(Briana Sanchez/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)
Alex Jones ordered to pay Sandy Hook parents more than $4M
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas jury Thursday ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay more than $4 million — significantly less than the $150 million being sought — in compensatory damages to the parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in the Sandy Hook massacre, marking the first time the Infowars host has been held financially liable for repeatedly claiming the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history was a hoax.
Sinema says she will 'move forward' on economic bill, putting Biden's agenda on the cusp of Senate approval | CNN Politics
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on Thursday night offered critical support for President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda after party leaders agreed to change new tax proposals at her request, indicating she would “move forward” on Democrats’ sweeping economic package that has been the product of intensive...
www.cnn.com
Russians shell city near Europe's largest nuclear plant
Russian forces shelled a city close to Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant Thursday, reinforcing the U.N. nuclear chief’s fears that the situation around the facility is “grave and dangerous.”
apnews.com
Taliban say they were unaware Al Qaeda leader killed by U.S. strike was in Afghanistan
The Taliban had promised in the 2020 Doha Agreement with the U.S. that they would not harbor Al Qaeda members or those seeking to attack the U.S.
www.nbcnews.com
US declares public health emergency over monkeypox outbreak
The U.S. has declared a public health emergency to bolster the federal response to the outbreak of monkeypox that already has infected more than 7,100 Americans.
apnews.com
Manchin votes with GOP to cancel Biden environmental permitting rule
The Senate passed a resolution Thursday canceling a Biden administration rule governing environmental reviews for infrastructure projects that Republicans have argued made permitting more onerous, holding up construction. All 49 Republicans present, and the lone Democratic vote of Sen. Joe...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Former Vice President Dick Cheney calls Donald Trump a "coward" in latest campaign ad for daughter Liz
Former Vice President Dick Cheney blasted former President Donald Trump, calling him a "coward" and a "threat."
www.cbsnews.com
China could invade Taiwan before the 2024 US presidential election: sources
EXCLUSIVE: China could see a "window of opportunity" to invade Taiwan before the next presidential election and even as early as within 18 months, officials familiar with U.S. and allied intelligence told Fox News.
Pelosi: China cannot isolate Taiwan by preventing visits
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says China will not be able to isolate Taiwan by preventing U.S. officials from traveling there.
apnews.com
Where does Taiwan crisis leave Biden's China policy?
Nancy Pelosi's visit was an explosive development in a brittle relationship. Many risks lie ahead.
www.bbc.com
Cheney says DOJ not prosecuting Trump if there's evidence could call into question the US as 'nation of laws' | CNN Politics
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney said if the Justice Department does not prosecute former President Donald Trump for his role in the insurrection at the US Capitol and “the facts and the evidence are there,” the decision could call into question whether the United States can “call ourselves a nation of...
www.cnn.com
China rages at historic enemy Japan as it flexes muscle over Taiwan
Chinese forces fired several missiles that landed in waters near Japan, a display that suggests how a Chinese attempt to subjugate Taiwan could turn into a wider war. The ballistic missile launches drew a protest from Tokyo, but the live-fire drills represented only one component of the acrimony...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Putin can’t control his Ukraine cataclysm — and the US must get ready
Three possibilities exist — revolution, a palace coup, or horizontal escalation — and the U.S. should prepare for each.
thehill.com
Jan. 6 committee wants Alex Jones' text messages, lawyer for parents of Sandy Hook victim says
Mark Bankston, the lawyer, said he plans to comply with the request unless the judge orders him not to.
www.cbsnews.com
US conservatives cheer Hungarian PM Viktor Orban at conference
US Republicans view Orban’s Hungary as a conservative, anti-woke paradise.
Ukraine ‘corrodes’ Russian forces in southern counteroffensive
Ukraine started its counteroffensive in Kherson province by cutting off Russian supply lines to its forward positions.
Orbán gets warm CPAC reception after 'mixed race' speech blowback
The Hungarian prime minister, under fire over a July 23 speech, highlighted a type of nationalistic populism taking hold on the American right.
www.politico.com
Is China preparing to invade Taiwan? Key questions answered
Tensions are rising after China launches biggest-ever drills in the Taiwan Strait following Nancy Pelosi’s Taipei visit.
Republican push to overturn Biden permitting rules passes Senate, with Manchin's support
The resolution is unlikely to pass the House, where Democrats hold a slightly larger majority, and President Joe Biden is also expected to veto the measure if it makes it to his desk.
North Korea says will 'never tolerate' U.S. accusation of its nuclear programme
North Korea warned it will "never tolerate" the United States' criticism of the isolated country's nuclear programme, calling Washington the "kingpin of nuclear proliferation".
www.reuters.com
‘Liberal’ Mark Kelly and ‘dangerous’ Blake Masters: Arizona’s key Senate showdown is quickly heating up
As Kelly’s campaign describes the Trump-backed GOP nominee as fringe, Masters’ strategy is to tie Kelly to an unpopular President Joe Biden and undercut his image as a moderate.
www.nbcnews.com
Democrats say they've reached agreement on economic package
Senate Democrats say they have reached an accord on changes to their marquee economic legislation, clearing the major hurdle to pushing one of President Joe Biden’s leading election-year priorities through the chamber in coming days.
apnews.com
Ukraine under pressure in east as NATO chief says Russia must not win
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week described the pressure his armed forces were under in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as "hell."
www.reuters.comKari Lake, Combative Hard-Right Former TV Anchor, Wins GOP Nod For Arizona Governor
As the Republican nominee, Lake will face Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in November.
