The Post Most: Before her arrest as an alleged Russian agent, Maria Butina’s proud defense of her homeland drew notice at American University

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Before her arrest as an alleged Russian agent, Maria Butina’s proud defense of her homeland drew notice at American University To some who knew her as a graduate student, Butina’s indictment on federal charges validated their own unsettling suspicions. By Rosalind S. Helderman, Moriah Balingit, Shane Harris, Tom Hamburger  •  Read more » Trump pushes 25 percent auto tariff as top advisers scramble to stop him The president is proposing to cross what many in the GOP see as a “red line” on trade. By Damian Paletta  •  Read more » Morning Mix A Swedish student stopped an Afghan man’s deportation by refusing to sit down on a plane "I'm not going to sit down until this person is off the plane,” Elin Ersson told flight attendants in the dramatic protest, which she streamed live on Facebook. By Samantha Schmidt  •  Read more » Retropolis Dozens heard Amelia Earhart’s final, chilling pleas for help, researchers say A group of researchers believes Amelia Earhart made several attempts to reach civilization in her final days — and that her messages got through. By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.  •  Read more » Right Turn • Opinion Michael Cohen’s secret tape raises five crucial questions By cash or check, Trump seems to have concealed hush money. By Jennifer Rubin  •  Read more »

The Plum Line • Opinion On new Cohen tape, Trump seemed to insist on ‘cash’ payment. Here’s what that might mean. It could mean Trump wanted to conceal the payment. By Greg Sargent  •  Read more » Analysis Four important points that arise from the Trump-Cohen recording When did Cohen and AMI talk? How can anyone argue this wasn't related to the campaign? Why did Trump want to pay cash? By Philip Bump  •  Read more » Opinion Without the Russians, Trump wouldn’t have won “Without the Russian influence effort, I believe Trump would not have even been within striking distance of Clinton on Election Day,” a new book says. By Max Boot  •  Read more » The Fix • Analysis The Trump-Michael Cohen tape transcript, annotated The tape leaves plenty of questions. Here's what we can say. By Aaron Blake  •  Read more » Right Turn • Opinion Trump’s Russia problem is getting worse and worse Americans aren't buying his pro-Putin spin. By Jennifer Rubin  •  Read more »

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