Matt Gaetz Under Investigation By Florida State Bar Over Michael Cohen Threat  —  The Florida congressman tells The Daily Beast he is unaware of the inquiry.  —  The Florida Bar has opened an investigation into whether Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) violated professional conduct rules …

Washington Official Subpoenas Trump Inaugural Committee  —  WASHINGTON — The attorney general for the District of Columbia has subpoenaed documents from President Trump's inaugural committee, the third governmental body to delve into how the fund raised $107 million and spent it to celebrate Mr. Trump's swearing in.

U.S. drops demand for full accounting of N. Korea nuclear program ahead of talks  —  Negotiators focus in on Yongbyon reactor, the “heart” of North Korea's nuclear program.  —  HANOI, Vietnam — U.S. negotiators are no longer demanding that North Korea agree to disclose a full accounting …

Sources: Beto O'Rourke won't challenge John Cornyn for Senate, paving way for presidential bid  —  Beto O'Rourke has decided not to run for Senate next year against Republican incumbent John Cornyn and likely will announce a campaign for president soon, confidants close to the former El Paso congressman told …

Virginia first lady under fire for handing cotton to African American students on mansion tour  —  A Virginia state employee has complained that her eighth-grade daughter was upset during a tour of the historic governor's residence when first lady Pam Northam handed a ball of cotton …

India Pakistan: Kashmir fighting sees Indian aircraft downed  —  Pakistan says it has shot down two Indian military jets and captured a pilot in a major escalation between the nuclear powers over Kashmir.  —  India said it had lost one MiG-21 fighter and demanded the immediate and safe return of its pilot.

The House just passed what could be the biggest change to federal gun laws in decades  —  The research, however, suggests that Congress should go even bigger.  —  The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a universal background check bill — which …

Ilhan Omar on Finding Her Way in Washington  —  Refugee.  Immigrant.  Muslim.  She's everything Trump is trying to ban.  Now she's in Congress … As a teen in Minnesota, Ilhan Omar didn't wear a hijab often.  “I, regretfully, was one of the folks who would only wear it the days …

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is furious at these photos of her and a staffer eating a hamburger and killing the planet  —  Apparently, when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says that Americans will have to eat fewer hamburgers to save the planet from global warming, she meant Americans who don't work for her.

Kushner Met With Saudi Crown Prince to Push Mideast Peace Plan  —  ISTANBUL — Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, met with the Saudi king and crown prince during a tour of the Middle East to try to build momentum for his long-awaited plan for peace between Israel …

Reporter Jane Mayer?  —  It's a few weeks after Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court, and  —  , one of the most prominent investigative reporters in the country, has just finished a stunning professional run.  She and her  —  New Yorker  —  colleague Ronan Farrow broke …

Ellen Page on Jussie Smollett Fallout: Hate Violence Is Not a Hoax (Guest Column)  —  While the media debates the ‘Empire’ star's case, it's critical that we not losesight of the real threats underrepresented communities face every day, writes the actress and activist.

Pew: Phone polling in crisis again  —  The percentage of Americans willing to participate in telephone polls has hit a new low, according to a new report, raising doubts about the continued viability of the phone surveys that have traditionally dominated politics and elections, both in the media and in campaigns.

Bladen County operative at center of NC election fraud investigation indicted, arrested  —  McCrae Dowless, the political operative at the center of the 9th District election fraud case, was arrested Wednesday after being indicted on charges related to collecting absentee ballots in the 2018 and 2016 elections.