Understanding the Media’s Ugly Weekendby David French When it comes…

Two is a travesty. But what about three, then four, then five? What if some of them adopt a seemingly celebratory tone as they recount alleged diplomatic triumphs over Vice President Mike Pence? That was this weekend - article after article, tweet after tweet.

Trump’s $4.4 trillion budget moves deficit sharply higher

President Donald Trump unveiled a $4.4 trillion budget for next year that heralds an era of $1 trillion-plus federal deficits and - unlike the plan he released last year - never comes close to promising a balanced ledger even after 10 years. The growing deficits reflect, in great part, the impact of last year's tax overhaul, which is projected to cause federal tax revenue to drop.

Twitter bans ‘pro-white’ politician for racist tweet

Paul Nehlen, a fringe challenger of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and whose anti-Semitic tweets caused a stir in recent months, drew criticism again this week after tweeting an image of actress Meghan Markle photoshopped with the face of Cheddar Man, the dark-skinned man believed to be the first modern Briton. Twitter suspended Nehlen's account after he shared an image of Prince Harry standing next to Markle, a biracial American he is set to marry in May. Along with the image was this tweet: "Honey does this tie make my face look pale?" Start your day with the news you need from the Bay Area and beyond.

President Trump’s $4 trillion budget helps move deficit sharply higher

President Donald Trump is proposing a $4 trillion-plus budget for next year that projects a $1 trillion or so federal deficit and - unlike the plan he released last year - never comes close to promising a balanced federal ledger even after 10 years. And that's before last week's $300 billion budget pact is added this year and next, showering both the Pentagon and domestic agencies with big increases.

Cruz lays off the corn, turns on the gas

Ted Cruz is holding up the confirmation of a key agriculture nominee to help oil refiners in his home state of Texas - infuriating some of the Iowans who fueled his rise in the 2016 presidential primary. Cruz is up for reelection this year in Texas, where oil and gas is king and employs hundreds of thousand of people.

Ron Wyden is probably wasting time with his Russian money laundering…

As ABC News reports, Ron Wyden wrote to the Treasury Department last Friday, arguing that "It is imperative that Congress follow the money and conduct a thorough investigation into any potential money laundering or other illicit financial dealings between the president, his associates, and Russia." Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is probably wasting his time scrutinizing President Trump's 2008 Palm Beach property sale to Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev.

Trump’s $4 trillion budget helps move deficit sharply higher

President Donald Trump is proposing a $4 trillion-plus budget for next year that projects a $1 trillion or so federal deficit and - unlike the plan he released last year - never comes close to promising a balanced federal ledger even after 10 years. And that's before last week's $300 billion budget pact is added this year and next, showering both the Pentagon and domestic agencies with big increases.

WND Cranks Out Puff Pieces on Devin Nunes

WorldNetDaily has done puff pieces on other Trump administration officials, so why not the guy behind the infamous memo about the Trump-Russia investigation? Art Moore does the deed in a Feb. 1 article , with the added hook of a sales opportunity in the fact that WND published a book Nunes wrote in 2010: But with his leading role in the Trump-Russia probe over the past year and with the imminent release of a four-page document he spearheaded that is said to allege politically motivated intelligence abuses "worse than Watergate," the 44-year-old Republican congressman from California's San Joaquin Valley is in the spotlight.

Special election in Minnesota may test anti-Trump winds, affect Senate control

Today's special election for a Cottage Grove-area state Senate district will provide the latest barometer for how Democrats can capitalize on a midterm swoon for Republicans nationwide and cue up a fight for control over a closely divided Senate. But the Democratic and Republican candidates are doing their best to tune out the high stakes surrounding the unusual Monday special election, instead focusing on their legislative credentials from previous stints at the Capitol.

US foreign policy and the missing left

Consider the disaster of American foreign policy under President Donald Trump. While the president spent his first year in office trading insults with the dictator of North Korea, that country has moved steadily forward with its nuclear program, and the United States has moved steadily closer to a war that no one wants.

As states aim to reduce drug costs, Canadian imports seen as option

Lawmakers in more than two-thirds of the states are considering ways to reduce prescription drug costs, including importing them from Canada, as they strive to balance budgets without knowing for sure what their governments' tabs will be. A total of 87 bills in 34 states of all political stripes seek to save money on prescription drugs, according to the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy.

Memo still in Democrats’ plans

Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee are prepared to black out parts of their memo about the FBI's Russia investigation to ensure there's no harmful spilling of secrets, then try again to get President Donald Trump to let it come out. A White House aide said on Sunday that he's confident it will be released once Democrats "clean it up."

DeFranciso nomination for governor no slam dunk

The following is an expanded version of the second item from my "Albany Insider" column from Monday's print editions: When Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb surprisingly dropped out of the GOP race for governor Friday, the assumption was Senate Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco was now the front-runner to take on Cuomo. But that's not a guarantee even as he has picked up a number of county chairmen endorsements since Kolb dropped out, numerous Republican leaders and operatives say.

As Congress Debates Immigration, DREAMers Are In Limbo Along With Their Families

Kim Jong-un's Sister Turns on the Charm, Taking Pence's Spotlight - PYEONGCHANG, South Korea - When the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, decided to send a large delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea this month, the world feared he might steal the show. Pence: The United States is ready to talk with North Korea - Despite the mutual chilliness between U.S. and North Korean officials in South Korea last week, behind the scenes real progress was made toward a new diplomatic opening that could result in direct talks without preconditions between Washington and Pyongyang.