Kari Lake will win GOP nomination for Arizona governor, CNN projects, becoming fourth election denier to secure major nomination in the state | CNN Politics
Republicans in Arizona have chosen Kari Lake, the former television journalist who has become a leading voice behind former President Donald Trump’s lies about election fraud, as their nominee for governor, CNN projects.
www.cnn.com
73 million people under heat alerts as high temperatures expand into Northeast
Record highs are expected to be broken in Philadelphia, Boston and Albany, New York.
www.nbcnews.com
DeSantis suspends elected prosecutor over new abortion law
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended the elected state prosecutor of Tampa for pledging not to enforce the state’s new 15-week abortion ban and for supporting gender transition treatments for minors.
apnews.com
Autocratic Hungarian leader Orban hailed by US conservatives
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is urging American conservatives to “take back the institutions,” stick to hardline stances on gay rights and immigration, and fight for the next U.S. presidential election as a pivotal moment for their beliefs.
apnews.com
Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán declares at CPAC that "a Christian politician cannot be racist"
He recently faced a backlash over remarks he made in July, in which he said Hungarians "do not want to become peoples of mixed race."
www.cbsnews.com
Don Jr. and Ivanka Trump testify before NY AG investigators: Report
Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump reportedly testified before investigators with the New York Attorney General’s Office regarding a civil inquiry into the family’s business practices. Trump Jr. gave his testimony last week, while Ivanka Trump testified Wednesday, and neither invoked Fifth...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Singapore executions under scrutiny as more hanged for drugs
Questions being asked over speed of executions, legal representation, and the ethnicities of the condemned.
Dozens of fake news websites and social media accounts pushed pro-China talking points
The cybersecurity company Mandiant said in a report that at least 72 fake news sites in 11 languages frequently criticized the West and pushed back on criticism of China.
www.nbcnews.com
EXPLAINER: What will it take to get Brittney Griner home?
Now that WNBA star Brittney Griner has been convicted of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison, attention turns to the prospect of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia that could get her home.
apnews.com
Meta takes down Russian troll farm
"Cyber Front Z" hired dozens of people off the street to make what appeared to look like authentic posts defending Russia and criticizing Ukraine.
www.cbsnews.com
U.S. orders aircraft carrier to remain in the region amid China-Taiwan tensions
The U.S. is also postponing a planned intercontinental ballistic missile test.
www.politico.com
Blinken warns China not to risk 'unintended consequences' militarily over Taiwan
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China to restrain its military operations around Taiwan in order to avoid the “unintended consequences” of a crisis following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) visit this week. “I hope very much that Beijing will not manufacture a crisis or seek a...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Critics say he runs an 'open dictatorship.' Why is Viktor Orbán a star at CPAC?
“The reason that Orbán keeps winning is he has the control of a dictator,” said one political scientist. “So the question is, what are the Republicans in it for?"
www.nbcnews.comTeam Biden to wary Democrats: Our spending deal is really popular
A memorandum from President Biden’s pollsters now being circulated to Democrats on Capitol Hill shows broad support from Americans for the components of the Inflation Reduction Act, the ambitious spending package that, if passed, would resuscitate the White House domestic agenda.
Brittney Griner: US urges Russia to accept deal to free jailed basketball star
The US says it has a "serious proposal" for Moscow that would secure the release of the basketball star.
www.bbc.com
Kremlin claims NATO is 'real threat' to world order; U.S. WNBA star Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison
The hometown of President Zelenskyy is looking vulnerable with Ukraine's southern command unit saying Russia is building a "strike force" to target Kryvyi Rih.
Feds charge 4 police officers in fatal Breonna Taylor raid
The federal government has filed civil rights charges against four Louisville police officers over the drug raid that led to the death of Breonna Taylor.
apnews.com
Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen
12,000 pages of sealed court records. A so-called help line. Sex abuse kept secret. AP reveals system that can hide accusations from authorities — and the public eye.
apnews.com
Police change account of crash killing Indiana Rep. Walorski
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Police have changed their description of the crash that killed Indiana Republican U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, saying Thursday that it was the SUV in which she was a passenger tha…
thehill.com
Ukraine envoy warns Canada that waiver for Gazprom will drag out Putin’s war
A House committee is studying the Trudeau government’s decision to waive sanctions for six Gazprom Nord Stream 1 pipeline turbines.
www.politico.com
Sinema agrees to 'move forward' with social spending and tax bill after Dems make changes
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema will "move forward" with Democrats' reconciliation bill, she said in a Thursday statement, in a major victory for Senate Democrats.
