McConnell calls for end to investigations of Trump, says ‘case closed’  —  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will lay out his case to move on from investigations into President Trump and his 2016 campaign, calling the matter “case closed” even as Democrats intensify their probes into Trump's conduct.

Why Mnuchin Doesn't Want You to See Trump's Tax Returns  —  If it wasn't clear before, then it's clear now: The White House is waging a war on the principles of transparency and oversight.  —  Surprising absolutely no one, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin thumbed his nose at the House …

It's time to start impeachment hearings.  Today.  —  If Donald Trump weren't president, he'd probably be in jail.  —  That's the view of a bipartisan group of hundreds of former federal prosecutors, who have signed an open letter stating that Trump's conduct would warrant criminal obstruction …

Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar freed from prison: witnesses  —  YANGON (Reuters) - Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar after they were convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act walked free from a prison on the outskirts of Yangon on Tuesday after spending more than 500 days behind bars, witnesses said.

Sandra Bland, It Turns Out, Filmed Traffic Stop Confrontation Herself  —  AUSTIN, Tex. — As Trooper Brian Encinia angrily threatened her with a stun gun from just outside her car window, Sandra Bland recorded the encounter on her cellphone, shown in a newly-released, 39-second video …

Trump Pardons Ex-Army Soldier Convicted of Killing Iraqi Man  —  President Trump on Monday granted a full pardon to a former Army lieutenant who previously served five years in prison for fatally shooting an Iraqi man in American custody.  —  During a deployment in Iraq in 2008 …

Prosecutor: Proof of election fraud in US House race in Va.  —  NORFOLK, Va. — A special prosecutor in Virginia said Monday that he's presented two indictments of election fraud against someone who worked on a failed re-election campaign for a Republican congressman last year.

Islamic Jihad admits baby, pregnant woman killed by their own rockets  —  The report was published in a Telegram account related to Hamas.  —  The Islamic Jihad, one of the terror organizations responsible for the recent wave of attacks against Israel, admitted that the baby that was killed …

FBI Director Wray distances himself from Barr's use of ‘spying’ on Trump campaign  —  Washington (CNN)FBI Director Christopher Wray told a Senate panel Tuesday that the bureau is “working to help” Attorney General William Barr as he reviews the origins of the Russia investigation …

CIA warns Arab activist of potential threat from Saudi Arabia  —  Pro-democracy campaigner Iyad el-Baghdadi has been vocal critic of Saudi crown prince  —  The CIA has warned Norway that a prominent Arab activist who is living in the country under asylum protection is facing a potential threat …

Trump awards highest U.S. civilian honor to Tiger Woods  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Tiger Woods won the Masters on April 14, President Donald Trump declared he was going to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and ordered his aides to schedule the event as soon as possible.

The Fox effect: Trump's base bolsters his standing  —  First Read is your briefing from “Meet the Press” and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  WASHINGTON — “Hung jury” is how Democratic pollster Peter Hart described …

Inaugural Official Disputes White House Account of Her Departure  —  WASHINGTON — Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a leading contractor for President Trump's inaugural committee and a former adviser to the first lady, Melania Trump, has publicly disputed accounts of her departure from the White House last year …

Jill Biden Says 'It's Time To Move On' From Anita Hill Controversy  —  Jill Biden is accomplished in her own right — she holds two master's degrees and a doctoral degree.  But then, her husband is the former vice president and a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination for 2020.

Trump Advisers Accuse China of Reneging on Trade Commitments  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump's top economic advisers on Monday accused China of reneging on previous commitments to resolve a monthslong trade war and said Mr. Trump was prepared to prolong the standoff to force more significant concessions from Beijing.

AirPods Are a Tragedy  —  Apple claims that AirPods are building a “wireless future.”  Many people think they're a symbol of disposable wealth.  The truth is bleaker. … AirPods are a product of the past.  —  They're plastic, made of some combination of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulfur.

I will only nominate judges who will uphold Roe v. Wade and protect reproductive rights.  —  A woman's right to make her own personal health decisions is nonnegotiable.  —  250 bills restricting abortion.  41 states.  In just three months.  —  That's what the onslaught …

With a single typo, Trump turns a German holiday bread into a Twitter star  —  Maybe it was part of President Trump's ongoing campaign to end the “war on Christmas,” freeing up believers to openly extol the virtues of stollen bread without fear of running afoul of fruitcake hate groups.

Biden Continues Post-Launch Surge, Grows Lead Among Likely Democratic Voters  —  Former VP picked up 4 more points, part of a 10-point gain since campaign launch  —  Former Vice President Joe Biden is putting more distance between himself and the rest of the Democratic presidential field.

Economists flee Agriculture Dept. after feeling punished under Trump  —  Economists in the Agriculture Department's research branch say the Trump administration is retaliating against them for publishing reports that shed negative light on White House policies, spurring an exodus that included six …

Qatar Finalizing Plans for Spy Plane Project in South Carolina  —  'It's more than just an economic decision,' one analyst says.  It's a part of a broad campaign to sway opinion in the United States.  Look out below.  —  The Qatari military is finalizing plans to invest in South Carolina …

If Deplatforming Hoaxsters is OK, The News Media Should Be in Big Trouble  —  Without much explanation, Facebook last Thursday banned several high-profile users amid accusations they violated the company's subjective rules about violence and hate speech.  The ban applied to InfoWars founder Alex Jones …

Congress Is Failing  —  So much for checks and balances.  —  WASHINGTON — As House Democrats dither over moving forward with impeachment in a divided government and Senate Republicans are satisfied confirming judges rather than passing legislation, a pressing question is emerging: What the hell is Congress good for, anyway?

Are we watching John Bolton's last stand?  —  Is John Bolton about to get the Iran war he's always wanted, or is he on the verge of losing his job?  —  Over the past several days, President Trump's national security adviser has made comments and issued statements about Iran and Venezuela …

The smoke-filled rooms have burned down  —  Traditional political kingmakers like the parties' national committees and powerful insiders have lost their edge for 2020 as buzzy, insurgent campaigns have the ability to seize control of the narrative — and bundles of cash.