
FILE - National Security Council spokesman John Kirby (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
US: Iranian troops in Crimea backing Russian drone strikes
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Thursday that Iranian troops are “directly engaged on the ground” in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s power stations and other key infrastructure, troubling evidence of Tehran’s deepening role assisting Russia as it exacts suffering on Ukrainian civilians just as the cold weather sets in.

Barrett denies emergency bid to block Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan
Barrett, who handles emergency matters arising from Wisconsin, acted alone in denying the request, rather than refer the matter to the full court.


Lettuce declared winner after it outlived Liz Truss' premiership
The British prime minister's decision to resign provided an unlikely victory for the leafy vegetable, which had been pitted against her by a tabloid paper.


Trump lashes out at judge who said former president knowingly pushed false voter fraud case
U.S. District Judge David Carter ordered pro-Trump attorney John Eastman to turn over dozens of documents to the House probe of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Truss quits, but UK's political and economic turmoil persist
British Prime Minister Liz Truss quit Thursday after a tumultuous and historically brief term in which her economic policies roiled financial markets and a rebellion in her political party obliterated her authority.


Biden’s quiet campaign season brings him back to familiar territory in Pennsylvania | CNN Politics
When President Joe Biden visited Pennsylvania on Thursday, he touted infrastructure investments that helped rebuild a collapsed bridge and raised campaign cash away from cameras with the state’s Democratic Senate candidate.


Russian, Ukrainian troops gird for major battle in Kherson
Russian and Ukrainian troops appear to be girding for a major battle over the strategic southern industrial port city of Kherson.


Appeals court denies Graham bid to block testimony in Georgia election probe
A federal appeals court on Thursday denied a request by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to be shielded from testifying in an investigation into former President Trump’s alleged interference in the 202…


GOP leaders McConnell, McCarthy headed for collision on Ukraine aid
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) are headed for a collision next year on spending more money to help Ukraine. McConnell has led Republican…


GOP's Georgia challenge: Persuading Trump backers to vote
Eager Republican volunteers are knocking on doors in Georgia, trying to persuade reluctant conservatives and supporters of Donald Trump to register to vote in next month’s midterm elections.


Slavery is on the ballot for voters in 5 US states
Voters in five states are deciding whether to close loopholes that allowed convict labor as an exception to slavery.


Ocasio-Cortez fires back at Pence: ‘Absolutely no one wants to hear what your plan is for their uterus’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) shot back at Mike Pence on Wednesday night after the former vice president said Republican majorities in Congress will protect the right to life, telling Penc…


Who might succeed Liz Truss as UK prime minister? | CNN
Britain will have a new prime minister within a week, outgoing leader Liz Truss said in her resignation speech outside 10 Downing Street on Thursday.


Get ready for the first major Republican cattle call of the 2024 presidential race
A dozen Republicans who pundits view as potential 2024 GOP presidential nomination contenders will attend the Republican Jewish Coalition’s leadership meeting next month in Las Vegas.

Rick Scott: Senate Republicans have path to 55-seat majority
GREENSBORO, N.C. — National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott (Fla.) says Republicans will likely control 52 Senate seats next year and have a pathway to a 55-seat majority, given…


Facial recognition used in arrest of 9/11 conspiracy theory lawyer accused of trying to disarm officer on Jan. 6
John O'Kelly, who once filed a lawsuit on behalf of a group that believes explosives brought down the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, was arrested Thursday.


Kinzinger on McCarthy Ukraine remarks: ‘You’re giving aid and comfort to the enemy, intentionally or unintentionally’
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said on Wednesday that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) recent remarks suggesting a GOP majority would limit Ukrainian aid are “giving aid and comfort …


The DOJ says it needs $34M to fund the Jan. 6 probe. If the GOP takes Congress, it may not get the money.
The Justice Department says extra funding is "critically needed" to sustain its investigation into Jan. 6, but the message hasn't broken through with some on the Hill.


Russian fighter jet 'released a missile' near unarmed British surveillance plane, U.K. defense secretary says
“In light of this potentially dangerous engagement,” Ben Wallace said, he “communicated my concerns directly with Russian counterpart.”


Ukraine's utilities threatened by Russia in war's new phase
Russia has declared its intention to increase its targeting of Ukraine’s power, water and other vital infrastructure in its latest phase of the nearly 8-month-old war.


There’s good news for Democrats if Republicans take Congress
On the surface, it appears as if the electorate swings wildly back and forth. But a deeper dig reveals a perfect consistency in the electorate.


