‘It feels like a horror movie’: Republicans feel anxious and adrift defending Trump  —  Republican senators are lost and adrift as the impeachment inquiry enters its second month, navigating the grave threat to President Trump largely in the dark, frustrated by the absence of a credible case …

Former US Senator Kay Hagan dead at 66 after three-year battle with encephalitis  —  Former U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, a one-time Capitol Hill intern who went on to become North Carolina's first Democratic female U.S. senator, died Monday at her Greensboro home.  She was 66.

Baghdadi's death could have been Trump's finest hour.  He messed it up anyway.  —  President Trump has a preternatural ability to turn any occasion, no matter how solemn or important, into a ridiculous, risible spectacle.  He did it again Sunday in announcing the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Dissent Erupts at Facebook Over Hands-Off Stance on Political Ads  —  In an open letter, the social network's employees said letting politicians post false claims in ads was “a threat” to the company.  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The letter was aimed at Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, and his top lieutenants.

I Don't Understand Jokes or Context  —  Washington Nationals fans chanted “lock him up” when Donald Trump appeared at Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday Night.  —  As a prominent media figure—like MSNBC host Joe Scarborough and author-pundit Ron Fournier—I find this alarming and offensive.

Greg Walden to retire in latest sign of GOP doubts about retaking House  —  Rep. Greg Walden, the top Republican on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, will retire at the end of this Congress — the latest sign that Republicans see a struggle to retake the House in 2020.

White House told in May of Ukraine President Zelenskiy's concerns about Giuliani, Sondland  —  The White House was alerted earlier than previously reported that Giuliani's pressure campaign was rattling the new Ukrainian president, say two sources.  —  KYIV — The White House was alerted …

Dear Colleague on Next Steps in House's Ongoing Impeachment Inquiry  —  H. Res.  ___ — Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives …

Trump team's search for impeachment strategist narrows to one candidate  —  The White House is moving closer to hiring a communications specialist this week to bolster its impeachment strategy and messaging, with former top Treasury aide Tony Sayegh now as the leading contender.

What's Left of Condé Nast Two years after Si Newhouse died (and Graydon Carter left), Anna Wintour and a new CEO map out the future they can afford.  —  “It's dreadful,” Anna Wintour said in early October, looking out the south-facing windows of her 25th-floor office in One World Trade Center …

Trump Explored Cutting Grants for Schools Tied to Erdogan Foe  — One of Trump's earliest attempts to appeal to Turkish leader  — Giuliani sought Gulen extradition, was on call about schools  —  Early in his presidency, Donald Trump's White House explored whether the U.S …

Harris: My Failing Campaign Shows America's Not Ready For A Woman Of Color As President  —  That can't be — famed Native American candidate Elizabeth Warren is surging in the polls!  I kid, I kid, but unfortunately the cycle's biggest disappointment isn't joking.

Facebook allows prominent right-wing website to break the rules  —  The Daily Wire, the right-wing website founded by pundit Ben Shapiro, is a cesspool of misogyny, bigotry, and misinformation.  Its toxic content is also fantastically successful on Facebook, with each story reaching more people than any other major media outlet.

G/O Media Tells Deadspin Staff in Leaked Memo: Stick to Sports  —  Sports—and sports alone—must be “the sole focus” of the website, new management said Monday in a memo obtained by The Daily Beast.  —  Deadspin's new bosses have issued an order to the website: Do not cover anything other than sports.

Barr defends Durham probe, rips Comey FBI for ‘failure of leadership’  —  EXCLUSIVE — Attorney General Bill Barr, in an interview with Fox News, defended the independence and integrity of the politically contentious probe being led by U.S. Attorney John Durham into the handling of the Russia investigation …

Local elections hinge on housing this fall  —  Gradually, and sometimes grudgingly, the municipalities that ring Boston have built more housing in recent years, their leaders blessing apartment and condo buildings as part of a broad push to tackle the regional shortage that's driven rents skyward.This fall …