Trump Defends Conversation With Ukraine Leader  —  U.S. president didn't mention foreign aid on July call with Volodymyr Zelensky  —  President Trump in a July phone call repeatedly pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden 's son …

Pelosi Says Congress Should Pass New Laws So Sitting Presidents Can Be Indicted  —  In an exclusive interview with NPR, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she has not changed her mind on pursuing impeachment but she is ready to change the law to restrain presidential power and to make it clear …

Why did Jeffrey Epstein's private jet fly to Riyadh on the eve of the 2016 election?  — Insider previously reported that Jeffrey Epstein's private jet flew from Paris to somewhere over the Arabian Peninsula on November 7, 2016.  The jet returned to Paris 48 hours later.

FEC finds fault with de Blasio's campaign finances  —  Mayor Bill de Blasio's presidential campaign is over, but concerns over his fundraising practices linger on.  —  An official with the Federal Election Commission sent a letter to the mayor's presidential campaign, which ended Friday …

APNewsBreak: US, El Salvador to sign asylum deal  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The United States planned to sign an agreement on Friday to help make one of Central America's most violent countries, El Salvador, a haven for migrants seeking asylum, according to a senior Trump administration official.

Kavanaugh and the Crisis of Legitimacy  —  It is impossible to separate the latest attack on Justice Brett Kavanaugh from the political strategy of the Democratic Party.  On September 16, two days after the New York Times “Sunday Review” section told of another allegation …

Young Black Voters to Their Biden-Supporting Parents: ‘Is This Your King?’  —  An organic effort by black millennials and Gen Z-ers to influence older family members against Mr. Biden may be important in the Democratic primary.  —  HOUSTON — A groan erupted at a debate watch party …

Nikki Haley moves back to SC, fuels political speculation  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is moving back to her native South Carolina, re-establishing a home base and also fueling speculation that a return to politics is next on her to-do list.

GOP Senate candidate Jason Lewis said Republicans have ‘dual loyalties’ to Israel, ‘Jewish lobby’ controls the party  —  GOP rep. defends prior comments on ‘slut’ women  —  (CNN)Jason Lewis, a Republican running for US Senate in Minnesota, once said Republicans had “dual loyalties” to Israel …

Why Republicans Play Dirty  —  They fear that if they stick to the rules, they will lose everything.  Their behavior is a threat to democratic stability.  —  Mr. Levitsky and Mr. Ziblatt are political scientists and the authors of “How Democracies Die.”  —  The greatest threat …

New Iowa Poll to be released Saturday, will show how presidential candidates are faring in first-in-the-nation caucus state  —  Results of a new Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll on Democratic presidential candidates will be released online at 7 p.m. CST Saturday.

Two U.S. Swing States Lost the Most Factory Jobs in Past Year  — Pennsylvania, Wisconsin payrolls fall amid gains elsewhere  — The states' voters are key for 2020 election as race heats up  —  As the U.S. presidential campaign heats up, Democratic candidates may want to look …

Topless women win big as Colorado city drops ban  —  Officials in Fort Collins decided it's not worth the money to fight for its ordinance banning women from appearing topless in public.  —  Fort Collins, Colorado has decided it's not worth the money to fight for its ordinance banning women from appearing topless in public.

Scientology policy enabled years of child sexual abuse, lawsuit says  —  In the third lawsuit filed against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, in three months, a 25-year-old woman alleges she was repeatedly sexually assaulted as a child in Scientology's care …

GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw Tries to Hide in Elevator While Confronted by Combat Veterans Over His Support for Trump: ‘Do Your Duty’  —  Republican congressman Dan Crenshaw unsuccessfully tried to lose two combat veterans by ducking into a private elevator as they confronted him about his support …

Prosecutors say an alleged member of a white-supremacist group was involved with illegal guns, drugs  —  In a secret chat last November, according to court filings, two associates of a violent white supremacist group discussed whether drug use was in line with their political beliefs.