Pence: The United States is ready to talk with North Korea  —  Despite the mutual chilliness between U.S. and North Korean officials in South Korea last week, behind the scenes real progress was made toward a new diplomatic opening that could result in direct talks without preconditions between Washington and Pyongyang.

Twisted: Trump says Porter sick, guilty; defends him publicly  —  President Trump is defending Rob Porter even though, privately, he says he's guilty.  —  Behind closed doors: The president has told multiple people that he believes the accusations about Porter, and finds him “sick.”

In big reversal, new Trump budget will give up on longtime Republican goal of eliminating deficit … President Trump on Monday will offer a budget plan that falls far short of eliminating the government's deficit over 10 years, conceding that huge tax cuts and new spending increases …

He Predicted The 2016 Fake News Crisis.  Now He's Worried About An Information Apocalypse.  —  In mid-2016, Aviv Ovadya realized there was something fundamentally wrong with the internet — so wrong that he abandoned his work and sounded an alarm.  A few weeks before the 2016 election …

First-class travel distinguishes Scott Pruitt's EPA tenure … Just days after helping orchestrate the United States' exit from a global climate accord last June, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt embarked on a whirlwind tour aimed at championing President Trump's agenda at home and abroad.

McConnell's immigration gamble  —  Mitch McConnell is taking the reins of an immigration debate that may prompt a fix for “Dreamers” — or quickly spiral out of control.  —  Usually careful with his every move, the Senate majority leader is taking a gamble this week with his pledge for a free …

Trump takes ‘shackles’ off ICE, which is slapping them on immigrants who thought they were safe … A week after he won the election, President Trump promised that his administration would round up millions of immigrant gang members and drug dealers.  And after he took office …

GOP candidate and Trump ally faces global backlash for racist attack on Meghan Markle  —  Republican congressional candidate Paul Nehlen's response to the denouncement was just as repugnant as his hateful tweet.  —  Congressional candidate and prominent Trump supporter Paul Nehlen (R-WI) …

MeToo will have staying power, Ruth Bader Ginsburg insists  —  RBG says Clinton was criticized worse than men  —  New York (CNN)Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg believes the “#MeToo” movement will have “staying power” and that she doesn't worry about a serious backlash.

Hillary Clinton, a favorite GOP foil, plans discreet 2018 strategy  —  There was a long line for selfies with Hillary Clinton last week at a Georgetown soiree for Lanny Davis, a Clinton loyalist whose latest book blames former FBI director James B. Comey for her 2016 presidential defeat.

Unilever Threatens to Reduce Ad Spending on Tech Platforms That Don't Combat Divisive Content  —  CMO Keith Weed says the company will only invest in platforms ‘committed to creating a positive impact in society’  —  Unilever UL -.68% PLC is threatening to pull back its advertising …

Woman Dragged Out of West Virginia House Hearing For Listing Oil and Gas Contributions to Members  —  “The people who are going to be speaking in favor of this bill are all going to be paid by the industry.”  —  Lissa Lucas traveled the 100 miles from her home in Cairo …

The mysterious oppo researcher working in the White House lawyer's office  —  Michael Roman, best known as a shadowy operative who oversaw a research unit for the Koch network, now occupies an unusual and undefined role in the Trump administration.  —  Few people in or close to the White House …