Special counsel is investigating Trump for possible obstruction of justice, officials say  —  The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination …

America's Lethal Politics  —  America's elected representatives enjoying America's pastime on a ball field just across the Potomac from the Capitol: A particularly American form of terror changed that idyll early Wednesday morning into what Senator Rand Paul, who was there, called “basically a killing field.”

Leaked audio reveals Malcolm Turnbull roasting Donald Trump over ‘fake polls’ and Russia  —  Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull isn't known for being a comedian but he tried some daring Donald Trump material on a room full of journalists in Canberra last night.

Putin jokingly offers Comey asylum during annual phone-in session  —  Russian president's yearly question-and-answer event included comments on the former FBI director and a phone call from Arizona about ‘Russophobia’ … Vladimir Putin made a sarcastic offer of asylum to former FBI director James Comey …

Seventeen-Point Drop in US Satisfaction Among Republicans  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republicans' satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. took a hit since last month.  Forty-one percent of Republicans say they are satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., down 17 percentage points since May.

Republicans are about to make Medicare-for-all much more likely  —  If Republicans strike down Obamacare, the “Medicare for all” movement will become more powerful than they can imagine.  —  The details of the Senate GOP's Obamacare replacement plan remain a mystery.

Maine woman attacked by raccoon drowns rabid animal in puddle  —  HOPE, Maine — While jogging on a familiar, overgrown, wooded trail near her home on a recent warm afternoon, Rachel Borch thought to herself.  “What a beautiful day.”  —  Little did she know she was about to be attacked …

Scalise faces third surgery after being wounded in mass shooting  —  House Republicans gathered Thursday morning to share stories about the tragic incident and discuss their hospitalized colleague.  —  House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, shot Wednesday during a congressional baseball practice …

Dennis Rodman gifts Trump's ‘Art of the Deal’ to North Korean minister  —  CNN on the ground: Waiting for Dennis Rodman  —  (CNN)Dennis Rodman may not have been sent to North Korea by US President Donald Trump, but that's not stopping the former basketball star from promoting his former reality TV co-star.

Energy Department Closes Office Working on Climate Change Abroad  —  WASHINGTON — The Energy Department is closing an office that works with other countries to develop clean energy technology, another sign of the Trump administration's retreat on climate-related activities after its withdrawal from the Paris agreement this month.

Rural America Is Stranded in the Dial-Up Age  —  In many farflung communities, where available broadband speeds barely surpass old-fashioned connections, residents sacrifice not only their online pastimes but also chances at a better living.

Yoko Ono to Receive Songwriting Credit on John Lennon's ‘Imagine’  —  At the annual meeting of the National Music Publishers Association in New York on Wednesday, Yoko and Sean Ono Lennon received the organization's new Centennial Song award for John Lennon's legendary 1971 song “Imagine” — and Yoko received more than that.

Message Startup Slack Said to Draw Interest From Amazon.com  —  Chatroom company's value said to be at least $9 billion  —  Microsoft boosted competition with Teams chat platform  —  Corporate chatroom startup Slack Technologies Inc. has received recent inquiries about a potential takeover …

GOP congressman: Members of Congress should curtail town halls after Scalise shooting  —  (CNN)Rep. Lou Barletta, a Pennsylvania Republican, said Wednesday that members of Congress should cut back on hosting town hall forums after an Illinois man shot House Majority Whip Steve Scalise …