As Trump Swerves on Trade War, It's Whiplash for the Rest of the World  —  BIARRITZ, France — Remember when President Xi Jinping of China was the “enemy”?  That was so Friday.  As of Monday, according to President Trump, Mr. Xi was “a great leader” and a “brilliant man.”

A professor called Bret Stephens a ‘bedbug.’ The New York Times columnist complained to his boss.  —  The tweet seemed harmless enough to David Karpf.  The associate professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University took a story that bedbugs had infested the New York Times newsroom …

Joe Walsh ‘Completely Ghosted’ His Campaign Manager Days Before White House Run  —  “It's obvious to me that the campaign plan that we have all worked hard on together in anticipation of a launch today isn't going to happen,” Jacob Perry wrote.  —  August 16 was supposed …

3-Way Lead as Dem 2020 Picture Shifts  —  Sanders and Warren rise; Biden drops  —  West Long Branch, NJ - Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and former Vice President Joe Biden are currently bunched together in the national Democratic presidential preference contest.

Trump Went to the Mat for Putin at the G-7 Summit  —  Five years ago, Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine and stole a chunk of its territory, the first redrawing of an international border since World War II.  As punishment, Russia was expelled from the G-8, a blow to Vladimir Putin's prestige.

Farmers' Frustration With Trump Grows as U.S. Escalates China Fight  —  WASHINGTON — Peppered with complaints from farmers fed up with President Trump's trade war, Sonny Perdue found his patience wearing thin.  Mr. Perdue, the agriculture secretary and the guest of honor at the annual Farmfest gathering …

Investigators scrutinizing video outside Epstein's cell find some footage unusable, according to people familiar with the inquiry  —  At least one camera in the hallway outside the cell where authorities say registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein hanged himself earlier this month had footage …

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Understands Democracy Better Than Republicans Do  —  The idea that proponents of greater electoral equity have to quiet down because we live in a ‘republic’ is absurd.  —  Spend enough time talking politics on the internet — or in any other public forum …

Right-Wing Star Andy Ngo Exits Quillette After Damning Video Surfaces  —  The writer and photog is out of a job after being caught in incriminating undercover footage with right-wing activists.  His former employer insists the two events aren't related.  —  The conservative op-ed website …

Federal Election Commission to effectively shut down.  Now what?  —  Federal Election Commission Vice Chairman Matthew Petersen announced his resignation today.  —  This means the agency that enforces and regulates the nation's campaign finance laws will effectively shut down …

Nervous Republicans focus energy on protecting Senate ‘firewall’  —  The GOP majority in the Senate is shaping up as a firewall for Republicans who are worried that President Trump might falter and lose the White House next year.  —  Republicans see winning back the House majority as a tough climb in 2020 …

Op-Ed: Bernie Sanders on his plan for journalism  —  Walter Cronkite once said that “journalism is what we need to make democracy work.”  He was absolutely right, which is why today's assault on journalism by Wall Street, billionaire businessmen, Silicon Valley, and Donald Trump presents a crisis—and why we must take concrete action.

Incoming Harvard Freshman Deported After Visa Revoked  —  While most Harvard freshmen settle into their dorms Tuesday, one new student, Ismail B. Ajjawi '23, faces ongoing negotiations with immigration officers to allow him to enter the United States and study at the College.

Desegregation Plan: Eliminate All Gifted Programs in New York  —  A group appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed seismic changes to the nation's largest school system.  —  For years, New York City has essentially maintained two parallel public school systems.

‘Pocahontas’ Could Still Be Elizabeth Warren's Biggest Vulnerability  —  Elizabeth Warren came to last week's Native American presidential forum in Sioux City, Iowa, with, as you might expect, a plan.  And she executed it perfectly.  —  First, the Massachusetts senator expressed sorrow for the …

Iran rejects meeting with Trump unless U.S. sanctions are lifted  —  ISTANBUL — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday dashed hopes of a potential meeting with his U.S. counterpart in the foreseeable future, saying that the United States should lift all sanctions before Iran agrees to talks.

HOUSE JUDICIARY ASKS JUDGE TO EXPEDITE RULING FOR TESTIMONY OF FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL DON MCGAHN  —  Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Judiciary Committee filed a motion to expedite the ruling in the lawsuit to compel former White House Counsel Don McGahn to testify before the Committee …

Trial of High-Powered Lawyer Gregory Craig Exposes Seamy Side of Washington's Elite  —  WASHINGTON — It is a trial tailor-made to grab the attention of this city's power brokers: In a federal courtroom this month, one of Washington's most prominent lawyers — a former White House counsel …

Why Journalists' Old Tweets Are Fair Game for Trump  —  Journalists don't have thin skins, broadcaster Edward R. Murrow is reputed to have said, they have no skins.  Reporters are so sensitive that you needn't criticize their work to earn a buzz saw in the face in return.

Devin Nunes' attorney says parody Twitter accounts are as dangerous as guns and fires  —  At the first hearing on Devin Nunes's lawsuit against Twitter, there were cow ears, cow T-shirts, and over-the-top analogies.  —  Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) finally had his day in court.  It didn't go very well.

Judge rules against Johnson & Johnson in landmark opioid case in Oklahoma  —  KEY POINTS  — The fine was significantly less than the penalties sought by Oklahoma, sending J&J's stock up by more than 5% in post-market trading after the verdict was read.  —  Oklahoma judge rules against Johnson & Johnson for opioid problem