When FBI searched Cohen’s office, they grabbed recordings, including call with Trump about hushing Playmate mistress; Lordy, there are tapes!....--Bill Shine, now Trump communications director, arranged settlements for victims of harassment as Fox News exec, was subpoaned by grand jury last year
--after a week of back and forth over the Trump/Putin meeting, Donnie doubles down, invites Vlad to the White House
--in Helsinki, Putin misspoke, too, says he meant “$400,000” not $400 million when he claimed Bill Browder donated to Clinton campaign
--on Capitol Hill, Dems aggressively push bills to separate GOP from Trump, and win 98-0 vote opposing Russian interrogation of former ambassador Mike McFaul
--one GOP House member separates from Trump, as former spy Will Hurd slams 45 in op-ed
--former CIA officer Phil Giraldi is critical of Mueller’s Friday the 13th indictments, calls it “ludicrous” political document
--the Russian company that’s fighting Mueller’s indictment is using opinions from SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh to argue against charges
--Secretary of State Pompeo will use Reagan Library speech this weekend to agitate against Iran
--under instructions from Washington, embassy in South Africa ignored Obama during this week’s visit
--more official cruelty to immigrants, as crime victims promised path to citizenship are being deported
--Trump withdraws judge nomination of Oregon’s Ryan Bounds after bending many rules
--FCC bent the rules for Sinclair, but the merger with Tribune may fall apart
--WashPost analysis gives Dems hope of regaining Senate control
--tipped by listener Jason Spitzer, LA Times reports new San Francisco group Signals Network will support whistleblowers
--Catholic sex scandals deepen, as Australia prime minister calls for Pope to fire convicted cardinal, and US cardinal McCarrick faces more charges
--anger grows in Spartanburg, SC as Trump threatens big tariffs on BMW and the trade war forces Europe into deeper ties to China
--appeals court blocks Trump ban on transgender soldiers, and California Supreme Court kills state-splitting ballot measure
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