Putin Hints at U.S. Election Meddling by ‘Patriotically Minded’ Russians  —  MOSCOW — Shifting from his previous blanket denials, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Thursday that “patriotically minded” private Russian hackers could have been involved in cyberattacks last year …

White House Sources: Reince Priebus's Departure is Imminent  —  I think many conservatives have failed to appreciate having a committed Christian in the White House Chief of Staff's Office.  Reince Priebus was unappreciated as Chairman of the RNC by many on the right and often blamed for things not in his control.

Nigel Farage is ‘person of interest’ in FBI investigation into Trump and Russia  —  Exclusive: FBI interested in former Ukip leader's ties with people connected to US president and WikiLeaks' Julian Assange … Nigel Farage is a “person of interest” in the US counter-intelligence investigation …

Ex-DNC aide hits back hard at Clinton, says her campaign ignored data on Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin  —  Hillary Clinton has found plenty of non-Hillary Clinton things to blame for her 2016 loss, including Russia, James B. Comey, debate moderators and misogyny.

Did Trump, Kushner, Sessions Have An Undisclosed Meeting With Russian?  —  The FBI and Congress are examining a campaign event last spring during which Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions and Jared Kushner were in a small gathering with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak and other diplomats …

Everything Conservatives Said About the Paris Climate Agreement Is Already Wrong  —  The Trump administration's reportedly forthcoming decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement will not end the global effort to limit the effects of climate change.  In the immediate time frame …

Comey Expected to Testify Before Senate, if He Isn't Blocked  —  Senators expect the former F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, to testify next week about his conversations with President Trump, congressional officials said on Wednesday, setting up a test of the White House's willingness …

‘We were used, abused and exploited’  —  As he built support for his signature political issue, Donald Trump formed a powerful partnership with a nonprofit group dedicated to families of those killed by undocumented immigrants, but now some of those families are alleging they were exploited …

Comey will testify before Senate committee next Thursday  —  Former FBI Director James Comey will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, June 8, regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election, committee leaders announced on Thursday.

How Twitter Is Being Gamed to Feed Misinformation  —  After last year's election, Facebook came in for a drubbing for its role in propagating misinformation — or “fake news,” as we called it back then, before the term became a catchall designation for any news you don't like.

Samantha Power Unmasked  —  Why would a diplomat need to know the names of Trump officials?

Resorts World Manila: Explosions, gunfire reported in Philippines  —  (CNN)The popular Filipino tourist site Resorts World Manila is on lockdown after reports of gunfire and explosions.  —  A masked gunman was on the second floor of one hotel, firing at guests, hotel employees fleeing the scene told CNN Philippines.

An open letter from Martina Navratilova to Margaret Court Arena  —  Sporting venues named for athletes, or any place, really, named for whoever, are so named for one reason.  That reason is their whole body of work.  In other words, it is not just for what this person did on the field …

In her bubble, Kathy Griffin thought nothing was out of bounds in mocking Trump  —  MORE FROM: … Imagine living in a bubble so impermeable it didn't occur to you that retailing a photograph of a decapitated president's head would be a horrendous career move — a bubble in which you don't know anyone …

Business license required for teens to cut grass  —  Teenagers have been threatened by officials and other lawn services to show their city issued license before cutting a persons lawn for extra summer cash.  —  AA  —  Teens in Gardendale are in for a rude awakening this summer when it comes to cutting grass.

Mixed messages from City Hall on call for traffic ban in Times Square  —  Two weeks after a driver plowed his car into pedestrians in Times Square, killing a teenager and injuring 22 others, Mayor Bill de Blasio seemed to rule out banning cars from the area entirely.

S&P and Nasdaq notch record highs after data deluge  —  U.S. equities traded higher on Thursday, the first trading day in June, as investors parsed through key economic data.  —  The Nasdaq composite gained 0.3 percent and hit a record intraday high earlier in the session.

J.B. Pritzker sought political office from Blagojevich, 2008 FBI wiretaps show  —  In 2008, Democratic donor and businessman J.B. Pritzker had phone conversations with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich that were recorded by FBI agents investigating Blagojevich for public corruption.

Trump's special antagonism toward Germany is stupid and dangerous.  —  The fallout from President Trump's disastrous trip to Europe continues to poison the trans-Atlantic climate.  His comments about Germany have been particularly toxic—and, beyond that, stupid, reflecting no understanding …

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum — Again  —  It is imperative we begin emulating the left in its tactics.  —  A couple of years ago, I suggested a completely different strategy: I wanted to pursue a kinder path.  I wanted an end to the speech wars and social media mobs and boycotts and all the rest of it.

The Maps That Kill Competition  —  Corey Lowenstein/The News & Observer, File via AP  —  Republican State Senators Dan Soucek, left, and Brent Jackson, right, review North Carolina's congressional district map.  —  Democrats eyeing the 2018 midterm elections have a lot to feel optimistic about …