George Kent and the Bow Tie of History  —  As the impeachment hearings began, the first witness made an unexpected fashion statement — and everyone noticed.  —  Amid all the debate and various through-the-mirror interpretations of Day 1 of the public impeachment inquiry, all the grandstanding …

Ambassador's cellphone call to Trump from Kyiv restaurant was a stunning breach of security, former officials say  —  A U.S. ambassador's cellphone call to President Trump from a restaurant in the capital of Ukraine last summer was a stunning breach of security, exposing the conversation …

Congress can seek eight years of Trump's tax records, appeals court rules  —  Congress can seek eight years of President Trump's tax records, according to a federal appeals court order Wednesday that moves the separation-of-powers conflict one step closer to the Supreme Court.

Elizabeth Warren buys CNBC commercial time to blast billionaires in a fiery new campaign ad  — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is firing back against a group of billionaires who have criticized her plans with a new TV ad set to air on CNBC later this week.  — The ad takes aim at longtime investor …

Republicans discuss a longer Senate impeachment trial to scramble Democratic primaries  —  Some Republican senators and their advisers are privately discussing whether to pressure GOP leaders to stage a lengthy impeachment trial beginning in January to scramble the Democratic presidential race …

Deval Patrick Will Enter 2020 Presidential Race on Thursday  —  Mr. Patrick, the former two-term governor of Massachusetts, called several leading Democrats and allies to say that he would announce his bid for the White House.  —  NEW ORLEANS — Former Gov. Deval Patrick …

For dignity's sake, Jim Jordan, put on a jacket  —  Of course Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) took his seat Wednesday morning, at the opening of the public impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill, wearing nothing but his shirtsleeves.  No suit jacket.  That's how Jordan dresses.  It's his power move.

Trump aides retaliated against State staffer of Iranian descent, probe finds  —  President Donald Trump's political appointees inappropriately retaliated against a career civil servant at the State Department in part because of her ethnic background, her perceived political views …

John Durham interviewed Australian diplomat whose tip prompted Trump-Russia investigation  —  U.S. Attorney John Durham reportedly interviewed the Australian diplomat whose tip about George Papadopoulos effectively started the counterintelligence investigation into President Trump's campaign in July 2016.

Profiles in Thinking About Courage: inside ‘A Warning’ by Anonymous  —  By Anonymous.  Twelve.  259 pp.  $30  —  There is a good reason the anonymous Trump administration official who published an opinion essay in the New York Times last year describing an internal resistance to the president has managed to remain anonymous.

Jon Huntsman will announce his entry into the 2020 Utah governor's race on Thursday  —  Former Utah GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman is set to formally announce Thursday he's running for governor next year, UtahPolicy.com learned Wednesday night.  —  Huntsman, 59, will make a swing through Southern Utah …

News or ‘Trauma Porn’?  Student Journalists Face Blowback on Campus  —  Incidents at Northwestern and Harvard reveal a growing tension between traditional journalistic practices and the demands of student activists.  —  EVANSTON, Ill. — Jeff Sessions, President Trump's former attorney general …

The impeachment hearings could turn out to be more unpredictable than you think  —  First Read is your briefing from “Meet the Press” and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  WASHINGTON — Most in Washington are already convinced …

Drag queen sashays into Trump impeachment hearings  —  Pissi Myles made an unexpected, and quite noticeable, appearance at Wednesday's impeachment hearings.  —  Spotted towering over the gray and blue suits packed into the first day of President Donald Trump's impeachment hearing …