(AP Photo)
US says Russia aims to fabricate evidence in prison deaths
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe Russia is working to fabricate evidence concerning last week’s deadly strike on prison housing prisoners of war in a separatist region of eastern Ukraine. U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russia is looking to plant false evidence to make it appear that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the July 29 attack on Olenivka Prison that left 53 dead and wounded dozens more, a U.S. official familiar with the intelligence finding told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
McConnell manages midterm expectations after Trump-backed candidates win
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is managing expectations about how many Senate seats are likely to flip in the midterm election after Trump-backed candidates who have perpetuated ele…
thehill.com
In S. Korea, Pelosi avoids public comments on Taiwan, China
After infuriating China over her trip to Taiwan, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has met South Korean political leaders in Seoul.
apnews.com
After Alex Jones’ lawyers accidentally leak years of emails, Infowars financial documents are revealed in court
A lawyer for two parents suing Jones said the emails showed that Infowars at one point in 2018 was making over $800,000 per day.
www.nbcnews.com
Alex Jones concedes Sandy Hook attack was '100% real'
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones says he now understands he was irresponsible to declare the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre a hoax, and he now believes it was “100% real.”
apnews.com
Furious China fires missiles near Taiwan in drills after Pelosi visit
China deployed scores of planes and fired live missiles near Taiwan on Thursday in its biggest drills in the Taiwan Strait.
Latest subpoenas suggest DOJ probe could be aiming squarely at Trump | CNN Politics
“This is probably bad … for former President Trump.”
www.cnn.com
Rusty Bowers, Arizona House speaker who testified at Jan. 6 hearing, loses GOP primary for state Senate seat
Bowers testified that a scheme to replace Biden electors with a fake slate for Trump was a "tragic parody."
www.cbsnews.com
Abortion vote in Kansas sparks new hope for Dems in midterms
Democrats are celebrating a stunning victory for abortion rights in Republican stronghold Kansas as proof that the issue could turn back a Republican wave this fall.
apnews.com
Russia-Ukraine updates: Russian missiles hit close to nuclear reactors: IAEA director
Live updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
GOP senators bash Josh Hawley's opposition to adding Finland and Sweden to NATO: 'We beat China by standing with our allies'
Sen. Ted Cruz said his fellow Republican Sen. Josh Hawley was "mistaken" to suggest enlarging NATO would hurt the US's ability to counter China.
'Shaking up our way of thinking': Europe saving energy in anticipation of Russian gas shutoff; Senate backs NATO expansion: Ukraine updates
The European Commission has accused Russia of weaponizing energy in retaliation for EU sanctions after the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine. Updates.
www.usatoday.com
UN nuclear chief: Ukraine nuclear plant is `out of control'
The U.N. nuclear chief is warning that Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine “is completely out of control.”
apnews.com
'It's just hell': Ukraine says Russia has the upper hand in Donbas; U.S. approves Sweden and Finland to NATO
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has described the situation in the Donbas in east Ukraine as hellish, with Russia still having the upper hand in the region.
Trump faces uphill fight on executive privilege in DOJ probe
History and recent battles in civil suits signal he's unlikely to prevail if he seeks to block witnesses' grand jury testimony about Jan. 6.
www.politico.com
Hawley is only senator to vote against Finland, Sweden NATO membership
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) was the only senator to vote against a resolution on Wednesday backing Finland’s and Sweden’s entry to NATO. The Senate approved the resolution in a 95-1 vote. One se…
thehill.com
Election skeptics rise in GOP races to run state elections
The Trump-endorsed Arizona lawmaker who won the GOP nomination for secretary of state is the latest candidate to advance to the November ballot for a post overseeing state elections while denying the results of the last one.
apnews.com
Six takeaways from Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Arizona and Washington primaries | CNN Politics
Kansas voters handed abortion-rights advocates a massive victory Tuesday, surging to the polls to defeat a measure that would have allowed the GOP-led legislature to impose new restrictions.
www.cnn.com
Pelosi went to Taiwan. How far does China want to take the crisis?
The consequences for the self-governing island, which China claims as its territory, could continue long after the House speaker's departure.
www.nbcnews.com
Pinal County responds to Arizona primary chaos: 'Not really quite clear how that occurred'
Officials from Pinal County, Arizona, said they aren't completely sure what went awry during the primary election Tuesday, when at least 20 precincts reported ballot shortages at polling locations, prompting the Republican Party to raise concerns.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Indiana GOP Rep. Jackie Walorski killed in car crash
On Thursday, law enforcement in Indiana said the vehicle in which Rep. Jackie Walorski was traveling caused the fatal crash.
www.usatoday.com
Ron DeSantis spokesperson teases major announcement: 'Prepare for the liberal media meltdown'
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' press secretary teased a 'major' announcement coming from his office, immediately sending the internet into a frenzy about a potential 2024 run.
