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 …

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 …

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.

White House Bars 4 U.S. Journalists From Trump's Dinner With Kim in Hanoi  —  WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday barred four American journalists from covering President Trump's dinner with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, in Hanoi, Vietnam, after two of the reporters called …

“I'm About to Break”: Jussie Smollett and the Pressure of Hollywood Fame  —  The ‘Empire’ actor claimed to be the victim of a heinous crime that played perfectly into Hollywood's worst fears about hate in America.  Did the pressures of childhood fame or a struggling music career play a role …

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 …

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.

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.