Anderson Cooper: The spin has just begun

The FBI is in possession of a recording between President Donald Trump and his former personal attorney Michael Cohen in which the two men prior to the election discuss a payment to a former Playboy model who has alleged an affair with Trump, which the President previously denied knowing about. Source: CNN

Haberman: Clearly Trump knew about payment

The New York Times reports that President Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen recorded Trump discussing payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Source: CNN

Who is Maria Butina?

Maria Butina is a 29-year-old Russian who is accused of acting as a foreign agent in the United States and allegedly using sex and deception to build her network of influential international connections. CNN’s Randi Kaye looks into her past. Source: CNN

GOP blocks effort to rebuke Trump on Russia

A top Senate Republican leader blocked passage Thursday of a non-binding bipartisan resolution related to Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, as fallout from the controversial summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to reverberate through the GOP-controlled Congress. Source: CNN

FBI director: Russia is the 'most aggressive actor' in election interference

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday that Russia was engaging in real-time “malign influence operations” against the United States and called the country the “most aggressive actor” in the space of election interference. The wide-ranging interview at times placed him in contrast with the President, who spent the week waffling on rhetoric to describe Russia’s threat. Source: CNN