Exclusive: US government wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman  —  Washington (CNN)US investigators wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort under secret court orders before and after the election, sources tell CNN, an extraordinary step involving a high-ranking campaign official …

Murray makes big concession in bipartisan health talks  —  Sen. Patty Murray has agreed to a key demand of Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which could potentially move bipartisan health care talks forward.

Donald Trump Jr. Gives Up Secret Service Protection, Seeking Privacy  —  WASHINGTON — Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, has elected for forgo protection by the Secret Service, according to a senior administration official.  —  The agency ceased protecting Mr. Trump …

Views among college students regarding the First Amendment: Results from a new survey  —  College students' views of the First Amendment are of profound importance for multiple reasons.  First, colleges and universities are places where intellectual debate should flourish.

Trump Administration Rejects Study Showing Positive Impact of Refugees  —  WASHINGTON — Trump administration officials, under pressure from the White House to provide a rationale for reducing the number of refugees allowed into the United States next year, rejected a study by the Department …

Fox News Contributor Says Rape Allegation Blacklisted Her  —  Fox News, which for more than a year has dealt with the fallout from an embarrassing sexual harassment scandal, was sued on Monday by the political commentator Scottie Nell Hughes, who claimed that she had been raped …

Trump's ‘pit bull’ to testify on Russia  —  Michael Cohen, President Trump's personal lawyer and longtime confidante, will testify before congressional investigators on Tuesday in the midst of a slew of probes into Russian interference in the 2016 election.  —  Cohen is a fiercely loyal aide known …

Toys ‘R’ Us, Once a Category Killer, Is Forced Into Bankruptcy  —  After falling behind online, the big-box chain seeks relief from debt added in leverage buyout  —  Toys ‘R’ Us Inc., the rainbow-colored toy emporium that for decades was the go-to spot for birthday and holiday gifts …

Eric Trump's Old Foundation Apparently Held Secret Event At Trump-Owned Golf Club  —  The charity formerly known as the Eric Trump Foundation apparently held a secret event at Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County, New York on Monday, even though the Eric Trump Foundation remains under investigation …

Sean Spicer Says He Regrets Berating Reporters Over Inauguration Crowds  —  During his surprise comedy skit at the Emmys on Sunday, Sean Spicer may have made light of his six-month tenure as the White House press secretary, but a message was also embedded in his performance.

Republican governors get into the ‘news’ business  —  https://apnews.com/f97fbf53c0c84468ae04 6f861ecf3b64  —  Link copied!  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Republican governors are getting into the “news” business.  —  The Republican Governors Association has quietly launched an online publication …

Senate Republicans Consider a Trillion-Dollar-Plus Tax Cut for Budget  —  Discussions remain fluid; Republicans would likely need to make some of the tax cuts expire after 10 years  —  WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans are considering writing a budget that would allow for up to $1.5 trillion …

The Senate's Military Spending Increase Alone Is Enough to Make Public College Free  —  One of the most controversial proposals put forward by Sen. Bernie Sanders during the 2016 presidential campaign was a pledge to make tuition free at public colleges and universities.

5 Wheaton College football players face felony charges in hazing incident  —  Five Wheaton College football players charged are: James Cooksey, from left, Kyler Kregel, Benjamin Pettway, Noah Spielman and Samuel TeBos.  —  Five Wheaton College football players face felony charges …

The Kelly effect: See no evil, hear no evil, do no evil  —  Who is around President Trump matters much more than with most presidents, because of his impulsiveness, lack of ideology and willingness to make snap decisions.  So if you wonder why President Trump has been willing to seriously entertain …

Trump Administration Wants to Increase CIA Drone Strikes  —  WASHINGTON — When President Donald Trump visited CIA headquarters in the first weeks of his presidency, he toured the secure floor where agency officers direct drone strikes against suspected terrorists, current and former U.S. officials told NBC News.

Trump's pardon of Arpaio can — and should — be overturned  —  Laurence H. Tribe is university professor and professor of constitutional law at Harvard Law School.  Ron Fein is the legal director of Free Speech for People, which has filed an amicus brief in the Arpaio case.

Clinton: ‘I was not as adept or as quick’ at ways to reach voters  —  on Monday night expressed regret she had not found better ways to communicate with voters during the 2016 campaign, as she kicked off her book tour before a packed house at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C.

Gorka's new gig  —  Sebastian Gorka has found a new home.  It's called the “MAGA Coalition” — a new outside group to support political candidates that will “compete against globalist corporatists interests.”  —  Little is known about the group.  A source familiar with Gorka's arrangements tells …

Hurricane Maria is now a Category 5  —  Maria is now a Category 5 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said.  —  Hurricane Maria became a Category 4 storm on Monday afternoon as it barreled toward Dominica in the Caribbean's Leeward Islands and took aim for the US territory of Puerto Rico.

Donald Trump's unpresidential presidency keeps hitting new lows  —  Trump retweets edited GIF aimed at Clinton  —  Washington (CNN)On the eve of a critical week of foreign policy challenges, Donald Trump started his Sunday by retweeting an edited video of him hitting a golf ball …

Graham-Cassidy ACA Repeal Bill Would Cause Huge Premium Increases for People with Pre-Existing Conditions  —  With only two weeks left to move forward with a partisan health care repeal bill, some Senate Republicans are trying one last time to rip coverage from millions of Americans.