Rudy Giuliani says Trump will stay loyal to him but jokes that he has ‘insurance’  —  Exclusive: The president's personal lawyer has emerged as a key figure in the impeachment inquiry, with speculation that Republicans will seek to paint him as a rogue actor

Career White House budget official expected to break ranks, testify in impeachment inquiry  —  Mark Sandy would be the first Office of Management and Budget official to appear after a series of political appointees defied congressional subpoenas  —  A longtime career employee at the White House Office …

Trump hikes price tag for US forces in Korea almost 500% as Seoul questions alliance  —  Washington (CNN)Secretary of Defense Mark Esper landed in South Korea on Thursday to navigate renewed threats from an “enraged” North Korea and newly heightened strain in the alliance with Seoul that congressional aides …

Besieged on all sides, Gordon Sondland clings to power  —  When confronted with the whiff of scandal, American diplomats are often advised to resign if they believe they can no longer be effective in the job.  —  But for Gordon Sondland, the embattled U.S. ambassador to the European Union, quitting is not in the cards.

Justice Dept. watchdog won't let witnesses give written feedback on report about FBI's Russia probe, sparking fears of inaccuracy  —  The Justice Department Inspector General's office has told witnesses who are set to review draft sections of its long-awaited report on the FBI investigation …

Outcry after Facebook sponsors gala featuring Brett Kavanaugh  —  Company is listed as a ‘gold circle’ sponsor for rightwing group Federalist Society dinner where justice will be keynote speaker  —  Facebook is facing criticism for sponsoring the annual gala dinner of the Federalist Society …

3 Indiana Judges Suspended After White Castle Brawl That Left 2 Of Them Wounded  —  Back in May, three Indiana judges got into a fight.  It was the crescendo of an incident brimming with colorful details: a gaggle of judges drinking the night before a judicial conference …

Ethics Committee extends review of Talib, probes Hastings for alleged relationship with staffer  —  The House Ethics Committee on Thursday announced it is extending its review of a campaign finance matter related to Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, while acknowledging for the first time a probe …

Trump asks Supreme Court to shield his tax returns from prosecutors, setting up historic separation-of-powers showdown  —  President Trump asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to stop a prosecutor's investigation of his personal finances, a bold assertion of presidential power that seeks …

Italian council is flooded immediately after rejecting measures on climate change  —  (CNN)Veneto regional council, which is located on Venice's Grand Canal, was flooded for the first time in its history on Tuesday night — just after it rejected measures to combat climate change.

Trump's Washington hotel has fallen behind competitors, with rooms running nearly half empty, marketing materials show  —  President Trump's Washington hotel has fallen well behind competing properties despite continuing to charge among the highest rates in the city, according …

How the impeachment inquiry has revealed a long and murky campaign to oust a veteran U.S. ambassador  —  In February, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine — a 33-year career diplomat who had served presidents of both parties — received a blunt warning.  —  “Watch your back,” …

Zelensky was planning to announce Trump's ‘quid pro quo’ on my show.  Here's what happened.  —  The phrase “quid pro quo” is usually translated as “something for something.”  In the case of President Trump's communications with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, it appears that the …

Syria's Assad says Jeffrey Epstein did not kill himself  —  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad waded into the conspiracy theories around Jeffery Epstein's suicide, saying the financier and convicted sex offender was murdered as part of a Western plot to eliminate high-profile people who knew too much.

Most Pennsylvania voters have dim view of Trump, new poll shows.  His Democratic foes have work to do, too  —  One year before Pennsylvania voters will head to the polls in a critical swing state, a new Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll shows nearly six in 10 don't believe President Donald Trump should be re-elected.

White House and Pentagon prepare for Trump to issue pardons in war-crimes cases, officials say  —  President Trump is expected to intervene in three military justice cases involving service members charged with war crimes any day, issuing pardons or otherwise clearing them of wrongdoing …

Judge slams feds over murky stance on McCabe  —  A federal judge excoriated Justice Department officials Thursday for their handling of potential criminal charges against former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, saying the continued uncertainty over the prosecution was unfair to McCabe and the public.

Senate Confirms Wildly Problematic Trump Court Pick Steven Menashi  —  He's never tried a case.  He condemned women's rights and diversity.  He refused to answer senators' questions.  Republicans confirmed him anyway.  —  WASHINGTON ― The Senate voted Thursday to make Steven Menashi …

Top Democrats privately concede major shift in public opinion on impeachment is unlikely  —  Questions about the impeachment inquiry?  We've got answers  —  (CNN)House Democrats are publicly holding out hope that historic impeachment hearings will persuade a vast majority of the American public …

Trump admin preparing to take over private land in Texas for border wall  —  The Trump administration is preparing court filings to begin taking over private land in Texas to build a border wall as early as this week, say officials.  —  The Trump administration is preparing court filings …

Emails Outline Anti-Immigration Group's Connection to Stephen Miller  —  A new batch of leaked emails illustrates the degree to which Mr. Miller used a think tank's work to shape coverage at Breitbart News and policy at the White House.  —  WASHINGTON — Stephen Miller …

Santa Clarita shooting: 2 teens killed; attack came on suspect's birthday, officials say  —  One person was killed and at least four others were injured in a shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita early Thursday, authorities said.  —  Two students were killed …

As Jury Deliberates, Roger Stone Sends A Message To Trump: ‘Pardon Me’  —  Using Alex Jones as the relay, Stone's message is straightforward: A pardon is the only thing that can save him now.  —  Today, jurors received the case against Roger Stone and are currently deliberating the charges before them.

Reuters News Article That Called Impeachment Hearing ‘Dull’ Sparks a Social Media Revolt  —  A Reuter's news article pronouncing Wednesday's illuminating, alarming, and historic kickoff of the Trump impeachment hearings “dull” has sparked a small but passionate social media revolt …

Whistle-Blower's Purported Name Keeps Evading Facebook and YouTube Defenses  —  The sites said they would delete posts that include the purported name of the Ukraine whistle-blower.  But the name keeps reappearing.  —  SAN FRANCISCO — A week ago, YouTube and Facebook said they would block people …

In Praise of Washington Insiders  —  The people who are showing us what public service looks like.  —  Let me tell you a secret.  The public buildings of Washington are filled with very good people working hard for low pay and the public good.  There are thousands of them and they are …

North Korean news agency calls Biden a ‘rabid dog’ after campaign ad implies Kim Jong Un's a ‘tyrant’  —  After a campaign ad for Former Vice President Joe Biden implied Kim Jong Un was a “tyrant,” North Korean state media responded on Thursday by blasting the 2020 Democratic candidate.

Bloomberg's Team Calls His Crude Remarks on Women ‘Wrong’  —  As Michael Bloomberg prepares a presidential run, his history of crude remarks is likely to draw scrutiny.  His team said some were “disrespectful.”  —  It was a cheeky birthday gift for a hard-charging boss …