Democratic debate live updates: Candidates reveal their biggest setbacks  —  The 10 highest-polling candidates are appearing for a single night of debate in Houston hosted by ABC News and Univision — the smallest roster yet in the third matchup of Democratic National Committee-sanctioned primary debates …

Man Trump once called ‘my African American’ leaves Republican Party  —  Gregory Cheadle, the black man President Donald Trump once described at a rally as “my African American,” is fed up.  —  After two years of frustration with the president's rhetoric on race and the lack of diversity …

US attorney recommends proceeding with charges against McCabe, as DOJ rejects last-ditch appeal  —  U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu has recommended moving forward with charges against Andrew McCabe, Fox News has learned, as the Justice Department rejects a last-ditch appeal from the former top FBI official.

Andrew Yang announces $120,000 giveaway during debate  —  Presidential candidate Andrew Yang announced at Thursday night's debate that his campaign will randomly select 10 families and give them a total of $120,000 over the next year as part of a pilot program for his universal basic income plan.

On Shaun King  —  Integrity.  —  A movement is only as strong as its integrity.  Part of our collective work is to protect this integrity, even when, or especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or hard.  It is in this spirit that I write, to address a lapse in integrity within …

‘Simply Unacceptable’: Executives Demand Senate Action on Gun Violence  —  “Doing nothing about America's gun violence crisis is simply unacceptable,” the corporate chiefs urged senators in a letter.  —  In a direct and urgent call to address gun violence in America, the chief executives …

For Military Personnel, Trump's Turnberry Hotel Is ‘Better Than a Tent’  —  TURNBERRY, Scotland — The middle-aged golfers had finished their last single-malt whiskeys late one night this July, and the bartenders were closing up.  —  Then a bus pulled up to the Trump Turnberry hotel …

Israel accused of planting mysterious spy devices near the White House  —  The U.S. government concluded within the past two years that Israel was most likely behind the placement of cellphone surveillance devices that were found near the White House and other sensitive locations around Washington …

ABC Tells Democrats to Keep Debate Clean.  Looking at You, Beto.  —  There will be no delay on the broadcast so no chance to censor any obscenities, should a candidate let loose.  —  There was a time in American history when candidates for president did not need to be reminded …

Sebastian Gorka and Michelle Malkin warn that “Soros-allied organizations” are working toward “demographic conquest”  —  Trump administration hopes to catch media flat-footed in pushing far-right lawyer toward lifetime judgeship  —  Wash. Post pushes Trump's spin as he makes America's waterways dirtier

U.S. Deficit Tops $1 Trillion in First 11 Months of Fiscal Year, Treasury Says  —  The deficit, up 19% compared with a year ago, has exceeded $1 trillion for the first time since 2012  —  WASHINGTON—The U.S. budget gap widened to more than $1 trillion in the first 11 months of the fiscal year …

Exclusive: How John Roberts killed the census citizenship question  —  Washington (CNN)Chief Justice John Roberts cast the deciding vote against President Donald Trump's attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, but only after changing his position behind the scenes …

Christine Blasey Ford's Father Supported Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation  —  After Christine Blasey Ford publicly alleged that Brett Kavanaugh tried to rape her, her father repeatedly communicated to Kavanaugh's father that he supported Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Exclusive: Falwell blasted Liberty student as ‘retarded,’ police chief as ‘half-wit’ in emails  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In emails to his colleagues over the years, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr has denigrated students and staff at the Christian university he runs …

The Suburban Vote Isn't as Blue as It Looks  —  My colleague, David Wasserman wrote a (typically) insightful analysis on GOP state Sen. Dan Bishop's narrow win in Thursday's special election in North Carolina's 9th district.  His main conclusion was that the special election continued …

Jury convicts dad of Alison Lundergan Grimes for giving illegally to Senate campaign  —  A federal jury found two longtime Democratic operatives guilty Thursday of funneling illegal corporate campaign contributions into Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes' 2014 U.S. Senate campaign …

EXCLUSIVE SURVEY: Democrats Lead Trump in Key Swing States  —  Firehouse/0ptimus September General Election Poll: Slight Majority Say Trump's Deception on Hurricane Dorian “A big deal”  —  Each quarter this year, we have surveyed 2020 general election voters to gauge public opinion heading into 2020.

MIT President: Oh Yeah, We DID Cover Up Epstein's Donations  —  In fact, he wrote an Epstein a thank you note for one gift.  Even if he doesn't remember it.  —  The president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is admitting that not only did the school hide donations from Jeffrey Epstein …

Mitt Romney says he doesn't plan to endorse anyone in 2020  —  (CNN)Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said Thursday that he's planning to withhold his endorsement in the 2020 race both in the primary and in the general election, underscoring the uneasy relationship between …

Trump team rushes to find escape hatch for China tariffs  —  President Donald Trump's top advisers are rushing to find an escape hatch for a series of tariff increases in the coming months, worried about the potential for further economic damage.  —  Many of the president's top economic officials …

New York City Is Ending a Ban on Gay Conversion Therapy.  Here's Why.  —  The City Council fears that if a lawsuit challenging the ban reaches the Supreme Court, the panel could issue a ruling protecting the practice.  —  Nearly two years ago, the New York City Council celebrated when it passed …

The Buttigieg Money Pit  —  With great fanfare last month, Pete Buttigieg has announced “Phase Three” of his presidential campaign.  Campaign adviser Lis Smith described the first two phases as teaching people how to pronounce his name and then raising gobs of money.