Is Russia’s silent majority waking up?
The mobilisation has broken Putin’s longstanding social contract with the Russian population to provide stability.

EU leaders avoid deep rift on gas price cap at energy summit
European Union leaders are struggling to find immediate practical solutions on how to deal with the energy crisis but avoid an open rift between Germany and France.

Trump promised the Durham investigation would prove a vendetta. It has largely fallen short.
Trump amped up John Durham's investigation of the Russia probe. More than three years later, it's netted a guilty plea and two acquittals.

Election deniers could make deep changes to Arizona voting
The Republicans running for Arizona’s three top statewide offices have said they wouldn't have signed off on the 2020 presidential results if they were in office at the time of that election.


Newly released private messages show Oath Keepers leader was skeptical Trump would act on Jan. 6 | CNN Politics
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was skeptical that then-President Donald Trump would invoke the Insurrection Act in the lead up to January 6, according to new messages revealed Thursday, and was privately preparing to wage his own rebellion led by the far-right militia group.


Italy Meloni: Far-right leader agrees to form government
Italy's president asks Giorgia Meloni to form the next government, to be sworn in on Saturday.


U.S. charges 7 in alleged plot to repatriate U.S. resident to China
The United States unsealed criminal charges on Thursday against seven Chinese nationals accused of waging a surveillance and harassment campaign against a U.S. resident and his family, in a bid by the Chinese government to repatriate one of them back to China.

Analysis: The ripples of the war Russia says isn't a war
At the beginning, Vladimir Putin said it wasn't a war. He still says that now, and he calls it a “special military operation.”


Dr. Oz made reputation as a surgeon, a fortune as a salesman
Dr. Mehmet Oz may have made his reputation as a surgeon. But he made a fortune as a salesman on daytime TV.


Liz Truss resigned after six weeks in office. What happens now?
“It’s a slow-motion car crash that turned into a head-on collision,” one analyst said of Truss’ downfall.


Musk said he plans to cut nearly 75 percent of Twitter’s workforce: report
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said that he will cut 75 percent of the staff at Twitter after acquiring the platform, The Washington Post reported, citing interviews and documents it obtained. …


Republicans react to Biden White House secrecy around Delaware visitors: 'a bunch of malarkey'
Congressional Republicans reacted to the White House dodging Fox News Digital's questions on the president's visitor's log from his Delaware home that reportedly doesn't exist.

Yes, the Liz Truss debacle matters for Americans
The U.K. political drama will have ripple effects in the U.S.


Russian fighter jet "released a missile" near U.K. spy plane, Britain's defense secretary reveals
Moscow blamed a "technical malfunction" while acknowledging the incident took place in international airspace, the defense minister said.


San Francisco's mayor apologizes for remarks made about Hondurans
Mayor London Breed made remarks during a discussion about public safety, including issues of drug dealing.


Mass drone attacks in Ukraine foreshadow the ‘future of warfare’
‘Kamikaze’ drones are relatively cheap and can be deployed by the dozens, raising fear among civilian populations.

Officials in Texas’ most populous county ask DOJ to send federal monitors in response to state plans to send observers for general election | CNN Politics
Three top officials in Texas’ most populous county have asked the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to send federal monitors to Harris County for the midterm elections to oversee what they view as an effort by Republican state officials to “chill voters’ trust in the election...


Mnuchin testifies in Trump ally Barrack's defense, cites Qatar blockade
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday took the witness stand in the defense of onetime Donald Trump fundraiser Tom Barrack, who is on trial on charges he illegally acted as a foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates.

Biden makes rare appearance with Democrat for Fetterman's Senate race against Oz
The race between John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz could determine which party controls the Senate next year.

Biden on Oz: 'Delaware was smart enough to send him to New Jersey'
The comment was an example of the special attention the president seemed to show to the Pennsylvania race for U.S. Senate, as he cast Democrat John Fetterman’s election as pivotal.


Prescient or traitor? Rishi Sunak is the favourite to be next UK PM
To some Conservatives, Rishi Sunak is the minister who got Britain through the COVID pandemic, to others the traitor who knifed Boris Johnson or the rival to Liz Truss who presciently warned her tax plans would bring chaos.

Texas city stops migrant busing as Venezuelans pushed back to Mexico
The Democrat-led city of El Paso, Texas, is ending a months-long effort to bus migrants to northern cities after a new policy put in place by the Biden administration is forcing Venezuelan migrants back to Mexico and easing pressure on the border city.