Senate backs Finland, Sweden for NATO 95-1, rebuking Russia
U.S. Senators delivered an overwhelming bipartisan vote ratifying NATO membership for Finland and Sweden.
apnews.com
Pelosi's Taiwan visit captivates public in China and Taiwan
After weeks of threatening rhetoric, China stopped short of any direct military confrontation with the U.S. over the visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
apnews.com
Senate votes 95-1 to add Sweden, Finland to NATO
The Senate on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to approve a resolution ratifying Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to the NATO, sending another signal that Congress remains unified in opposing Russian…
thehill.com
U.S. Senate panel seeks legislative path to avoid repeat of Jan. 6 violence
A U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday took up proposals to reform federal election law, aiming to avoid a repeat of the violence of Jan. 6, 2021, when Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn his election defeat.
Focus: Chip makers have a message for car makers: Your turn to pay
“War room operations” to manage chip shortages are becoming embedded features of vehicle development, say executives.
Karoline Leavitt hopes to show young voters Democrats' policies are to blame for 'out-of-reach' American dream
EXCLUSIVE: Karoline Leavitt, a former aide to Elise Stefanik, said the American dream is "completely out of reach" for her generation of voters due to Democrats' policies.
EPA announces flights to look for methane in Permian Basin
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says it will conduct helicopter overflights to look for methane “super emitters” in the nation's largest oil and gas producing region.
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.com
Musk response to Twitter lawsuit to be made public by Friday
A judge has ruled that Elon Musk’s answer to Twitter’s lawsuit over his attempt to back out of a $44 billion deal to buy the social media company will be made public by Friday evening at the latest
Ukraine President Zelenskyy says China must not help Russia
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Australian university students that China must not help Russia in its war against his homeland and remain at least neutral.
apnews.com
‘The 800-pound gorilla’: Trump boosts endorsement record with Arizona and Michigan wins
Since leaving office last year, 188 candidates backed by the former president have won primaries, 14 have lost and two dropped out or were disqualified before Election Day.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden 'shocked and saddened' by death of GOP Rep. Jackie Walorski
President Joe Biden released a lengthy statement honoring the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) on Wednesday night.
www.washingtonexaminer.comKansas landslide fuels abortion rights movement’s next fights
The people of Kansas spoke and now the rest of the country has to listen.
www.politico.com
OnPolitics: Kansas' abortion vote, Trump's success and more primary takeaways
The August primaries kicked off Tuesday in some of the most consequential battleground states in the country.
www.usatoday.com
Inspectors OK 1st Ukraine grain ship but no sign yet of more
The first grain ship to leave Ukraine under a Black Sea wartime deal has passed inspection in Istanbul and is heading on to Lebanon.
apnews.comTributes pour in for Rep. Jackie Walorski from Pete Buttigieg, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Pence, and others after her death in a car crash. Capitol flags to fly at half-staff.
"Everything Jackie did was to serve others," a fellow Indiana House Republican wrote of Walorski who was killed in a car accident on Wednesday.
Taiwan braces as China drills follow Pelosi visit
Taiwan accuses Beijing of trying to change the status quo in the region.
www.bbc.com
Sen. Cruz grills DOJ official on lack of prosecutions for protesters at Supreme Court justices' homes
Ted Cruz pressed a Justice Department official on why the government hasn't prosecuted the hundreds of people who picketed the homes of Supreme Court justices.
Meijer loss sparks new criticism of Democratic meddling in GOP primaries
Rep. Peter Meijer’s narrow loss in a western Michigan Republican primary is intensifying scrutiny on the Democratic House campaign arm’s efforts to elevate the pro-Trump election conspiracy theoris…
thehill.com
Overwhelming abortion right win in 'red' Kansas gives Democrats boost for fall midterms over 'MAGA' GOP, Schumer says
Democrats say concern about abortion rights in light of the Supreme Court ruling that tossed out Roe v. Wade will motivate voters in upcoming elections.
Kansas voters resoundingly protect their access to abortion
Kansas voters have sent a resounding message about their desire to protect abortion rights by rejecting a measure that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten abortion restrictions or ban the procedure outright.
apnews.com
Democrats embrace meddling in Republican primaries, celebrate 'MAGA extremist' victory in Michigan House race
The DCCC is embracing its strategy of meddling in Republican primaries by celebrating Trump-endorsed "MAGA extremist" John Gibbs' victory over Rep. Peter Meijer in Michigan.
Taiwan: Pelosi leaves Taipei to sound of Chinese fury
"Those who play with fire will not come to a good end," warns China's foreign minister after the visit.
www.bbc.com
White House scrambles to play catch-up on monkeypox response
Administration officials have acknowledged they need to ramp up their efforts as the number of cases has grown faster than initially expected.
www.nbcnews.com
Indian government approves new emissions targets
Nine months after India announced its target of “net zero” emissions by 2070 at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, the country’s federal cabinet finally approved a new climate plan on Wednesday.
apnews.com
Elizabeth Warren says 'no' to bipartisan bill aimed at federal abortion protections. Here's why.
