News Reporter: Politics A.M.: Trump, a reluctant hawk, has battled his top aides on Russia and lost

Democracy Dies in Darkness

The most important politics stories today

Trump, a reluctant hawk, has battled his top aides on Russia and lost

The president was furious when he realized that France and Germany weren't expelling Russian diplomats in the same numbers as the United States.

By Greg Jaffe, John Hudson and Philip Rucker • Read more »

Analysis

Five things to keep in mind whenever Trump tweets about polling

Beware outliers and remember the trends.

By Philip Bump • Read more »

PowerPost • Perspective

New museum chief fiercely promotes African art, but faces a more prosaic problem at home

Augustus (Gus) Casely-Hayford faces challenges because African culture too often has been overlooked or denigrated, if not stolen, in a European-centric environment and his museum's attendance is falling.

By Joe Davidson • Read more »

Poll: Democrats' advantage in midterm election support is shrinking

The gap among registered voters is tightening as President Trump's low approval rating inches up. Gun policy could be a wild card in House elections, the poll shows.

By Dan Balz and Scott Clement • Read more »

The Fix • Analysis

James Comey would rather impeach himself than Trump

It's almost as if the guy who arguably took down Hillary Clinton would rather not take down Trump, too.

By Aaron Blake • Read more »

Monkey Cage • Analysis

Last week the U.S. bombed Syria, but not much changed. Here's what you need to know.

Let's make some sense of last week's fuss over Syria.

By Elizabeth N. Saunders • Read more »

Fact Checker • Analysis

John Boehner's claim that 'we have literally filled up our jails' with people for minor marijuana possession

The new spokesman for the marijuana industry says prisons have been filled with people who just possessed marijuana. He's blowing smoke.

By Glenn Kessler • Read more »

Analysis

Whom is Comey trying to convince? The third of Americans with no opinion of him.

Our latest poll shows that Comey has room to change minds.

By Philip Bump • Read more »

HHS Secretary Alex Azar hospitalized for treatment of 'minor infection'

He received intravenous antibiotics, the department said.

By Amy Goldstein • Read more »

Supreme Court considers whether states should have power to tax all online sales

Can states force retailers with a "virtual presence" to collect tax on sales?

By Robert Barnes and Abha Bhattarai • Read more »

Trump's reelection committee has spent more than $1 out of every $5 on legal fees this year

The president's campaign and two joint fundraising committees together raised about $20 million in the first three months of 2018.

By Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Anu Narayanswamy • Read more »

PowerPost

Fealty to Trump has become the coin of the realm for GOP Senate candidates

The rapprochements and fawning reflect two elements of Senate midterms: Trump is enormously popular with primary voters, and contested races are in states he won in 2016.

By Michael Scherer • Read more »

Barbara Bush, former first lady, turns to 'comfort care'

The 92-year-old former first lady will forego further medical treatment.

By Carolyn Y. Johnson • Read more »

Pence's tone toward refugees, oppressed contrasts with Trump's harsher rhetoric

Throughout the vice president's whirlwind 26-hour visit to Lima over the weekend, he repeatedly struck a compassionate tone as he described the suffering of people around the world, especially in Venezuela and Syria, and he talked about the United States' moral obligation to help others.

By Jenna Johnson • Read more »

Hundreds of ex-DOJ officials now urging Congress to 'forcefully respond' if Trump fires Mueller

Several dozen former Department of Justice employees signed a statement defending special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein.

By Kristine Phillips • Read more »