FBI director confirms probe of Trump campaign and Russia

FBI director James Comey confirmed that the bureau is investigating whether there was coordination between Russian officials and President Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 presidential campaign. The House Intelligence Committee opened hearings on Monday to determine the extent of Russian interference and whether campaign officials from either side helped.

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts from recent editorials

President Trump’s Twitter rants are rather like magical pixie dust – they obscure real controversies, like possible links between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government, and change the conversation. President Trump’s Twitter rants are rather like magical pixie dust – they obscure real controversies, like possible links between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government, and change the conversation.

Top Trump confidante admits to speaking privately with…

OCTOBER 08: Political consultant Roger Stone speaks onstage during The New Yorker Festival 2016 – ‘President Trump: Life As We May Know It,’ featuring Max Boot, Amy Davidson, Roger Stone, and Sean Wilentz in conversation with Evan Osnos at MasterCard Stage at SVA Theatre on October 8, 2016 in New York City.

Trump administration hits the 50-day mark

Time flies: Today marks the 50th day of President Donald Trump’s administration and the halfway point in the storied “first 100 days.” More than a week ago, Trump said that he would give himself an A for achievement but a C in messaging, though that self-assessment came before his address to a joint session of Congress, for which he was roundly praised by members of his own party.

Roger Stone, Trump confidante, spoke privately with Russian hacker prior to the election: Report

Roger Stone, President Trump’s former campaign adviser, communicated privately with an entity directly involved in hacking the Democratic National Committee ahead of the 2016 White House race, The Smoking Gun reported Wednesday. Mr. Stone, a veteran political consultant, swapped private Twitter messages last year with “Guccifer 2.0,” the website reported Wednesday citing an unnamed source.

Obama Used the Presidency, so should Trump

The front page of the Washington Post on Wednesday showed a charming picture of a gaggle of school kids on a White House tour excited by a surprise appearance by President Trump. The Post is overtly hostile to Trump, but editors find it hard to resist good photos of happy, bright-eyed children.

Intel chair: No evidence of wiretap

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said Tuesday that he had seen no evidence supporting President Donald Trump’s claim that his phones were tapped by the previous administration. But unlike many other members of Congress, Nunes did not demand that the administration explain the basis of Trump’s accusation, saying that “we were going to look into it anyway.”

Wesley Pruden

Some of our grown-ups are missing, just when we need them most, and our Democratic friends need more powerful meds. The ink on the streets of Washington is knee-deep and toxic.

White House aides defend Trumpa s wiretapping claim

White House officials on Monday defended President Donald Trump’s explosive claim that Barack Obama tapped Trump’s telephones during last year’s election, although they won’t say exactly where that information came from and left open the possibility that it isn’t true. The comments came even as FBI Director James Comey privately asked the Justice Department to dispute the claim because he believed the allegations were false.

Nancy Pelosi on Latest Trump Storm: ‘Deflector-in-Chief’

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Saturday ripped President Donald Trump as the “deflector-in-chief” and called for an independent investigation of his accusations that his campaign was wire-tapped by the Obama administration. Trump unleashed a Twitter storm earlier Saturday that former President Barack Obama tapped his telephone at Trump Tower in New York as part an investigation into whether his campaign was communicating with the Russian government.

Reactions Mixed on Trump Wiretapping Accusations, Even From Obama’s Side

A spokesman for former President Barack Obama strongly denied President Donald Trump’s tweeted accusation that his predecessor had his Trump Tower offices wiretapped, while another former Obama official cautioned to be careful while considering the official statement. “A cardinal rule of the Obama administration was that no White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice,” Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis said in a statement reported on Saturday.

Trump accuses Obama of tapping phone before election

President Donald Trump took to Twitter early Saturday morning to accuse Barack Obama of tapping his phone during the election process, calling it a “new low.” “Terrible! Just found out that that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory,” the president tweeted.

Sessions Recuses

A helpful WaPo timeline is here. The second in command, Dana Boente is presumably in charge of deciding whether to appoint a Special Counsel.

Patients are pulled from rubble as hospital roof collapses

‘Ma’am, you look like you’re having a bad day. Can I give you a hug?’ The moment a quick-thinking bus driver pulls over to talk down a suicidal woman from jumping off a bridge Democrats demand special prosecutor following claim Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied to senators after he twice met Russian ambassador during Trump campaign – as White House condemns ‘partisan attacks’ Is this the best money-saving hack ever? How the VERY simple ‘Three Day Rule’ can boost your bank balance Are you wearing your underwear WRONG? The six mistakes all women are making Disgruntled diners reveal why they WON’T be leaving a tip with hilarious messages on their restaurant receipts Got an office job? You’ll need to walk SEVEN MILES each day to reduce the heart disease risk that comes with it ‘I’m a stupid w****, help!’: Woman accidentally sends her BOYFRIEND a text meant for her friend detailing how … (more)

Trump credits himself for the party’s growing popularity

President Trump shared an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll on his Twitter account on Monday, touting the survey’s findings that more U.S. adults approve of Republicans in Congress than Democrats for the first time in more than five years. “GOP now viewed more favorably than Dems, in Trump era via @HotlineJosh,” Trump tweeted Monday evening.

