CNN's hiring of a GOP operative as political editor is even worse than it looks  —  A few months before the 2016 presidential election, Sarah Isgur tweeted some advice to Donald Trump: “The only 3 words that should be coming out of Donald Trump's mouth this week are: ‘Clinton’ ‘foundation’ ‘emails’”

The White House plan to exploit Andrew McCabe's new book  —  White House officials and sources close to President Trump are treating Andrew McCabe's book as an opportunity.  —  What's happening: These people plan to keep promoting bits from “The Threat,” which has rocketed past Michelle Obama's …

The Washington Post sued by family of Covington Catholic teenager  —  The family of the Kentucky teen who was involved in an encounter with a Native American advocate at the Lincoln Memorial last month filed a defamation lawsuit against The Washington Post on Tuesday, seeking $250 million in damages for its coverage of the incident.

What the Jussie Smollett Story Reveals  —  I was one of many people who found Jussie Smollett's story a little off from the beginning.  Two white men in ski masks are out in 10-degree weather in the middle of the night, equipped with a bottle of bleach or something like it and a rope that they fashioned into a mock noose.

Ethically challenged: Three scandals rock Trump administration in one day  —  First Read is your briefing from “Meet the Press” and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  WASHINGTON — It's hard to keep up with all of the alleged scandals hitting the Trump administration.

Trump grows frustrated with Coats, leading some to fear he might be fired  —  President Trump has grown increasingly disenchanted with Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats, who has served as the nation's top intelligence official for nearly two years, leading some administration officials …

Virginia voters — including African-Americans — get Northam's back  —  Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam appears to have quelled any widespread public clamor for his resignation in the wake of his blackface scandal.  —  Two new polls out Wednesday show pluralities say the Democrat should not quit …

The Congresswoman Loves the Swamp  —  Her Wealthy Chief of Staff used a PAC to Pay Her Boyfriend  —  Luke ThompsonBlockedUnblockFollowFollowing  —  Last Friday, my mentions died for your sins.  I posted a screen grab of Riley Roberts's House Microsoft Outlook card, including his official house …

Trump's Plan to Decriminalize Homosexuality Is an Old Racist Tactic … The Trump administration is set to launch a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in dozens of nations where anti-gay laws are still on the books, NBC News reported Monday.  While on its surface …

‘Sustained and ongoing’ disinformation assault targets Dem presidential candidates  —  A wide-ranging disinformation campaign aimed at Democratic 2020 candidates is already underway on social media, with signs that foreign state actors are driving at least some of the activity.

Inside Patrick Shanahan's clash with Congress in Munich over Syria  —  In a private meeting in Munich with more than a dozen lawmakers, acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan got an earful about President Trump's plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria by the end of April.

Supreme Court, in unanimous ruling, moves to limit state and local governments' power to impose fines and seize property  —  The court on Wednesday ruled in favor of Tyson Timbs of Marion, Ind., whose $42,000 Land Rover SUV was seized after his arrest for selling a couple hundred dollars' worth of heroin.

Carol Rosenberg Joins The Times  —  Carol Rosenberg, the foremost reporter on the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, will cover the detention camp and other important national security stories.  Read more in this note from Dean Baquet and Elisabeth Bumiller.

Trump's New Defense: Congress Can't Investigate Because There Are Too Many Crimes  —  President Trump spent the weekend decrying the “coup” against him, demanding the imprisonment of federal investigators, and calling for retribution against those who mock him.  Below the surface, though, a more serious argument is taking shape.

Harris' consultant denies knowing about illegal activities by Dowless during campaign  —  Read more about the investigation into the 9th Congressional District  —  The Bladen County political operative at the center of possible election fraud in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District assured …

Deutsche Bank Weighed Extending Trump Loans on Default Risk  — Bank is said to have been concerned about default in office  — Executives considered extending maturities to address risk  —  Top Deutsche Bank AG executives were so concerned after the 2016 U.S. election …

Your phone and TV are tracking you, and political campaigns are listening in … It was a crowded primary field and Tony Evers, running for governor, was eager to win the support of officials gathered at a Wisconsin state Democratic party meeting, so the candidate did all the usual things: he read the room, he shook hands, he networked.

Justice Clarence Thomas Calls for Reconsideration of Landmark Libel Ruling  —  WASHINGTON — Justice Clarence Thomas on Tuesday called for the Supreme Court to reconsider New York Times v. Sullivan, the landmark 1964 ruling interpreting the First Amendment to make it hard for public officials to prevail in libel suits.

The family secret Bruce Ohr told Rod Rosenstein about Russia case  —  Who would have thought that, this deep into the Russia collusion probe, we'd be learning about yet another dossier connected to Hillary Clinton?  And, as it turns out, it was sort of a family secret.

Graham sums up how stupid the GOP has become  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in a number of ways epitomizes the Republican Party's descent into intellectual rot and immoral opportunism.  Graham as a candidate called out President Trump as a bigot and “the most flawed nominee in the history of the Republican Party.”

Netanyahu's despicable push to bring racists into Israel's political mainstream  —  The PM is pressing the religious Zionist Jewish Home party to partner with the Kahanists of Otzma Yehudit.  It makes cynical political sense for his interests, but what of Israel's?  —  David Horovitz

Possible peace declaration looms large over Trump-Kim summit  —  TOKYO (AP) — With their second summit fast approaching, speculation is growing that U.S. President Donald Trump may try to persuade North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to commit to denuclearization by giving him something he wants …

Is America Becoming a Four-Party State?  —  Fractures are growing among both Democrats and Republicans.  —  In case you haven't noticed, long-established political parties across the democratic world are blowing up, with Britain's Labour Party just the latest to fracture.  Could America's parties be next?