Trump Tanks His Own Putin Walk-Back During One of the ‘Worst Moments of His Presidency’ … It was approaching mid-morning on Tuesday, and Donald Trump's team had one choice: He had to clean up the mess he had left for them following his disastrous press conference abroad.  If they had to beg, so be it.

This sad, embarrassing wreck of a man  —  America's child president had a play date with a KGB alumnus, who surely enjoyed providing day care.  It was a useful, because illuminating, event: Now we shall see how many Republicans retain a capacity for embarrassment.

“This Was the Nightmare Scenario”: The West Wing Revolts After Trump Embraces Putin  —  As Trump grappled with his error, Chief of Staff John Kelly went into overdrive to get Trump to walk it back.  —  As he flew home from Helsinki on Air Force One following his disastrous press conference …

After Putin Meeting, Trump Voters Mostly Dig In.  But Cracks Are Showing.  —  Maybe it was the F.B.I.'s fault for unnerving him.  Or maybe the White House staff had left President Trump ill-prepared before his stunning remarks in Helsinki Monday, when he sided with Russia over his own intelligence agencies.

Vote Joe Crowley, for Working Families  —  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hurts the party, Congress and even America.  —  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's surprise primary victory over Rep. Joe Crowley seems likely to hurt Congress, America and the Democratic Party.  It doesn't have to.

'Putin's Favorite Congressman' Now Engulfed in NRA Spy Case … Pro-Kremlin GOP Congressman Dana Rohrabacher met with a Putin ally in Russia in August 2015, The Daily Beast has confirmed, matching an account in Monday's blockbuster FBI affidavit against accused Russian spy Maria Butina.

Trump revised one sentence from Helsinki.  Here's everything else he didn't fix.  —  First Read is your briefing from “Meet the Press” and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  WASHINGTON — If Tuesday was supposed to be a clean-up job …

Wave Alert: House Democrats Setting Fundraising Records  —  Republicans are getting beaten badly on the financial front.  It's an ominous sign for their chances of holding a House majority.  —  To understand why House Democrats are still in strong position to retake the majority, simply follow the money.

Cambridge Analytica's Facebook data was accessed from Russia, MP says  —  The now infamous Facebook data set on tens of millions of Americans gathered by a Cambridge University scientist for a firm that went on to worked for Donald Trump's 2016 campaign was accessed from Russia, a British member of parliament tells CNN.

The Queen's Not-So-Subtle Nod to Barack Obama You May Have Missed During Trump's U.K. Visit  —  Queen Elizabeth has no shortage of fancy brooches, so her choice of shiny accessory while President Donald Trump was visiting her country has raised some eyebrows for its potential hidden meaning.

Intel Chair: FBI, DOJ Obstructing Trump Probe in Hope of Dem Takeover in Congress  —  Nunes says DOJ, FBI betting on Dems killing probe  —  The chair of the House Intelligence Committee accused the FBI and Department of Justice of stonewalling a sprawling investigation into claims …

'It's just not wise': In past year, Trump's company repeatedly paid property taxes late  —  President Trump's company missed deadlines to pay property-tax bills in five states over the past year — and those delays cost the company $61,800 extra in penalties, interest and missed discounts …

Exclusive: Trump White House's Intelligence Chief Is Leaving  —  Michael Barry, the senior National Security Council director for intelligence programs, is leaving the White House, according to two government officials.  —  Barry's departure adds to the growing list of vacant senior NSC positions since …

Google Fined $5.1 Billion by E.U. in Android Antitrust Ruling  —  BRUSSELS — Google was hit with a $5.1 billion fine by European antitrust officials on Wednesday for abusing its power in the smartphone market, in the region's latest move to rein in the clout of American tech companies.

Trump's migrant fiasco diverts millions from health programs  —  HHS is forced to prioritize migrant crisis over medical research and other goals.  —  The health department has quietly dipped into tens of millions of dollars to pay for the consequences of President Donald Trump's border policy …

Trump Decided Russia Indictments Should Come Pre-Summit, Sources Say  — Rosenstein gave Trump options on the timing, two people say  — Trump now says he misspoke in his comments alongside Putin  —  President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead to announce new Russian election-hacking indictments …

Majority of Americans think Trump mishandling Russia: Reuters/Ipsos poll  —  (Reuters) - More than half of Americans disapprove of the way U.S. President Donald Trump is handling relations with Russia, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted after his controversial summit and joint news conference …

‘I want him to fix it’: Trump voters sorry now that tariffs are killing their Missouri nail factory  —  MSNBC's Vaughn Hillyard this week visited a nail factory in Missouri that is getting absolutely crushed by President Donald Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs.

How Sacha Baron Cohen fooled the nation's leaders  —  Emails obtained by POLITICO reveal the comedian's tradecraft.  —  How does Sacha Baron Cohen keep duping American leaders into sitting for his bogus interviews?  —  Email correspondence between Cohen's team and former Rep. Joe Walsh …

Putin Jet Trespassed in NATO Airspace on Way to Summit, Estonia Says  —  MOSCOW — Even before his plane touched down in Finland for a summit meeting with President Trump, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who was widely seen as coming out ahead at the meeting, had notched a victory in the air, the Estonian authorities say.