Poll: Nine weeks out, a near even race  —  Washington (CNN)Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton start the race to November 8 on essentially even ground, with Trump edging Clinton by a scant two points among likely voters, and the contest sparking sharp divisions along demographic lines in a new CNN/ORC Poll.

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.

Inside Bill Clinton's nearly $18 million job as ‘honorary chancellor’ of a for-profit college  —  The guest list for a private State Department dinner on higher-education policy was taking shape when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered a suggestion.  —  In addition to recommending invitations …

Report: China blames America for Obama embarrassment  —  Chinese officials say it's America's fault that President Obama had to awkwardly exit Air Force One as he arrived in China for the G20 summit meeting, Reuters reports.  —  “I think if only the American group had respected …

The Real Reason Trump Donated $25,000 To Florida's Attorney General, According To Trump  —  Something changed.  —  Throughout the presidential election, Donald Trump has been adamant that he has donated to politicians of all parties as a way of purchasing favors for his business interests.

Phyllis Schlafly, Conservative Leader and Foe of E.R.A., Dies at 92  —  Phyllis Schlafly, whose grass-roots campaigns against Communism, abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment galvanized conservatives for almost two generations and helped reshape American politics, died on Monday.  She was 92.

White House cancels Obama meeting with Philippines leader  —  (CNN)The White House on Monday canceled President Obama's upcoming meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.  —  This comes after Duterte lashed out at Obama for wading into the issue of the Philippines' leader's controversial policy toward drug dealers.

Donald Trump is no Republican  —  What does it mean to be a Republican?  —  For generations, the answer had been clear: A belief in individual liberty.  Free markets.  Strong national defense.  —  But what does it mean to be a Republican today?  With Donald Trump as the party's new standard-bearer, it's impossible to say.

Save the Republican Party: Vote for Clinton  —  Every day, I run into Republican friends who can't stomach a vote for Donald J. Trump but don't know what to do.  Vote for Hillary Clinton, who has trouble with the truth, wants to raise taxes and opposes free trade with Asia?

Pentagon: ‘Play hardball’ against Ryan plan  —  The Pentagon has crafted a secret plan to play “hardball” against House Speaker Paul Ryan's defense spending proposal, according to a memo obtained by POLITICO that calls for pitting the House and Senate against each other, capitalizing on the …