Microsoft, Apple, other firms urge Congress to protect "Dreamers" as DACA fades
An ad running in The Wall Street Journal, The Dallas Morning News and The Charlotte Observer warns congressional leaders that ending DACA would hurt the economy.


Devastation on Ukraine’s eastern front, where the notorious Wagner group is making gains | CNN
The weather in Bakhmut deceives the senses, sunny and warm – almost peaceful.


Fallout from Truss collapse rattles US democracy, too | CNN Politics
Americans and Britons once smugly viewed political uprisings, governing meltdowns and self-defeating errors as the eruptions of unstable countries and immature political systems.


Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says he won’t allow minors to undergo 'life-changing' gender surgeries in his state
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill defunding gender transition medical services for individuals under 18-years-old at Oklahoma Children's Hospital at OU Health.

Millions at risk of losing health insurance if U.S. ends Covid public health emergency in January
When the public health emergency does end, HHS estimates up to 15 million people will be disenrolled from Medicare and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Explainer: What legal woes does Trump face?
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is facing legal scrutiny from state, congressional and federal investigators on a range of issues - from the storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, to allegedly inflating the value of his properties to secure favorable loans and tax benefits.

Liz Truss gone: Who will become the UK’s new prime minister?
Truss, the shortest serving prime minister in British history, resigned following a controversial tax-cutting budget.
Ukraine in direct contact with Musk amid Starlink drama
“I know that we will not have a problem” keeping the service going, the country's defense minister says.


Democrats flock to New Hampshire in 2024 shadow primary
Potential Democratic presidential hopefuls are traveling to New Hampshire with striking frequency, campaigning for midterm candidates while introducing themselves to voters in the first-in-the-nati…


EXPLAINER: What to expect at polling places this year
Voting could feel different in this year's midterms, as the election falsehoods told by former President Donald Trump and many of his supporters have created a ripple effect across the country.


White House says Iran sent personnel to Crimea to train Russians to use drones | CNN Politics
The White House says Iranian military personnel have visited Crimea to assist with Russian operations targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine using drones.

Walker Says He Has 'Overcome' Mental Illness, but It's Not So Simple, Experts Say
WASHINGTON — Confronting a barrage of accusations about his personal life — including claims he threatened women and paid for an abortion despite his public opposition to the procedure — Herschel Walker has repeatedly invoked his history of mental illness in his defense. “As everyone knows, I...

Why did Putin impose martial law in occupied Ukrainian regions?
Russian president is attempting to tighten his grip on four annexed Ukrainian regions amid military setbacks.

Abolfazl Adinezadeh: Teenage protester shot dead by security forces - sources
Security forces fired a shotgun at point-blank range at Abolfazl Adinezadeh, 17, sources say.


Billionaire Ronald Lauder gives $1 million to GOP group supporting state candidates who questioned 2020 election results
Billionaire Ronald Lauder gave $1 million to the Republican State Leadership Committee, which is supporting candidates who questioned the 2020 election results.

Liz Truss resigns as U.K. prime minister: What happens next?
Liz Truss became the United Kingdom's shortest-serving prime minister on Thursday. Now the country needs a new leader.

Biden’s student debt relief notches early victories from GOP-appointed judges
Justice Amy Coney Barrett declines to block the policy as another federal judge dismisses challenge from GOP-led states.


Pelosi, Hoyer plead for House Dems to pony up cash to counter GOP fundraising juggernaut
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is urging House Democrats to donate more money to the party's campaign arm as polls show Republicans surging ahead of Election Day.

Sunak, Mordaunt, Johnson? Contenders who could replace Truss
Liz Truss’ resignation as British Prime Minister has triggered another leadership race — the second in just four months — for the U.K.’s fractured and demoralized Conservative Party.


Military suicides drop as leaders push new programs
A new report and Pentagon data show that suicides across the active duty U.S. military decreased over the past 18 months, driven by sharp drops in the Air Force and Marine Corps last year and a similar decline among Army soldiers during the first six months of this year.


GOP lawsuit aims to force Pennsylvania to reject undated ballots
The RNC, NRCC and PAGOP launched a lawsuit over the alleged illegal counting of undated mail-in ballots just weeks ahead of the November midterm elections.

What travel restrictions is the EU imposing on Russians?
The bloc has made it harder and costlier for Russians to enter, but members are divided on an outright travel ban.

Massachusetts governor debate: Geoff Diehl and Maura Healey spar over raising taxes, exorbitant energy costs
Republican Geoff Diehl and Democrat Maura Healey debated Thursday on how to best tackle major voter concerns, including rising energy costs and whether they would raise taxes.

