Trump backers realize they've been played as WikiLeaks fails to deliver October surprise  —  LONDON — The expectations were breathless.  —  For weeks, backers of Republican nominee Donald Trump have hyped the tantalizing possibility that the anti-secrecy organization WikiLeaks was on the verge …

As insurance companies bolt from Obamacare, lawmaker prescribes a fix for N.J.  —  TRENTON — With insurance companies in New Jersey fleeing the health exchange created by the Affordable Care Act, a state lawmaker has introduced a bill to create a government-operated plan that he said will stabilize the volatile market.

Trump Used Foundation Funds for 2016 Run, Filings Suggest  —  As Donald Trump began making noise about a possible bid for president in 2011, South Carolina conservative activist Oran Smith caught the celebrity businessman's eye as a particularly vocal and potentially influential critic.

Hillary Clinton edges ahead of Donald Trump after first debate - CBS News poll  —  The State of the Race  —  In the first CBS News Poll following last week's presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Clinton has edged ahead to a four-point lead over her Republican rival among likely voters.

Kelly Ayotte's Donald Trump agony continues  —  When you're walking a virtually non-existent line between supporting a presidential candidate but not endorsing said presidential candidate, it can be tricky to know when to show your support and when to turn it off.

Mike Pence Has the Toughest Job in Politics Tonight  —  First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  Analyst: Mike Pence will be on defense for Donald Trump at VP debate 2:21

Paul Ryan, So Handsome, So Sad  —  It was late Monday night, and the first presidential debate had just come to a close.  Donald Trump was on TV congratulating himself for not bringing up Bill Clinton's infidelities.  Trump's advisers were in the spin room bickering with reporters about his sundry gaffes, lies, and onstage outbursts.

Donald Trump: The Ugly American*  —  Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter has spent more than 30 years observing Donald Trump's orange-tinted antics.  With a month left to go before the election, he reports on some memorable lessons learned along the way.  —  In 1987, Michael Kelly …

Parade float-maker apologizes (sort of) for depicting Trump executing Clinton in electric chair  —  Frank Linkmeyer says he's spoofed people for years  —  AURORA, Ind. - The creator of a controversial float in the Aurora Farmer's Fair parade depicting Donald Trump killing Hillary Clinton is apologizing.

How a Simple Tax Rule Let Donald Trump Turn a $916 Million Loss Into a Plus  —  It is among the least controversial parts of the federal tax code, almost as old as the income tax itself: A business, big or small, can escape taxation if it lost money in a previous year, a rule …

DiCaprio: Climate change deniers shouldn't hold public office  —  Politicians who don't believe in climate change should not hold public office, said actor Leonardo DiCaprio Monday at the White House before the screening of his new climate documentary.  —  “The scientific consensus …

Former Host Andrea Tantaros Hopes to Bring ‘Accountability’ to Fox News  —  Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros hopes to bring “accountability” to the network that is at the center of allegations of sexual misconduct, she said today on ABC News' “Good Morning America.”

Colombia and ‘Brexit’ Show Why a Referendum Can Be Dangerous  —  The voters of the world have had quite a year: They rejected Colombia's peace deal; split Britain from the European Union; endorsed a Thai Constitution that curtails democracy; and, in Hungary, backed the government's plan to restrict refugees …

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2016  —  The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physics 2016 with one half to  —  University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA  —  F. Duncan M. Haldane  —  J. Michael Kosterlitz  —  “for theoretical discoveries …

16 ISIS fighters are killed when faulty suicide vest worn by one militant goes off during meeting to plan an attack in Iraq  —  A major terrorist attack by ISIS was foiled by a faulty explosive device before it had even began.  —  16 of their fighters, including senior figures …

12,587 Syrian Refugees Admitted in FY 2016: 12,486 Muslims, 68 Christians, 24 Yazidis  —  (CNSNews.com) - The administration admitted a total of 12,587 Syrian refugees during the just-ended fiscal year, exceeding the target President Obama declared last fall by 2,587 (20.5 percent).