‘I was happy to do it for you’: Matt Gaetz overheard making stunning admission to Trump about Cohen threat  —  Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has fallen under investigation for an apparent threat against Michael Cohen — which he may have made at President Donald Trump's request.

House Democrats prepare case to request Trump tax returns  —  Democrats are crafting a request to send to the IRS and say they will “take all necessary steps” to obtain the president's returns.  —  WASHINGTON — The top tax-writing committee in the House is readying a request for years …

U.S. to end large-scale military drills with South Korea  —  The move is part of the Trump administration's effort to ease tensions with North Korea, U.S. officials said.  —  The U.S. military is preparing to announce that annual large-scale joint exercises conducted with South Korea every spring …

Mark Penn, Ex-Clinton Loyalist, Visits Trump, and Democrats Are Not Pleased  —  WASHINGTON — Mark J. Penn, one of the primary architects of President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign, met briefly with President Trump in the Oval Office last week, according to two people in attendance.

Hawley served with subpoena as he exits CPAC stage, says attorney mounting lawsuit  —  Sen. Josh Hawley capped a tumultuous week Friday with his debut appearance at the American Conservative Union's CPAC conference— and receiving a subpoena as he left the stage.

Top White House adviser acknowledges threat posed by climate change  —  Hassett: Climate change could threaten economic growth  —  (CNN)White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Friday that he believes climate change could threaten economic growth.  —  It's a position that puts …

How a HUD official turned the Michael Cohen hearing into a reality TV audition  —  Her cameo appearance at the Michael Cohen hearing — a bit of stagecraft intended to dispel accusations of racism against President Trump — provoked an instant backlash from black politicians and the public.

Bernie Sanders Is Making Changes for 2020, but His Desire for Control Remains  —  He will be talking about himself — at least if his advisers have their way.  His top aides are not just white men.  And unlike last time, when he enjoyed playing the insurgent foil to an establishment-backed politician …

Our Moment  —  This is our moment, our climate, our mission.  Together, we can defeat climate change.  That's why I'm running for president.  Join #OurClimateMoment today http...

Inside the Chaotic Early Days of Trump's Foreign Policy  —  The day after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, White House national security adviser Susan Rice gathered her staff for a pep talk.  —  About a third of the room was crying.  Everyone was in shock.

Editor's note related to Lincoln Memorial incident  —  A Washington Post article first posted online on Jan. 19 reported on a Jan. 18 incident at the Lincoln Memorial.  Subsequent reporting, a student's statement and additional video allow for a more complete assessment of what occurred …

2020 House Overview: Can Democrats Keep Their Majority?  —  The spectacle in North Carolina's 9th District makes 2018 feel like the election that will never end.  And, the looming presidential primaries are rapidly overshadowing congressional politics.  But the 2020 fight for the House …

Why the Mueller Report Might Disappoint Almost Everybody  —  After endless hype, special counsel Robert Mueller may be about to submit his report.  It is impossible to know what his conclusions will be.  But after so much speculation, one outcome seems likely: Mueller will disappoint just about everyone …

Joe Biden responds to criticism after calling Pence a ‘decent guy’  —  Biden faces criticism after calling Pence a ‘decent guy’  —  Omaha, Nebraska (CNN)Former Vice President Joe Biden responded to criticism Thursday after he called Vice President Mike Pence a “decent guy” during a speech in Omaha …

Why Americans Might Never Notice Climate Change's Hotter Weather  —  In the past 50 years, climate change has altered the weather of the United States, leading to milder winters, warmer nights, and sweltering summer heat waves.  These changes will intensify in the decades to come …

CPAC 2019: Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens Are the New King and Queen of the GOP Ball  —  In years past, Breitbart and Fox News dominated the annual conservative confab.  But this year, a notoriously far-right student organization runs the show.

Time for Netanyahu to Go  —  Israel's prime minister increasingly resembles America's 37th president.  —  When the final chapter on Benjamin Netanyahu's political life is written — and it may be a long time from now — he is likely to go down as the Richard Nixon of Israel: politically cunning, strategically canny, toxically flawed.

More than 1,000 TSA employees still owed back pay from shutdown  —  TSA employees still owed back pay 1 month after shutdown  —  Washington (CNN)More than a month after the longest government shutdown in US history ended, a significant number of Transportation Security Administration employees still …

Alan Dershowitz suggests curbing press access to hearing on Jeffrey Epstein sex abuse  —  A court hearing on whether to unseal sensitive documents involving the alleged sex trafficking of underage girls by Palm Beach multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein — and the possible involvement …

New York City Experienced Worst Decline in Restaurant Jobs since 9/11 After $15 Minimum Wage Win  —  The Big Apple's fast-food industry, The New York Times recently reported, has long served as a laboratory for progressive politicians and the nation's labor machine.

Case Not Closed  —  Even if Mueller's report is a dud, Washington will freak out ANDREW MCCARTHY  —  Special counsel Robert Mueller's final report is said to be close to completion and ready for submission to the Justice Department.  —  There is even conjecture that it is already finished …

Trump recruitment failure sets off alarms over 2020  —  President Donald Trump wants to raise $1 billion for his reelection.  But his top advisers worry that the super PAC at the center of that effort is hurting, lacking a high-wattage leader who can cajole millionaire and billionaire donors to fork over huge sums.

Carbon monoxide is killing public housing residents, but HUD doesn't require detectors  —  Residents of a South Carolina public housing complex are demanding answers after two of their neighbors died from the gas.  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. — KinTerra Johnson and her three young children had to flee …

Maddow Wins Wednesday Night Ratings As MSNBC Has Its Highest-Rated Day Ever  —  Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.  — Share to facebook  — Share to twitter  — Share to linkedin … Michael Cohen was very good for MSNBC.

Republicans Are Shopping for a New Monetary Policy  —  Whatever the reasons for it, the movement away from a reflexive call for tighter money is a welcome development.  —  When Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell testified before Congress this week, what was most notable about the hearings …