Step Away From the Orb  —  WASHINGTON — I was having dinner here once with a Saudi muck-a-muck.  Midway through the interview, he passed an oblong velvet box across the table.  Inside I found an expensive piece of jewelry.  —  I began laughing and explained that I was a reporter and could not take such baubles.

Amid skepticism, Saudi official provides another version of Khashoggi death  —  RIYADH (Reuters) - As Saudi Arabia faced intensifying international scepticism over its story about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior government official laid out a new version of the death inside …

NBC/WSJ Poll: Democrats hold nine-point advantage for midterm elections  —  Two weeks out, Democrats retain an edge but “unprecedented enthusiasm” is fueling both parties.  —  WASHINGTON — Fueled by increased enthusiasm from women, Latinos and young voters for the upcoming midterm election …

Democrats appear more likely to vote in midterms than GOP: NBC-WSJ poll  — As the president's job approval rose to an all-time high of 47 percent, Republicans narrowed their double-digit September deficit for control of Congress to seven percentage points among all registered voters.

Count on Hillary Clinton running again in 2020  —  This is beyond odd, but here goes.  I rise to defend Hillary Clinton.  —  She is under attack and this time, the long knives are wielded by members of her own clan.  Suddenly, after two years of indulging Clinton's blame games and pity parties …