Why Texas Is Nearing Battleground Status (It's Not Just About Beto)  —  Hispanics represent the (elusive) upside for Democrats, but it's a shift in white voters that is making the biggest difference.  —  The dream of a “Blue Texas” has captured the imagination of Democrats for nearly a decade …

Top Mueller Prosecutor Stepping Down In Latest Clue Russia Inquiry May Be Ending  —  One of the most prominent members of special counsel Robert Mueller's team investigating Russia's attack on the 2016 presidential election will soon leave the office and the Justice Department, two sources close to the matter tell NPR.

Trump issues warning to opponents: ‘It would be very bad’ if his military, police and biker supporters got ‘tough’  —  WASHINGTON—U.S. President Donald Trump has issued what seems to be a warning of armed pushback against his political opponents, telling a right-wing website on Monday that …

Son defends parents caught in college admissions scandal while smoking blunt  —  SEE ALSO  —  Maybe this is why Gregory and Marcia Abbott allegedly bought their daughter's way into college.  —  Their “rapper” son, Malcolm, popped out of the family's Fifth Avenue building to smoke a giant blunt …

New York appellate court allows Summer Zervos defamation suit against Trump to proceed  —  A New York appellate court ruled Thursday that President Trump must face a defamation lawsuit filed by former “Apprentice” contestant Summer Zervos, one of about a dozen women who accused Trump …

Senate votes to reject Trump's emergency declaration, setting up president's first veto  —  Breaking news: A group of Senate Republicans joined Democrats on Thursday to approve a disapproval resolution aimed at overturning President Trump's declaration of an emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border.

In overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, House calls for Mueller report to be made public  —  The House voted overwhelmingly and in bipartisan fashion to urge the Justice Department to publicly release the entirety of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's report into Russian interference in the 2016 election, once completed.

Peter Strzok Deleted ‘Personal’ Communications With Lisa Page  — Peter Strzok told Congress in 2018 that he deleted communications with Lisa Page, but he claimed he did so for “personal” reasons.  — An attorney for Strzok says that the former FBI official deleted the records …

Mnuchin says he'll protect Trump privacy if taxes requested  —  A rarely used nearly 100-year-old law allows a few congressional officials to seek individual tax returns from the Treasury Secretary.  —  WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suggested Thursday he will protect …

Abrams, Biden meet as both weigh 2020 decisions  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Former Vice President Joe Biden and Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams are meeting privately Thursday in Washington as both weigh their political futures.  —  Biden is expected to make his decision soon on whether to run for president for a third time.

Sandy Hook Massacre: Remington and Other Gun Companies Lose Major Ruling Over Liability  —  [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]  —  The Connecticut Supreme Court dealt a major blow to the firearms industry on Thursday, clearing the way for a lawsuit …

Frank Cali, Reputed Gambino Mob Boss, Is Shot and Killed on Staten Island  —  Francesco Cali, the reputed boss of the Gambino crime family, was fatally shot outside his home on Staten Island on Wednesday night, a senior police official said.  —  Mr. Cali, 53, was shot six times, the official said.

Tucker Carlson says he's the victim of a powerful bully.  Meet the 24-year-old who found the tapes.  —  Madeline Peltz works the night shift at the liberal media watchdog group Media Matters for America.  Given the timing of that particular shift, one of her main responsibilities is watching Tucker Carlson's 8 p.m. show on Fox News.

NY's political prosecution of Manafort should scare us all  —  View Latest Opinions >>  —  The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has indicted Paul Manafort for mortgage fraud and more than a dozen other state felonies.  This is a nakedly political prosecution.

Roger Stone trial set for Nov. 5 start  —  Roger Stone will go on trial starting Nov. 5 in Washington, the federal judge presiding over the high-profile case said Thursday.  —  U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson set out a calendar for a two-week trial that will pit …

Political Independents: Who They Are, What They Think  —  Most ‘lean’ toward a party; ‘true’ independents tend to avoid politics  —  Independents often are portrayed as political free agents with the potential to alleviate the nation's rigid partisan divisions.

A Donald Trump coup if he loses in 2020?  With all the norms he's busted, don't rule it out  —  Cohen fear about a ‘peaceful transition’ is worth considering given Trump's attacks on judges, Congress and media, and the criminal trials he may face.  —  CONNECT

Slack removes hate groups  —  Today we removed 28 accounts because of their clear affiliation with known hate groups.  The use of Slack by hate groups runs counter to everything we believe in at Slack and is not welcome on our platform.  Slack is designed to help businesses communicate better …

At tense meeting with Boeing executives, pilots fumed about being left in dark on plane software  —  Boeing executives sat down last November with pilots at the Allied Pilots Association's low-slung brick headquarters in Fort Worth.  —  Tensions were running high.

Trump Shows His Authoritarian Hand  —  Say this for Senator Mike Lee: He is trying to make the best of a bad situation.  When President Trump declared last month that he would ignore Congress's refusal to fund his border wall and build it by declaring a national emergency, he ignited a predictable firestorm.