Mastriano to Hannity at York town hall: I’d bus migrants to Biden's home state of Delaware
During a televised town hall, Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano said if elected, he'd send illegal immigrants to Delaware.
www.usatoday.com

Who will replace Truss as UK prime minister? Sunak? Mordaunt? Johnson?
Liz Truss quit on Thursday after the shortest, most chaotic tenure of any British prime minister, forced out after her economic programme shattered the country's reputation for financial stability and left many people poorer.

NOAA releases winter weather outlook: How La Niña will impact your state
The Climate Prediction Center’s official winter forecast has been released, and it splits the country in two: hot and dry down south, and a mystery up north.


More than 100 pro-life orgs, churches attacked since Dobbs leak
Pro-abortion vandals have targeted more than 100 crisis pregnancy centers, pro-life organizations and churches since the Supreme Court leak in May.

Kevin Spacey wins in civil sexual-abuse case brought by actor Rapp
Kevin Spacey on Thursday defeated a sexual abuse case against him after jurors in a Manhattan civil trial found his accuser didn’t prove his claim that the Oscar winner made an unwanted sexual advance on him when he was 14.
Jeb Bush says Ron DeSantis would be a 'formidable candidate' if the Florida governor ran in 2024
"He's been a really good governor," former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush gushed of fellow Republican Ron DeSantis.

Nonprofit that backs defunding ICE to oversee DHS pilot program aiding illegal immigrants
A new Department of Homeland Security program to aid illegal immigrants will have on its board an organization that called for the defunding and abolition of ICE

‘Hail Mary after Hail Mary’: Biden administration struggles with border policy, fueling frustration | CNN Politics
The Department of Homeland Security put together a plan months ago to deal with thousands of migrants arriving at the border: flying some of them to cities deeper inside the US for processing.


‘Forever chemicals’ found in water systems serving millions: GAO
“Forever chemicals” have been identified in water systems that serve about 9.5 million people in just six states, according to a new analysis of state data by a congressional watchdog. The Go…


Feud with tribes threatens Oklahoma governor’s reelection
Many of the 39 Native American tribes based in Oklahoma have played a role in state politics for decades, often quietly and behind the scenes.


Freedom Caucus sends Republican candidates guide on navigating DC, pressure from GOP leadership after election
The Freedom Caucus is sending potential new GOP members a packet aimed partially at warning them about pressure from GOP leadership after the election.

Biden seeks streamlined messaging for Democrats amid midterm countdown: The Note
Biden on Thursday makes a rare-for-this-cycle trip to battleground Pennsylvania on Thursday to campaign for Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman

How Gordon Sondland went from hotelier to ambassador to central impeachment figure
Former Ambassador Gordon Sondland was standing with former President Trump in August 2019, waiting for the president of Romania to arrive for a meeting, when Trump pulled out a container of Tic Tac…


Ex-Air Force enlistee jailed after pleading guilty to 'outrageous' conduct on Jan. 6
U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said he didn't understand how people like Aiden Bilyard were "gullible enough" to fall for Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election.


UK says Russian aircraft fired missile near British spy plane over Black Sea
A Russian fighter jet released a missile near an unarmed British spy plane patrolling in international airspace over the Black Sea on Sept. 29, UK defence minister Ben Wallace said, in an apparent accident and not a deliberate escalation of tensions.
U.S. sets March date for Gulf of Mexico drilling auction
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will offer all of the available unleased acreage in the Gulf outer continental shelf on March 29, it said in a sale notice posted online. The sale would be the first Gulf of Mexico oil and gas auction mandated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)...

‘Life is hell for Afghan women once again’
Women had struggled long and hard for the right to divorce, but since the Taliban’s takeover, the situation worsened.

Biden stumps for Pa.'s Fetterman, says 'world is looking'
President Joe Biden says the “rest of the world is looking” to see who holds control of Congress after the upcoming midterm elections.


Surgeon general proposes ‘equity’ as way to boost mental health in the workplace
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says the COVID pandemic should force companies to look at new ways to improve mental health, and proposed "equity" as a solution.

Analysis: Why very high turnout is likely this midterm | CNN Politics
Eight years ago, interest in midterm elections hit rock bottom. Just 37% of the voting eligible population turned out to vote – the lowest since World War II. Few could have predicted that America would have the highest midterm turnout in the last century just four years later .