The Massachusetts progressive Democrat and abortion rights advocate said she opposes the bipartisan measure because it does not codify Roe v. Wade.
www.usatoday.com
Saving the sequoias
The Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park narrowly avoided harm from the Washburn fire thanks to planning and quick action, but as wildfires grow in number and intensity across the west the massive ancient trees face new challenges to survival.
graphics.reuters.com
FBI returns electronic devices to former Trump attorney Giuliani -lawyer
FBI agents recently returned the cell phones and other electronic devices they had seized from Donald Trump's former attorney Rudy Giuliani, in a possible sign the investigation into whether he failed to register as a foreign agent of Ukraine could be winding down, his attorney said on Wednesday.
Meghan McCain: Arizona has gone ‘full blown MAGA’
Meghan McCain criticized Trump-endorsed candidate Kari Lake’s lead in the Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary on Wednesday, saying the state has gone “full blown MAGA.” As of Wednesday morning…
thehill.com
‘Message is clear’: China launches major war drills near Taiwan
Chinese military fires ballistic missiles in exercises state media framed as a war plan rehearsal.
Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. sit for depositions as part of NY probe into Trump Organization's finances | CNN Politics
Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. sat for depositions as part of the New York attorney general’s civil investigation into the Trump Organization’s finances after months of fighting in court, people familiar with the matter told CNN.
www.cnn.com
Ayman al-Zawahiri was living comfortably in Kabul before he was killed. Why was he there in the first place?
The militant group's sheltering of another Al Qaeda leader will hinder its quest for international legitimacy and much-needed aid.
www.nbcnews.com
Sandy Hook parents seek to stop InfoWars bankruptcy payments to Alex Jones
Parents of children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre urged a U.S. bankruptcy judge on Wednesday not to allow the parent company of far-right website InfoWars to send any money to its founder, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, or his companies until they have an opportunity to get to...
DOT rule would require airlines to issue refunds for domestic flights delayed by 3 hours
The proposed rule would also define a "significant" change and cancellation for the first time.
France's 2nd heat wave of the year leaves Paris sweltering
Paris’ regional authorities have warned residents to be vigilant as temperatures soar to 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit).
apnews.comHerschel Walker says he’s ready to debate — on very specific terms
The Georgia Republican has been facing questions about whether he will debate Sen. Raphael Warnock. It's still unclear if it will happen.
www.politico.comU.S. Justice Department sues Trump adviser Navarro over White House records
Attorneys for Navarro could not immediately be reached for comment. The case is unrelated to misdemeanor contempt of Congress charges of filed against Navarro by the U.S. government in June over his refusal to provide testimony or documents to a House of Representatives committee investigating...
GOP Rep. Jackie Walorski killed in car crash, sheriff says
Two of Walorski's staff members and the driver of another car were also killed in the crash.
www.cbsnews.com
US primaries: Rusty Bowers, who defied Trump, loses re-election bid
Voters back Trump-endorsed candidates in several states, illustrating the ex-president's influence.
www.bbc.com
Analysis: Wall Street's 'fear gauge' in limbo as big investors keep shunning stocks
Wall Street’s most closely watched gauge of market anxiety shows expectations of choppy trading ahead despite a recent snapback in U.S. stocks, though institutional investors' low exposure to equities may help curb gyrations.
Ron Johnson suggests Medicare, Social Security be approved on annual basis
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said Wednesday that Social Security and Medicare should be up for congressional approval each year, instead of staying under their current status as federal entitlement pr…
thehill.com
Senate backs Finland and Sweden joining NATO
The two European countries are seeking to join the alliance, which would end their long-standing military neutrality, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden signs abortion order, says Republicans clueless about women's power
President Joe Biden said on Wednesday the Supreme Court and Republicans are clueless about the power of American women as he signed a second executive order aimed at protecting abortion rights.
Gas nears $4 a gallon, but hurricane season may bring new pain
The average price of gas is approaching $4 a gallon nationwide, part of a nearly 60-day decline from unprecedented spikes earlier this year. However, experts say Mother Nature could send pric…
thehill.com
Walker fires latest round in debate war of words with Warnock in Georgia Senate showdown
Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker called on Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock to accept an October debate in Atlanta as the pair spars over who is avoiding debates
With Greitens out, independent is new challenge for Schmitt
Republican leaders got their wish with the defeat of former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens in the U.S. Senate primary. Greitens, forced by sex and campaign finance scandals to resign in 2018 and accused by his ex-wife of abuse in a March court document, didn't even finish second, bested also by...