Key U.S. Senator Sinema agrees to $430 billion drug, energy bill
Democratic U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema said on Thursday she agreed to "move forward" on a $430 billion drug pricing, energy and tax bill, subject to a Senate arbiter's approval of the bill, which Democrats intend to pass over Republican objections.
www.reuters.com
California crews make fire gains; Washington town evacuated
An eastern Washington town was evacuated because of a wildfire that was burning homes. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says six homes and eight other structures have burned in Lind, but the fire was starting to calm down and late Thursday all evacuations were lifted.
apnews.com
Senators call on Biden administration to fill the vacant role of U.S. special envoy to Belarus
The former Soviet state is continuing to support Russia's war in Ukraine.
www.cbsnews.com
Arizona Democrats Sinema and Kelly want to give Border Patrol agents big raise
Two Democratic senators from Arizona have backed a bipartisan bill to boost pay and staffing levels for Border Patrol agents, a move that could help woo conservatives and moderates ahead of the midterm elections. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly, along with Republican Sens. Rob Portman (OH)...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
From 7-11s to train stations, cyber attacks plague Taiwan over Pelosi visit
As U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a brief visit to Taiwan this week that enraged Beijing, the welcome she received from government officials and the public was in sharp contrast with a different sort of message that began popping up elsewhere on the island.
www.reuters.com
Donald Trump's legal team in contact with Justice Dept. officials in Jan. 6 inquiry
Trump team attempting to block prosecutors' access to conversations with former top aides
www.usatoday.com
Biden will keep aircraft carrier group in the South China Sea but postpone missile test
President Joe Biden will keep a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group in the South China Sea longer than originally planned but postpone a scheduled missile test.
Opinion | With Trump, It’s 2015 All Over Again
2022 is starting to look a lot like 2015 for Trump.
www.politico.com
Pinal County elections chief replaced after Arizona primary disaster
Arizona‘s Pinal County announced that its elections director is “no longer employed” after a calamitous primary election Tuesday that incensed leading Republicans. Recorder Virginia Ross will resign from her position to become the new election director “effective immediately” after David Frisk’s...
www.washingtonexaminer.comRESULTS: Tennessee held congressional and gubernatorial primary elections
Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles emerged victorious in a crowded Republican primary for Tennessee's open 5th Congressional District.
Far-right mayor wins GOP primary for Nashville US House seat
Far-right candidate Andy Ogles has won Tennessee’s crowded Republican primary for an open congressional seat in Nashville. The longtime Democratic incumbent, Rep.
apnews.com
Tim Scott defends Murkowski endorsement amid blowback from the right: 'I like to win'
Sen. Tim Scott said he's endorsing Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska's primary because he thinks she has the best chance of winning the seat for Republicans.
Trump likely to be criminally charged in DOJ election probe along with other former White House officials, Obama AG Holder says
Former Obama Attorney General Eric Holder said a Georgia prosecutor is more likely to act sooner than the Justice Department against Donald Trump.
WNBA's Griner convicted at drug trial, sentenced to 9 years
A judge in Russia convicted American basketball star Brittney Griner of drug possession and smuggling.
apnews.com
Abu Akleh: Official suggests US not seeking independent probe
US lawmakers will not allow journalist’s death to be ‘swept under the rug’, senator tells Biden administration official.
FBI arrests Wanda Vazquez-Garced, former governor or Puerto Rico, for bribery
Vazquez-Garced is accused of bribery in relation to her 2020 gubernatorial campaign.
www.cbsnews.comChina halts military, climate dialogue with U.S. over Pelosi Taiwan trip
China announced on Friday it was halting dialogue with the United States in a number of areas, including between theater-level military commanders and on climate change, in a furore over U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
www.reuters.com
Former Puerto Rican Governor Vazquez arrested for accepting political favors
U.S. authorities on Thursday announced criminal charges against former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez, who was in office from 2019 to 2021, for alleged corruption during her 2020 election campaign.
www.reuters.com
Two Trump children questioned in New York attorney general's probe, ex-president set to talk in coming weeks, report says
The Trump Organization is under investigation for manipulating asset valuations for financial gain. Three Trump children have now been questioned in the probe.
South Korean spacecraft launched to the moon, country's 1st
South Korea is on its way to the moon. SpaceX launched the Asian nation's first lunar explorer Thursday evening from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
apnews.com
Meta took down Russian troll farm that supported country’s invasion of Ukraine
Meta on Thursday announced it took down two cyber espionage operations in South Asia and a Russian troll farm that sought to prop up support for the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Meta, which owns …
thehill.com
Clinton-era FDA commissioner to lead external review of key agency offices
Jane Henney will be spearheading the Reagan-Udall Foundation's evaluation of the FDA's food safety and tobacco divisions.
www.politico.com
Pelosi punctuates Asia trip declaring US won't allow China to isolate Taiwan
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) vowed that the United States and its allies will not allow China to isolate Taiwan.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Manchin claims Democratic social spending and tax bill is filled with GOP priorities
Sen. Joe Manchin told Fox News Digital on Thursday that Republicans should support his reconciliation bill, which Democrats plan to pass along party lines.
