The few, tepid defenses of Bill Cosby during his criminal trial for sexual assault are an illustration of just how much his influence as Black America's emissary to the wider world has waned.
State dinners are a chance for first ladies to express their tastes and make a statement. But historically these diplomatic dinners have had their share of mishaps.
Meanwhile, President Trump is weighing a possible military response. On Monday, he said "nothing is off the table" and has vowed to respond "forcefully."
With a president keeping a Cabinet-level official on the job despite a raft of scandals, ethics officials are spelling out why that might be a problem.
Trump denies knowledge of a payment to a porn star to cover up a sexual encounter. Evangelical leaders, worried about the midterms, have arranged a meeting with the president at Trump's D.C. hotel.
President Trump complained about signing the 2,000-plus page spending bill into law, saying it was too bloated. He is not the first president to be confronted with that choice.