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.

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 …

Trump's new nickname for Pete Buttigieg: ‘Alfred E. Neuman’  —  President Donald Trump dismissed Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Friday in a single sentence.  —  “Alfred E. Neuman cannot become president of the United States,” the president told POLITICO …

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's Tariffs Are a New Tax on Americans  —  President Trump is undermining the credibility of his trade policies by falsely claiming that China is paying the bill.  —  The editorial board represents the opinions of the board, its editor and the publisher.  It is separate from the newsroom and the Op-Ed section.

Beto O'Rourke plans ‘reintroduction’ as 2020 buzz fizzles  —  NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Beto O'Rourke barreled into the 2020 presidential race with breakneck energy and a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants campaign style that saw him leap atop tables to address overflow crowds with the organic …

Politics is front and center for Russiagate probe — and the farce has reached new heights  —  Politics is front and center for the Russiagate probe, which has reached previously unknown heights of farce - and that's saying something.  —  This week saw the spectacle of the House Judiciary Committee holding …

GOP lawmaker shared story of her rape.  Now she says she's under attack in abortion debate  —  A GOP state lawmaker who recently gave an impassioned speech about being raped as a 16 year old says she feels attacked after a Republican colleague passed out literature describing rape as a …

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 …

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 …

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.

Inside Syria's Secret Torture Prisons: How Assad Crushed Dissent  —  GAZIANTEP, Turkey — Syrian security officers hung Muhannad Ghabbash from his wrists for hours, beat him bloody, shocked him with electricity and stuck a gun in his mouth.  —  Mr. Ghabbash, a law student from Aleppo …

Democrats are complicit if they don't impeach Trump  —  Julian E. Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University.  —  As President Trump moves in aggressive fashion to block and obstruct congressional investigations, House Democrats seem unsure what to do.

How Trump Helps MS-13  —  The U.S. doesn't need a big, beautiful border wall.  It needs a real foreign policy.  —  Years ago, when Donald Trump's presidential bid was taking off, I asked him whether his attitudes toward free trade and border security might make matters worse for Mexico — and hence for the U.S., too.

San Francisco police raid home of journalist to find who leaked Adachi report  —  Police raided the home and office of a freelance journalist Friday morning.  —  Police raided the home and office of a freelance journalist Friday morning as part of an ongoing investigation …

Pompeo to Meet Putin as Trump Seeks Better Russia Ties Again  — Short trip leaves little time for major policy breakthroughs  — Trump returns to saying he sees ‘tremendous potential’ ahead  —  U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo leaves for Moscow on Sunday …

Lynne Patton, Trump Advisor on Urban Issues, Rejects ‘Cocaine Mitch’ Campaign by Mitch McConnell  —  Lynne Patton, a member of the Trump administration who has spoken openly of her battle with cocaine addiction, disagreed with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on his endorsement of the “Cocaine Mitch” campaign.