Paul Manafort a ‘hardened’ and ‘bold’ criminal, Mueller prosecutors tell judge  —  Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort “repeatedly and brazenly violated the law” and shows a “hardened adherence to committing crimes,” prosecutors told a Washington federal judge.

Robert Mueller files 800+ page sentencing memo for Paul Manafort  —  Special counsel Robert Mueller has filed a sentencing memo for President Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort.  Mueller does not take a position on how much time in prison Manafort should serve, but accuses him of …

Four dead, 24 injured after pro-government militias open fire on Venezuela-Brazil border  —  The standoff between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaidó continued to intensify Saturday as the two sides clashed over delivery of humanitarian aid into the impoverished country.

Do Not Disturb: How I Ditched My Phone and Unbroke My Brain  —  My name is Kevin, and I have a phone problem.  —  And if you're anything like me — and the statistics suggest you probably are, at least where smartphones are concerned — you have one, too.  —  I don't love referring to what we have as an “addiction.”

Judge tosses North Carolina mandatory voter ID amendment citing gerrymandering  —  A judge in North Carolina on Friday tossed out the state's constitutional amendment requiring a voter ID, citing prevalent gerrymandering in the state's General Assembly.  —  Wake County Superior Court Judge …

As tax refunds shrink, Republicans scramble to defend Trump tax cut  —  Size apparently does matter, at least when it comes to tax refunds, and that's put Republicans on the defensive as Americans start filing their returns.  —  With headlines blaring about smaller refunds in the first weeks …

How Esquire lost the Bryan Singer story  —  On February 11, news broke that Millennium Films was delaying Bryan Singer's Red Sonja, which was to begin production this year.  This was, on the face of it, a remarkable turn of events.  Singer's Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, had just been nominated for five Oscars.

What if Trump refuses to accept defeat in 2020?  —  Joshua A. Geltzer is executive director and visiting professor of law at Georgetown Law Center's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and an ASU future of war fellow at New America.  He previously was senior director …

Inside the Rise and Fall of a Multimillion-Dollar Airbnb Scheme  —  Multiple misleading identities, more than 100 host accounts and 18 corporations were created to run an illegal hotel business in Manhattan, according to a lawsuit filed by the city.  —  [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]

Looming Mueller investigation report leaves Washington in suspense  —  For 21 months, Robert Mueller has been an omnipresent but unseen lead in D.C. drama.  —  Driving the news: As soon as he delivers his farewell letter or report, the protagonists become Attorney General William Barr …

Health Care and Insurance Industries Mobilize to Kill ‘Medicare for All’  —  WASHINGTON — Even before Democrats finish drafting bills to create a single-payer health care system, the health care and insurance industries have assembled a small army of lobbyists to kill “Medicare for all,” …

Warren: Native Americans should be ‘part of the conversation’ on reparations  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Friday that Native Americans should be “part of the conversation” on reparations, The Washington Post reported.  —  Warren, a 2020 Democratic presidential contender …

Florida human trafficking: Billionaire equity firm owner John Childs wanted on prostitution charge in Vero Beach  —  Billionaire equity firm owner John Childs is one of several men accused of soliciting prostitution in connection with a Florida spa tied to an international human trafficking ring, police said Thursday.