Pentagon official reiterates importance of preserving records post-Trump
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks issued a memo to defense leaders reiterating the importance of maintaining federal records in light of new reports that the Department of Defense wiped the data from phones belonging to top officials in the Trump administration around the time of the Jan...
www.washingtonexaminer.comWhy Biden 2024 ties some Democrats in knots
They're not abandoning him. And many are thrilled about surprising election-year wins. But that doesn't mean every lawmaker in the president's party is cheering his reelection yet.
www.politico.com
Applications for US jobless claims up again last week
More Americans applied for jobless benefits last week as the number of unemployed continues to rise modestly, though the labor market remains one of the strongest parts of the U.S. economy.
apnews.com
Washington needs a realistic policy toward Russia
Successive U.S. administrations have failed to develop an effective policy approach toward Russia. Decisions have not been informed by hard reality but by wishful thinking that Moscow can become a constructive partner in resolving international problems. Following the full-scale invasion of...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Wray: Allegations ‘troubling’ about FBI agent covering up Hunter Biden information
Timothy Thibault is accused of partisan social media activity and efforts to suppress information in the probe into the president's son’s business activities.
www.politico.com
Taliban says was not aware al Qaeda leader in Kabul, warns U.S.
The Taliban on Thursday said the government had no information about al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri "entering and living" in capital city Kabul and warned the United States to never repeat an attack on Afghan soil.
www.reuters.com
DeSantis suspends Florida prosecutor for refusing to enforce abortion law
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday suspended an elected state attorney without pay, accusing him of neglecting his duties and incompetence for saying he would not prosecute anyone who sought or provided abortions.
www.reuters.com
Russia aims to fabricate evidence in killing of POWs, U.S. and Ukraine warn
“It was an internal detonation inside one building where our prisoners of war were moved,” an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NBC News.
www.nbcnews.com
Sinema announces deal with Schumer on taxes and climate
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) announced Thursday evening that she has reached a deal with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) that could pave the way for Democrats to pass their budget …
thehill.com
U.S. Navy say carrier USS Ronald Reagan conducting operations in Philippine Sea
The U.S. Navy on Thursday said the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier was conducting scheduled operations in the Philippine Sea in the Western Pacific, a 5.7 million square kilometre (2.2 million square mile) stretch of ocean that includes waters southeast of Taiwan.
www.reuters.com
Reuters journalists go on 24-hour strike over contract negotiations
Over 300 Thomson Reuters journalists began a 24-hour strike Thursday, according to the workers’ union, citing low wage increases over the last two years. “More than 300 @Reuters journalists across …
thehill.com
Trump-aligned challengers ousting GOP legislative incumbents
Republican state lawmakers this year have been losing in primaries at nearly twice the average rate of the past decade.
apnews.com
FBI director expresses concern over potential attacks on US emanating from Afghanistan | CNN Politics
FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday expressed concern over potential terrorist attacks on US soil emanating from Afghanistan, citing “growing intelligence gaps” since the US pulled its troops out of the country in 2021.
www.cnn.com
Twitter slams Musk countersuit: ‘Factually inaccurate, legally insufficient, and commercially irrelevant’
Twitter slammed a countersuit Thursday filed by Elon Musk in a Delaware court, calling the claims from the SpaceX and Tesla CEO “factually inaccurate” and “legally insufficient…
thehill.com
China conducts 'precision missile strikes' in Taiwan Strait
China says it has conducted “precision missile strikes" in the Taiwan Strait as part of military exercises by its navy, air force and other departments in six zones surrounding the island.
apnews.com
How Ruth Bader Ginsburg Will Have the Last Laugh on Samuel Alito
The Dobbs decision is clearing the political ground for a resolution in favor of abortion rights.
www.politico.com
'Foul play' suspected after four people found dead in Nebraska town
Four people were found dead early on Thursday at two separate residences in the small Nebraska farming town of Laurel when police responded to reports of explosions and fires at the homes, authorities said.
www.reuters.com
Western Massachusetts Challenges the U.S. Dollar
An idyllic New England county is getting its own digital money, with implications for local autonomy.
www.politico.com
China warns that its temperatures are rising faster than global average
China's average ground temperatures have risen much more quickly than the global average over the past 70 years and will remain "significantly higher" in the future as the challenges of climate change mount, a government official said.
www.reuters.com
‘Bizarre and uncomfortable’: Adams wants photos of city job applicants
The New York mayor has instructed city agencies to present him with headshots of potential hires as City Hall reviews candidates for jobs ranging from assistant commissioner to departmental press secretary.
www.politico.com
China cancels bilateral meeting with Japan after G7 Taiwan statement
The Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday that a meeting between China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart on the sidelines of ASEAN events in Cambodia had been cancelled.
www.reuters.com
Japan protests after Chinese missiles land in its exclusive economic zone
Five ballistic missiles fired by China appear to have landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Japanese defence minister Nobuo Kishi said on Thursday, part of military exercises launched by China earlier in the day.
www.reuters.com
Large part of Beirut's grain silos collapse on second anniversary of massive explosion
The collapse occurred an hour before hundreds of people were to gather outside the facility to mark the second anniversary of the blast.
www.nbcnews.com
Manchin-Schumer plan would increase medicine costs while killing innovation
Among the many wrongheaded features of the Manchin-Schumer tax-and-spendathon bill being pushed in Congress right now, the one on prescription drug pricing is a deadly vampire of a proposal that, for 16 years, has refused to stay deceased. After numerous rejections of the idea by previous...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Kari Lake, Trump-backed election denier, wins GOP primary in Arizona governor's race
Lake will face Katie Hobbs, the Democratic nominee, in November.
www.nbcnews.com
Paul Pelosi's blood alcohol content likely much higher at time of crash: experts
Paul Pelosi likely burned off a significant amount of alcohol in the 2 hours, 15 minutes between the crash and his BAC test, according to experts on such cases.
