Teflon Don? Trump tries a familiar tactic: providing a new story line

President Donald Trump spent much of Thursday playing up his economic accomplishments and attacking his regular list of rivals, including Hillary Clinton and the news media, which he again called the enemy of the people. As he tried to leave in his wake Monday's news conference with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, analysts and critics spent the day wondering whether the misstep would create a lasting problem for him.

The Latest: Boat victims mourned

It's been five months since they have seen their infant son Johan Bueso Castillo who was separ... A Honduran man who was separated from his baby son at the Texas border and then deported without him soon will hold the boy again. A Honduran man who was separated from his baby son at the Texas border and then deported without him soon will hold the boy again.

Contrasting Virginia campaigns could affect control of House Source: AP

Some GOP congressmen in Virginia want nothing to do with their own party's provocative candidate for Senate, Corey Stewart, an outspoken acolyte of President Donald Trump and defender of Confederate monuments. Stewart says he's fine with the cold shoulders if it helps Republicans win.

California sues over Trump halt to truck pollution rule Source: AP

California and 14 other states sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday over its decision to suspend an Obama-era rule aimed at limiting pollution from trucks. The July 6 decision by the Trump EPA was illegal and could put thousands of additional highly polluting trucks on the roads, the states and the District of Columbia said in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Maxine Waters supporters burn the American flag during counter protest

The group of a few dozen arrived midday Thursday in Los Angeles to counter an anticipated protest by a far-right militia group who never showed The demonstration comes despite the congresswoman's request for supporters to stay away from far-right militia group the Oath Keepers Maxine Waters supporters set fire to the American flag outside the Democratic firebrand's Los Angeles office Thursday as way to counter an anticipated protest by a far-right militia group who never showed. A modest few dozen people made their rebellious appearance despite a previous request by the congresswoman that supporters not be baited into confrontation with the Oath Keepers.

Republicans withdraw Trump nominee for federal appeals court at last minute over race record

In stunning move, Mitch McConnell withdrew the nomination of Ryan Bounds for a federal appeals court seat minutes before a Senate vote Tim Scott, the South Carolina senator who is the Republican's only African-American member of the senate, said he could not vote for Bounds Writings from his time as a Stanford student showed Bounds, 45, had called multicultural groups at the university 'feel-good ethnic hoedowns' In a stunning move, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has withdrawn one of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees just minutes before he was set for a confirmation vote. Trump had nominated the assistant U.S. attorney in Oregon to be a judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

California sues over Trump halt to truck pollution rule

California and 14 other states sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday over its decision to suspend an Obama-era rule aimed at limiting pollution from trucks. The July 6 decision by the Trump EPA was illegal and could put thousands of additional highly polluting trucks on the roads, the states and the District of Columbia said in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

News Media Find Trump Guilty of Treason

Since President Trump's press conference in Helsinki on Monday, many in the liberal media have hyperventilated about how his lack of aggression toward Russian President Putin makes him somehow guilty of treason. Nevertheless, in a Tuesday interview with Rep. Chris Collins on Cuomo Primetime , CNN's Chris Cuomo bristled at the Congressman's allegations that the media had played any role in the word's newfound ubiquity.

State lawmakers ask attorney general to probe disgraced San…

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters was disparaged with offensive comments by gang prosecutor Michael Selyem in this Facebook post. A comment by San Bernardino County gang prosecutor Michael Selyem on this Breitbart post supports white male immigrants, but not "terrorist - holes."

Democrats attack Trump’s consumer watchdog pick in Senate hearing

There were heated exchanges in U.S. Congress on Thursday as Democratic lawmakers grilled President Donald Trump's pick to lead the country's consumer watchdog on her involvement in the government's "zero tolerance" immigration policy. Democratic senators repeatedly pressed Kathy Kraninger, a senior government official, on her role in setting and implementing the policy slammed by both Democrats and Republicans and on whether she had relevant experience to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau .

Flint water crisis prompts call for more federal oversight

In this pMarch 21, 2016, file photo, the Flint Water Plant water tower is seen in Flint, Mich. A federal watchdog is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen its oversight of state drinking water systems in the wake of the lead crisis in Flint, Michigan.

U.S. lawmakers reach pact to strengthen oversight of foreign investment

U.S. lawmakers have reached an agreement that puts a measure to strengthen oversight of foreign investment from countries such as China into a must-pass defense policy bill, Representative Robert Pittenger's office said on Thursday. U.S. Representative Robert Pittenger speaks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina July 26, 2016.

Memoir by ambassador Putin wants to question now a bestseller

In this May 15, 2013 file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul leaves the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Russia. A memoir by the former U.S. ambassador, whom Russian officials have said they want to interview, is in the top 10 on Amazon.com.

Exclusive: McConnell-linked groups, flush with cash, plan $16 million advertising blitz in August

WASHINGTON Political groups aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell started July with nearly $44 million in available cash and will unleash a major advertising onslaught next month, according to figures figured provided first to USA TODAY. One Nation, the best-financed group in the McConnell orbit, plans to spend $16 million in August in five Senate contests crucial to Republicans.

Republicans foil Democrats’ attempt to subpoena State Department translator

Republicans foil Democrats' attempt to subpoena State Department translator who was present for every second of Trump and Putin's meeting White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Tuesday that President Trump and President Putin's meeting in Helsinki had not been recorded Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee have blocked a move to subpoena the American translator from the Helsinki summit to testify about the private talks between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The panel's top Democrat, Rep. Adam Schiff, said Thursday he wanted Maria Gross, the translator, who works for the State Department, to appear in closed session, saying Congress must 'find out what was said' during the two-hour meeting.

Trump rejects Putin offer on interviewing suspects

Donald Trump has rejected Vladimir Putin's offer to allow the US to question 12 Russians accused of interfering in the 2016 election. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the proposal was "made in sincerity" by the Russian president but Mr Trump "disagrees with it".

VP Pence set to attend Georgia rally in governor’s race

Vice President Mike Pence is set to attend a rally in Macon, Georgia, Saturday to support Secretary of State Brian Kemp's bid for governor, days before the contentious GOP runoff is decided. The White House confirmed the news to The Associated Press on Thursday, one day after President Donald Trump tweeted his "full and total endorsement" for Kemp in the runoff against Lt.