White House Asked McGahn to Declare Trump Never Obstructed Justice  —  WASHINGTON — White House officials asked at least twice in the past month for the key witness against President Trump in the Mueller report, Donald F. McGahn II, to say publicly that he never believed the president obstructed justice …

Trump: Discussing a Biden probe with Barr would be ‘appropriate’  —  President Donald Trump told POLITICO on Friday that it would be “appropriate” for him to speak to Attorney General Bill Barr about launching an investigation into his potential 2020 rival, Joe Biden, or his son, Hunter.

House Ways and Means Chairman Subpoenas Trump Tax Returns  —  WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee subpoenaed the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service on Friday, disregarding the Treasury secretary's refusal this week to hand over six years …

Trump takes over Fourth of July celebration, changing its location and inserting himself into the program  —  President Trump has effectively taken charge of the nation's premier Fourth of July celebration in Washington, moving the gargantuan fireworks display from its usual spot on the Mall …

Joe Biden once said a fence was needed to stop ‘tons’ of drugs from Mexico  —  Biden bolts to the top of Democratic rankings  —  (CNN)Joe Biden once spoke about jailing employers who hire “illegals,” said sanctuary cities shouldn't be allowed to violate federal law, and argued a fence was needed stop …

Ben Shapiro Storms Out of BBC Interview: 'I'm Popular and No One's Ever Heard of You'  —  Facts did not care about Ben Shapiro's feelings.  —  Right-wing commentator and “cool kids' philosopher” Ben Shapiro stormed out of a contentious BBC interview on Thursday after accusing the conservative host …

Nadler says Mueller will not testify next week  —  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y) said Friday that special counsel Robert Mueller will not be testifying before his panel next week.  —  Nadler told reporters that the committee is still negotiating over his testimony …

Dorenko died after falling from his Triumph motorbike on Thursday evening shortly before 7pm  —  He was pronounced dead at the spot with reports in the official media rapidly stating he had suffered ‘major heart failure’ and died of ‘natural causes’ - even before any autopsy was conducted.

Prosecutors finally want to hear from Jeffrey Epstein's victims  —  More than a decade after federal prosecutors gave a secret plea deal to a suspected child sex trafficker, the government finally wants to hear from his victims, indicating on Friday that prosecutors wish to interview …

Republican lawmaker ‘visibly shaken’ after pro-life conservatives troll her for being a rape victim  —  South Carolina State Rep. Nancy Mace (R) said that weeks after sharing a personal story about being raped, she was attacked by her Republican colleague.  —  Mace, “gave the speech two weeks ago …

John Paul Stevens Worries About the Court  —  A retired Supreme Court justice wants his former colleagues to adhere to precedent and the president to comply with subpoenas  —  At 99, John Paul Stevens can remember a time when a Supreme Court nomination prompted minimal controversy …

O'Rourke won't commit to unconditionally supporting Democrats in exchange with New Hampshire voter  —  (CNN)Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke on Friday refused to commit his unconditional support to Democrats down the ticket in 2020 should he secure his party's nomination, in a contentious exchange with a New Hampshire voter.

The ‘Tactical Rabbi’ helps synagogues defend against anti-Semitic violence  —  It was 45 minutes into his lecture when the rabbi pulled out an AR-15.  —  “Who thinks, by show of hands, that we should be carrying more guns in shul?”  Rabbi Raziel Cohen asked the crowd at a Westside Chabad …

Why I Do Not Hate Donald Trump  —  Many people would probably believe me justified in hating Donald Trump.  —  While I was general counsel of the FBI, I watched the president fire my boss and friend, Jim Comey.  I've read and heard the many false statements that the president and his supporters have made about him.

Pentagon shifting $1.5 billion to border wall construction  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is shifting $1.5 billion in funds originally targeted for support of the Afghan security forces and other projects to help pay for construction of 80 miles of wall at the U.S.-Mexican border, officials said Friday.

US government records $160.3 billion April surplus  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government recorded a $160.3 billion surplus in April as revenues for the month jumped to an all-time high.  But even with a flood of tax receipts, the deficit so far this year is running 37.7% higher than a year ago.

Inside SALT: The Mooch's Hedge-Fund Festival Where MAGA Has-Beens Are Great Again  —  Anthony Scaramucci's annual hedge-fund conference featured speeches, steak, and a completely alternative reality.  —  LAS VEGAS—Wednesday afternoon, two thousand men in blue suits sat down to a lunch of well-done steak.

Jared Kushner's Peace Plan Would Be a Disaster  —  The only way to protect the long-term viability of the plan's best aspects is to kill it.  —  Last week, I interviewed White House adviser Jared Kushner on the Middle East peace process at The Washington Institute's annual conference, an event broadcast live on C-SPAN.

New Complaint Hits ‘Repeat Offender’ Kellyanne Conway For Hatch Act Violations  —  The recidivist White House aide has ignored reprimands and is again politicking on taxpayers' dime, an ethics group says.  —  The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed …

Trump on Puerto Rico.  He's off by only $50 billion: Weekly Fact Check  —  President Donald Trump held an impromptu news conference with a small number of reporters at the White House on Thursday during an event calling for new laws to protect patients from unexpectedness medical bills.

Mayor Emanuel's revisionist history on police reform  —  Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, center right, standing nearby, talks about Cook County prosecutors' decision to drop charges against Jussie Smollett after a police graduation ceremony at Navy Pier in Chicago on March 26, 2019.