Lev Parnas, Giuliani Associate, Opens Talks With Impeachment Investigators  —  Mr. Parnas could offer Congress a vein of information about a political pressure campaign in Ukraine.  —  An associate of Rudolph W. Giuliani who was involved in a campaign to pressure Ukraine …

Trump trails Democratic rivals in national survey as independents move away  —  One year out from the 2020 election, President Trump trails some potential Democratic rivals in head-to-head matchups, with his national support level currently fixed at about 40 percent, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

POLITICO Playbook: We've read the transcripts.  Do they help Trump?  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION: Since the release of the first two transcripts from the impeachment inquiry Monday, have you seen a single stitch of information that helps President DONALD TRUMP?

Trump rallied for Kentucky governor, but impeachment was on his mind  —  The president's speech in Lexington on behalf of Gov. Matt Bevin continually circled back to his own grievances.  —  President Donald Trump and Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin at a rally Monday.

Roger Stone's trial could hang on a comedian's drunken texts  —  WASHINGTON — It was late in the evening of Oct. 1, 2016, and radio talk show host Randy Credico was at London's Heathrow Airport doing what he sometimes did in those days: getting smashed.  He ducked into a duty-free shop …

Supreme Court unlikely to help Trump keep his taxes from prosecutors  —  ANALYSIS: The president's lawyers are appealing a ruling from the 2nd Circuit court of appeals that the documents must be turned over.  —  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will face strong headwinds in asking …

Tom Steyer aide stole Kamala Harris' SC volunteer data from 2020 presidential voter file  —  COLUMBIA — A South Carolina aide for Tom Steyer's 2020 presidential campaign stole valuable volunteer data collected by Kamala Harris' campaign using an account from when he worked with the S.C. Democratic Party …

Democrats, You're About to Go to Trial.  This Is How You Win.  —  Any hope of getting Republicans to break ranks depends on persuading the public first. … The House impeachment inquiry into President Trump has already uncovered damning evidence that proves the “quid pro quo” the president continues to deny.

Julián Castro to lay off New Hampshire, South Carolina teams  —  Julián Castro's campaign will fire its staff in New Hampshire and South Carolina, an official familiar with the campaign told POLITICO.  The campaign notified the state teams on Monday and their final day will be next week.

I Said Marvel Movies Aren't Cinema.  Let Me Explain.  —  Cinema is an art form that brings you the unexpected.  In superhero movies, nothing is at risk, a director says.  —  Mr. Scorsese is an Academy Award-winning director, writer and producer.  —  When I was in England in early October, I gave an interview to Empire magazine.

Commissioners call New York Times ‘fake news,’ deny library funding for digital subscriptions  —  'I don't agree with it, I don't like ‘em,’ said one Citrus County commissioner who said he agrees with President Donald Trump that the newspaper prints ‘fake news.’

YouTube Bans Gorka Because He Won't Stop Playing Imagine Dragons  —  The notoriously combative Trump ally has regularly played Imagine Dragons songs on his radio show, “America First.”  —  YouTube banned Sebastian Gorka from its platform on Monday, apparently because the former Trump White …

Republicans consider moving Jim Jordan to House Intelligence Committee  —  Washington — As the impeachment inquiry enters its public phase, top Republicans in the House are weighing whether to temporarily assign Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence …

In last days, al-Baghdadi sought safety in shrinking domain  —  BEIRUT (AP) — In his last months on the run, Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was agitated, fearful of traitors, sometimes disguised as a shepherd, sometimes hiding underground, always dependent on a shrinking circle of confidants.

Exxon climate ads aren't “political,” according to Twitter  —  But a Harvard researcher says Exxon's ads “epitomize the art” of political advertising.  —  Welcome to HEATED, a newsletter for people who are pissed off about the climate crisis—written by me, Emily Atkin.

Republicans flee Trump  —  Nineteen House Republicans have announced they will be leaving Congress.  —  Republicans are now fleeing Congress at a similar rate as they did in advance of the 2018 midterms when Democrats captured the House majority by winning 41 seats.

More Democrats Want Trump Removed Than Wanted Nixon Out  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrats and Republicans are far more unified in their respective positions about whether or not President Donald Trump should be impeached and removed from office than they were about Richard Nixon at the end of the Watergate scandal.

Inside, But Mostly Outside, the Impeachment Chamber of Secrets  —  A reporters' diary of covering a story taking place largely behind closed doors.  —  Two heavy wooden doors thud to a close, echoing across the marble underbelly of the U.S. Capitol.  —  The click-boom as the door latches …