer of “The Apprentice,” Mark Burnett, reached …