Walmart cutting 200 corporate jobs amid inflation woes
Nearly 200 corporate employees at Walmart are being laid off amid a major restructuring effort by the retail titan after it projected a drop in profits due to high inflation.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Wind-whipped fire leaves Northern California hamlet in ashes
Some evacuation orders have been lifted for towns near a Northern California wildfire that has claimed at least four lives.
apnews.com
Iraq’s al-Sadr demands dissolution of parliament, early elections
Iraq’s Muqtada al-Sadr orders supporters to continue sit-in inside the national parliament, calls for new elections.
Electric cars, drug costs and more: 5 battles Democrats could lose on their marquee bill
A hefty amount of their party-line package is still up in the air -- and big pieces of it could fall to the Senate rules.
www.politico.com
Pelosi visit: Taiwan puts the ball firmly in Xi Jinping's court
Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei has put an increasingly assertive China on the back foot.
www.bbc.com
White House frustrated as Washington mayor seeks troops to help handle migrants
Thousands of migrants bused to Washington in recent months by Republican governors of states on the U.S.-Mexico border have caused tensions between the White House and the Democratic mayor of the U.S. capital city, four U.S. officials told Reuters.
Key takeaways from Tuesday's primaries: Big night for abortion rights, election deniers
Tuesday's primaries indicated that abortion could be a potent issue in the midterms and that the GOP electorate is still open to backing election deniers.
Los Angeles mourning death of Dodgers' Vin Scully
Flowers, candles and handwritten messages lie beneath a sign welcoming fans to Dodger Stadium at the main entrance on Vin Scully Avenue.
apnews.com
Reporter's Notebook: China, Pelosi and the Ides of August
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial trip to Taiwan leaves the question of whether China will retaliate against the US unanswered as the summer months come to a close.
Exclusive: Trump allies launch effort to recall Fulton County DA Fani Willis
Donald Trump’s allies in Georgia are mounting a campaign to recall Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her investigation into his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and are seeking to recruit high-dollar donors to fund the effort, according to sources.
'Social contagion' isn’t causing more youths to be transgender, study finds
The study, published in Pediatrics, disputes the theory that more adolescents, particularly those assigned female at birth, are identifying as trans due to social influence.
www.nbcnews.com
Kansas offers abortion playbook for Democrats ahead of November midterms
A decisive victory for abortion rights in deeply conservative Kansas has boosted Democrats' hopes that they can harness voter anger over efforts to limit or ban the procedure to prevail in competitive races and other U.S. state referendums in November.
Iranian leader plans to visit New York City after regime threatens to nuke it
The president of Iran plans to visit New York City next month — just days after state media threatened to nuke it.
www.washingtonexaminer.comGOP targets for Dem bill: Inflation, taxes, Manchin, Sinema
Republicans see inflation, taxes and immigration as Democratic weak spots worth attacking, and two opposition senators as prime targets, in the upcoming battle over an economic package the Democrats want to push through the Senate. The measure embodies some of the top environment, energy...
In Michigan, Primary Choices are Defined by Worries
HAZEL PARK, Mich. — Ashley Polansky, a 34-year-old retail manager, hurried inside a polling place at a tiny church to vote on Tuesday morning with one issue foremost in her mind. “I’m three months pregnant,” she said, describing her worst fears about giving birth without the right to an...
Pelosi's trip to Taiwan is like 'pouring salt in an open wound for China', Stephen Roach says
The top U.S. lawmaker met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday in a highly controversial visit that has angered Beijing.
New York's ritzy Hamptons plays host to over a dozen political fundraisers this month as midterms approach
The wealthy New York enclave of the Hamptons is playing host to over a dozen political fundraisers this month as the November midterms approach.
UN fact-finding mission will probe Ukraine prison killings
The United Nations chief says he is appointing a fact-finding mission in response to requests from Russia and Ukraine to investigate the killings at a prison in a separatist region of eastern Ukraine that the warring nations accuse each other of carrying out.
apnews.com
Germany’s Scholz blames Russia in Nord Stream gas turbine row
Olaf Scholz says gas turbine for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is fully operational and ready to be shipped back to Russia.
Rep. Hern bill would tax wire transfers out of US to fund border efforts, tackle illegal immigration
Legislation introduced by Rep. Kevin Hern would tax remittance payments out of the United States in order to fund efforts to secure the southern border.
NFL appeals 6-game suspension for Browns' Deshaun Watson
A person familiar with the filing told The Associated Press that the NFL is seeking an indefinite suspension of at least one year plus a fine in appealing a disciplinary officer’s decision to suspend Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for six games for violating the league’s personal conduc
apnews.com
DeSantis launches first TV ad of his Florida gubernatorial re-election campaign
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis reviews letters he’s received from Floridians thanking him for his leadership in his first TV ad of the governor’s 2022 re-election campaign
DeSantis claims concern over monkeypox is overblown
Florida had the fifth highest number of cases in the nation.
www.politico.com
Biden focused on controlling U.S. oil prices after OPEC+ output increase
President Joe Biden remains focused on keeping fuel prices down for Americans, the White House said on Wednesday after OPEC+ decided to raise oil output by a modest 100,000 barrels per day, which analysts called an insult after Biden visited Saudi Arabia last month.
