EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Johnny Isakson Stands Up for McCain; Unloads on Trump  —  Georgia's senior senator gives the president a “whipping.”  —  Later today Sen. Johnny Isakson will call out President Trump for his continued disparagement of John McCain.  The chairman of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee …

Former Trump confidante Hope Hicks to cooperate with House Democratic probe into Trump  —  (CNN)Hope Hicks, the former White House communications director and long-time confidante of President Donald Trump, plans to turn over documents to the House Judiciary Committee as part of its investigation into potential obstruction of justice.

Kellyanne Conway defends Trump after he attacked her husband  —  Kellyanne Conway on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump's attacks on her husband George Conway saying he's “a counterpuncher” and asserting that the president is free to respond when he's accused of having a mental illness.

Will Bernie Sanders Split the Democratic Party in 2020?  —  Bernie Sanders has tried to assure Democrats he does not intend to run a factional splinter campaign in 2020.  To that end, he has promised to endorse the nominee, and pledged he will not run a negative campaign, and to date has followed through on the latter promise.

Bevin exposed his 9 kids to chickenpox, says vaccine not for everyone  —  In a move experts say is medically unsound — and can be dangerous — Gov. Matt Bevin said in a radio interview Tuesday that he deliberately exposed all nine of his children to chickenpox so they would catch the disease and become immune.

Donna Brazile Explains Why She's Working for Fox News  —  Donna Brazile, who has twice served as the interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, is one of the most prominent political strategists of recent times.  Brazile, Al Gore's campaign manager in 2000, was the first African-American woman …

The Esquire Interview: Mayor Peter Buttigieg  —  The South Bend, Indiana mayor and Democratic presidential candidate talks socialism, the Green New Deal, “I'm With Her,” what Democrats can learn from James Joyce(!), and more.  —  Like seemingly every other Democrat in or out of office …

The Time Has Come for Democrats to Impeach Brett Kavanaugh  —  And no, 'he's just not worth it' is not an acceptable excuse.  —  Donald Trump is up for reelection in about 18 months.  Even if he wins, he is term-limited out of office after 2024.  Even if he declares a national emergency …

Trump Has Now Shifted $1.3 Million Of Campaign-Donor Money Into His Business  —  Donald Trump has charged his own reelection campaign $1.3 million for rent, food, lodging and other expenses since taking office, according to a Forbes analysis of the latest campaign filings.

Florida Republicans Are Sabotaging a Constitutional Amendment That Gave Felons the Right to Vote  —  In November, a supermajority of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to former felons who've completed their sentences.

Cindy Yang, former owner of spa embroiled in Robert Kraft arrest and influence peddling allegations, says Trump ‘will make America great again’  —  Li “Cindy” Yang the embattled Floridian former spa owner defended President Donald Trump in an interview with ABC News saying: “He's saying ‘make America great again’.”

Beto, Biden and Bernie: The B-Boys and the media's dangerous, self-fulfilling prophecy  —  As amorous embraces go, few could be more ardent than the one Beto O'Rourke got this month from Vanity Fair magazine.  —  The perfectly timed cover treatment was the full monty: Rugged-glam photo …

IG investigating Shanahan over Boeing comments  —  The Pentagon's inspector general has begun an investigation into Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan's reported Boeing bias, the IG's office said Wednesday.  —  “The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General has decided …

Federal judge casts doubt on Trump's drilling plans across the U.S. because they ignore climate change  —  The ruling temporarily halts drilling on 300,000 acres of leases in Wyoming.  —  A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the Interior Department violated federal law by failing …

NYU Journalism School Hires Ex-New Yorker Fact Checker Who Falsely Said ICE Agent Had Nazi Tattoo  —  New York University has hired Talia Lavin as an adjunct journalism professor less than a year after the former New Yorker fact checker resigned after falsely accusing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent of having a Nazi tattoo.

FBI joining criminal investigation into certification of Boeing 737 MAX  —  The FBI has joined the criminal investigation into the certification of the Boeing 737 MAX, lending its considerable resources to an inquiry already being conducted by U.S. Department of Transportation agents, according to people familiar with the matter.

No soccer experience, but she still got a spot on elite UCLA team in college admissions scandal  —  Lauren Isackson's athletic credentials were dwarfed by those of her teammates.  She joined the vaunted UCLA women's soccer program in 2017 alongside members of the U.S. and Canadian national teams …

Two mystery parties try to restrict release of documents in Jeffrey Epstein civil suit  —  Two mysterious parties, labeling themselves Jane Doe and John Doe, have filed separate legal briefs in an attempt to limit the public release of personal information that could connect …

‘Florida Is Tired of Being a Cheap Date’: Andrew Gillum Wants to Help Democrats Win in 2020  —  In an interview, the former mayor and rising Democratic star confirms he's not running for president, and outlines his plans to mobilize Florida voters for the election.  —  Andrew Gillum has more free time than he would like.

CNN Poll: Support for impeachment falls among Democrats  —  WASHINGTON (CNN)Support for impeaching President Donald Trump has fallen 7 points since December, a CNN Poll conducted by SSRS finds, following Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi calling impeachment “so divisive to the country.”

Trump retweets QAnon conspiracy theorist, via Larry the Cable Guy, to slam the TSA  —  From a QAnon conspiracy theorist to actor James Woods to comedian Larry the Cable Guy to the leader of the free world.  Thus travels information in the age of Twitter and President Trump …

Major Obama fundraiser Mark Gallogly looks likely to support Beto O'Rourke in 2020 run for president  — Top Obama bundler Mark Gallogly has been indicating to friends that he's leaning toward supporting former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke in the 2020 race, according to people who have spoken with him in recent weeks.

The Federal Courts Are Running An Online Scam  —  Every day, dozens of hungry reporters lurk inside something called PACER, the online records system for America's federal courts.  These days, they're mostly looking for the latest scraps of intel on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation …

Of Suspicious Minds: Medical Experts Cast Doubt On Lesin Autopsy  —  WASHINGTON — A neck bone that rarely breaks, and when it does, it is almost always due to strangulation or asphyxiation.  Soft-tissue hemorrhaging on muscles running along the sides and back of the neck.  A swollen brain.

The New Left Wants To Stop Joe Biden.  There Just Isn't A Clear Plan To Do It.  —  There's a progressive faction of the Democratic Party very much against Joe Biden for president.  Whether their strategy amounts to more than angry tweets remains to be seen.

The bread crumb papers: Why Cohen document dump should worry Donald Trump and others  —  Redactions can be used to avoid alerting a defendant before he's charged or tipping off suspects in a pending investigation.  Who might that apply to?  —  CONNECT  —  While the case against former …

Trump administration withholds report justifying ‘shock’ auto tariffs  —  A confidential government report has provided President Donald Trump with a legal rationale to impose heavy new tariffs on foreign cars as soon as this spring, a prospect fiercely opposed by White House officials …

Despite Washington talks, France still unclear over U.S. Syria plans: Le Drian  —  PARIS (Reuters) - France, one of the main contributors to the fight against Islamic State in the Middle East, has received no answers to questions about U.S. calls for it and others to help secure northeastern Syria …