Trump blames Democrats for pushing ‘fake’ Russia news…

After a day of discussions on Sunday talk shows about upcoming Congressional investigations into contacts between the members of the Trump White House and Russian intelligence agents, the President took to Twitter to call any talk of Russia “FAKE NEWS.” Friday night Rep. Darrell Issa stunned HBO host Bill Maher by saying that it was likely a special prosecutor would need to investigate the Russian connection to the Trump White House.

No President attacked press more than Obama: Morgan defends Trump

New Delhi , Feb. 25 : British journalist Piers Morgan, who has never shied away from showing support for U.S. President Donald Trump, has once again batted for the latter. Morgan on Friday tweeted in agreement with the White House barring a few media organisations from attending a meeting, held by White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

Trump seeks national security adviser, health care strategy

President Donald Trump’s holiday weekend featured a raucous campaign rally, a health care strategy session, interviews for a new national security adviser – and even a few holes of golf. Trump brought four contenders to his private club Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Sunday as he seeks a replacement for retired Gen.

Democrats ask for hearings involving Trumpa s smartphone security

President Trump’s purportedly lax security practices are the subject of a letter sent from more than a dozen congressional Democrats this week to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Rep. Ted Lieu, California Democrat, urged committee leadership this week to investigate “troubling reports” that have emerged recently with respect to Mr. Trump’s operational security, including his apparent use of a consumer-grade Android smartphone to communicate over Twitter, among other items of concerns.

‘Truths Not Tweets’: Protesters Greet Trump at Boeing Plant

More than 100 people gathered at the North Charleston Coliseum on Friday to protest the president’s visit. President Donald Trump was met with peaceful protesters in North Charleston, South Carolina on Friday as he gave a speech at a Boeing plant in his first visit to the state since winning its Republican presidential primary last year.

The Trump administration has a spelling problem. But how bad is it really? We investigate.

President Trump attends a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Feb. 13. The latest cringe-worthy gaffe, courtesy of the Education Department, was a double whammy: In a tweet Friday, the agency misspelled the name of the late scholar-activist and NAACP co-founder W.E.B. Du Bois. Then it followed up with a correction, with its own glaring error: “Our deepest apologizes for the earlier typo.”

Ap Fact Check: Democrats cite fake tweet to condemn Flynn

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., joined at right by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, calling for an investigation into President Donald Trump’s relationship with Russia, including when Trump learned that his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had discussed U.S. sanctions with a Russian diplomat.

NY Post Writer Avoids Mentioning Wilson’s Contribution to…

The New York Post though usually perceived as a right-leaning newspaper, has room for columnists from the “other side” – including selective and truth-challenged ones like Jennifer Wright. Wright’s February 11 column covers “some of the most gruesome plagues” in human history, in the process promoting a new book that is quite a departure from her previous ventures ” covering sex and dating .”

Dead Man Walking

Someone should tell them that if they watch Morning Joseph they can get a few minute jump on the tweets. Three weeks into the Trump administration, council staff members get up in the morning, read President Trump’s Twitter posts and struggle to make policy to fit them.

[The Sacramento Bee] Trump’s conflicts are a scandal waiting to happen

President Donald Trump used his official Twitter account Wednesday to bash Nordstrom for “unfairly” dropping daughter Ivanka’s clothing line. “Terrible!” First lady Melania Trump sued a British newspaper for $150 million this week, claiming that a retracted story could cost her an “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to launch a multimillion-dollar brand.

Hillary Clinton takes jab at Michael Flynn after he resigns

Hillary Clinton took to Twitter to weigh in on National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s resignation, and responded to a tweet suggesting that he get a new job at Domino’s. In the aftermath, Clinton’s former aide Phillipe Reines sent a tweet about the pizzeria gig in reference to #Pizzagate, a debunked conspiracy theory that alleged Clinton and her campaign ran a child-sex ring inside the DC restaurant Comet Ping Pong.

Trump attacks on judiciary raise safety concerns for judges

This March 12, 2013 file still image taken from United States Courts shows Judge James Robart listening to a case at Seattle Courthouse in Seattle. Online abuse of Robart, who temporarily derailed President Donald Trump’s travel ban, has raised safety concerns, according to experts who are worried that the president’s attacks on the judiciary could make judges a more inviting target.

Lawyers condemn Trump’s ‘destructive’ attacks on judiciary

A group of lawyers have written a letter to the heads of the Department of Justice to complain about the President Donald Trump’s attacks on the judiciary. Appellate lawyers from across the country wrote the letter to Acting Solicitor General Noel Francisco and Acting Attorney General Dana Boente complaining about the attacks, including a Twitter tirade against a judge who temporarily blocked one of Trump’s executive orders.

Senator blocked from speaking in fierce attorney general debate

A Democratic senator has been barred from speaking during debate on the attorney general nominee after Republicans said she violated a Senate rule. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was interrupted, told to sit down and barred from speaking Tuesday during debate on President Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions .