Trump Told Mar-a-Lago Pals to Expect ‘Big’ Iran Action ‘Soon’  —  Attendees of a closed-door Senate briefing didn't get much more clarity than the club guests did.  Instead, officials spun Soleimani's slaying as a way to “de-escalate” tensions.  —  In the five days prior to launching …

Pence falsely links Iranian general to 9/11 attacks  —  On Friday afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence took to Twitter to justify the targeted U.S. attack that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Suleimani.  —  But scholars say his tweets contain several inaccuracies, including an allegation …

Trump children are 2 of the top 4 choices for Republicans in 2024  —  Ready to skip 2020 and go straight to 2024?  In a new SurveyMonkey poll, Republican voters chose children of President Trump — Don Jr. and Ivanka — as two of the top four picks for president in five years.

New York Dangled Extra Incentives in Initial Bid to Lure Amazon HQ2  —  E-commerce retailer was offered $800 million more in tax credits and grants than previously known

The Other Reason Republicans Won't Cross Trump  —  If President Donald Trump is booted from office, the catalyst looks certain to be the November election, not impeachment.  The Senate has yet to convene an impeachment trial, and the recent killing of an Iranian general could further complicate lawmakers' timing.

White House Withholds 20 Emails Between Two Trump Aides on Ukraine Aid  —  It contends the release of the documents sought by The Times, would “inhibit the frank and candid exchange of views” in government decision-making.  —  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration disclosed on Friday …

QAnon Believer Teamed Up With Conspiracy Theorists to Plot Kidnapping, Police Say  —  Conspiracy theorist Cynthia Abcug allegedly predicted that “Satan worshipers” would be killed in a raid by QAnon believers.  —  Colorado mother Cynthia Abcug became an unlikely star on the fringe right …

Meat Loaf says Greta Thunberg has been brainwashed into thinking climate change is real  —  The singer thinks the activist has ‘been forced’ into her beliefs  —  Rock musician Meat Loaf thinks Greta Thunberg has been brainwashed into thinking climate change is real.

China Replaces Its Top Representative in Hong Kong With an Enforcer  —  After months of protests and an electoral defeat for pro-Beijing political parties, an official with a record of difficult assignments is on the way.  —  BEIJING — The Chinese government abruptly replaced its top representative …

Reminder: American Officials Lie About War  —  “Don't trust liars—especially about matters of war and peace,” writes Vox's Matthew Yglesias.  “Today's a day,” The Atlantic's David Frum posits, “when the most untruthful administration in US history will wish its statements could be believed.”

Democrats battle White House over executive power and congressional oversight  —  WASHINGTON — Attorneys for House Democrats on Friday challenged the Trump administration on its claims of executive powers, in two court hearings that, while not directly related to the