Riding around with Beto O'Rourke as he comes to grips with a presidential run.  —  It's nine P.M. on a Thursday night and Beto O'Rourke is trying to manage a couple of life-altering and possibly world-historical political events while also driving his family home from a Mexican restaurant.

Lori Loughlin's Daughter Olivia Leaves Yacht of USC's Board of Trustees Chairman  —  As Lori Loughlin traveled from Vancouver to L.A. Tuesday night to surrender to federal authorities in the college bribery scandal — which got her daughter, Olivia Jade, into USC — Olivia spent the night …

Exclusive: Lawyer said Michael Cohen could ‘sleep well tonight’ after speaking to Rudy Giuliani  —  Washington (CNN)An attorney who said he was speaking with President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani reassured Michael Cohen in an April 2018 email that Cohen could “sleep well tonight” …

New York Charges Paul Manafort With 16 Crimes.  If He's Convicted, Trump Can't Pardon Him.  —  [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]  —  Paul J. Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chairman, has been charged in New York with mortgage fraud …

Facebook's Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation  —  Federal prosecutors are conducting a criminal investigation into data deals Facebook struck with some of the world's largest technology companies, intensifying scrutiny of the social media giant's business practices as it seeks to rebound from a year of scandal and setbacks.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she has ‘zero’ sympathy for parents caught in college admissions scam  — Sen. Elizabeth Warren told MSNBC that she has “zero” sympathy for the dozens of parents charged in what the Justice Department says is the biggest college admissions scandal it's ever prosecuted.

Twitter reveals big changes to conversations and new camera features  —  The changes are meant to make good on the company's promise to promote “healthy conversation.”  —  Twitter is teasing some of the biggest changes to its social media service since it first launched in 2006 …

Lee, fifth GOP senator, to vote against Trump's border declaration  —  GOP Sen. Mike Lee (Utah) says he will vote for a resolution disapproving of President Trump's national emergency declaration on the southern border, becoming the fifth Senate Republican to announce his support for the measure.

Whitaker ‘did not deny’ talking to Trump about Cohen, personnel at SDNY, top Democrat says  —  The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee said Wednesday that former acting attorney general Matthew G. Whitaker “did not deny” that President Trump “called him to discuss the case” …

Inside the Shadowy, Totally Legal World of High-Priced College Consultants  —  For prices up to $1.5 million, parents can buy a five-year, full-service package of college admissions consulting from a company in New York City called Ivy Coach.  —  The service begins as early as eighth grade …

“The planes are grounded”: Trump takes action on Boeing 737 Max planes  —  The pressure has been mounting for days.  —  The United States will follow much of the rest of the world in grounding Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 jets after the models were involved in two deadly plane crashes in five months.

Fox News Contributor Salaries Revealed In Financial Disclosures  —  At least 10 members of the Trump administration have served as on-air contributors for the network.  —  Across cable news, the salaries paid to on-air contributors remain shrouded in mystery, ranging by network and by market demand for the contributor's expertise.

Trump's defense secretary faces ethics complaint over Boeing promotion  —  A government watchdog group has asked the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate whether Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan violated ethics rules by promoting Boeing weapons systems while serving as a government official.

The Astonishing Hypocrisy of Media Matters  —  If there's one thing we can absolutely count on in our post-ethical partisan era, it's that for every scandal, there is, in short order, a similar — sometimes astoundingly similar — scandal on the other side.  Sometimes, the comparisons …

Trump May Have an Unlikely Re-election Ally  —  The Democratic Party's crowded field and messy rules could lead to months of infighting and an ugly convention.  —  Mr. Wasserman is the House editor at The Cook Political Report.  —  Donald Trump's low approval ratings have attracted a crush …

Jacob Wohl Faked Death Threats Against Himself  —  One came from a phony account the wingnut provocateur created and ran just before he was banned from Twitter. … Right-wing personality Jacob Wohl appears to have faked death threats against himself.  —  Wohl and fellow provocateur Laura Loomer went …

I Learned in College That Admission Has Always Been for Sale  —  The bribery scandal is no more abhorrent than the completely legal industry that helps many wealthy kids get into the schools of their dreams.  —  Ms. Stauffer is a writer.  —  Shortly after my freshman year of college …

GOP megadonor Mercer family donated to nonprofit conservative group that focuses on historic values of ‘English-speaking peoples’  — The Republican megadonor family led by billionaire Robert and daughter Rebekah Mercer once donated to the Anglosphere Society, a group of conservative activists that promotes …

Rudy Giuliani and wife Judith Nathan ripped by judge for making divorce trial ‘unpleasant’  —  It's getting ugly.  —  A Manhattan divorce judge said Wednesday that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his estranged wife Judith Nathan are headed toward a bitter matrimonial trial.

Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton will travel to Iowa as he considers 2020 run  —  Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton will travel to Iowa later this month to meet with Democratic activists and leaders as he considers a run for president.  —  Moulton, a Democrat, told BuzzFeed News that he's weighing a possible 2020 run.

House Democrats Target Ivanka Trump (but Through a Side Door)  —  WASHINGTON — Rhona Graff, President Trump's longtime executive assistant, was asked for documents related to foreign governments providing gifts or money to Ivanka Trump or her businesses.  —  Anatoli Samochornov …