Kinzinger on Meijer defeat: ‘Democrats own that’
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) blamed Democrats on CNN’s “New Day” Wednesday after moderate GOP Rep. Peter Meijer (Mich.) was defeated in his primary election by a Trump-endorsed candidate.&…
thehill.com
DeSantis claims politicians overreacting to monkeypox: 'We’re not doing fear'
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) accused fellow politicians of stoking fear in the United States over the monkeypox outbreak.
www.washingtonexaminer.comPat Cipollone saw a lot as Trump's White House counsel. He could have a hard time shielding information from a federal grand jury.
Prosecutors could have an easier time piercing executive privilege claims as they close in on former President Donald Trump and his inner circle.
Taiwan cancels leave of some soldiers ‘to immediately prepare for war’
Taiwanese defense officials have canceled the leave of some soldiers and officers “to immediately prepare" for the chance of war in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Asia this week, according to local reports.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
China holds live-fire military drills as Pelosi visits Taiwan
China is ramping up its military drills in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s historic trip to Taiwan. This is China’s first live-fire exercises off Taiwan since 1996. Beijing sent fighter jets across a critical dividing line between Taiwan and the mainland, according to Taiwan and a...
www.nbcnews.com
How the anti-abortion amendment was defeated in Kansas
Voter turnout surged to unprecedented levels for a Kansas primary, opposition surpassed 2020 support for Biden and voter registrations ticked up post-Roe ahead of the issue based vote.
www.cbsnews.com
Mexican journalist killed in bar shooting — 13th this year
As Mexico grapples with a wave of violence against members of the press, small local outlets are especially at risk.
'End this nightmare,' Sandy Hook parents' lawyer tells jurors in Alex Jones defamation trial
Jurors in the Alex Jones defamation trial began deliberations on Wednesday after a lawyer for a child killed in the Sandy Hook massacre said they should "end this nightmare" and force the U.S. conspiracy theorist to pay them $150 million for falsely claiming the shooting was a hoax.
EXPLAINER: Does health care law protect emergency abortion?
The Biden administration has filed its first legal challenge to a state abortion ban since the end of Roe v.
apnews.com
US to probe claims Sikh turbans taken at border with Mexico
Border Patrol officers have been accused of confiscating the turbans of dozens of Sikh asylum seekers.
www.bbc.com
Primary vote could mean no Black Detroit member in Congress
State Rep. Shri Thanedar won Michigan’s 13th Congressional Democratic primary, topping a field of nine candidates in a district that covers most of Detroit and potentially leaving the predominantly Black city next term without Black representation in Congress for the first time since the early...
Senate weighs bipartisan Electoral Count Act reforms to prevent Jan. 6 repeat
Senators of both parties say they don’t want future vice presidents to be put in the position President Donald Trump forced his understudy into on Jan. 6 by trying to get him to throw out valid Electoral College votes that went against him.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Asian shares rise on optimism on economic data, earnings
Asian shares are mostly higher as investors welcome encouraging economic data and quarterly earnings reports from big companies.
apnews.com
Coal industry ‘shocked and disheartened’ by Manchin climate deal
The West Virginia Coal Association and several other state-based coal industry groups on Wednesday blasted the tax and climate deal that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) agreed to last week, warning it w…
thehill.com
Paul Pelosi pleads not guilty to DUI misdemeanor charges
The husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence charges in connection with a May car crash in Northern California's wine country.
apnews.comRusty Bowers, a Jan. 6 committee star witness, loses GOP primary in Arizona
Rusty Bowers, the Arizona House speaker, lost a bid for state Senate to a Trump-backed opponent Tuesday. He told NBC News last month it would take "a miracle" to win.
Viktor Orban alone in Europe but among friends at CPAC in Texas
The controversial Hungarian leader will be warmly received when he addresses US Republicans.
www.bbc.com
U.S. watches anxiously as China threatens missile launches near Taiwan
“The Chinese are looking deliberately to do something that they’ve never done before,” one expert said.
www.politico.com
Dr. Sanjay Gupta: While monkeypox cases rise, why are we waiting for the cavalry to rescue us? | CNN
We are now in the midst of our first significant test since the Covid pandemic began, to see if we do any better this time around. There is no doubt we are capable, and we are prepared. The question is will we use all those remarkable resources and respond, or we will wait and suffer?
www.cnn.com
‘Better for democracy’: Two US cities offer Arabic voting ballots
Advocates say expanding language access to all voters improves the political process by enabling greater participation.
Banned Russian oligarchs exploited UK secrecy loophole
A BBC investigation links a little-known type of company to fraud, terrorism and money laundering.
www.bbc.com
Dallas City Council committee passes resolution to limit impact of Texas abortion law
A Dallas City Council committee passed a resolution preventing funds from being used to track abortions and making prosecuting abortions a low priority for authorities.
