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.

Sarah Sanders is leaving the White House  —  White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders is leaving her post at the end of the month, President Trump announced on Twitter Thursday. … Why it matters: Sanders has long been one of President Trump's fiercest and most loyal defenders …

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.

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 …

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.

House Dems Do What They Do Best After Trump Invites Foreign Election Interference: Shrug  —  The party says the latest from the president is abhorrent and deeply, even legally, problematic.  They just aren't ready to do much more about it.  —  To a person, Democratic lawmakers said on Thursday …

Elaine Chao Sells Vulcan Stock Holdings  —  Secretary of Transportation earned the shares while serving on board of the paving-materials supplier  —  WASHINGTON—Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has sold her shares in a paving-materials supplier after a Wall Street Journal report …

Margaret Hunter admits guilt in campaign-finance scandal  —  Wife of Alpine congressman facing up to five years at sentencing later this year  —  Years of cavalier spending of her husband's political contributions culminated in a guilty plea Thursday for Margaret Hunter …

Oberlin College hit with maximum PUNITIVE DAMAGES (capped at $22 million by law) in Gibson's Bakery case  —  Added to $11 million compensatory damages, brings total to $33 million  —  The jury just rendered its verdict on punitive damages in the Gibson's Bakery v. Oberlin College case.

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 …

Trump's company sells California mansion to firm linked to Indonesian billionaire, a business partner  —  President Trump's company has quietly sold one of his last remaining properties in California — a 5,400-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion that county records show was purchased …

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.”

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.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal: The Story of My Abortion  —  What it taught me about the deeply personal nature of reproductive choice.  —  Ms. Jayapal is a Democratic congresswoman.  —  I call my child a miracle.  Born unexpectedly in India at 26.5 weeks, shortly before I was due to come …

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 …

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.

Republican blocks bill requiring campaigns to alert FBI to foreign assistance  —  Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) blocked an effort by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) to pass a bill via unanimous consent requiring campaigns to report any offers of foreign assistance to the FBI.  Blackburn did not explain her objection.

I Think I Know Why Trump Faved That Tweet About Rihanna  —  At 12:40 a.m. on June 12, in the year of our Lord 2019, President Donald J. Trump “liked” the following tweet, perhaps suggesting that he, too, stans a work/life balance queen. … It's not the first tweet Trump has liked …

Trump smashed months of FBI work to thwart election interference  —  Nearly two years ago, FBI Director Chris Wray set up an office tasked solely with stopping the type of Russian interference efforts that infected the 2016 campaign.  —  On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump undercut the whole operation in a matter of seconds.