Trump says Germany ‘is captive to Russia’ in fiery opening salvo against NATO  —  BRUSSELS — President Trump unleashed a blistering attack Wednesday on Germany and other NATO allies, wasting no time to take the offensive before a week of high-stakes diplomacy on both sides of the former Cold War divide.

EXCLUSIVE: Ocasio-Cortez with another surprise election win - in a district she wasn't even running in … Things are going so well for insurgent Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that she's winning primaries she didn't even enter.  —  In addition to recently …

Border Protection says NYC mayor crossed border illegally  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his security detail violated both Mexican and U.S. immigration laws by crossing the border on foot during a visit near El Paso, Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection alleges …

Judge Kavanaugh's Former Clerks: Diverse, and Deployed to Vouch for Him  —  WASHINGTON — Part of the White House public relations campaign to win confirmation of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court began only seconds after President Trump nominated him, when Judge Kavanaugh gave …

Sarah Palin Says Sacha Baron Cohen Duped Her in “Sick” Interview  —  “Mock politicians and innocent public personalities all you want, if that lets you sleep at night, but HOW DARE YOU mock those who have fought and served our country.”  —  Sarah Palin on Tuesday took to Facebook to reveal …

Trump Administration Returns to ‘Catch and Release’ of Migrants  —  WASHINGTON — The government said on Tuesday that it would release hundreds of migrant families wearing ankle bracelet monitors into the United States, effectively returning to the “catch and release” policy that President Trump promised to eliminate.

Brett Kavanaugh and the Mueller Investigation: What Do His Writings Really Say?  —  I think I am on safe ground in saying that when Brett Kavanaugh and I presented our papers at the Minnesota Law Review symposium in October 2008—his on separation of powers and mine on (of all things) …

Pence launches Midwest damage control mission  —  With anxiety rising over Trump's trade policies, the vice president is stumping for endangered incumbents and reassuring big GOP donors.  —  CHICAGO — Vice President Mike Pence begins a campaign swing through the Midwest on Wednesday designed …

Hope Hicks is looking for a job in the Big Apple  —  Hope Hicks is back in New York, we're told.  —  President Trump's former White House communications director has returned to the city after spending time with her family in Greenwich, Conn., following her departure from the White House in March.

A taste of Chipotle's new menu items proves: It's no Taco Bell  —  Americans' love for Taco Bell, the nation's large Tex-Mex fast-food chain, must be vexing for Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has long prided itself on its whole and responsibly sourced ingredients.

Paula White: There's a Difference Between Jesus as a Refugee and Those Who Enter the US Illegally … Amid the hysteria surrounding the separation of immigrant families who recently entered the United States illegally, one of President Donald Trump's spiritual advisers, Paula White …

Inside Mueller's New Army … Chelsea Manning, Iranian extortionists, and Hillaryland's original hacker—they've all been targets for prosecutors that now work for Team Mueller.  —  As special counsel Robert Mueller's probe has quietly chugged along, outraging the president and encircling …

POLITICO Playbook: Trump comes out swinging at NATO summit  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP mostly dispensed with the niceties this morning in Brussels, and threw verbal bombs at Germany and NATO during his first day in Europe.  —  AT A MORNING BREAKFAST …

President Trump makes good on his threat to target an additional $200 billion in Chinese imports with tariffs, ramping up the trade war  —  President Trump escalated his trade war with China Tuesday, identifying an added $200 billion in Chinese products that he intends to hit with import tariffs.

CIVITAS POLL: McCready Leads in NC-09 Congressional Race  —  RALEIGH, N.C. - In the latest Civitas Poll, Democrat congressional candidate Dan McCready leads Republican Mark Harris by 7 points.  —  The poll, conducted July 5-8, 2018, surveyed 543 likely voters in North Carolina's 9thcongressional district …

Trump Officials Slash Grants That Help Consumers Get Obamacare  —  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it was slashing grants to nonprofit organizations that help people obtain health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, the latest step in an escalating attack …

Government Told Immigrant Parents to Pay for DNA Tests to Get Kids Back, Advocate Says … DALLAS—U.S. government officials recently told four immigrant women that they must pay for DNA tests in order to be reunited with their children, according to the shelter that housed the women.

Analysis: Dems meet Supreme Court pick with mixed message  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, says it's all about health care.  Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., worries about the impact on the special counsel investigation.  And Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. …

Background Briefing With Senior State Department Official  —  Special Briefing ert Brussels, Belgium  —  MODERATOR: So [Senior State Department Official] is just going to talk on background as a State Department official a little bit about the Secretary's meetings today and some of what …

What's Missing from the Supreme Court  —  America's top justices are less like the rest of America than ever before.  —  If Brett Kavanaugh's swift, steady climb up the American legal ladder clears one more rung, the Supreme Court of the United States will have a majority of justices …