‘It was inevitable’: Officers watching Epstein were on overtime due to jail staffing shortage, union president says  —  The two correctional officers assigned to watch the special unit in the detention center where financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was being housed …

How the El Paso Killer Echoed the Incendiary Words of Conservative Media Stars  —  Tucker Carlson went on his prime-time Fox News show in April last year and told his viewers not to be fooled.  The thousands of Central Americans on their way to the United States were “border jumpers,” not refugees, he said.

Trump administration boosts ability to deny green cards to immigrants using welfare programs  —  The Trump administration on Monday issued a long-awaited rule strengthening the ability of federal officials to deny green cards to immigrants deemed likely to rely on government aid.

Warren wows in Iowa as candidates' sprint to caucuses begins  —  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The chant — “2 cents, 2 cents, 2 cents” — started in the back of a crowd that packed sidewalks at the Iowa State Fair.  Elizabeth Warren, basking in the spontaneous adulation of her proposed wealth tax …

U.S. Officials Suspect New Nuclear Missile in Explosion That Killed 7 Russians  —  American intelligence officials are racing to understand a mysterious explosion that released radiation off the coast of northern Russia last week, apparently during the test of a new type of nuclear-propelled …

'Using the Lord's name in vain': Evangelicals chafe at Trump's blasphemy  —  Paul Hardesty didn't pay much attention to President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Greenville, N.C., last month until a third concerned constituent rang his cell phone.  —  The residents of Hardesty's district …

Hong Kong Cancels All Remaining Monday Flights as Protests Swarm Airport  — Flights to and from city scrapped; Cathay shares tumble  — Chinese official warns protesters showing signs of ‘terrorism’  —  Hong Kong airport authorities canceled remaining flights on Monday …

Trump is losing ground in America's suburbs  —  First Read is your briefing from “Meet the Press” and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  WASHINGTON — For all of the discussion about whether Democrats can win Texas in 2020 …

Exclusive: Anthony Scaramucci says Trump may need to be replaced for 2020  —  Anthony Scaramucci, who famously served as President Trump's communications director for 11 days, says Republicans may need to pick a different candidate in 2020.  —  Driving the news: In a phone interview on Sunday afternoon …

Texas Republicans brace for 2020 drubbing  —  As bad as it's been for Texas Republicans lately, some members of the party are warning that 2020 could be even worse.  —  The rash of recent House GOP retirements is just the latest sign of a state party in distress: In last year's midterms …

Scoop: Inside Trump's strange pen-pal diplomacy with Justin Trudeau  —  President Trump has sent highly unusual, Sharpie-written notes to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at least twice, Axios has learned.  —  One missive was so odd, the Canadian ambassador double-checked with the White House to be sure it wasn't a prank.

GOP Waits to See if Trump Will Protect It From the NRA Before Moving on Gun Laws  —  The president has talked about stepping up before, and then backed down.  That could force him to push harder this time, if only to “prove” that the NRA doesn't control him.

President Trump has made 12,019 false or misleading claims over 928 days  —  President Trump's proclivity for spouting exaggerated numbers, unwarranted boasts and outright falsehoods has continued at a remarkable pace.  As of Aug. 5, his 928th day in office, he had made 12,019 false or misleading claims …

Sentries, not ‘squad’: Moderate Dems ones to watch for 2020  —  CULPEPER, Va. (AP) — Abigail Spanberger talked about rural broadband.  She held court on health care, solar energy and the border crisis.  —  But as the freshman Democrat from Virginia fielded a dozen questions during …