U.S. Escalates Online Attacks on Russia's Power Grid  —  WASHINGTON — The United States is stepping up digital incursions into Russia's electric power grid in a warning to President Vladimir V. Putin and a demonstration of how the Trump administration is using new authorities to deploy cybertools …

GOP in disarray as budget impasse threatens shutdown, deep cuts — and default  —  Senate Republicans and the Trump administration are struggling to reach an agreement on a path forward on critical budget and spending issues, threatening not only another government shutdown and deep spending cuts …

‘Completely Erroneous’: New York Times Busted for Fake News Story on Harriet Tubman $20 Bill  —  The U.S. Treasury is denying a piece from the New York Times which accused the Trump administration of delaying the release of the $20 Harriet Tubman bill and doing so for political reasons.

Judith Miller and William Tobey: To protect against Iranian attacks, US should be ready to escort oil tankers  —  In light of the most recent attacks on civilian oil tankers in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, the Trump administration must now be prepared to escort tankers transiting …

Trump directs agencies to cut advisory boards by ‘at least’ one-third  —  President Trump is directing all agencies to cut their advisory boards by “at least” one third.  —  The executive order issued Friday evening directs all federal agencies to “evaluate the need” for each of their current advisory committees.

The Taliban claimed an attack on U.S. forces.  Pompeo blamed Iran.  —  On May 31, a suicide bomber targeted a U.S. convoy in eastern Kabul, killing four Afghan passersby and slightly wounding four U.S. servicemen and at least three civilians.  —  At the time, the Taliban claimed responsibility …

‘Enjoy the show!’:  Trump hypes controversial Stephanopoulos interview  —  President Donald Trump on Saturday hyped his forthcoming full interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, excerpts of which shook allies and opponents alike this week when the president revealed he would take foreign help …

Oberlin Helped Students Defame a Bakery, a Jury Says.  The Punishment: $33 Million.  —  Protests over cultural sensitivity have long been a staple at Oberlin College, a liberal arts school tucked into the cornfields of Ohio, where students have spoken out about everything from microaggressions to the cultural appropriation of sushi.

Franklin Graham: ‘I think God was behind the last election’  —  Evangelist Franklin Graham said in an interview that divine intervention might be the reason President Trump won in 2016.  —  “I think God was behind the last election,” Graham told conservative news site The Western Journal,

Saving face  —  How Donald Trump silenced the people who could expose his business failures  —  How did Donald Trump, a self-serving promoter who lost billions of dollars for his investors, convince the world that he is a financial genius?  It wasn't just by fabricating tales of his success.

Beto O'Rourke says white Americans don't know the full story of slavery, continues to support reparations  —  Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke took an unconventional approach to reaching out to African-American voters Friday, meeting with a small group representing a community …

Sudan Ousted a Brutal Dictator.  His Successor Was His Enforcer.  —  KHARTOUM, Sudan — Once a camel trader who led a militia accused of genocidal violence in Darfur, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan now sits at the pinnacle of power in Sudan, overlooking the scorched streets from his wood-paneled office high …

‘You have to know how to hit a curveball’: Trump's Pentagon choice fights to win over doubters  —  Pat Shanahan's critics call him a weak link on the president's team but the acting defense secretary says he knows how to deal with the unexpected.  —  The knocks on President Donald Trump's defense-secretary …

Even More Evidence Emerges Linking Deceased Consultant To Trump Census Push  —  Voting rights group say they have found even more evidence connecting a now-deceased GOP gerrymandering consultant to the Trump administration's push to add a citizenship question census.

Hong Kong extradition bill complicates an already tense US-China relationship  —  This story is being published as part of a content partnership with the South China Morning Post.  It originally appeared on scmp.com on June 15, 2019.  —  The row between Beijing and Washington over Hong Kong …