As waters recede, Kentucky begins recovery from devastating floods
Hundreds of National Guard have fanned out across eastern Kentucky to help residents displaced this week by severe flooding that swept away homes and vehicles, and killed at least 37 people, the governor said on Wednesday.
CNN’s plummeting revenue and ratings could force spending cuts
CNN is facing its lowest viewership and profits in a long time, forcing decisions about how to cut spending.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Pelosi: China 'cannot prevent world leaders or anyone' from going to Taiwan
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement following her trip to Taiwan, which took place Tuesday and Wednesday despite threats from the Chinese government.
Trump-backed candidates prevail in primaries
Last night’s primaries had defining wins for candidates aligned with former President Donald Trump. Despite weeks of hearings by the House January 6th committee that laid out serious allegations against the former president, Republican voters stuck by his loyalists. Trump allies won in GOP races...
www.nbcnews.comHow the November Midterms Could Still Surprise Us
November 2022 is poised to be a huge, historically uncertain election — and Tuesday’s primary results just added some fresh twists.
www.politico.comJill Biden carries out new mission in 2nd year as first lady
Jill Biden barnstormed the country during her debut year as first lady as if on a one-woman mission to help her husband's administration tackle the problem of the moment: getting people vaccinated and boosted against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. New headwinds blowing in year two — President...
ACLU calls on Border Patrol to stop stripping Sikh men of their turbans
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official says that the agency is taking the allegations seriously and that an internal investigation has been opened.
www.nbcnews.com
Troopers: Drunk woman drove golf cart on Florida highway
A woman with an open bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey in a bag was arrested for driving a golf cart on Florida’s busiest interstate while drunk.
apnews.com
Iran nuclear talks to restart in Vienna with EU mediation
Iran and the US to hold indirect talks centred on a text recently proposed by the EU in attempt to revive nuclear deal.
White House says Russia planning to falsify evidence to frame Ukrainian forces for prison attack | CNN Politics
US officials believe Russia is preparing to falsify evidence to blame Ukrainian forces for last week’s deadly blast at the Olenivka prison ahead of visits to the site by outside parties.
www.cnn.com
After Kansas defeat, what's next for abortion bans?
While the battle to ban abortion in Kansas may have been lost, the fight continues across the US.
www.bbc.com
Australian government confident of emissions reduction law
The Australian government says it is confident its greenhouse gas reduction target will be enshrined in law after negotiating amendments with senators from outside the new administration’s ranks.
apnews.com
Lawmakers propose rules to regulate battered cryptocurrencies
Bill that would require crypto traders, brokers and other industry players to register with the government.
www.cbsnews.com
5 things to watch at CPAC
Former President Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and former White House strategist Stephen Bannon are just a few of the names conservatives will hear from as CPAC Texas 2022 kicks off …
thehill.com
Suspect in July 4 mass shooting near Chicago pleads not guilty
An Illinois man accused of opening fire on spectators watching an Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb last month pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to 117 counts connected to the attack, including 21 charges of first-degree murder, the state prosecutor said.
Where the Fed's inflation-crushing campaign may hurt the most
As the U.S. central banks raises interest rates, the rest of the world is feeling the squeeze.
www.politico.com
European court refuses to hear UK boy's life-support case
The European Court of Human Rights has refused a request from the family of a comatose British boy to intervene and prevent his life-support treatment being ended.
apnews.com
On The Money — All eyes on Sinema with Biden plan in the balance
The biggest suspense story in Washington, D.C., has everything to do with a certain senator from Arizona. We’ll also look at the budget impact of the Schumer-Manchin deal and hard times for renters…
thehill.com
UN to investigate attack that resulted in more than 50 Ukrainian POW deaths
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the beginning of a fact-finding mission regarding last month’s attack on a Ukrainian detention facility that resulted in the deaths of at least 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden signs executive order in attempt to help low-income women pay for abortions if they have to cross state lines
President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that could aid people who need to travel out of state for abortions.
Michael E. Langley becomes the first Black four-star Marine general
Langley will command all U.S. military forces in Africa, the Marine Corps said Tuesday.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden signs executive order aimed at helping women travel for abortion
The latest order calls for use of Medicaid funds to be considered to help women who have to cross state lines to get abortions.
www.nbcnews.com
Former diplomat, defense official Eric Edelman on battlefield lessons for Ukraine, Taiwan — "Intelligence Matters"
Host Michael Morell talks with Edelman about range of potential scenarios for Ukraine and the impact the conflict may have on China and its approach to Taiwan.
www.cbsnews.com
EPA: Chemical in medical-device cleanser poses cancer risk
The Environmental Protection Agency is warning residents who live near medical sterilizing plants in 13 states and Puerto Rico about potential health risks from emissions of ethylene oxide, a chemical widely used in their operations.
