The Orlando Sentinel reports: The Orlando shooting at Pulse Nightclub on June 12 will be memorialized with an “iconic, meaningful, national” memorial and eventually a museum, where Orlando’s millions of visitors will learn about the club, the tragedy and the victims. Leaders of the not-for-profit onePULSE Foundation officially launched the effort to building the memorial Thursday morning. “Today, I’m able …

But we still don’t know for sure. Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed: Many had expected — on the left and right — that the order would offer protections for people and corporations with a religious objection to LGBT people, far more hot button issues. The White House official said there were not plans for a separate order that addressed LGBT …

The Washington Post reports: Barack Obama is weighing into France’s presidential election, in support of Emmanuel Macron. In a message posted on Macron’s Twitter account, the former U.S. president said he was endorsing the centrist candidate “because of how important this election is.” Macron is facing far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday’s runoff vote. Polls suggest Macron is well …

The Guardian reports: Emmanuel Macron appeared to have kept his frontrunner status against Marine Le Pen after a bruising live TV presidential debate days before the final vote this weekend in which the centrist and far-right candidates traded venomous personal insults and clashed over how to fix the sluggish French economy and fight terrorism. In the prolonged two-and-a-half-hour slanging match …

People Magazine reports: They’ve only hinted at a romance, but now Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough going public – and planning to tie the knot. The Morning Joe anchors are engaged, an MSNBC spokeswoman confirms to PEOPLE. A source told Page Six that Scarborough proposed during the couple’s vacation to France and Monaco in celebration of Brzezinski’s 50th birthday. “Joe …

USA Today reports: Last year, then-president Barack Obama vetoed a bill that would have curbed the pensions of former presidents if they took outside income of $400,000 or more. So now that former president Barack Obama has decided to accept $400,000 for an upcoming Wall Street speech, the sponsors of that bill say they’ll reintroduce that bill in hopes that …

The website for the National Equality March went live last night with a listing of nearly 40 sister marches. They write: The “Equality March for Unity & Pride” is a grassroots movement which will mobilize the diverse LGBTQ+ communities to peacefully and clearly address concerns about the current political landscapes and how it is contributing to the persecution and discrimination …

The Hill reports: President Trump on Thursday blasted the media, saying members of the press will do anything to “get attention.” During a rally last week, the president said members of the media deserve a “very, very big, fat failing grade” in their first 100 days covering his administration. On Thursday, the president also offered praise for the show “Fox …

Business Insider reports: The House of Representatives will vote on the American Health Care Act on Thursday. Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters he plans to bring the American Health Care Act to the floor of the House and is confident that the bill will pass. “Do we have the votes? Yes. Will we pass it? Yes,” McCarthy …

The Texas Tribune reports: The Texas Senate on Wednesday voted 20-11 to accept the House’s version of Senate bill 4, legislation that would ban “sanctuary” jurisdictions in Texas and allow police to inquire about the immigration status of people they lawfully detain. The bill now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who declared the legislation an “emergency item” in the early …

AL.com reports: Gov. Kay Ivey today signed into law a bill allowing adoption agencies in Alabama to follow faith-based policies, such as not placing children with gay couples. “The elected legislature of this state overwhelmingly approved House Bill 24. Having served as President of the Senate for more than six years, I appreciate the work of the legislature, and I …

Via press release: Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Equality NC hailed the news that Governor Andrew Cuomo has reaffirmed New York’s ban on taxpayer-funded travel to North Carolina. The announcement comes after North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Senate President Phil Berger, and House Speaker Tim Moore passed a law — HB 142 — doubling down on many of …

CNN reports: Susan Rice, President Barack Obama’s former national security adviser, on Wednesday declined Sen. Lindsey Graham’s request to participate in a judiciary subcommittee hearing next week on Russian interference in the US election, CNN has learned. A letter obtained exclusively by CNN from Rice’s lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, outlines the grounds for her decision not to appear. It was addressed …

The New York Times reports: President Trump plans to mark the National Day of Prayer on Thursday by issuing an executive order that makes it easier for churches and other religious groups to actively participate in politics without risking their tax-exempt status, several administration officials said. Taking action as he hosts conservative religious leaders Thursday morning, Mr. Trump’s executive order …

Bloomberg reports: Republican leaders are tantalizingly close to having the votes to pass their long-stalled health-care bill, but they still aren’t sure they have enough support, despite a dramatic reversal by two former holdouts. Representative Fred Upton, who announced his opposition to the bill Tuesday, told reporters after a meeting with President Donald Trump Wednesday that he’s ready to vote …

From the guy whose boss brings up the election almost every day: White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Wednesday hit back at Hillary Clinton’s assertion that she would have won if not for late-in-the-game interference from the FBI and WikiLeaks, saying “you don’t get to pick what day the election is on.” “I’m a Patriots fan and I think …

The Washington Examiner reports: Former President Barack Obama revealed Wednesday his intention to donate $2 million to a summer jobs program for young people in Chicago. He made the announcement while at a roundtable about his soon-to-be-built presidential center and library in Chicago. The completion of that project is “about four years” away, Obama said. However, the programming of this …

The New York Times reports: Ben Carson does not like the creature comforts, at least not for low-income Americans reliant on the government for a helping hand. As he toured facilities for the poor in Ohio last week, Mr. Carson, the neurosurgeon-turned-housing secretary, joked that a relatively well-appointed apartment complex for veterans lacked “only pool tables.” He inquired at one …

Politico reports: Vice President Mike Pence will host a Cinco de Mayo celebration on Thursday, keeping up a longstanding tradition some in the Hispanic community weren’t sure would continue in the Trump administration. A reception will be held in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the building next door to the White House, on Thursday, the …

Raw Story reports: President Donald Trump asserted on Wednesday that the Israel government and the Palestinian Authority “get along unbelievably well.” During a press conference with State of Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, Trump praised Palestinian National Authority for its efforts to combat ISIS. “I also applaud the Palestinian Authority’s continued cooperation with Israel,” Trump said. “They get along unbelievably well. …