White House proposed releasing immigrant detainees in sanctuary cities, targeting political foes  —  White House officials have tried to pressure U.S. immigration authorities to release detainees onto the streets of “sanctuary cities” to retaliate against President Trump's political adversaries …

WikiLeaks Founder Charged in Computer Hacking Conspiracy  —  ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Julian P. Assange, 47, the founder of WikiLeaks, was arrested today in the United Kingdom pursuant to the U.S./UK Extradition Treaty, in connection with a federal charge of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion …

Fourth GOP senator comes out against Trump Fed pick Cain  —  A fourth Republican senator announced Thursday that he would oppose Herman Cain if President Trump nominated him to the Federal Reserve Board, all but dooming his potential appointment.  —  Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a close Trump ally …

Rod Rosenstein Defends Justice Department Handling of Mueller Report  —  Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein defended the Justice Department's handling of the special counsel's still-secret report, saying Attorney General William Barr is “being as forthcoming as he can” about redacting and releasing the document.

Instagram Stands By Laura Loomer Calling Ilhan Omar's Islamic Faith ‘Cancer’  —  Muslim congresswoman was accused of denying hijackers were terrorists.  Critics' followers call for her imprisonment, deportation, and worse.  —  Death threats against Rep. Ilhan Omar are surging online …

Letters from Joe Biden reveal how he sought support of segregationists in fight against busing  —  (CNN)Joe Biden's road to a third presidential bid has been lined with a series of explanations and apologies, illustrating the challenges of preparing a long record of public service …

Bret Easton Ellis Thinks You're Overreacting to Donald Trump  —  “When did people start identifying so relentlessly with victims, and when did the victim's world view become the lens through which we began to look at everything?”  So begins Bret Easton Ellis's take on, of all things …

Health Care, Environment Top Dem Issues  —  West Long Branch, NJ - Democratic voters in the Hawkeye State like Joe Biden - a lot.  The former vice president leads the pack and holds the best favorability rating in a field of two dozen presidential contenders, according to the first Monmouth University Poll …

Avenatti indicted on 36 charges of tax dodging, perjury, theft from clients  —  In a sweeping expansion of the criminal charges against Michael Avenatti, a federal grand jury has indicted the Los Angeles lawyer on 36 counts of fraud, perjury, failure to pay taxes, embezzlement and other financial crimes.

Joe Manchin endorses Susan Collins for reelection  —  Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin endorsed GOP Sen. Susan Collins for reelection on Thursday, in a rare rebuff of partisan politics in an increasingly polarized Senate.  —  The moderate West Virginia senator also offered to campaign for the vulnerable Maine incumbent.

You Say Democracy, I Say Republic  —  The terms are interchangeable descriptions of the American political system, yet a fight over their meaning could have outsize consequences.  —  One of this age's great crank ideas, that the U.S. is a “republic” and not a “democracy,” …

Illinois Senate Tells Trump, Show Your Tax Returns Or Be Barred From The 2020 Ballot  —  The Democratic-led Illinois Senate voted Thursday to compel President Trump to release five years' worth of his personal income tax returns or be barred from appearing on the state's presidential ballot next year.

Ron Burkle, Billionaire Investor, Is Said to Be in Talks to Buy National Enquirer  —  The owners of The National Enquirer are in talks to sell the tabloid to the California billionaire Ronald W. Burkle, according to two people with direct knowledge of the negotiations.

Former Obama White House counsel indicted in charges stemming from Mueller probe  —  It's the latest aftershock of the Mueller investigation.  —  Greg Craig, who served as White House counsel early in President Barack Obama's administration, was indicted Thursday in a case stemming from the Mueller investigation.

Pascrell suggests contempt of Congress for Mnuchin over Trump's tax returns  —  Rep. Bill Pascrell, an outspoken advocate of getting President Donald Trump's tax returns, lashed out today at what he considers administration stonewalling.  —  Congress could hold Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin …

DA knew Jeffrey Epstein was a dangerous pedophile when arguing for leniency  —  The Manhattan DA's office had graphic and detailed evidence of pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein's depravity when a prosecutor inexplicably argued for leniency during his 2011 sex offender registry hearing, The Post has learned.