What is a PAC? The major engines behind election fundraising and spending explained.
The midterm elections have meant dogged political fundraising by candidates and PACs alike. What is a PAC really, and what are the different types?
www.usatoday.com

Arizona asks federal prosecutors to probe possible voter intimidation
Arizona officials have asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate a case of possible voter intimidation after a group of people followed and filmed a voter in Maricopa County dropping off a ballot at a drop box for the midterm elections.

Gun control laws fall at dizzying pace after Supreme Court ruling
A New York gun control law that prohibits firearms in Times Square, Yankee Stadium, the subway and other sensitive places is on shaky legal ground after a judge found these provisions violate the S…


Cortez Masto and Laxalt neck and neck in Nevada Senate race — CBS News Battleground Tracker poll
The race for governor between incumbent Democrat Steve Sisolak and GOP challenger Joe Lombardo is also dead even.


Arizona Sec of State Hobbs, Dem governor nominee, showed up to office 19 days in past 6 months
Records shared with Fox News Digital reveal that Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs only showed up to her state office a total of 19 days since April 1.

EXPLAINER: How ranked choice voting works in Alaska
Most Americans are used to casting their ballot for a single person for each office. But Alaska’s races unfold in the state's ranked choice system.

Trump's yearslong crusade against Ukraine has finally come home to roost as Republicans call for abandoning Kyiv
A far-right GOP faction is urging sharp cuts to US aid to Ukraine, which would cut the legs out from under Ukraine's efforts to retake its territory.

Chess-Niemann files $100m defamation lawsuit against Carlsen, Chess.com
Hans Niemann, the teenage American grandmaster at the centre of an alleged cheating scandal, sued world champion Magnus Carlsen, online platform Chess.com and others for slander and libel on Thursday and is seeking at least $100 million in damages.

Liz Truss resigns after brief, disastrous spell as British PM
Having been formally appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 6, Truss is now the shortest-serving prime minister in British history.


Can't make it to the polls on Election Day? How to vote absentee in the midterm elections
Do you need a reason to vote absentee? When should you request a ballot? Here's what to know about absentee ballots for the 2022 U.S. midterms.
www.usatoday.com

Russia says outgoing PM Truss was a 'catastrophically illiterate' disgrace
Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday welcomed the departure of British Prime Minister Liz Truss, saying she was a disgrace of a leader who would be remembered for her "catastrophic illiteracy".

Federal court rules Georgia prosecutors can force Lindsey Graham to testify
Prosecutors for Fani Willis are hoping to question the Republican senator about his calls with state officials regarding the 2020 election.


Benjamin Cole, convicted of killing his 9-month-old daughter Brianna Cole, executed in Oklahoma
Cole was the sixth Oklahoma inmate to be executed since the state resumed carrying them out in October 2021.


Around 250 Honduran migrants head toward United States fleeing poverty
Around 250 Honduran migrants were joined by a group of Venezuelans fleeing poverty and seeking to reach the United States, a migration official said on Thursday.

Biden not focusing enough attention on Americans' most important issues: poll
A Monmouth University poll found that only 31% of those surveyed believed Biden was paying enough attention to the prominent issues most affecting U.S. families.

Former US Capitol Police officer on trial for allegedly telling rioter to delete evidence related to attack | CNN Politics
A former US Capitol police officer on trial for allegedly telling a January 6, 2021, rioter to delete evidence related to the attack also told the rioter he thought some of the “agitators” that day were Antifa, according to prosecutors.


U.S. FTC votes to strengthen rules against fake online reviews and hidden fees
A U.S. agency voted on Thursday to begin making rules to crack down on deceptive marketing practices such as fake online reviews and excessive hidden fees also known as "junk fees"

Gruesome killing of 12-year-old girl shocks France and draws far-right immigration fury
Far-right politicians have lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government and blamed its immigration policies for the schoolgirl’s death.

Rep. Jim Banks: Debt limit would be "major leverage point" for GOP majority
The GOP congressman said Republicans "are uniformly in support of using that moment as an opportunity to do something about spending."

Oregon's newest House district holds first general election
The U.S. House race in Oregon's newly created 6th Congressional District is closer than expected. The district includes the state capital Salem and Portland’s affluent southwestern suburbs along with rural areas


Texas secretary of state to send inspectors to observe vote counting in Harris County
The state's most populous county, which is home to Houston and leans Democratic, will have inspectors performing "randomized checks on election records” and observing "the handling and counting of ballots and electronic media," the Secretary of State's Office said.


Liz Truss: UK prime minister resignation speech in full
An election for the next leader of the Conservative Party will take place within the next week.