Dick Cheney in new ad: No individual is ‘greater threat to our republic’ than Trump
Dick Cheney calls Donald Trump a “coward” and a “threat to our republic” in a new ad for his daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who is facing a primary challenger backed by the former president. T…
thehill.com
Jan. 6 witness Rusty Bowers has no regrets in GOP race loss
Arizona voters relegated House Speaker Rusty Bowers to the history books after the conservative Republican crossed former President Donald Trump and refused to back his unsupported claims that he lost in 2020 because of fraud.
apnews.com
DeSantis suspends Tampa prosecutor who took stance against criminalizing abortion providers
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday suspended Tampa's elected prosecutor, Andrew Warren, for pledging not to use his office to go after people who seek and provide abortions or on doctors that provide gender affirming care to transgender people.
www.cnn.com
Senate sets up first vote Saturday on Schumer-Manchin deal
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that the Senate will begin consideration of a $740 billion budget reconciliation package that would reform the tax code and tackle climate …
thehill.comSchumer's office says he plans to hold vote on tech antitrust bill
But there are indications they may have tried to back off the statement.
www.politico.com
Pope Francis, slowing down as he ages, appoints personal medical assistant
Pope Francis has appointed a nurse from the Vatican's health services to be his "personal medical assistant", the Vatican said on Thursday, in an indication that the pontiff accepts that he will need more care as he ages.
www.reuters.com
Gaza faces more power cuts as Israeli blockade enters third day
Israeli authorities have closed all crossings into Gaza over fears of retaliation attacks following the arrest of a senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.
www.nbcnews.com
U.S. mortgage rates drop below 5% for the first time in 4 months
This time last year, 30-year mortgages were hovering around 2.77%. Rates peaked in late June when they hit an average of 5.81%.
www.nbcnews.com
How the newest megadonor wants to change Washington
Sam Bankman-Fried has a big fortune and big plans for how to spend it — including an unusual political power-building strategy.
www.politico.com
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema backs Inflation Reduction Act, giving Biden the votes for Senate passage
The Arizona Democrat's support paves the way for a long-awaited party-line Senate vote to pass key pieces of President Joe Biden's agenda.
www.usatoday.com
Five ways China appears to be retaliating against Taiwan over Pelosi visit
China has expressed anger after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) touched down in the island nation of Taiwan earlier this week. Pelosi made the trip despite warnings from the Biden administrat…
thehill.com
New rule would make getting a refund for a canceled or delayed flight easier
Complaints from frustrated passengers have soared since the beginning of the pandemic.
www.cbsnews.com
Ukraine’s shrinking window to change the war narrative and Putin’s calculus
On paper, Ukraine’s David is running circles around Russia’s Goliath. In the beginning of the war, Ukrainian defenders worshiped “St. Javelin,” the U.S.-supplied, shoulder-fired, tank-killing missile that turned hundreds of Russian tanks into smoldering hulks of roadside wreckage. In the current...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
ASEAN warns of Taiwan 'miscalculation' as tension simmers at meeting
Southeast Asian countries warned on Thursday of miscalculations in the Taiwan Strait and "serious confrontation" among major powers, while China's foreign minister walked out before a gala dinner at a high-level meeting in Cambodia.
www.reuters.com
Michels goes after Kleefisch in Wisconsin governor's race
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Tim Michels is on the attack in the waning days of Wisconsin’s tight GOP governor’s primary, with an ad this week faulting his rival for not initially backing Donald Trump in 2016 – even as it emerged Thursday that Michels himself did not vote in that primary.
apnews.com
Michigan man charged with setting fire to Planned Parenthood building | CNN Politics
Federal prosecutors have charged a 25-year-old man who allegedly set fire to a Planned Parenthood building in Michigan.
www.cnn.com
Fight him, shun him ... embrace him? Mastriano's relationship with GOP leaders mirrors Trump's rise.
The Pennsylvania GOP nominee for governor garnered controversy over his use of and ties to a social media platform rife with antisemitism.
www.politico.com
Video shows fiery LA traffic collision with car 'flying in like a missile'
Shocking video shows the moment Thursday afternoon when a speeding Mercedes-Benz shot into a busy Los Angeles-area intersection, leading to a fiery crash that killed five people and injured at least nine more, according to authorities. Among those who died were a pregnant woman and her infant...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Taxes emerge as major sticking point with Sinema
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) is not yet on board with the sweeping tax reform and climate package that Senate Democrats hope to vote on this weekend and wants to make changes to the bill to soften…
thehill.com
Widow of D.C. police officer who died by suicide after Jan. 6 praises Senate action to extend benefits
Erin Smith says families of officers who die by suicide "will get the recognition that they're due from the federal government."
www.cbsnews.com
Advocates: Senate bill means environmental health, also harm
Billions of dollars in climate and environment investments from the Inflation Reduction Act could flow to communities in the United States that have been plagued by pollution and climate threats for decades.
apnews.com
Exclusive: Trump lawyers in talks with Justice Department about January 6 criminal probe | CNN Politics
The talks revolve around whether Trump would be able to shield conversations he had while he was president from federal investigators.
www.cnn.com
Nigeria asks Google to block banned groups from YouTube
Nigeria asked Google to block the use of YouTube channels and livestreams by banned groups and terrorist organizations in the country, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said on Thursday.
www.reuters.com
Tesla investors approve stock split; Musk to add factories
Tesla shareholders have approved a three-for-one stock split, a move that will make the company’s shares more accessible to smaller investors.
apnews.com
Biden’s standing brightens. But Dems still see the midterm prospects as dim.
