An Awkward Kiss Changed How I Saw Joe Biden  —  In 2014, I was the 35-year-old Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in Nevada.  The landscape wasn't looking good for my party that year.  There were no high-profile national races to help boost turnout, and after the top candidate bowed …

After Trump Casts Blame for a Special Olympics Cut, Betsy DeVos Flashes Pique  —  WASHINGTON — After a two-day thrashing over her department's proposal to eliminate funding for the Special Olympics, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sat before senators on Thursday ready to defend it again.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump twists facts of a migrant girl's death  —  FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2018, file photo, Annunciation House director Ruben Garcia answers questions from the media after reading a statement from the family of Jakelin Caal Maquin, pictured at left, during a press briefing at Casa Vides in downtown El Paso, Texas.

Trump Fed pick was held in contempt for failing to pay ex-wife over $300,000  —  Records obtained by Guardian show Stephen Moore reprimanded by judge for not paying alimony, child support and other debts  —  Stephen Moore, the economics commentator chosen by Donald Trump for a seat …

William Barr should release the full Mueller report as soon as possible  —  The writer served as deputy attorney general from January 2015 to January 2017.  —  America's justice system is built upon one thing — truth.  When witnesses give testimony, they are sworn to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

How Alex Jones and Infowars Helped a Florida Man Stalk Sandy Hook Families  —  In the world of conspiracy theorists, Alex Jones and Wolfgang Halbig fueled each other's darkest tendencies.  —  Soon after the Dec. 14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. …

Commentary: Kim Foxx: I welcome an outside review of how we handled the Jussie Smollett case  —  Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx prepares to speak to the media on Jan. 8, 2019.  (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)  —  Let's talk about the Jussie Smollett case.

John Brennan: From spittle to flop sweat  —  Among the high former Obama administration officials who have disgraced themselves by their public comments since leaving office, John Brennan deserves special recognition.  Marc Thiessen has done us the favor of making the case in the Washington Post column …

Even Liberal Democrats Can't Quit Wealthy Donors and Their Big Checks  —  Senator Cory Booker spun through a San Francisco fund-raiser hosted on Friday afternoon by high-tech titans and wealthy venture capitalists, including the investor Ron Conway.  That evening, in New York …

Stacey Abrams builds massive political network ahead of 2020 decision  —  Stacey Abrams is set to reveal soon whether she'll run for president or senator or something else.  —  But in recent months, the Democrat has mounted a nationwide, largely below-the-radar effort to expand her donor …

Years of Mark Zuckerberg's old Facebook posts have vanished.  The company says it ‘mistakenly deleted’ them.  — Some old Facebook posts by CEO Mark Zuckerberg have disappeared, and the company says it “mistakenly deleted” them.  — “A few years ago some of Mark's posts were mistakenly deleted due to technical errors.

Trump's barometer for success following Russia investigation's end — TV ratings  —  After President Trump vowed to take credit for shutting down the government over border wall funding during a televised Oval Office meeting with Democratic leaders in December, West Wing aides sprung into overdrive to clean up the mess.

The Foreign Policy Fiasco That Wasn't  —  Withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal has paid dividends.  —  It's been nearly a year since Donald Trump made the decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, to loud cries that it would bring nothing but woe to the United States and our interests in the Middle East.

The Beto effect": Republicans starting to lose their grip in Texas  —  EL PASO — Beto O'Rourke, announcing for president Saturday with three rallies in Texas, is a sign of changing Lone Star politics: Republicans have started to lose their grip.  —  Catch up quick: Brendan Steinhouser …

OxyContin-Maker Owner Maligned Opioid Addicts, Suit Says  —  New portions of lawsuit against opioid makers allege more details of how the Sackler family operated the company  —  In early 2001, Purdue Pharma LP executives discussed how to respond to abuse of the company's five-year-old prescription painkiller OxyContin.

Why the Mueller Summary Is a Big Win for America  —  Why do I find the summary of the Mueller report by Attorney General William Barr to be something of a relief?  —  Firstly, I'm relieved as an American that a serious and dogged prosecutor deemed it impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt …

White House Blames Fed for Slowing Economic Growth  —  President Trump and his top economic adviser criticized the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate increases again on Friday, blaming the central bank for hindering economic growth while denying any suggestion of a looming slowdown.

Editing in an age of outrage  —  Until recently Jian Ghomeshi, a former CBC broadcaster and rock musician, was not much known outside Canada.  I now rather wish it had stayed that way.  But last September I decided, as editor of the New York Review of Books, to publish Ghomeshi's story …

GOP shifts focus to investigating Obama officials  —  Republicans are setting their sights on top Obama-era officials as they plan their own probe into the 2016 election.  —  Eager to move on from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference and the Trump campaign …

Heartbeat Abortion Bills Were Once a Fringe Idea.  Could They Overturn Roe v. Wade?  —  Three states have enacted heartbeat bills.  Ten more are considering them.  —  When anti-abortion activist Janet Porter first introduced the idea of a “heartbeat” bill in 2011, she was almost laughed out of the room.

N.Y. Had a Plan for a ‘Pied-à-Terre’ Tax on Expensive Homes.  The Real Estate Industry Stopped It.  —  ALBANY — When state leaders rallied this month behind a proposal to tax luxury second homes in New York City, it seemed to encapsulate the goals of the Capitol's new Democratic leadership …

Trump's 2020 Campaign: A Traditional Operation With a Wild-Card Candidate  —  WASHINGTON — On a former trading floor in an office tower in Rosslyn, Va., with sweeping views of the Potomac River, the Trump 2020 campaign is settling in.  It has about 40 staff members and counting …