Mastriano to Hannity at York town hall: I’d bus migrants to Biden's home state of Delaware
During a televised town hall, Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano said if elected, he'd send illegal immigrants to Delaware.

New York mayor says Biden border policy eased flow of migrants
The wave became a trickle as the city opened a sprawling new intake center.


Voters trust the GOP over Democrats to best handle imperative economic issues, weeks before midterms: new poll
A new CNBC poll revealed that Republicans is leading over Democrats on the generic congressional ballot, while voters view the GOP as the most trusted party to ease inflation.

WHO: Ugandan Ebola outbreak 'rapidly evolving' after 1 month
A top World Health Organization official says Uganda’s Ebola outbreak is “rapidly evolving” a month after the disease was reported in the East African country. Dr.


Mace calls out Dem Andrews during debate for 'flat-out lie' over abortion position: 'Look at me in the eye'
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., accusing challenger Annie Andrews of lying about Mace's abortion record during Wednesday night's debate in their South Carolina House race.

Americans brace for steep winter heating bills as energy costs soar
Inflation-hit families worry they'll have have to choose between buying food or heating their home.


US State Department says there’s ‘abundant evidence’ Russia is using Iranian drones in Ukraine | CNN Politics
The United States has “abundant evidence” that Russia is using Iranian drones to strike Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Wednesday.


Former PM Johnson flying back to Britain this weekend, Telegraph reports
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is flying back to the UK this weekend, a journalist at the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Thursday.

Former U.S. intelligence officials: Cuba shouldn't be on terrorism sponsor list
That has been the “consensus position” for decades, experts who worked on Cuba policy in both Republican and Democratic administrations tell NBC News. “It’s a fiction that we have created … to reinforce the rationale for the blockade,” one said.


Indonesia says contaminated medicines linked to 99 deaths
Indonesia has found contaminated medicines that are suspected of being linked to the deaths of 99 children this year due to acute kidney injury.


Bronx man convicted of murder-for-hire for ordering hits on his father and brother | CNN
A 44-year-old man was convicted of murder-for-hire and conspiracy for ordering hits on his Mafia-associated father and his brother in the Bronx, New York, in a case as notable for its barbarity as for its multiple bungling murder attempts.

Facing new anti-drag GOP legislation, Drag Story Hour leader says group will still teach children to be 'their most fabulous self'
The GOP bill would allow parents to file a lawsuit against entities using federal funds to expose young children to "sexually explicit materials or programs."
Prosecutors detail Oath Keepers’ mounting frustration with Trump as Jan. 6 approached
Far right group was ready for a bloody battle in Washington, hoping Trump would invoke Insurrection Act.

In Los Angeles, Politics Prove More Complex Than a Racist Conversation
LOS ANGELES — Once synonymous with Black culture, South Los Angeles has undergone a dramatic demographic shift. There is Catholic Mass in Spanish at the theater where Duke Ellington once headlined. In the halls of Thomas Jefferson High School, whose famous Black alumni include Alvin Ailey and...

Why We Can’t Remove a President Because of Incompetence
The Liz Truss implosion offers up pros and cons to the U.S. system of governance.


NORAD F-16 fighter jet intercepted small plane in restricted airspace near Biden speech in California
The incident occurred over Santa Ana last week, about 12 miles from the community college where Biden was speaking.


Biden administration funds studies on danger of transgender hormonal treatments even as it pushes them on kids
The Biden administration spent roughly $17 million on studies to determine the dangers and uncertainties of puberty blockers and hormone treatment for transgenders.
Senate Dems press SEC chair to slow Wall Street rules
A dozen Senate Democrats asked Gary Gensler to give corporate America and the broader public more time to weigh in on the raft of rules the agency is proposing.


Insight: America's new nuclear power industry has a Russian problem
U.S. firms developing a new generation of small nuclear power plants to help cut carbon emissions have a big problem: only one company sells the fuel they need, and it's Russian.

Worker who lowered Vermont town's fluoride for years resigns
A town employee who for years quietly lowered the fluoride level in a Vermont community’s drinking water has resigned.


Princeton University student who vanished days ago has been found dead, officials say
The body of Misrach Ewunetie was discovered by an employee around 1 p.m. Thursday behind the university’s tennis courts, the Mercer County, New Jersey, Prosecutor’s Office said.


Biden approval rating in Iowa hits 35%, nearly 3 in 4 say country on wrong track: poll
Approval ratings for President Biden and his administration's performance are sitting at 35% in Iowa, with a large majority of polled voters saying the nation is heading in the wrong direction.

