Before Expected Call for Unity, Trump Laced Into Democrats at Lunch for TV Anchors  —  WASHINGTON — For public consumption, President Trump planned to use his State of the Union address on Tuesday night to appeal for bipartisan unity.  But at a private lunch for television anchors earlier …

Elizabeth Warren apologizes for calling herself Native American  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday that she was sorry that she identified herself as a Native American for almost two decades, reflecting her ongoing struggle to quiet a controversy that continues to haunt her as she prepares to formally announce a presidential bid.

Virginia Attorney General Herring says he wore blackface in college  —  RICHMOND — Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D) said Wednesday he dressed in blackface during college, elevating the Capitol's scandals to a new level that engulfed the entire executive branch of government.

Mueller probe filings raise prospect of more indictments  —  Special counsel Robert Mueller's references to “uncharged individuals” in recent court filings that aim to restrict certain evidence are being read by some as an indication more people could be indicted in his sprawling investigation.

The Iron and Depressing Laws of US-Iran Relations  —  Among the unalterable “laws of the Medes and the Persians” that have ruled US-Iran relations for decades are the following:  — Everything takes longer than you think.  — Everything is harder than you think.

Trump's State of the Union Protection Racket: Either Mueller Gets It, or the American Economy Does  —  This was a weird, shambling speech but it had one clear moment where the president channeled Nixon to suggest the economy would collapse if Mueller continued to go after him.  —  By RICK WILSON2.6.19 4:49 AM ET

On Trump's calendar, just 17 intelligence briefings in 85 days  —  U.S. officials also say Trump does not regularly read the written intelligence briefing sent over daily.  —  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, who doesn't regularly read the daily intelligence summary prepared for him …

Full text: President Trump's 2019 State of the Union address  —  Below is President Trump's 2019 State of the Union address as prepared.  The delivered remarks may differ.  —  Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States …

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Captured the Horror of the State of the Union  —  All of the blithe, occasionally lethal childishness of American political culture was on display Tuesday night during Donald Trump's second State of the Union address.  Most of what's wrong with the speech predates …

Inside Wisconsin's Disastrous $4.5 Billion Deal With Foxconn  —  “This is the Eighth Wonder of the World.”  —  So declared President Donald Trump onstage last June at a press event at Foxconn's new factory in Mount Pleasant, Wis. He was there to herald the potential of the Taiwanese …

Stacey Abrams's New Strategy for Democrats  —  Live from Atlanta, Stacey Abrams delivered the Democratic response to the State of the Union address, standing in front of a slowly swaying group of people in which women and minorities were notably represented.

The New York Times Co. Reports $709 Million in Digital Revenue for 2018  —  The New York Times Company generated more than $709 million in digital revenue last year, growing at a pace that suggests it will meet its stated goal of $800 million in digital sales by the end of 2020.

Seb Gorka Is a National Treasure  —  When in doubt, always go Full-Gorka.  —  “I asked Sebastian Gorka about his tweets; he told me to ‘go outside and lick a metal street lamp.’”  — Will Sommer, The Daily Beast  —  Sebastian Gorka is a man of many distinctions.

New Mexico governor pulls National Guard troops from border  —  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The governor of New Mexico ordered the withdrawal of the majority of the state's National Guard troops from the U.S. border with Mexico on Tuesday, in a move that challenges President Trump's description of a security crisis.

Michael Cohen's testimony before House intel panel delayed  —  Testimony from President Donald Trump's former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, before the House Intelligence Committee this week has been delayed, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday.

Former New Orleans mayor on 2020 run: 'I don't think I'm going to do it'  —  Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu isn't running.  Or at least he isn't planning on it.  —  The Louisiana Democrat told CNN on Wednesday morning that he does not think he will seek his party's 2020 presidential nomination …

U.S. Banks Win $21 Billion Trump Tax Windfall Then Cut Staff, Loaned Less  — The ‘full economic impact will take many years to observe’  —  Major U.S. banks shaved about $21 billion from their tax bills last year — almost double the IRS's annual budget — as the industry benefited …

Spotify Is Acquiring Pair of Podcasting Companies, Signaling Broad Ambitions  —  Spotify is buying a pair of podcasting companies, accelerating its investment in non-music content as it seeks to broaden its appeal and snap up share of listening time from radio.

POLITICO Playbook: Notes from inside the SOTU  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  FORGET THE SUBSTANCE OF LAST NIGHT, because as you know, we are SOTU skeptics.  But we have some observations from inside the chamber last night.  — THERE WAS DEFINITELY a weird vibe.  It seemed a tad bit emptier than usual.

Confidential Memo: Company of Trump Inaugural Chair Sought to Profit From Connections to Administration, Foreigners  —  The memo outlines how Colony, the company founded by Tom Barrack, an investor who chaired the inaugural, aimed to exploit its connections to Donald Trump.

Tulsi Gabbard: Assad Is Not the Enemy of the United States  —  ‘Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States’  —  EXCERPT:  —  HUNT: “Do you think Assad is our enemy?”  —  GABBARD: “Assad is not the enemy of the United States …