Paul Manafort says at his sentencing he feels ‘humiliated and ashamed’  —  Paul Manafort, President Trump's onetime campaign chairman, asked a judge for mercy at his sentencing Thursday for a host of financial crimes — conduct that could now earn the once high-flying political consultant years in prison.

Republicans manage to get Democrats out of a jam — by showing the GOP's true colors  —  After a remarkably successful start for the new Congress, House Democrats got themselves tied up in knots this week.  In responding to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who accused Israel supporters of loyalty …

Scoop: White House leak to House Dems on Jared and Ivanka's clearances  —  From a White House source, the House Oversight Committee has obtained documents related to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump's security clearances that the Trump administration refused to provide, according …

Eric Holder Says Next Democratic President Should Consider Court Packing  —  The former attorney general made the comments Thursday during a chat with the Yale Law National Security Group.  —  Former Attorney General Eric Holder said Thursday that the next Democratic president should …

Lynne Patton, a Trump housing official, says she has presidential OK for reality TV  —  (CNN)Lynne Patton, a longtime Trump family associate who made a controversial appearance at last week's House hearing with Michael Cohen, says she has the President's blessing to follow in his footsteps …

Pentagon may tap military pay, pensions for border wall  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is planning to tap $1 billion in leftover funds from military pay and pension accounts to help President Donald Trump pay for his long-sought border wall, a top Senate Democrat said Thursday.

What Kirsten Gillibrand Is Missing: New York Endorsements for 2020  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Cory Booker has been endorsed for president by New Jersey's entire 11-member Democratic congressional delegation, his state's governor and its other senator.  Senator Bernie Sanders has the backing …

Fearing mass GOP defections, Trump leans in to emergency fight  —  Sen. Ron Johnson made no secret of his displeasure with Donald Trump declaring a national emergency to build his border wall, worrying in late January that the president would take the “Emergency Act beyond where it's ever been.”

Trump inauguration took money from shell companies tied to foreigners  —  Creators of firms that donated revealed by Guardian as Indian financier, lobbyist with links to Taiwan and Israeli real estate developer  —  Donald Trump's inauguration received tens of thousands of dollars …

The Case for Reparations  —  A slow convert to the cause.  —  I've been traveling around the country for the past few years studying America's divides — urban/rural, red/blue, rich/poor.  There's been a haunting sensation the whole time that is hard to define.  It is that the racial divide doesn't feel like the other divides.

POLITICO Playbook: Republican leadership splits, and party splinters over hate resolution  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  23 HOUSE REPUBLICANS voted against a resolution Thursday evening that condemned hate against many groups, including Jews and Muslims, in the wake of REP. ILHAN OMAR'S (D-MINN.) …

A conservative group alleges Ocasio-Cortez and her allies ran a PAC scam.  But there's no evidence of wrongdoing.  —  While the structure of her campaign and its vendors might be confusing, it's not illegal, campaign finance experts said.  —  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's congressional campaign …

AOC was a Girl Scout ... just say no to the cookies  —  Exclusive: Jane Chastain explains group's continual support of leftist causes  —  Jane Chastain is a Southern California-based broadcaster, author and political commentator.  Despite her present emphasis on politics …

Beto O'Rourke team begins making inquiries about possible staffers, strategists in NH  —  Sources: People close to former congressman reach out to key Granite Staters ahead of possible presidential announcement  —  MANCHESTER, N.H. —  As Beto O'Rourke continues to hold off on an announcement …

Elon Musk's Security Clearance Under Review Over Pot Use  — SpaceX business, overseen by Shotwell, not at risk from review  — Musk refiled security clearance form after podcast incident  —  The Pentagon is reviewing Elon Musk's federal security clearance following …

Trump Seeks Huge Premium From Allies Hosting U.S. Troops  — ‘Cost Plus 50’ plan could worsen tensions with key allies  — Frustration over spending by NATO countries behind proposal  —  For years, President Donald Trump has complained that countries hosting American troops aren't paying enough.