House Republicans try to spin Trump's foreign dirt comment  —  Amid blistering bipartisan criticism of President Donald Trump's willingness to accept dirt on his 2020 rivals from foreign adversaries, House Republicans decided Thursday that they had found the real culprit: Democrats.

Federal watchdog agency recommends removal of Kellyanne Conway from federal office for violating the Hatch Act  —  The Office of Special Counsel on Thursday recommended the removal of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway from federal office for violating the Hatch Act …

EXCLUSIVE: Trump reveals historic redesign of Air Force One  —  Less than a year after announcing a $3.9 billion makeover for America's most famous aircraft, President Donald Trump shared never-before-seen images of Air Force One's prospective redesign on Wednesday during an exclusive interview with ABC News.

California Democratic 2020 presidential primary is a wide-open race, poll finds … With the Democratic presidential field now largely set, the race in the nation's largest state is wide open, with at least five candidates in serious contention and no clear favorite.

The Latest: Charges dropped in Flint water scandal  —  FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on criminal charges dropped in the Flint water scandal (all times local):  —  Prosecutors say they're dismissing all criminal charges against eight people in the Flint water scandal and starting the investigation over again.

Social Security Is Staring at Its First Real Shortfall in Decades.  Big Cuts Could Follow.  —  A slow-moving crisis is approaching for Social Security, threatening to undermine a central pillar in the retirement of tens of millions of Americans.  —  Next year, for the first time since 1982 …

Oil tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman, U.S. Navy says  —  ISTANBUL — Two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman came under suspected attack early Thursday amid soaring tensions between the United States and Iran in the region.  —  One ship was adrift and on fire in the strategic waterway …

Why the Trump campaign won't pay police bills  —  “Do we love law enforcement or what?”  President Donald Trump asked a cheering crowd during his “Make America Great Again” political rally Oct. 12 in Lebanon, Ohio.  —  “Thank you, law enforcement!” the president later told officers, who he called “heroes.”

Majority of Democrats on House Judiciary Committee now back impeachment  —  The majority of Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee now publicly support opening an impeachment inquiry, according to a review of recent statements by the committee's 24 Democrats.

Manchin eyes Senate exit  —  Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is eyeing a possible exit from the Senate, and his decision could be a significant factor in which party controls the majority in 2021.  —  In moments of frustration, the centrist senator has gone so far as to tell colleagues he may leave …

Joe Biden Said He Did Not View Abortion ‘As a Choice and a Right’ in 2006  —  In a newly unearthed video from 2006, Joseph R. Biden Jr. said he supported Roe v. Wade but did not view abortion as “a choice and a right” — remarks that raise further questions about how he views abortion rights …

Rent Regulations in New York: How They'll Affect Tenants and Landlords  —  The changes would be sweeping, covering everything from security deposits to apartment upgrades.  —  Democratic lawmakers in New York harnessed their new powers on Tuesday to broker sweeping changes to rent laws …

Experts: Spy used AI-generated face to connect with targets  —  LONDON (AP) — Katie Jones sure seemed plugged into the Washington's political scene.  The 30-something redhead boasted a job at a top think tank and a who's-who network of pundits and experts, from the centrist Brookings Institution to the right-wing Heritage Foundation.

First on CNN Business: 600 companies including Walmart, Costco and Target warn Trump on tariffs  —  New York (CNN Business)American retailers, manufacturers and tech companies warned President Donald Trump on Thursday that tariffs on China will damage the US economy, lead to job losses and harm millions of consumers.

Feds gone wild: DOJ's stunning inability to prosecute its own bad actors  —  One was caught red-handed engaged in nepotism.  Another, a lawyer no less, admitted to shoplifting at a Marine barracks store.  A third leaked sealed court information to the news media.

House hearing on reparations for slavery set for next week  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The topic of reparations for slavery is headed to Capitol Hill for its first hearing in more than a decade with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and actor Danny Glover set to testify before a House panel.

Legislative Staffer Describes Meeting With Jessica Biel and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as They Lobbied to Kill a Bill Tightening Vaccine Exemptions  —  On Wednesday, a series of photos posted by activist and vaccine “skeptic” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed him and actress Jessica Biel lobbying California state lawmakers.

Brace for a Voter-Turnout Tsunami  —  Signs are growing that voter turnout in 2020 could reach the highest levels in decades—if not the highest in the past century—with a surge of new voters potentially producing the most diverse electorate in American history.

“WHAT CAN YOU SAY IN 60 SECONDS?”:  AS THE FIRST DEBATE LOOMS, DEMOCRATS PREPARE TO FACE REALITY  —  It's taken as an article of faith inside network greenrooms that the primary debates will shake up the race, ushering in a kinetic new phase of candidate-on-candidate warfare.