A string of victories and the potential for more has not dispelled the skepticism that still persists in corners of the party.
www.politico.com
Washington town told to leave due to wildfire, homes lost
LIND, Wash. (AP) — An entire eastern Washington town was evacuated Thursday because of a growing wildfire south of town that was burning homes, officials said.
apnews.com
First on CNN: DHS to stop wiping phones without backups | CNN Politics
The Department of Homeland Security will immediately stop wiping mobile devices of high-level officials and political appointees without backing them up and will launch a 30-day review of policies and practices for retaining text messages and other electronic messages.
www.cnn.com
DeSantis suspends state attorney who vowed not to enforce Florida's new abortion law
Democrats call move "extreme and unhinged."
www.politico.com
Pentagon announces new press secretary after Kirby departure to White House
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Air Force Brig. Gen Patrick Ryder will step in as the Pentagon's new press secretary later this month.
7 key moments from Alex Jones Sandy Hook defamation trial
Here are seven moments that could shape a jury's deliberations on Thursday in a trial to decide how much U.S. conspiracy theorist Alex Jones must pay parents of a slain child for falsely calling the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting a hoax:
www.reuters.com
8 years before Uvalde, Arredondo was demoted from previous law enforcement position: Report
Eight years before the Uvalde shooting, school Police Chief Pete Arredondo was demoted from a top position at the Webb County Sheriff's Office, according to a report.
Australia to protect Barrier Reef by banning coal mine
Australia’s new government plans to prevent development of a coal mine because of its potential impact on the nearby Great Barrier Reef.
apnews.com
NATO members working with defence companies to boost weapons supplies to Ukraine
NATO members are working closely with defence companies to ensure Ukraine gets more supplies of weapons and equipment to be prepared for the long haul in its war with Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.
www.reuters.com
Recount confirms that indicted Colorado clerk Tina Peters lost election
Peters demanded a recount after losing her primary and baselessly alleging fraud. She raised more than $250,000 to cover the cost of the recount.
www.nbcnews.com
3 killed in lightning strike near White House | CNN Politics
Three people are dead and one is injured following a lightning strike across the street from the White House Thursday night.
www.cnn.com
Judge: Kevin Spacey must pay $30M to 'House of Cards' makers
A Los Angeles judge has ruled that Kevin Spacey and his production companies must pay the makers of “House of Cards” nearly $31 million because of losses brought on by his firing for the sexual harassment of crew members.
apnews.com
2 serving life sentences accused in more slayings in suspected rape and murder spree in Florida
The pair was charged with additional crimes from 1983 after a conviction review unit studied DNA evidence that helped exonerate a death-row inmate.
www.nbcnews.com
Director: FBI has opened ‘a number’ of abortion-related violence investigations
Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee that his agency has seen a surge in abortion-related crime this year.
www.politico.com
Election deniers are one step closer to taking control of voting in 4 key states | CNN Politics
Republican candidates who espouse Donald Trump’s false claims that the last presidential election was stolen are steadily advancing through primaries for positions to oversee the next one in swing states.
www.cnn.com
Florida governor suspends local prosecutor who said he won't criminalize abortion
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Tampa's top prosecutor, Andrew Warren, citing public statements he made indicating he would not criminalize abortion.
Judge shortens road to decide NFL racial discrimination suit
A judge has made it likely she'll rule in weeks rather than months whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gets to decide the merits of racial discrimination claims made by Black coaches against the league and its teams.
apnews.com
Joe and Jill's long summer | CNN Politics
This summer has not been an easy one for President Joe Biden, and no one feels that more than Jill Biden.
www.cnn.com
California Gov. Newsom asks Hollywood to stop filming in conservative Georgia, Oklahoma after abortion ruling
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking Hollywood movie producers to stop filming in conservative states Georgia and Oklahoma after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Relatives of POWs call on Red Cross to help find loved ones
Relatives of prisoners of war taken captive by Russia after the fall of Azovstal steel plant are calling for answers a week on from a prison attack in a separatist region of eastern Ukraine that reportedly killed dozens.
apnews.com
Mammoth bones and 'ghost' footprints add to heated debate about first humans in North America
The fossilized bones, in particular, could suggest people lived in North America tens of thousands of years before the generally accepted date for the arrival of the first Native Americans of about 10,000 B.C. BCE.
www.nbcnews.com
State Dept official: Iran's cooperation agreement with China 'is definitely not good for the region'
Senior State Department official Barbara Leaf warned the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday that Iran's cooperation agreement with China is bad for the Middle East
Meijer: ‘Not one’ regret over Trump impeachment vote despite defeat
The Michigan Republican was defeated in Tuesday's primary by challenger John Gibbs, a former Trump administration official who won the endorsement of the former president.