apnews.com
Secret Service may disable text messaging on employees' phones, memo states | CNN Politics
The US Secret Service may temporarily disable text messaging on employee cell phones, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN, as the agency scrambles to respond to concerns it may have erased messages relevant to investigations into January 6, 2021.
www.cnn.com
Fight over online political ads heats up ahead of midterms
A battle is intensifying between academic researchers and Facebook over a lack of transparency about who’s buying the ads and how they’re being targeted.
www.politico.com
UN warns two largest US water reservoirs at ‘dangerously low levels’
The United Nations warned on Tuesday that the two biggest water reservoirs in the United States have dwindled to “dangerously low levels” due to the impacts of climate change. The situation has bec…
thehill.com
Indiana Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski dies in car accident that also killed 2 staffers | CNN Politics
Indiana Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski has died in a car accident that also killed two of Walorski’s staffers, House Republican leaders announced Wednesday.
www.cnn.com
Republicans could soon be put on the spot about endorsing efforts to reform the Electoral Count Act
Behind closed doors at the RNC’s summer meeting, one member will argue in favor of a resolution that faults a “campaign of misinformation” for spurring the Jan. 6 attack.
www.nbcnews.com
Idaho's top court latest in red state to weigh abortion ban
In deeply conservative Idaho, it's expected that abortion will be banned eventually, but abortion rights advocates are continuing their legal challenges.
apnews.com
Zawahiri's victims: What it feels like to hear he's gone
The al-Qaeda leader's death hits home to those he robbed of a husband, a wife, or their eyesight.
www.bbc.com
Where cannabis legalization efforts stand across the country
Gains in state legislatures slowed down in 2022, but advocates still have the ballot.
www.politico.com
Rudy Giuliani is unlikely to face charges in federal lobbying probe
“These are good signs,” Giuliani told NBC News. “But to quote Yogi Berra — it ain’t over till it’s over.”
www.nbcnews.com
Some lab techs refuse to take blood from possible monkeypox patients, raising concerns about stigma and testing delays | CNN
Many technicians at Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics, two of the largest commercial labs in the US, have been refusing to draw blood from patients who might have monkeypox, CNN has learned.
www.cnn.com
Ukraine war: UN chief Guterres slams oil and gas firms' 'grotesque greed'
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says "grotesque greed is punishing the poorest".
www.bbc.com
Even simple exercise may help aging brain, study hints
New research hints that even simple exercise just might help seniors with mild memory problems. While physical activity helps keep healthy brains fit, it's not clear how much it helps once memory starts to slide.
apnews.com
Sanders, Warren decline to comment on Pelosi’s Taiwan trip as Senate colleagues praise speaker’s move
Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren declined to answer questions from Fox News Digital about Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan as tensions rise between China and the U.S.
Justice Department sues former Trump adviser Peter Navarro for emails from his private account | CNN Politics
The Justice Department sued former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Wednesday, seeking to force Navarro to turn over emails from a private account that he used while working at the Trump White House.
www.cnn.com
Menendez: US can’t afford to repeat Ukraine mistake with Taiwan
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said in a New York Times op-ed published on Wednesday that the United States needs to learn from its mistakes in Ukraine in deciding how to best support Taiwan. Men…
thehill.com
Senate votes to support Finland and Sweden joining NATO
The Senate voted 95-1 to support Finland and Sweden joining NATO, with Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley voting no and Sen. Rand Paul voting "present."
In Georgia Senate race, Walker and Warnock engage in debate over debates | CNN Politics
Herschel Walker, the Republican Senate nominee from Georgia, said this week that he has accepted an invitation to debate his Democratic rival, Sen. Raphael Warnock, in October.
www.cnn.comTrump made 42 endorsements in recent primaries. Here's who won.
Trump's endorsement board was filled with a slate of election denying candidates. But some key races have been tighter than he would like.
www.politico.com
New executive director of liberal dark money education group has repeatedly called to defund the police
Heather Harding, the new executive director of liberal dark money education group Campaign for Our Shared Future, has repeatedly called to #DefundThePolice.
Sandy Hook family attorney exposes Alex Jones' dishonesty during brutal cross-examination | CNN Business
The dishonesty of right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was spotlighted in a Texas court on Wednesday as a lawyer for a pair of Sandy Hook parents cross-examined the Infowars founder and fact-checked his answers in real-time.
www.cnn.com
Gillibrand calls on Biden to invoke Production Act, increase monkeypox vaccines
Vaccine supply has severely lagged behind demand in the early stages of the outbreak.