Senate Dem part of high school group that held 'Slave Day,' used racial slur repeatedly in college writing
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., served as president of the student council at his high school amid a "Slave Day" fundraising event and later used a racial slur in college writings.

Teen: Arkansas trans care law could force him to uproot life
An Arkansas teenager who is receiving hormone therapy says a state ban on such treatments could force he and his family to leave the sate.


Georgia man arrested on gun charges near Capitol allegedly told police he was there to 'deliver documents' to Supreme Court
Police said Tony H. Payne, 80 faces three firearms-related charges. Weapons are prohibited on Capitol grounds.


U.S. says Iranian troops "directly engaged" in Crimea, backing Russian drone strikes
The White House says the U.S. has evidence that Iranian troops are "directly engaged on the ground" in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure and civilian population.

With GOP Ukraine skeptics poised to gain in Congress, lawmakers look to lock in billions in military aid
With GOP skeptics of Ukraine aid poised to gain ground in the House, lawmakers are looking at a massive assistance package to help Kyiv through the next year.

Arizona refers voter intimidation report to Justice Department | CNN Politics
The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office has referred to the US Department of Justice and Arizona Attorney General’s Office a report of voter intimidation, Murphy Hebert, spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office, confirmed to CNN on Wednesday.


Average long-term US mortgage rates rise this week to 6.94%
Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates inched up this week ahead of another expected rate increase by the Federal Reserve when it meets early next month

NATO allies would act if Sweden, Finland come under pressure, Stoltenberg says
NATO allies will act if Sweden or Finland come under pressure from Russia or another adversary before they become full members of the alliance, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

Widespread drought expected to persist across the West this winter
According to NOAA's newly released winter forecast for the U.S., no end to the extreme drought is in sight.


Pentagon's new civilian casualty plan won't include reopening past cases
The decision was made as the department overhauls its procedures for preventing and investigating civilian deaths in military operations.


Biden steers clear of endorsing most vulnerable Democrats in 2022 midterms: 'Lead balloon' in key races
President Biden has kept his list of endorsements extremely limited leading up to the 2022 midterms, only endorsing three House candidates and one Senate candidate across the country

New Trump-backed super PAC pours $8.6 million in ad spending into key races
A new super PAC backed by former President Trump is injecting money into key 2022 races, investing $4 million in a new round of ad spending.

Tiny home builder accused of fraud by customers is under police investigation
Matt Sowash, founder of the Colorado-based nonprofit Holy Ground Tiny Houses, has also filed for bankruptcy.


Trump taps firm to handle his Jan. 6 committee subpoena
The firm, the Dhillon Law Group, has handled litigation for other Jan. 6 select committee witnesses.


Man who accosted US Rep. Zeldin will be released to rehab
The man who accosted Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin at a campaign event in western New York will be released from jail into an alcohol treatment program
Trump questioned in E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit. What we know about the case.
Author E. Jean Carroll is getting a sworn deposition from Donald Trump in her defamation lawsuit against the former president.

House Dem accuses female GOP candidate of wanting to kiss McCarthy's feet 'and every other thing'
Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia accused her Republican rival, Jen Kiggans, of wanting to kiss Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s feet "and every other thing."

Analysis: Two rising stars show they know how to win power in Trump’s GOP | CNN Politics
The modern Republican Party’s one non-negotiable value is this: the ruthless pursuit of power. Party leaders who recognize this prosper while those who hold principle over political advancement get swept away.


Dems worried about crucial midterm pickups after DSCC, Senate Majority PAC's lack of involvement in key races
Democrats are worried that their party's top campaign committees are not providing Democratic candidates essential resources needed to win their races this fall.

Pence on whether he'd vote Trump in 2024: "There might be somebody else I'd prefer more"
"I have every confidence that the Republican Party is going to sort out leadership," the former vice president said.


Loeffler's texts post-2020 election go public, raising new investigative questions
The nature of the document that's circulating suggests the former Georgia GOP senator's phone may have been deemed relevant to probes of the 2020 election.


China holds emergency talks with chip firms after U.S. curbs -Bloomberg News
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology convened a series of emergency meetings over the past week with leading semiconductor companies, seeking to assess the damage from the U.S. chip restrictions, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Boy dies from brain-eating amoeba possibly contracted at Lake Mead
The Nevada boy's death marks at least the third Naegleria fowleri infection recorded in the U.S. this year.


South Dakota's last Democratic governor, Harvey Wollman, dies at age 87
Harvey Wollman has died at the age of 87. Wollman was South Dakota's last Democratic governor who served 45 years ago. He died of natural causes on Tuesday.