www.politico.com
Sarah Palin blasts ranked choice voting as she takes center stage at CPAC
DALLAS — Sarah Palin blasted her state’s new ranked choice voting system as she took center stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas just days away from a special election for Alaska’s only House seat.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Concern that Nicaragua repression could be "model" in region
Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega’s government has closed seven radio stations this week owned by the Roman Catholic church, as well as two other outlets serving the largely rural northern area with a history of opposition.
apnews.com
2 Black Muslims accuse Alaska Airlines of kicking them off flight for texting and talking in Arabic
The men haven’t flown together since, for fear of a repeat incident, their lawyer said.
www.nbcnews.com
Updated hurricane outlook still points to above-normal Atlantic season, NOAA says
Scientists are emphasizing the necessity of proper disaster planning now that they have confirmed another busy hurricane season ahead in the Atlantic.
Senators introduce bill to help people with disabilities access reproductive health care
Sen. Tammy Duckworth said the law is necessary to “restore bodily autonomy” to people with disabilities.
www.nbcnews.com
Anger, clashes in South Africa following gang rape arrests
Community members in the South African city of Krugersdorp have beaten suspected illegal miners with sticks and set fire to their camps following the arrests of more than 80 men suspected of gang raping eight women last week.
apnews.com
Democratic Rep. Maloney backtracks on not supporting Biden in 2024: 'Mr. President, I apologize'
Rep. Carolyn Maloney apologizes to Biden and says she would support him in 2024, but think's he "won't be running."
Here's what a 'vote-a-rama' is (and what it means for Democrats' energy and health care bill) | CNN Politics
Democrats’ push to advance their energy and health care bill is likely headed for a procedural speed bump known in Washington as a “vote-a-rama.”
www.cnn.com
New Zealand climate plan includes relocating some homes
New Zealand’s government has released its first-ever climate adaptation plan, which includes the possibility of moving some communities to higher ground.
apnews.com
Rescuers race to free miners trapped in flooded mine in Mexico | CNN
Ten miners have been trapped in a flooded coal mine in northern Mexico for over 24 hours, as rescuers battle to reach them.
www.cnn.com
Nevada official laments teacher, staff shortages ahead of back-to-school season
In Nevada, officials say thousands of teaching jobs are vacant across the state.
Images show Kabul house where al Qaeda chief was killed by US strike | CNN
CNN has identified what appears to be the house in Kabul, Afghanistan – a so-called “poppy palace” surrounded by the homes of druglords and warmongers – that was hit by a Hellfire missile drone strike that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in the early hours of Sunday morning.
www.cnn.com
Inflation weighs on back-to-school buying for many families
NEW YORK (AP) — To understand the impact of surging inflation on this year's back-to-school spending, look no further than children's rain boots with motifs like frogs and ladybugs made by Washington Shoe Co.
apnews.comElection denialism remains powerful in Republican politics
Republican nominees in Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania are on the verge of claiming offices where they would have enormous power over elections
Class-action suit filed against Equifax after score reporting glitch
The credit bureau said it had unintentionally sent faulty scores to lenders, resulting in higher interest rates and application denials for some consumers.
www.nbcnews.com
New crypto oversight legislation arrives as industry shakes
After 13 years, at least three crashes, dozens of scams and Ponzi schemes and hundreds of billions of dollars made and evaporated, cryptocurrencies finally have the full attention of Congress.
apnews.comRecount confirms that indicted Colorado clerk lost election
A recount has confirmed that an indicted Colorado county clerk who alleged voting fraud lost the primary election she ran in last month in her attempt to win the post of running the state's elections, officials announced Thursday. The results barely changed, with Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters...
How the Hellfire missiles took out al-Qaeda leader al-Zawahiri with minimal collateral damage
How the Hellfire missiles used to kill al-Qaeda leader al-Zawahiri work.
Manchin votes align closely with Schumer, liberal Democrats Warren, Sanders despite portrayal as moderate
Sen. Joe Manchin has voted with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer 91% of the time, while some Republican moderates aligned with their party far less often.
Police: No victim found in shooting at Mall of America
Police in Minnesota confirm three gunshots were fired at the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis, but say no one appears to have been hurt.
apnews.com
Police search for suspects after shots were fired into a crowded store at the Mall of America | CNN
Police are searching for suspects after gunshots were fired into a crowded store in the Mall of America on Thursday, authorities said.
www.cnn.com
Drag queen storytime in England promotes compassion and inclusion. British far-right extremists are importing US hate against them | CNN
An ordinary red-brick library in the southern English town of Reading is an unlikely backdrop for the latest front in the battle for equality for the LGBTQ+ community. But last week – in scenes later repeated across the country– Covid-19 conspiracists and far-right supporters lobbed homophobic...
www.cnn.com
Justice Department charges 4 Louisville police officers connected to Breonna Taylor killing
The four current and former officers face various civil rights and obstruction charges stemming from Taylor's 2020 death.
www.cbsnews.com
Sinema signs off on Manchin-Schumer spending bill
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) offered her support Thursday for a deal struck by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on a healthcare, tax, and climate spending bill, with a change she had sought, giving the reconciliation bill a path forward in the evenly divided...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
4 critically injured in lightning strike near White House
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four people have been critically injured after a lightning strike outside the White House, fire officials said Thursday.
apnews.com
Russia calls for restraint after deadly Nagorno-Karabakh clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan | CNN
Russia has called for restraint after Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of violating a Moscow-brokered ceasefire following deadly clashes in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
www.cnn.com
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends 'Soros-backed' state attorney who refused to enforce abortion ban
Ron DeSantis suspended Soros-backed 13th circuit state attorney, Andrew Warren, and said he was a far-left radical who refused to enforce Florida law.
