First Run News

President Donald Trump has long decried the trade imbalances between the United States and China, even going so far as a presidential candidate to say it amounted to economic "rape." But as he complained about those inequities on Chinese turf on Thursday, the president offered a surprising qualifier: "I don’t blame China." "After all," Trump said, "who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country to the benefit of its citizens?

It was May of 1998 and artist Ginny Stanford was at the White House meeting then-first lady Hillary Clinton for the first time. “I think the thing that struck me most about that meeting was how beautiful she was in person,” Stanford told ABC News in an interview. Stanford had been chosen to paint Clinton’s portrait for the National Gallery Museum - the first time the museum commissioned a portrait of a first lady. “There was so much warmth and humor that I sensed from her in person, and she hadn’t been portray

The Senate Finance Committee released its vision for a tax reform bill Thursday afternoon — a proposal that differs from the House of Representatives’ blueprint in several significant ways and sets up a potentially long process of reconciling the two bills if and when they clear their respective committees. While both bills are still subject to change before they hit the House and Senate floors for full votes, the Senate text indicates the extent to which the upper chamber’s priorities differ from those of the lower. According to a two-page outline provided by Finance Chairman

Controversial Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore denied a Washington Post report Thursday that he engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in the late 1970s, as prominent Republicans began to question whether he should remain in the race. "Judge Roy Moore has endured the most outlandish attacks on any candidate in the modern political arena, but this story in today's Washington Post alleging sexual impropriety takes the cake," read a statement from Moore's campaign, calling the story a "last ditch Hail Mary

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories Massachusetts senators approved a sweeping bill at midnight Thursday that seeks to control the rising costs of medical care and prescription drugs, including a controversial plan that would fine hospitals if spending rises too fast. The legislation also would require pharmaceutical companies to submit to more scrutiny from state officials.

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories DATA SOURCE: AP Mayoral and city council races were decided around the state on Tuesday.

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories DATA: Twitter Daniel McLaughlin / Globe Staff © 2017 Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories CAPITAL SOURCE US Senator Elizabeth Warren’s state director, Roger Lau, is transitioning out of his government role to take the reins of Warren’s reelection effort.  CAPITAL SOURCE Walsh had previously vowed to stay out of the race: both Edwards and Passacantilli worked for him, in the Office of Housing Stability and in the Office of Economic Development, respectively.

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories DATA SOURCE: AP Mayoral and city council races were decided around the state on Tuesday.

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