Biden responds to U.K. prime minister's resignation
Truss’ resignation on Thursday came after a chaotic beginning to her tenure as prime minister.


North Carolina in-person early voting kicks off Thursday | CNN Politics
North Carolina voters can head to the polls on Thursday morning when early, in-person voting officially kicks off in the Tar Heel State.


As Murphy prioritizes youth mental health, lawmakers and advocates blast his plan to defund school-based services
With Murphy’s rumored presidential ambitions, youth mental health could become a campaign platform issue for him.


Defense department to pay travel expenses of service members, dependents seeking abortions
The outlawing of abortion rights in some states has created "an unusual, extraordinary, hardship, or emergency circumstances," said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.


Immigrant advocates feel abandoned as they stare at Biden’s first-term checklist
After seeing other interest groups notch wins, they tell the president: It’s our turn.


Biden tells reporter 'Count, kid, count' after she questions number of candidates campaigning with him
President Biden snapped at a reporter who asked about his slim campaigning calendar Thursday. Biden's low approval rating means visits to close midterm races may not help.
Is the violent crime rate higher in Oklahoma or New York? A governor's debate raises the question
Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt laughed when his opponent in Oklahoma’s gubernatorial race, Democrat Joy Hofmeister, said violent crime rates are higher in the state than in New York and California. An expert told Yahoo News that Hofmeister was right.
Sorry, Ron DeSantis, You Are No Donald Trump
No offense, Kari Lake, but you aren’t either. The former president’s brand is not transferable.


Liberal dark money group using 'behavioral psychology' to get women to vote Democrat in battleground states
Galvanize Action, which is contained within a massive dark money network managed by Arabella Advisors, is working to shift moderate and Republican women to vote for Democrats.
Democrats warn that Republicans want to take away contraception, including 'your girlfriend's IUD'
Talking about contraceptive rights can help Democrats in the midterm elections, but only if voters believe GOP control threatens their access.

Republicans who support abortion rights are fighting for their political future
A Pennsylvania statehouse race is testing whether the GOP’s last abortion rights supporters can survive post-Roe


Angry protesters crash Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's town hall in her own home district
Protesters crashed a town hall event for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Wednesday. Ocasio-Cortez attempted to reason with the protesters for several minutes.

Charlie Kirk Needed a Friend
The “beanpole of a kid” finally found his clique not in high school, but among elite Republican donors.

California midterm election: Mike Garcia and Christy Smith on abortion, economy, gun laws
California midterm election: Here's where Rep. Mike Garcia and challenger Christy Smith stand on economy, abortion, homelessness, the 2020 election.

Ohio Senate race: Tim Ryan vents 'frustration' that national Democrats aren't putting more money behind him
Ohio Senate candidate Tim Ryan said in a Wednesday interview he is frustrated with a perceived lack of financial support from national-level Democratic Party officials.
Mike Pence said there's no room for Putin 'apologists' in the Republican Party as he criticized Russia's 'unconscionable war' in Ukraine: AP
Former Vice President Mike Pence urged Republicans on Wednesday to not go too deep into the "unprincipled populism" that has been growing in the GOP.


How much protection do the omicron boosters provide? Pfizer offers early look at data
Experts criticized the companies' announcement, however, pointing to a lack of data in their news release.


CDC advisory committee votes to add COVID-19 vaccine to immunization schedules for children, adults
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Thursday voted unanimously to add COVID-19 vaccination to the CDC's immunization schedule.

WHO: COVID-19 vaccination rates have dropped 50% in Africa
The World Health Organization says the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses being given in Africa has dropped by more than 50% over the past three months

Megyn Kelly faces backlash over COVID tweet
Conservative media personality Megyn Kelly sparked criticism this week with a tweet expressing outrage at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to add a coronavirus …


China anger over death of girl, 14, sent to Covid quarantine
Footage of the visibly ill teenager sparked anger online - relatives say pleas for help were ignored.


CDC group endorses adding Covid shots to recommended vaccine schedule
The unanimous recommendation to add the vaccine to the annual schedule does not mandate the shots or preclude unvaccinated kids from attending school.


CDC advisers recommend adding COVID-19 shots to regular immunization schedule
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel voted Thursday to include the COVID-19 vaccine on the list of routine immunizations for adults and children as young as 6 months. T…


Children’s hospitals, overflowing with respiratory patients, consider calling National Guard
Some children’s hospitals around the country are being overwhelmed with patients suffering from Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV.
