From the editorial board of the New York Times: It’s with a whiff of desperation that President Trump insists these days that he’s the chief executive Washington needs, the decisive dealmaker who, as he said during the campaign, “alone can fix it.” What America has seen so far is an inept White House led by a celebrity apprentice. This president …

ABC News reports: We’re taught in elementary school that there are seven continents on Earth — Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. But geography textbooks across the world might have to add one more to that list — Zealandia. Zealandia is a continent that is 94 percent submerged underwater, which is why it took so long …

The Hill report: President Trump’s pick to replace former national security adviser Michael Flynn turned down the position Thursday partly because of Trump’s combative press conference that day, according to MSNBC’s Chris Hayes. Hayes reported Friday night disputed reports that retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward passed on the position because the Trump administration wouldn’t let him install his own staff. …

Law Newz reports: First Lady Melania Trump has abandoned her claim that she planned to cash in on her First Lady “brand” to sell “apparel, accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skin care and fragrance” from her White House perch. Melania Trump’s lawyer, Charles Harder, filed an amended complaint on Friday in her New York libel lawsuit against the Daily …

Politico reports: President Donald Trump, living alone inside the White House, often hungers for friendly interaction as he adjusts to the difficult work of governance. At his clubs, he finds what’s missing. That showed last November at a cocktail and dinner reception celebrating longtime members of his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club. Deep into the process of meeting potential Cabinet …

The New York Daily News reports: He couldn’t take it anymore. Comedian Larry Wilmore became visibly angry, but remained composed, after alt-right figurehead Milo Yiannopoulos went on a five-minute rant against transgender people during Bill Maher’s “Overtime” on Friday night. But when Yiannopoulos called a decorated counterterrorism official on the late night show’s panel “stupid,” Wilmore couldn’t hold himself back …

Politico reports: Several White House staffers were dismissed Thursday morning after failing FBI background checks, according to sources familiar with the matter. Some of the aides were “walked out of the building by security” on Wednesday after not passing the SF86, a Questionnaire for National Security Positions for security clearance. Among those who won’t be working at the White House …

The Daily Caller reports: American musician and conservative activist Theodore Anthony “Ted” Nugent would not ruled out a potential 2018 Senate bid in an exclusive interview with the Daily Caller. “I’m always very interested in making my country and the great state of Michigan great again and there is nothing I wouldn’t do to help in any way I possibly …

The Dallas Morning News reports: Put the NBA on the growing list of sports organizations warning Texas over its proposed transgender bathroom bill. In a statement to the Houston Chronicle last week, Spokesman Mike Bass said the NBA weighs a number of factors before choosing where to hold major events, including how fans and athletes will be treated. “We consider …

The New York Daily News reports: President Trump launched another salvo in his incessant war against reporters, saying that the news media is “the enemy of the Ameican people.” “The FAKE NEWS media (failing @Nytimes, @CNN, @NBCNews and many more) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people. SICK!,” the President posted on Twitter Friday afternoon. …

Remember when “greatly trusted” Trump source Alex Jones diagnosed Hillary Clinton with Parkinson’s Disease? And how every teabagger site in the nation launched their own “Sick Hillary” medical claims? Keep that in mind when you read this admittedly far-fetched speculation from New Republic. An excerpt: The symptoms of neurosyphilis are protean, varying widely from one individual to another. Commonly recognized …

The Huffington Post reports: A new display going into the creationist Noah’s Ark attraction in Kentucky shows what appears to be gladiator-style fights involving humans, giants and a dinosaur. Ken Ham, founder of the group that runs the attraction, tweeted images of the new diorama on Thursday. The dinosaur is visible in the far right of the first image, which …

“Why is there nothing going on? You know there’s probably 4 million armed men in this country, 4 million armed men, ex-military, police, militias, why are they not saying anything? Where are they? Why am I sitting here like a schmuck alone taking on so much on my shoulders? Where are they? Where are these 4 million men? I want …

Politico reports: As Donald Trump heads to Florida this weekend to give a campaign-style rally, Mitch McConnell made one more plea to the Republican president: Try to stay on message. The Senate majority has been trying for months — unsuccessfully — to convince Trump to adapt McConnell’s own disciplined style. The Kentucky Republican says that Trump’s White House is pursuing …

The Washington Post reports: Scott Pruitt, who as Oklahoma’s attorney general spent years suing the Environmental Protection Agency over its efforts to regulate various forms of pollution, was confirmed Friday as the agency’s next administrator. Pruitt cleared the Senate by a vote of 52-46, winning support from two Democrats, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. …

Finland’s national broadcaster reports: Finnish MPs defeated a bill to strike down same-sex marriage on February 17. Opposition to the proposal was strong, as 120 parliamentarians voted against it, with 48 in support. Two members of parliament voted absent and 29 MPs did not cast a vote. A Finnish movement called Aito avioliitto (True Marriage) that seeks to uphold marriage …

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports: A 22-year St. Louis County police veteran who was once picked to become the department’s liaison to the gay community is now suing the department for discrimination. In a lawsuit filed Jan. 10, Sgt. Keith Wildhaber claims a former St. Louis County Police Board member told him to “tone down your gayness” if he ever …

The New York Times reports: A federal appeals court cleared the way on Thursday for Florida doctors to talk to their patients about gun safety, overturning a 2011 law that pitted medical providers against the state’s powerful gun lobby. In its 10-to-1 ruling, the full panel of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit concluded that …

Michigan Live reports: A judge dismissed Jenison Bible Church’s lawsuit against a gay man who displayed a sign implying the church supported same-sex marriage. Daniel VanderLey asked area churches to take a public stand against Bradlee Dean, an advocate for traditional marriage, who was speaking at a “God and Country” event at Jenison Center for the Arts. VanderLey, who contended …

Via Reuters: The Trump administration is considering mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up non-citizens who are in the country illegally, the Associated Press said in a tweet on Friday without citing a source. UPDATE: From the Associated Press. The Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to …