Man Trump once called ‘my African American’ leaves Republican Party  —  Gregory Cheadle, the black man President Donald Trump once described at a rally as “my African American,” is fed up.  —  After two years of frustration with the president's rhetoric on race and the lack of diversity …

US attorney recommends proceeding with charges against McCabe, as DOJ rejects last-ditch appeal  —  U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu has recommended moving forward with charges against Andrew McCabe, Fox News has learned, as the Justice Department rejects a last-ditch appeal from the former top FBI official.

Israel accused of planting mysterious spy devices near the White House  —  The U.S. government concluded within the past two years that Israel was most likely behind the placement of cellphone surveillance devices that were found near the White House and other sensitive locations around Washington …

‘Simply Unacceptable’: 145 Executives Demand Senate Action on Gun Violence  —  “Doing nothing about America's gun violence crisis is simply unacceptable,” the corporate chiefs urged senators in a letter.  —  In a direct and urgent call to address gun violence in America …

Exclusive: How John Roberts killed the census citizenship question  —  Washington (CNN)Chief Justice John Roberts cast the deciding vote against President Donald Trump's attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, but only after changing his position behind the scenes …

On Shaun King  —  Integrity.  —  A movement is only as strong as its integrity.  Part of our collective work is to protect this integrity, even when, or especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or hard.  It is in this spirit that I write, to address a lapse in integrity within …

The Buttigieg Money Pit  —  With great fanfare last month, Pete Buttigieg has announced “Phase Three” of his presidential campaign.  Campaign adviser Lis Smith described the first two phases as teaching people how to pronounce his name and then raising gobs of money.

Expanding Social Security  —  I've dedicated most of my career to studying what's happening to working families in America.  One thing is clear: it's getting harder to save enough for a decent retirement.  —  A generation of stagnant wages and rising costs for basics like housing …

‘Why Are You Pissing In Our Face?’:  Inside Warren's War With the Obama Team  —  Elizabeth Warren was in the president's head.  —  From the summer of 2010 through summer of 2011, the usually unflappable Barack Obama spent long hours agonizing over the then-Harvard Law professor …

Sebastian Gorka and Michelle Malkin warn that “Soros-allied organizations” are working toward “demographic conquest”  —  Trump administration hopes to catch media flat-footed in pushing far-right lawyer toward lifetime judgeship  —  Wash. Post pushes Trump's spin as he makes America's waterways dirtier

Exclusive: Falwell blasted Liberty student as ‘retarded,’ police chief as ‘half-wit’ in emails  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In emails to his colleagues over the years, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr has denigrated students and staff at the Christian university he runs …

Christine Blasey Ford's Father Supported Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation  —  After Christine Blasey Ford publicly alleged that Brett Kavanaugh tried to rape her, her father repeatedly communicated to Kavanaugh's father that he supported Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Rendell lights pre-debate stink bomb  —  Former Democratic National Committee chairman and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell sparked a firestorm on social media by escalating attacks on Elizabeth Warren ahead of Thursday's closely watched debate, assailing her as a “hypocrite” in an op-ed.

U.S. Posts $1 Trillion Budget Gap, Full-Year May Be Lower  — Deficit was $1.07 trillion in first 11 months of fiscal year  — Last month of fiscal year often a surplus due to tax payments  —  The U.S. budget deficit surpassed $1 trillion in the first 11 months of the fiscal year through August …

Jury convicts dad of Alison Lundergan Grimes for giving illegally to Senate campaign  —  A federal jury found two longtime Democratic operatives guilty Thursday of funneling illegal corporate campaign contributions into Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes' 2014 U.S. Senate campaign …

‘My time is growing near’: John Lewis dangles impeachment announcement  —  Rep. John Lewis has called Donald Trump an illegitimate leader and boycotted his inauguration, but he's remained conspicuously silent on demands for the president's impeachment.  —  Despite his silence …

ABC Tells Democrats to Keep Debate Clean.  Looking at You, Beto.  —  There will be no delay on the broadcast so no chance to censor any obscenities, should a candidate let loose.  —  There was a time in American history when candidates for president did not need to be reminded …

Trump Administration to Roll Back Clean Water Protections  —  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday announced the repeal of a major Obama-era clean water regulation that had placed limits on polluting chemicals that could be used near streams, wetlands and other bodies of water.

Trump team rushes to find escape hatch for China tariffs  —  President Donald Trump's top advisers are rushing to find an escape hatch for a series of tariff increases in the coming months, worried about the potential for further economic damage.  —  Many of the president's top economic officials …

Ted Cruz will oppose Trump's judicial nominee  —  ‘Sul’ Ozerden's nomination to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals could be in jeopardy.  —  Sen. Ted Cruz will oppose President Donald Trump's nominee for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Halil Suleyman “Sul” Ozerden, a major setback for the embattled nomination.

MIT President: Oh Yeah, We DID Cover Up Epstein's Donations  —  In fact, he wrote an Epstein a thank you note for one gift.  Even if he doesn't remember it.  —  The president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is admitting that not only did the school hide donations from Jeffrey Epstein …

The Suburban Vote Isn't as Blue as It Looks  —  My colleague, David Wasserman wrote a (typically) insightful analysis on GOP state Sen. Dan Bishop's narrow win in Thursday's special election in North Carolina's 9th district.  His main conclusion was that the special election continued …

Team Trump Wrestles With Its QAnon Problem  —  They love the president, and appear at Trump rallies in their favorite merch.  Now believers in the mega-conspiracy theory are posing a challenge to their idol's re-election.  —  In late August 2018, Lisa and John Welch weren't feeling great …

For Military Personnel, Trump's Turnberry Hotel Is ‘Better Than a Tent’  —  TURNBERRY, Scotland — The middle-aged golfers had finished their last single-malt whiskeys late one night this July, and the bartenders were closing up.  —  Then a bus pulled up to the Trump Turnberry hotel …

The FBI is investigating a venture capital fund started by Peter Thiel for financial misconduct  —  Mithril Capital raised over $1 billion on the name of Thiel, one of Silicon Valley's biggest celebrities.  Now federal investigators are looking under the hood.

Record-fundraiser Dan Baer drops US Senate bid, supports Hickenlooper in 2020  —  The Democratic primary field, which once numbered a dozen candidates, is slowly clearing for Hickenlooper, choice of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.  —  DENVER — Dan Baer tells Next with Kyle Clark …

U.S. Secret Service, protesters descend on Baltimore ahead of Trump's visit Thursday  —  President Trump, who infamously insulted Baltimore as “rodent infested,” will be greeted by a 14-foot inflatable rat on his planned visit to the city Thursday evening, among the props that protesters put in place in advance of his arrival.

Democrat subpoenas U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan to appear before panel  —  The chairman of a top House committee on Thursday subpoenaed the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan to testify before lawmakers next week after the State Department repeatedly failed to make the diplomat available.

Ominous signs could sink Republicans' chances of retaking the House  —  A parade of Republican retirements.  Red flags about the economy.  President Donald Trump's approval ratings under water.  A nail-biter race in a GOP stronghold.  —  House Republicans are grappling with a string …