White House official expected to back up diplomat's testimony over Trump push for Ukraine probe into Bidens  —  Why the ‘quid pro quo’ defense may not matter  —  (CNN)Tim Morrison, a top Russia and Europe adviser on President Donald Trump's National Security Council, is expected to testify …

Justice Dept. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry Into Its Own Russia Investigation  —  The move is likely to open the attorney general to accusations that he is trying to deliver a political victory for President Trump.  —  WASHINGTON — For more than two years, President Trump has repeatedly attacked …

Mahalo, Hawaiʻi  —  I am so grateful.  —  Grateful to call Hawaiʻi home; grateful for our people and the spirit of aloha that binds us all together; and grateful for our precious 'āina, beautiful oceans, and towering mountains.  —  Most of all, I'm grateful to all of you …

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says U.S. will leave forces in Syria to defend oil fields from Islamic State  —  BRUSSELS — Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said Friday that the United States would leave forces in Syria to protect oil fields and keep them from falling into the hands of the Islamic State.

DNC raises thresholds for December debate  —  The halfway mark of the Democratic debate calendar is coming up, and the sixth debate will likely feature the smallest stage yet.  —  New thresholds announced by the Democratic National Committee for the sixth debate — which will be hosted …

Scoop: “Anonymous” to expose private Trump conversations  —  The anonymous “senior Trump administration official” who will release a tell-all book, “A Warning,” next month was a frequent participant in meetings with President Trump and plans to recount specific conversations, sources tell me.

Feds blow door off safe, issue subpoenas as probe into Giuliani associates escalates  —  (CNN)Federal prosecutors in New York have subpoenaed the brother of one of the recently indicted associates of Rudy Giuliani, according to two people familiar with the matter, as they escalate their investigation in the campaign-finance case.

Could Lindsey Graham be any more obsequious?  —  It was another sad milestone in the decline of John McCain's faithful sidekick into President Trump's Lickspittle Lindsey.  —  Not quite two weeks ago, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) vowed to be Trump's “worst nightmare” and called the Syria pullout …

Giuliani probe snowballs  —  Rudy Giuliani's problems keep piling up.  —  His responsibilities are shrinking as Donald Trump's TV-friendly personal attorney.  His efforts to dig up dirt on the president's political opponents have landed his highest-profile client in a congressional impeachment investigation.

Rand Paul: Is Quid Pro Quo the Status Quo?  —  Isn't all foreign aid supposed to be quid pro quo?  —  We give you this aid — on the expectation that you will not steal any of it for personal use, that you will spend it as we instruct, and on the understanding that if you don't spend the money …

Trump Cuts Out Media That Doesn't ‘Make Him Feel Beautiful’  —  It's a comfort mechanism for the president that intensifies whenever he feels under siege and when scandal swirls.  —  For months, President Trump has refused to grace CNN or MSNBC with what he views as the gift of his presence.

‘Powerful woman’ Kellyanne Conway mocks and threatens reporter for mentioning her husband (AUDIO)  —  Top White House aide Kellyanne Conway, describing herself as “a powerful woman,” aggressively and disparagingly told a female reporter that it was improper to write about her husband …

Morrissey is anti-immigrant and backs a white nationalist political party.  Why don't fans care?  —  For years, when professor Melissa Mora Hidalgo wasn't teaching classes at Cal State Fullerton or UC San Diego, the Los Angeles-based culture writer could often be found on stages throughout the region …

Scoop: The West Wing's impeachment war room  —  Top Trump officials have quietly created a de facto impeachment war room, with a chief goal of policing and solidifying Republican Senate support for acquittal.  —  What's happening: Most senior officials in the White House recognized quickly …

On “Human Scum” and Trump in the Danger Zone  —  After Ambassador William Taylor's testimony, the President is freaking out about impeachment.  —  At 1:48 p.m. on October 23rd, Donald Trump posted a tweet that, in any other political moment, would be a strong contender for the worst public statement ever …

José Andrés, a Trump critic, to throw first pitch at World Series game Trump is expected to attend  —  The Nationals announced Friday that D.C. restaurateur and humanitarian José Andrés will throw out the first pitch ahead of World Series Game 5 on Sunday, should the series extend that long.

Facebook Launches News Section to Compensate Publishers  — Facebook News will have articles curated by team of employees  — Some publishers get paid to have articles in separate section  —  Facebook Inc. introduced a separate news section in its flagship app …

Vulnerable Senate Republicans Shrink From Defending Trump  —  Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2020, fearful of straying too far from Mr. Trump yet at pains to defend him, have adopted a strategy of saying as little as possible.  —  WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans facing steep re …

The Fall of WeWork: How a Startup Darling Came Unglued  —  The cliff dive has little precedent, even in the boom-and-bust world of venture capital  —  Just months before the spectacular fall of WeWork, one of the country's most gilded startups, chief executive Adam Neumann summoned the heads …

Revenge porn is being used to smear and discredit a sitting congresswoman  —  Katie Hill may not be a perfect victim, but posting a naked photo of her in retaliation is a rightwing smear campaign  —  The conservative website Red State published revenge porn of a sitting congresswoman last week.

Scientists Were Hunting for the Next Ebola.  Now the U.S. Has Cut Off Their Funding.  —  Predict, a government research program, sought to identify animal viruses that might infect humans and to head off new pandemics.  —  In a move that worries many public health experts …

U.S. Watchdog Council Says Justice Department Erred in Blocking Whistleblower Complaint  —  Memo saying matter wasn't urgent was wrong, Council of Inspectors General concludes  —  A U.S. watchdog council has faulted a Justice Department legal memo that initially blocked the Ukraine whistleblower's complaint …

Congressman Elijah Cummings' funeral to feature Obama, Clintons, Pelosi and family  —  Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings will be laid to rest in his hometown of Baltimore Friday morning.  —  Cummings' family and political dignitaries are scheduled to speak at his funeral, which is being held at the New Psalmist Baptist Church at 10 a.m.

George Soros Has Enemies.  He's Fine With That.  —  In an interview, Mr. Soros explained why he thinks the tide is turning back to “globalists” like him and what might happen in the 2020 election.  —  George Soros is a billionaire philanthropist, a former currency trader, a liberal champion and — in certain circles — a boogeyman.

Struggling with Demographic Changes, a Midwest School District Loses Control  —  Eliminating discipline doesn't eliminate consequences.  —  In early October, Madison West High School security guard Marlon Anderson found himself face to face with an unruly student.