Esper downplays missing Jan. 6 texts: ‘We need to let this process play out’
Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday said it was a “normal process” for phones to be wiped during a transition to a new administration, defending new revelations showing for…
thehill.com
Cell reanimation in the organs of dead pigs confounds conventional understanding of life and death
The new research challenges the idea that the beginning of cell death is irreversible, though bioethicists say it also poses significant questions.
www.nbcnews.com
Kentucky governor says water systems heavily damaged after flooding, as scorching heat replaces rain
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said water and electricity systems across the state remain heavily damaged Wednesday from intense flooding.
Secretary of defense names military officer as Pentagon Press Secretary | CNN Politics
A US Air Force brigadier general has been named as the new Pentagon press secretary by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
www.cnn.com
Two ‘Squad’ members survive primary challenges
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.), two progressive lawmakers who are members of the “Squad,” fended off primary challengers on Tuesday, making them favorites to win their third an…
thehill.com
As Iranian women are arrested for protesting against hijabs, some make 'forced confessions,' activist says
Women in Iran have been protesting online against the country’s mandate that all women must wear a hijab in public.
UC Berkeley halts construction of student housing at People's Park after protests
The university has said that it wants to build apartment-style student housing on the site. Protesters consider the park to be a vital community gathering space.
www.nbcnews.com
'Kansas will not be our last fight': Abortion rights victory gives Democrats new hope for midterms | CNN Politics
It isn’t often that Democrats look to deep-red Kansas for resounding affirmation. But on Tuesday night, when Kansans overwhelmingly voted to keep protections for abortion rights in their state constitution, that is exactly what happened.
www.cnn.com
T.J. Maxx parent company to pay $13 million for selling recalled products
Roughly 1,200 recalled products were sold at T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls.
Kidnapped girl's escape leads investigators to 2 decomposed bodies, Alabama officials say | CNN
A kidnapped girl’s escape in Alabama has led to the discovery of two decomposing bodies and the arrest of a man now facing murder and kidnapping charges, authorities said.
www.cnn.com
Virginia school district apologizes for logo resembling swastika
The Hanover County schools superintendent said that the logo, designed by a teacher, was intended to represent four hands and arms grasping together.
www.nbcnews.com
FIRST ON CNN: Former Deputy White House counsel subpoenaed in January 6 probe | CNN Politics
The former deputy counsel to President Donald Trump has been subpoenaed in the federal criminal probe of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN.
www.cnn.com
GOP’s Meijer defeated in primary by Trump-backed challenger after impeachment vote
John Gibbs, an official in former President Donald Trump’s administration, has ousted incumbent GOP Rep. Peter Meijer in a primary — the first election since Meijer voted to impeach Trump last year.
www.politico.com
New head of Alex Jones' company faces questions from lawyers for Sandy Hook families | CNN Business
The accountant now in charge of overseeing right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ company Free Speech Systems through its bankruptcy was questioned Wednesday by attorneys for families of Sandy Hook shooting victims over $62 million in funds Jones has drawn from the company over the years.
www.cnn.com
Man accused of shooting Lady Gaga’s dog walker recaptured after mistaken release
James Howard Jackson, accused of shooting a man during the theft of Lady Gaga's French bulldogs in 2021, was released from jail by mistake in April.
www.nbcnews.com
Tight-lipped Taliban leaders gather after U.S. says Zawahiri killed
How the Taliban react could have major repercussions as it seeks international legitimacy and access to frozen funds.
Here's why gas prices are sinking | CNN Business
Prices at the pump continue to sink, providing relief to inflation-weary consumers and an economy mired in a slowdown.
www.cnn.com
COVID cases drop 9% globally last week, deaths stable
New coronavirus cases fell 9% globally last week while deaths remained stable. That's according to the latest weekly assessment of the pandemic, which was released Wednesday by the World Health Organization.
apnews.com
CDC expected to ease Covid-19 recommendations, including for schools, as soon as this week | CNN
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to update its guidance for Covid-19 control in the community, including in schools, in the coming days, according to sources familiar with the plan.
www.cnn.comGermany announces new coronavirus measures for fall, winter
The German government says basic coronavirus requirements will remain in place during the coming fall and winter, when experts expect COVID-19 cases to rise again as people spend more time indoors.
apnews.com
Long COVID comes in three forms: study
Story at a glance New research from scientists from King’s College London supports the idea that there are three different types of long COVID, each with their own symptoms. Researchers studi…
thehill.com
Biden is still testing positive for COVID. How long will he isolate?
The White House has said Biden will again isolate for five full days, but it hasn't said if he would only end isolation after testing negative.
New COVID case numbers in New Zealand trending lower, signs wave peaked
New Zealand's health ministry sees strong signs that the country's latest COVID-19 wave has peaked, as new cases continue to trend lower.
New government reports on long COVID lay out existing help, what more should be done
The two reports out Wednesday are an intial step to address a longterm problem.
Fauci hiding truth on US lab research funding ahead of pandemic, scientist says
A scientist insisted Wednesday that Dr. Anthony Fauci is hiding the truth about the U.S. funding of research that could shed light on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic during the first hearing on the matter.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
