Trump, at war with everyone, mocks McCain, McConnell  —  In private, President Trump has taken to physically mocking M&M: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (slumped shoulders; lethargic body language) and Sen. John McCain (imitating the thumbs-down of his historic health-care vote).

The ‘doubled standard deduction’ in the GOP tax plan is a lie  —  In selling their soon-to-be-released tax plan, Republicans have been leaning hard on what they say is a provision to cut and simplify taxes for the middle class: Doubling the standard deduction that income tax payers may take.

Jared Kushner Voted As a Woman, According to His Registration  —  SINCE MOVING INTO the White House months ago, Jared Kushner—senior advisor and son-in-law to the President, savior of the Middle East, and possible person of interest in a federal investigation—has amassed a rather extensive project portfolio.

Second-Class Puerto Rico  —  Trump declines to waive the Jones Act for hurricane relief.  —  The devastation in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria is awful to behold, and the Trump Administration will have to mobilize more resources to help.  Here's one idea: Suspend the law that raises …

Senate panel invites Facebook to testify in Russia probe  —  The Senate Intelligence Committee has issued a request for Facebook to testify in an open hearing to examine how foreign actors may have used social media companies to influence the 2016 election, The Hill has learned.  —  The hearing is set for Nov. 1.

Rick Pitino ‘effectively fired,’ on unpaid leave amid Louisville FBI basketball investigation  —  University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino has been put on unpaid administrative leave after the FBI alleged in a criminal complaint that coaches with the program participated in a scheme to pay recruits' families.

Michelle Obama: ‘Any woman who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice’  —  Former First Lady Michelle Obama criticized women who voted for President Donald Trump during a wide-ranging conversation in Boston Wednesday that addressed life in the White House, her forthcoming book …

God Is a Bot, and Anthony Levandowski Is His Messenger  —  Many people in Silicon Valley believe in the Singularity—the day in our near future when computers will surpass humans in intelligence and kick off a feedback loop of unfathomable change.  —  When that day comes, Anthony Levandowski will be firmly on the side of the machines.

Corker: ‘Possible’ that Peyton Manning runs for Senate  —  It's “possible” but not necessarily likely that former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning will run for Tennessee's open U.S. Senate seat, retiring Sen. Bob Corker said Wednesday.  —  The outgoing GOP senator said he spoke with Manning …

Famous fake news writer found dead outside Phoenix  —  https://apnews.com/dc0728173537459b9a1e 38009dd5c4b5  —  Link copied!  —  PHOENIX (AP) — A leading purveyor of fake news in the 2016 presidential election has died outside Phoenix at the age of 38.  —  Maricopa County Sheriff's …

Jemele Hill on doing the right thing  —  A lesson from her grandmother: Be better.  No matter what.  —  I don't remember exactly how old I was, but let's just say I was 11.  —  I was spending the night at my grandmother's house with a couple of my close friends.  And they had an idea.

Upset: Democrat flips NH House seat in 2-1 GOP district  —  Kari Lerner of Chester defeats former Rep. James Headd of Auburn  —  CONCORD, N.H. —  Democrat Kari Lerner of Chester pulled off a surprising upset win in a Rockingham County special New Hampshire House election Tuesday …

Rep. Steve Scalise on his road to recovery after being shot  —  House Majority Whip Steve Scalise speaks for the first time since being shot and nearly killed on a Virginia ballfield last June — This Sunday on 60 Minutes  —  Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La), the House Majority Whip who was shot …

Trump preparing executive order to let Americans purchase health insurance across state lines  —  President Trump is preparing an executive order to allow people to purchase health insurance across state lines, a reform conservatives have long championed as a way to bring costs …

White Athletes Still Standing For The Anthem Are Standing For White Supremacy  —  It's a question of privilege.  —  The absence of white athletes kneeling for the anthem Sunday was a particularly illustrative moment in white privilege.  —  See, for white athletes the anthem and American flag …

Trump's most (and least) popular cabinet members  —  NEW POLITICO/MORNING CONSULT POLL — MOST POPULAR CABINET MEMBERS: Defense Secretary James Mattis topped the list of Trump's most popular advisers with a 40%favorable rating (+20% net favorable), according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll.

Rocket Attack Hits Kabul Airport Hours After Mattis Arrives  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban claimed it fired at least six rockets at Afghanistan's main airport Wednesday in an attack intended to target Defense Secretary James Mattis.  —  No one was injured and Mattis had left the airport …

Minorities and Americans without college degrees showed greatest gains in wealth since 2013, new data says  —  Nearly all American families saw substantial gains in wealth from 2013 to 2016, according to new data released Wednesday from the Federal Reserve.  African-Americans and Hispanic families …