Schiff Got Early Account of Accusations as Whistle-Blower's Concerns Grew  —  WASHINGTON — The Democratic head of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, learned about the outlines of a C.I.A. officer's concerns that President Trump had abused his power days …

State Department inspector general gives Congress documents that Giuliani provided  —  (CNN)The State Department inspector general provided Congress on Wednesday with documents that included materials President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani had given to the department earlier …

Beneath the impeachment spin: Growing GOP concern  —  Tapper: Trump refused to answer this question  —  (CNN)What you most hear from congressional Republicans on impeachment this week is the sound of silence.  —  GOP sources tell CNN they have a good reason for that fear.

Trump involved Pence in efforts to pressure Ukraine's leader, though officials say vice president was unaware of allegations in whistleblower complaint  —  The president instructed Pence not to attend the inauguration of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in May.  — Greg Miller, Greg Jaffe, Ashley Parker -

Fox News Host Todd Starnes Out After Suggesting Democrats Worship Pagan God Moloch (Exclusive)  —  TheWrap has learned that Todd Starnes' contract at Fox News is not being renewed.  The host will no longer be working at the network, its website, or its premium subscription service, Fox Nation.

Giuliani consulted on Ukraine with imprisoned Paul Manafort via a lawyer  —  In his quest to rewrite the history of the 2016 election, President Trump's personal attorney has turned to an unusual source of information: Trump's imprisoned former campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Trump's Impeachment Saga Stems From a Political Hit Job Gone Bad  —  The irony of President Trump's sudden impeachment peril is that it's the unintended result of an effort to help him: a political hit job aimed at a likely opponent (Joe Biden) and funded by a major right-wing donor …

Former National Enquirer Editor Threatens Booksellers Over Ronan Farrow Exposé  —  Dylan Howard has hired a high-powered law-firm to quash the New Yorker writer's forthcoming book.  —  Former top National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard is using high-powered law firms that practice in Britain …

DOJ joins Trump lawsuit seeking to block release of his tax returns  —  The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is seeking the financial records as part of a probe into hush money payments to two women claiming affairs with Trump.  —  The Justice Department is joining President Donald Trump …

Donald Trump impeachment: President called Boris Johnson for help to discredit Mueller inquiry  —  President Trump personally contacted Boris Johnson to ask for help as he tried to discredit the Mueller investigation into possible connections between Russia and his 2016 election campaign, The Times understands.

No Change in Trump Reelect Prospects  —  Warren and Biden lead Dem ‘beauty contest’  —  West Long Branch, NJ - Recent events have not moved public opinion in either direction on whether President Donald Trump deserves a second term.  His reelection bid remains underwater, with particular signs of weakness among critical voting blocs.

With impeachment looming, the news media is growing a spine.  It needs stiffening.  —  Scott Pelley of CBS pushed back hard Sunday when House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tried to spin him on Sunday's “60 Minutes.”  —  So did Chris Wallace of Fox News when Trump aide Stephen Miller refused …

Sanders has heart procedure, cancels campaign events for now  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders' campaign said Wednesday that the Democratic presidential candidate had a heart procedure for a blocked artery and was canceling events and appearances “until further notice.”

GOP Rep. Upton supports an inquiry into Trump, but not one with impeachment in front of its name  —  Michigan Rep. Fred Upton, a moderate Republican who has been critical of President Trump in the past, said Wednesday that he supports an inquiry into the president's actions pertaining …

A Trump hotel mystery: Giant reservations followed by empty rooms  —  House investigators are looking into an allegation that groups — including at least one foreign government — tried to ingratiate themselves to President Donald Trump by booking rooms at his hotels but never staying in them.

Victim's brother hugs ex-cop after sentencing in wrong-apartment murder  —  Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was sentenced on Wednesday to serve 10 years in prison for the fatal 2018 killing of an innocent man she shot when she mistakenly entered his apartment believing it was her own.

MAGA Activist Karyn Turk Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud After Stealing From Her Mother  —  Pro-Trump activist and right-wing commentator Karyn Turk has been the subject of a few posts here on Right Wing Watch, mostly stemming from her appearances on Bill Mitchell's “YourVoice America” …

Junior Partner at Billion-Dollar Law Firm DLA Piper: Boss Sexually Assaulted Me 4 Times, Company Ignored It  —  Vanina Guerrero was hired at the multinational firm's Silicon Valley corporate practice in Sept. 2018.  Less than a year later, she claims she became “a shell” of her former self.

Pelosi says Trump ‘scared’ of impeachment inquiry in exclusive ABC News interview  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that President Donald Trump is “scared” of the impeachment inquiry she launched last week centered on a whistleblower complaint alleging he pressured Ukraine …

Trump's plans for major expansion of Turnberry resort rejected  —  The Trump Organisation's plans for a major expansion of its flagship Scottish resort by building swaths of housing and luxury villas have been thwarted, further jeopardising efforts by the US president's company …

U.S. hits Scotch whisky, Italian cheese, French wine with 25% tariffs  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration put 25% tariffs on French wine, Italian cheese and single-malt Scotch whisky — but spared Italian wine, pasta and olive oil — in retaliation for European Union subsidies on large aircraft.

U.S. Government Plans to Collect DNA From Detained Immigrants  —  The Department of Homeland Security said it would begin testing on hundreds of thousands of immigrants in federal detention facilities.  —  The Trump administration is moving to begin collecting DNA samples from hundreds …

Why Lefties Should Watch Fox News  —  The network's internal strife offers the truest picture of how impeachment might play on the right.  —  I try to limit my intake of 24-hour cable TV news, because as a medium, on balance, I think it's bad for America.  Though Facebook has suffered …