I Am an Independent, Impartial Judge  —  Yes, I was emotional last Thursday.  I hope everyone can understand I was there as a son, husband and dad.  —  I was deeply honored to stand at the White House July 9 with my wife, Ashley, and my daughters, Margaret and Liza, to accept President Trump's nomination …

The Big Hack: How China Used a Tiny Chip to Infiltrate U.S. Companies  —  In 2015, Amazon.com Inc. began quietly evaluating a startup called Elemental Technologies, a potential acquisition to help with a major expansion of its streaming video service, known today as Amazon Prime Video.

Rifts Break Open at Facebook Over Kavanaugh Hearing  —  SAN FRANCISCO — “I want to apologize,” the Facebook executive wrote last Friday in a note to staff.  “I recognize this moment is a deeply painful one — internally and externally.”  —  The apology came from Joel Kaplan, Facebook's vice president for global public policy.

Girl, 8, pulls a 1,500-year-old sword from a lake in Sweden  —  An eight-year-old found a pre-Viking-era sword while swimming in a lake in Sweden during the summer.  —  Saga Vanecek found the relic in the Vidöstern lake while at her family's holiday home in Jönköping County.

Trump Considers Ousting Air Force Head Over Space Force Pushback  —  The president appears to be tired of Pentagon officials slow rolling his orders.  —  U.S. President Donald Trump is peeved with Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson over her handling of his directive to stand up a separate Space Force …

Pastor and activist William J. Barber II wins MacArthur ‘genius’ grant  —  (RNS) — The Rev. William J. Barber II, architect of the Moral Mondays movement in North Carolina and leader of the resurgent Poor People's Campaign, has won a MacArthur “genius” award.

Accused doxxer of GOP senators allegedly threatened to publish their children's health information  —  A Democratic congressional intern accused of publishing the private information of at least three Republican lawmakers allegedly threatened to leak senators' children's health information if a witness told anyone about his activities.

Democrats Fear the Party's Kavanaugh Obsession Could Backfire  —  Sensing a bump for Republicans, some strategists want to pivot if he's confirmed.  Problem is the base may not be so ready to let it go.  —  With Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court looking more likely …

Where is Jamal Khashoggi?  —  JAMAL KHASHOGGI, a journalist who has turned a trenchant and questioning eye on the leadership of his country, Saudi Arabia, entered the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday to take care of what should have been routine paperwork.  Saudi Arabia says he then left.

Alex Trebek apologizes for his performance as moderator of Pa. Gov. debate  —  Alex Trebek, the Jeopardy! host roundly criticized for his Monday night performance as moderator of the lone Pennsylvania gubernatorial debate this fall, apologized Wednesday, saying he had “failed to recognize the seriousness of the event for the voters.”

Beto O'Rourke on possible endorsement from Obama: “I don't think we're interested.”  —  Former President Barack Obama has endorsed nearly a dozen Texas Democrats so far this election year.  But Beto O'Rourke isn't one of them.  On Thursday the border Democrat said that was fine by him.