'The View' names Alyssa Farah Griffin, Ana Navarro as new co-hosts for Season 26
After much anticipation over who's filling the empty seat at the Hot Topics table, "The View" announced two new co-hosts will be added to the panel on Aug. 4, 2022.
UN soldiers have come under attack in the DRC from locals who want them out. Here's why. | CNN
Two decades ago, a UN force landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo to keep the peace in a volatile territory almost overrun by armed militias. But with the insurgents still on the prowl, locals say the peacekeepers have outstayed their welcome.
www.cnn.com
Workers in Iraq get day off as temperatures pass 50C
A heatwave has been ongoing since mid-July with temperatures above 50C in some areas.
www.bbc.com
A cultural power struggle at an Iowa library casts a 'dark cloud' over a small town
Following an alleged pattern of anti-LGBTQ sentiment directed toward employees, most of the staffers at an Iowa public library left, causing it to temporarily close.
www.nbcnews.com
4 bodies discovered in 2 house fires in Nebraska town; neighbor arrested
The homes are located just three blocks apart in the town of Laurel.
www.cbsnews.com
China sends warships and jets close to Taiwan and sparks alert in Japan as tensions rise | CNN
Chinese warships and aircraft conducted military drills in waters near Taiwan Friday, crossing the sensitive median line, said Taiwan’s defense ministry, as tensions escalated in the region after the US House Speaker’s visit to the island.
www.cnn.com
Bat infestation forces Nevada fire station to close indefinitely
Fire personnel and an ambulance from the Nevada station have been temporarily relocated.
www.cbsnews.com
Inflation likely to remain high, despite Manchin’s Inflation Reduction Act, Americans say
Americans in Washington, D.C., were skeptical that increasing taxes through the Inflation Reduction Act would reduce the price surges seen across the country.
HBO Max and Discovery+ will combine into a single streaming service
The company is considering a free, ad-supported version of the combined streaming platform, Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav said Thursday on an earnings call.
www.nbcnews.comAbbott plant shipping out first baby formula produced since recall
The company at the center of ongoing baby formula shortages is also expected to release a new tranche of specialty formula supplies in the coming days.
www.politico.com
One and done? Some Democrats say Biden should not seek second term
A few Democrats have begun to voice what many have mulled privately: whether President Joe Biden, the oldest person to ever occupy the Oval Office, ought to choose retirement over re-election in 2024.
www.reuters.com
N.Y. man who sent threats to LGBTQ groups gets 30 months
The retired teacher had threatened to blow up the Stonewall Inn and place explosives at New York City's 2021 Pride march, prosecutors said.
www.nbcnews.com
Lightning strikes near White House; four in critical condition
Multiple people were injured after lightning struck just outside the White House on Thursday evening. Four people were being treated and transported to area hospitals after the bolt hit somewhere in Lafayette Park, D.C. Fire and EMS reported on Twitter. The victims have been identified as two...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Monkeypox: US declares outbreak a public health emergency
The decision is expected to speed up the distribution of vaccines, treatments and federal resources.
www.bbc.com
Moderna considering creating an mRNA monkeypox vaccine amid growing demand for shots
Discussions remain pre-clinical, and no decision on whether the company will move forward with the creation of such a vaccine has been made, executives said.
Are "Novids" special or just lucky at avoiding COVID-19?
It's estimated that more than 70% of Americans have had COVID, but we all know someone who says they've never had it.
www.cbsnews.com
'I don't think we're actually being heard:' HHS long Covid reports fall short of offering solid plans for patients
The Biden administration pledged to set up an office dedicated to long Covid, but offered no details on how to pay for it.
www.nbcnews.com
Monkeypox vaccine available for kids on case-by-case basis, FDA says
The current vaccine for monkeypox is approved for people ages 18 and older.
Rich countries put billions into global Covid responses. Low-income countries wish they could spend it on bigger problems.
Those who work on AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other plagues say progress is in danger of reversing.
www.politico.com
7 ways to reduce your risk of monkeypox
As the outbreak continues, the virus may soon start to spread further and begin to affect different demographic groups.
U.S. monkeypox response stirs up anxious memories of AIDS era for activists
They lived through the dawn of the AIDS epidemic and see parallels to monkeypox now.
www.politico.com
White House: Biden to remain in isolation until he tests negative for COVID
President Joe Biden will remain in isolation until he tests negative for COVID-19, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Thursday.
www.reuters.comBiden stays COVID positive in test on Thursday
Biden was still experiencing a "very occasional" cough, but the cough was improving, O'Connor said in the memo. Biden will continue in isolation. Biden, 79, had just emerged from isolation on Wednesday last week after testing positive for COVID for the first time on July 21.
