Election Update: Clinton's Lead Keeps Shrinking  —  Want these election updates emailed to you right when they're published?  Sign up here.  —  I, for one, welcome the unofficial end of summer.  I'll miss the Olympics and fancy tomato salads.  But it's an election year …

Fox Settles with Gretchen Carlson for $20 Million—and Is Expected to Offer an Unprecedented Apology  —  Act II of the Ailes saga may have just begun.  —  It has been exactly two months since Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News anchor, sued her old boss, Roger Ailes, for sexual harassment.

Flake fires back at Trump, warns GOP  —  Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is firing back against Donald Trump with a warning for the Republican Party at large.  —  The Republican presidential nominee denounced Flake as “very weak and ineffective,” particularly with respect to illegal immigration …

Trump campaign: no contradiction with Bondi over Trump University  —  Bashed for an alleged “pay for play” with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Donald Trump's campaign wants to make two things clear: He made no payoff and he wasn't contradicting her concerning about a political contribution …

Clinton Turns Coughing Fit Into Trump Comedy Bit  —  Clinton Turns Coughing Fit Into Joke About Trump 0:38  —  Hillary Clinton struggled to fight back a coughing fit while campaigning in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday.  —  “I've been talking so much,” Clinton said with a hoarse voice.

Media Circus: Troy Aikman sounds off on Fox Sports signing Skip Bayless  — “I believe success is achieved by acquiring and developing talented, respected and credible individuals,” Aikman said, “none of which applies to Skip Bayless.”  —  Troy Aikman has worked for Fox Sports for 15 years …

CHICAGO VS. OTHER CITIES  —  When you compare Chicago's homicide rate to that of other big cities in the country — New York and Los Angeles, for example — it tops the list.  —  But Chicago is not the homicide capital of the United States.  —  New Orleans, St. Louis, Detroit …

Press, lies and Hillary's campaign: Years of smears have created a fictional version of Clinton.  They're also a disservice to voters.  —  Many Americans think Clinton is a congenital liar — that's because of the right and the media, not her … That tweet from Chris Cilizza …

Even Worse Than Hillary Clinton's Emails  —  The civil service was missing in action.  We learned about the emails from a hacker.  —  Forget the new dump of Hillary Clinton emails.  Forget the phony claims that the missing communications were all about wedding plans and yoga routines.

Trump won't talk about being a birther — or many other controversial comments  —  Donald Trump was the mainstream face of a fringe movement five years ago that questioned Barack Obama's place of birth and qualifications for office, eventually prompting the president to release a long-form certificate proving his birth in Hawaii.

House Majority Leader Says Democrats Will Be Punished For Gun Control Protest  —  WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday GOP leaders will move to formally punish House Democrats for staging a sit-in over gun control in June.

Democrats Go Nuclear in New Ad Targeting Donald Trump  —  With a mushroom cloud and at least $5 million worth of TV airtime behind it, the new ad from the pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC Priorities USA is sure to stand out in a crowded political landscape.  —  The spot, “I Love War,” …

Moody's economic model finds Clinton pulling away from Trump  —  Low gas prices and President Obama's rising popularity are bolstering Hillary Clinton  —  's chances of winning the White House, according to a closely followed economic election model from Moody's Analytics.

Trump Living Large On Donors' Dime  —  The GOP nominee's campaign is spending lavishly on Trump businesses instead of cheaper alternatives.  —  S.V. Date  —  WASHINGTON - On the night of this spring's Florida primary, the pastor giving the invocation at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago victory party prayed …

With Koch Brothers U, Conservatives Settle In for Long War  —  ARLINGTON, Va. — The rise of Donald J. Trump, with his hostility toward free trade and vow to protect entitlements, is a sharp rebuke to the free-market principles long championed by the billionaire brothers Charles G. and David H. Koch.

USA Freedom Girls Sue Trump Campaign for Stiffing Them  —  The pre-teen dance troupe that briefly became a national sensation after they performed for Donald Trump are suing the self-proclaimed billionaire's presidential campaign for stiffing them.  —  The USA Freedom Kids went viral …