Enough platitudes: Let's name names  —  President Trump's defenders and even some of his tepid critics on the right seem determined to keep their moral blinders firmly affixed so as to narrow the discussion about the horrible incidents such as the mass murder at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Letter to President Trump from Pittsburgh Jewish Leaders  —  We are the Pittsburgh affiliate of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice.  —  President Trump:  —  Yesterday, a gunman slaughtered 11 Americans during Shabbat morning services.  We mourn with the victims' families and pray for the wounded.

Military to Deploy 5,000 Troops to Southern Border, U.S. Officials Say  —  The U.S. military is deploying 5,000 troops to the southern border, U.S. officials say, an increase from the initial estimate of 800.

9 hours of ‘Executive Time’: Trump's unstructured days define his presidency  —  President Donald Trump had about three times as much free time planned for last Tuesday as work time, according to his private schedule.  The president was slated for more than nine hours of “Executive Time,” …

Full text of Carter's letter to Georgia secretary of state  —  Former President Jimmy Carter, a Georgia resident, wrote on his official letterhead to his state's Republican nominee for governor, Brian Kemp, asking him to resign as Georgia secretary of state.  The secretary of state oversees elections.

Twitter to remove ‘like’ tool in a bid to improve the quality of debate  —  Twitter is planning to remove the ability to “like” tweets in a radical move that aims to improve the quality of debate on the social network.  —  Founder Jack Dorsey last week admitted at a Twitter event …

We Can't Go Back … Things are getting better - we can't go back!  Learn how to vote now at: https://vote.donaldjtrump.com/  —  This dramatic, high-quality ad depicts the new optimism of a working mom and the very real way that the future of her family is at stake in this election.

Trump Persuaded Struggling People to Invest in Scams, Lawsuit Says  —  A new lawsuit accuses President Trump, his company and three of his children of using the Trump name to entice vulnerable people to invest in sham business opportunities.  —  Filed in federal court in Manhattan on Monday …

Suspicious package headed to CNN's Atlanta headquarters intercepted  —  (CNN)For the third time in a week, a suspicious package has been addressed to CNN.  This time, on Monday morning, the package was intercepted in Atlanta, the home to CNN's worldwide headquarters.

Choke it down, and vote for Menendez |  Editorial  —  Gallery: U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez Speaks in Newark  —  By Star-Ledger Editorial Board eletters@starledger.com  —  This year's U.S. Senate race presents the most depressing choice for New Jersey voters in a generation …

‘Nothing to Gain,’ Kavanaugh Accuser Raises Nearly $1 Million  —  During the crucible of Brett Kavanaugh's Senate confirmation hearings, Democrats repeatedly asserted that Christine Blasey Ford had “nothing to gain” by coming forward with her explosive accusation of attempted rape against the Supreme Court nominee.

Republican Brat and Democrat Spanberger in dead heat as Virginia's GOP-leaning 7th District race hits final week; Trump disapproval and voter enthusiasm lift Spanberger  —  Summary of Key Findings  —  1. In our likely voter model, Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican incumbent Dave Brat …

Hillary Clinton leaves door open for 2020 run: 'I'd like to be president'  —  Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during an event over the weekend left the door open to a possible 2020 run, saying that even though she doesn't want to run, “I'd like to be president.”

Inside a Trump rally: Stelter's view from the press pen  —  (CNN)The first thing you see at a Trump campaign rally is the line.  —  There was a long line in the pouring rain ahead of the October 26 rally in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Some devotees had started lining up the night before.

Merkel Steps Down as Party Leader as Election Setbacks Take Toll  — German leader makes dramatic concession to her party critics  — Power waning after leading Christian Democrats for 18 years  —  Germany's Angela Merkel will quit as head of her Christian Democratic party and won't run …

Lena Dunham Tapped by Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams to Adapt Syrian Refugee Story  —  The “Girls” creator will adapt non-fiction novel “A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea” by Melissa Fleming  —  Lena Dunham has been tapped to adapt a Syrian refugee story for the big screen …

This Cop Was Accused Of Putting An 11-Year-Old Girl In A Chokehold And Lying About It.  He Kept His Job.  —  Confidential department documents show that then-NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton shut down disciplinary proceedings.  The officer has also shared Facebook posts that denigrate black people and Muslims.

Let's stop asking Trump for comfort after tragedies  —  Patti Davis is the author, most recently, of the novel “The Earth Breaks in Colors” and the daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.  —  When I was writing my book “The Long Goodbye,” a memoir about losing my father to Alzheimer's …

Beto O'Rourke Once Supported an El Paso Real Estate Deal.  Barrio Residents Remember.  —  EL PASO — At a special City Council meeting in 2006, a billionaire real estate investor unveiled his vision for redeveloping downtown El Paso.  To replace tenements and boarded-up buildings …

Partisan Polarization Dominates Trump Era: Findings from the 2018 American Values Survey  —  Voting Priorities  —  When asked to pick the top two most important issues for their vote this election cycle, Americans are more likely to point to the cost of health care than any other issue.

American ISIS Suspect Is Freed After Being Held More Than a Year  —  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has freed an American citizen whom the military imprisoned without trial for more than 13 months as a suspected Islamic State member, United States officials said on Monday.

The Skimm Brains 7 million people wake up to their newsletter, and their voice, every morning.  —  In early September, the whole staff of the Skimm, a current-events newsletter aimed at millennial women, gathered on gray couches for an all-hands meeting.  Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg …