Trump Won't Let No. 2 Spy Chief Take Over When Coats Leaves  —  WASHINGTON — The White House is planning to block Sue Gordon, the nation's No. 2 intelligence official, from rising to the role of acting director of national intelligence when Dan Coats steps down this month …

At rally, Trump seethes with elite contempt for Real Americans  —  The candidate for president was seething with disdain for a large swath of Real Americans.  The candidate scoffed at their suffering.  The candidate oozed with haughty superciliousness as he wrote off all those Americans as unworthy of concern or outreach.

Detailed Maps of the Donors Powering the 2020 Democratic Campaigns  —  Candidates with the most individual donors  —  Darker shades on the map indicate a greater share of estimated donors.  —  1. Sanders  —  2. Warren  —  3. Buttigieg 4. Harris  —  5. Biden  —  6. O'Rourke

First, the GOP shrinks.  Next it should get crushed.  —  Sane Senate Republicans and critics of President Trump, including Bob Corker (Tenn.) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.) as well as a slew of House Republicans, retired in 2018 rather than face the challenge of reelection in the Trump era.

Majority of House Democrats now support Trump impeachment inquiry  —  Despite the growing calls for an impeachment inquiry, Pelosi has remained steadfast in recommending restraint.  —  A majority of House Democrats have now called for opening an impeachment inquiry into President Donald …

Top State Department adviser fired over ‘abusive’ management style  —  A senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was fired this week over what officials described as her “abusive” management style, including making homophobic remarks and accusing people of having affairs, according to two people.

A key police official recommends NYPD terminate the officer accused of fatally choking Eric Garner, a source says  —  New York (CNN)New York Police Department Officer Daniel Pantaleo should be terminated following his controversial involvement in the death of Eric Garner …

Ben Folds makes a song called ‘Moscow Mitch’  —  Rock musician Ben Folds was performing on the roof of New York City's Pier 17 Thursday when he asked the audience to help him out with a new song.  “What I want to do is put a little cool stutter in it, like, you know, 'My-my-my-my-my-my Sharona …

Hick4Senate: New Domains Signal Big Moves In Senate Race?  —  UPDATE: Ernest Luning of the Colorado Springs Gazette's politics page fills in the details: … We take longtime local political fixture Curtis Hubbard at his word, of course-but we'll also be waiting, and at this point probably expecting, for the other shoe to drop.

Conservatives Are Hiding Their ‘Loathing’ Behind Our Flag  —  The molten core of right-wing nationalism is the furious denial of America's unalterably multiracial, multicultural national character.  —  The Republican Party under Donald Trump has devolved into a populist cult of personality.

Brittany Kaiser's work with Cambridge Analytica helped elect Donald Trump.  She's hoping the world will forgive her.  —  She'd like to be remembered as a whistleblower and a human rights advocate.  You decide.  —  Brittany Kaiser first emerged in last year's Cambridge Analytica scandal …

‘I think Trump needs to show his face’: Laid-off miners losing faith in coal promises  —  CUMBERLAND, Ky. — Protesting Kentucky coal miners sweated through a fourth day on top of a railroad track as they continued blocking a coal train from leaving a Harlan County mine.

How a Historian Uncovered Ronald Reagan's Racist Remarks to Richard Nixon  —  On Tuesday, the historian Tim Naftali published the text and audio of a taped call between Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon from October, 1971.  Reagan, who was then the governor of California …

It didn't take long for Democratic candidates to rush to embrace Obama  —  It took progressive Democratic candidates for president less than 24 hours to realize they had gone way overboard in slamming President Barack Obama's record and suggesting that defense of it was akin to “Republican talking points.”

Erick Erickson, It's Time to Get Out of Pete Buttigieg's Bedroom  —  Erick Erickson seems creepily focused on Pete Buttigieg's sexuality, and alleged hypocrisy.  He would do better to take on Buttigieg's message about Christian behavior and ethics.  —  Erick Erickson really doesn't like …

A$AP Rocky released from custody in Sweden while awaiting Aug. 14 verdict  —  STOCKHOLM — A Swedish judge said U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky and his two associates did not need to remain in custody while awaiting the Aug. 14 verdict in a trial over assault charges in Stockholm.

Trump Makes 9/11 and Dad's Funeral All About Him  —  From his claims to first responders and his self-regarding Fred Trump eulogy to his bombastic Cincinnati rally, the narcissistic shtick is wearing thin.  —  President Donald Trump started the week with a Rose Garden ceremony …

Saudi students escaping US justice: Amid political impasse, one sexual assault survivor speaks out  —  It happened in her home.  In front of friends.  —  After she was raped during a housewarming party in 2012, Caitlin Baalke left nothing to chance.  —  She went to the hospital.  She contacted police.

Biden Inc.  —  The day the Bidens took over Paradigm Global Advisors was a memorable one.  —  In the late summer of 2006 Joe Biden's son Hunter and Joe's younger brother, James, purchased the firm.  On their first day on the job, they showed up with Joe's other son, Beau …