Jessica Taylor

A super-charged political environment and backlash against the GOP health care bill have made Thursday's special congressional election for Montana's lone House seat primed for a possible upset.

The Washington Post reported the president asked the Director of National Intelligence and the head of the NSA to push back against the investigation into his campaign's possible ties to Russia.

The former FBI director's highly anticipated testimony, in open sessions, will come after he was fired by President Trump amid a growing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The president reportedly trashed the former FBI director the day after the firing, saying he hoped James Comey's dismissal would ease the growing investigation into Trump associates' ties with Russia.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told Congress that he knew the president planned to fire James Comey before he wrote a memo that the White House had cited to justify the termination.

The president also reiterated that he feels that the appointment of a special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russia and his campaign's possible ties is a "witch hunt."

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has appointed Robert Mueller to oversee the growing probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible ties to Trump associates.

"You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams," the president told U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates amid growing controversies over Russia ties to his administration.

The White House is denying reports by multiple media outlets that President Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The president is accused of leaking "highly classified" information in a meeting at the White House with Russian officials. Trump has said he gave them information and has defended doing so.

The Washington Post reported that the president revealed "highly classified information" to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador, possibly jeopardizing future intelligence gathering on ISIS.

The president seemed to caution the ex-FBI director against leaks to the press, but Trump's spokesman wouldn't say if recordings exist. Four candidates will be interviewed for Comey's job on Saturday.

New acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe assured senators Thursday that the agency will continue to pursue its Russia investigation "vigorously and completely" and has adequate resources to do so.

"I can't defend or explain [Tuesday's] actions or timing of the firing of FBI Director James Comey," said Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock, who is a top Democratic target in the 2018 midterms.

The former FBI director also said he will "miss ... the mission deeply," CNN reports. The White House maintains that James Comey was fired because of his handling of the Clinton email investigation.

The White House pointed to Comey's handling of Clinton's email server as the reason for his firing, but Democrats argued it was designed to derail the investigation into Russian election interference.

The recent spending compromise may well have just kicked the can down the road until September, when both sides may be spoiling for a fight amid the specter of a government shutdown.

Some of the most vulnerable House Republicans voted in favor of the GOP health care plan — and Democrats are already trying to use it against them ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

The move on the National Day of Prayer is among the promises Trump made on the campaign trail that would blur government lines that divide church and state.

The move comes amid growing concerns over the direction of the influential conservative think tank, which the former South Carolina senator had led the past four years.