Senators try to protect the special counsel

Four senators -- two Republicans and two Democrats -- are taking a step to protect special counsel Robert Mueller's job as President Donald Trump has angrily mused about firing him. Legislation offered on Wednesday by Republicans Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrats Chris Coons of Delaware and Cory Booker of New Jersey would give any special counsel a 10-day window to seek expedited judicial review of a firing.

After several recent hospitalizations, former First Lady Barbara Bush …

After several recent hospitalizations, former First Lady Barbara Bush has chosen not to seek additional medical treatment and is instead focusing on comfort care, according to Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath. Former first lady Barbara Bush, the wife and mother of two presidents, has decided to end medical treatment for a life-threatening illness.

Trump’s would-be secretary of state has an Islamophobia problem

Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know? Sign up for the Today's WorldView newsletter . Mike Pompeo, the CIA director who was tapped by President Trump to lead the State Department, faces a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday.

Report: Missouri Gov. Greitens slapped, grabbed woman

In this Jan. 20, 2018, file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens listens to a question during an interview in his office at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., where he discussed having an extramarital affair in 2015 before taking office. His political future faces a big test Wednesday, April 11 when a special legislative committee issues an investigative report related to the affair.

Zuckerberg vows to revamp Facebook, admits his own data was shared

Washington, April 11 : Stressing that there is an online propaganda "arms race" with Russia and it was important to make sure no one interferes in any more elections including in India, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that his own personal data was "improperly shared". Appearing before the US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday -- his second testimony before the US Congress in less than 24 hours -- Zuckerberg told the lawmakers that his own personal data was part of 87 million users' that was "improperly shared" with British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica.

DC Buzz: Esty interview, Part II

Rep. Elizabeth Esty's meteoric rise in Congress flamed out after Hearst Connecticut Media and other outlets broke the story of her self-described errors in handing the 2016 exit of her abusive former chief of staff. But between the story bombshell and her decision not to seek a fourth term in Congress came the self-imposed weekend from hell at her home in Cheshire.

Senate Republicans express concerns about Trump’s choice to lead Veterans Affairsabout 2 hours ago

WASHINGTON Ronny L. Jackson, President Trump's choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, is facing mounting skepticism from Senate Republicans over whether he has the management experience to lead the nation's second-largest bureaucracy. The comments from several GOP senators, particularly those with influence on veterans' issues, signal Jackson will have to work overtime to persuade not just Democrats but Trump's own party that he is qualified to oversee the beleaguered agency.

Chinese ambassador warns U.S. not to drag Latam into trade dispute

China's ambassador to Peru warned on Wednesday that it would be disrespectful for the United States to drag Latin America into its trade dispute with Beijing, but told Reuters a potential trade war between the world's top two economies could bolster the region's exports. Jia Guide, China's ambassador to Peru, speaks during an interview with Reuters at the Chinese embassy in Lima, Peru April 11, 2018.

Editorials from around Oregon

For five years, Sen. Ron Wyden has pushed Congress to address how U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management leaders often must divert money from other programs, including fire prevention and forest management budgets, to cover the increasingly high cost of fighting massive wildfires. The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act was a part of the $1.3 trillion federal spending package passed by federal lawmakers and signed by the president late last month.

Meghan McCain: Ryan’s Exit Isn’t Something to Cheer About

The daughter of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Wednesday criticized those applauding the exit of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, saying they had better brace themselves for "Trumpism" which "you will like a lot less." "The people that are cheering, do you know what comes in his place? Trumpism," said Meghan McCain on ABC's "The View" after some in the audience clapped at Ryan's decision to retire from the House.

Trump haters Strzok, Page still have top-secret security clearance, FBI tells Rand Paul

Republican senator from Kentucky on whether FBI officials caught sending anti-Trump text messages should be allowed to keep their clearances. Two romantically involved FBI officials who were removed from special counsel Robert Mueller's team over a series of anti-Trump text messages still have Top Secret security clearances, Sen. Rand Paul revealed Wednesday.

Trump’s options in Syria include airstrikes, partnerships, experts say

Trump meets with military leaders, says decision on U.S. retaliation against suspected chemical attack in Syria will be coming tonight or shortly thereafter. After another suspected chemical attack in Syria, President Trump promised the U.S. would respond "forcefully" but so far has not given specifics.

Zuckerberg is trying to restore public confidence after information…

Zuckerberg is trying to restore public confidence after information from up to 87 million Facebook users was shared with Cambridge Analytica. As Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg makes his first appearances before Congress Tuesday and Wednesday, lawmakers want more information about how the social network allowed the possible misuse of data belonging to 87 million Facebook users - and what steps are being taken to prevent it in the future.

Schumer Warns of ‘Constitutional Crisis’ 6 Times in 3 Minutes

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday warned President Trump not to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the man who appointed Mueller to lead the FBI's long-running Trump-Russia probe. A short time earlier, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told a news conference he thinks Mueller should be allowed to finish his investigation.

As Trump fumes over FBI raid, White House lawyers urge restraint

White House lawyers are trying to dissuade U.S. President Donald Trump from seeking to get rid of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, as Trump weighs options after the FBI raided his personal attorney's office and home, two U.S. officials said on Tuesday. White House lawyers Ty Cobb and Donald McGahn have been telling Trump that firing Mueller would leave the president vulnerable to charges of obstruction of justice and have said that he must have "good cause" to order Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to oust Mueller, the officials said.

Senators ask EPA to explain if Pruitt lied in Fox News interview

Three Democratic senators on the committee that oversees the Environmental Protection Agency are asking for answers on reports that the agency granted significant raises to two aides and whether Administrator Scott Pruitt lied about his knowledge of the raises in an interview on Fox News. The Atlantic reported last week that Pruitt granted raises to two of his aides at the EPA under a provision of the Safe Drinking Water Act after the White House personnel office denied the raises.

Mark Zuckerberg survives US Congress grilling over Cambridge Analytica scandal

FACEBOOK FOUNDER Mark Zuckerberg has faced a grilling from US senators over the social network's handling of data, though the 33-year-old billionaire seemed to bob and weave his way out of hot water. Zuck was probed be some 40 senators over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook's approach to privacy, its collection and use of data, it's potential monopoly, and its role in the influence of politics.