New recording shows access Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman had to Trump at Mar-a-Lago donor event  —  Ten days before Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman dined with President Trump at his Washington hotel, they were part of a small group of Republican Party donors who met with the president at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, a new recording shows.

New witnesses unlikely, Trump impeachment trial could end quickly: GOP sources  —  The Senate trial could be over by the weekend if Republicans have the votes.  —  LIVE NOW  —  Senators return at 1 p.m. Thursday for a second day of questions to House managers and President Donald Trump's legal team …

Trump administration has yet to reveal details of Jared Kushner's secretive 2017 meeting in China  — In late 2017, CNBC filed a Freedom of Information Act request for details about Jared Kushner's secretive meeting in China during President Trump's visit to the country.

George … Mike Bloomberg 2020's ad airing during Super Bowl LIV highlights the urgent need to prevent gun violence in America and why Mike is the candidate to get it done.  —  As an entrepreneur, mayor, and problem-solving philanthropist, Mike has taken on the toughest challenges and gotten big things done.

AP Exclusive: Woman who says Trump raped her seeks his DNA  —  NEW YORK — Lawyers for a woman who accuses President Donald Trump of raping her in the 1990s are asking for a DNA sample, seeking to determine whether his genetic material is on a dress she says she wore during the encounter.

The ‘Corrupt Motives’ Doctrine  —  Every President equates his re-election self-interest with the public interest.  It isn't grounds for impeachment.  —  By The Editorial Board  —  The questions from Senators in the impeachment trial aren't plowing much new ground, but they have been useful …

Biden to pre-empt Trump rally with speech and ad on ‘character’  —  DES MOINES, Iowa — Former Vice President Joe Biden is set to take on President Donald Trump ahead of the president's rally in Iowa Thursday, pointing out key differences between their leadership styles as he attempts …

Leaked memo shows US border officers were directed to stop Iran-linked travelers  —  (CNN)An internal Customs and Border Protection memo obtained by CNN suggests that US border officers working at Canadian ports of entry were directed to detain and question travelers of Iranian descent …

How Trump's impeachment created two Democratic superstars  —  The House Democratic Caucus has long been dominated by a gaggle of also-rans: men and women who, while good enough for Congress, proved to be underwhelming on the larger stage of national politics.  —  That's changed.

Read The Question About Eric Ciaramella That Chief Justice John Roberts Just Refused To Read  —  During the Senate impeachment trial Thursday, Chief Justice John Roberts declined to read a question submitted by Sen. Rand Paul which included the name of Eric Ciaramella, the man RealClear Investigations …

Document shows Bernie Sanders's team preparing dozens of potential executive orders  —  Rising in the polls ahead of the Iowa caucuses, the presidential candidate considers spelling out how he could go around Congress if elected president  —  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) …

Coronavirus could mean more U.S. jobs.  Wilbur Ross goes there.  —  “I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America,” Trump's commerce secretary said.  —  Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Thursday that the coronavirus outbreak in China could lead businesses …

Bernie Sanders Is Still Sad About the Dodgers  —  And he knows how to nurse a grudge.  —  BURLINGTON, Iowa — The role was not an artistic stretch.  —  “My name is Rabbi Manny Shevitz,” Bernie Sanders began, acting in a little-seen 1999 comedy called “My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception.”

GOP senators know Trump's defense is based on lies.  Here's proof.  —  As President Trump's trial hurtles toward a vote on new witnesses, his lawyers have based his defense in part on the notion that Trump's demand that Ukraine investigate the Bidens was legitimate.

U.S. Confirms First Person-to-Person Spread of Coronavirus  —  CDC says transmission confirmed in Illinois, as governments, companies go into damage control  —  The first case of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. has been confirmed in Chicago …

‘High Maintenance’ and the New TV Fantasy of New York  —  It was probably during the fourth episode of the second season of HBO's “High Maintenance” when I finally noticed what it was up to.  The show follows a weed dealer known only as The Guy while he bikes around Brooklyn …

Katie Hopkins' Twitter account suspended  —  Move comes after Countdown host Rachel Riley and campaigners demand action from social network  —  Far-right commentator Katie Hopkins has been suspended from Twitter after calls for a “full review” by the social network.

Coronavirus misinformation surges, fueled by clout chasers  —  Misleading, unverified and clearly false information about the coronavirus has spread across social media platforms with a mix of fearmongering and racial stereotyping.  —  Misleading, unverified and clearly false information …

AP Exclusive: Barr names new U.S. attorney in DC  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr on Thursday named Timothy Shea, one of his closest advisers, to be the next top prosecutor in the nation's capital.  —  Shea will lead the largest United States attorney's office in the country …

Hey, John Bolton, welcome to life under the bus  —  Scaramucci gives Bolton advice on how to survive Trump's tweets.  —  President Trump's White House has launched another disinformation campaign against a former staffer.  This time, John Bolton, the last national security adviser …

Burr backs Trump lawyer claim on foreign dirt  —  Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said on Thursday he has “no problem” with a White House lawyer's argument that American politicians can accept damaging information on their opponents from a foreign country — a proposal that shocked Democrats.

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton to Speak at Duke Feb. 17  —  Tickets required for free public talk in Page Auditorium  —  Editor's Note: … DURHAM, N.C. — Former national security adviser John Bolton will speak at Duke University's Page Auditorium on Monday, Feb. 17.

Unpaid bills and legal discipline: Devin Nunes' lawyer questioned over ethics in complaints  —  The attorney representing Rep. Devin Nunes in five high-profile defamation lawsuits has a history of using questionable tactics in litigation, including claiming to represent people who did not know him.

I have just read 25 books and am here to perform your open-heart surgery  —  “What I would encourage people to do is try to divorce yourself from all of the history that's happened over the years and read this plan.”  —  “I've been getting criticized for the last couple of years by all the people …