The Scandal of Trump's China Policy  —  The president pleaded with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for domestic political help, subordinated national-security issues to his own reelection prospects and ignored Beijing's human-rights abuses  —  U.S. strategy toward the People's Republic of China …

Pinal County sheriff says he tested positive for COVID-19 before planned Trump meeting  —  Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb announced on Wednesday afternoon that he tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.  —  Lamb posted on the Pinal County Sheriff Office's Facebook page …

Impeachment casts shadow over Army officer's promotion  —  An Army officer's promotion is in jeopardy over what some officials fear could be White House retaliation for his role in last year's impeachment inquiry, raising the possibility that President Trump might again intervene in military affairs …

‘Wednesday night massacre’ as Trump appointee takes over at global media agency  —  New York (CNN Business)The heads of four organizations overseen by the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) were all dismissed Wednesday night — a move likely to heighten concerns that new Trump-appointed CEO Michael Pack means …

Does Trump Want to Fight for a Second Term?  His Self-Sabotage Worries Aides  —  Advisers and allies say the president's repeated acts of self-destruction have significantly damaged his re-election prospects, and yet he appears mostly unable, or unwilling, to curtail them.

Blackface incident at Post cartoonist's 2018 Halloween party resurfaces amid protests  —  Every year, Tom Toles's Halloween party draws an eclectic mix — journalists and political types from Washington's power elite, but also artists and musicians, everyone from retirees to college kids …

Half-brother of man found hanged involved in deputy shootout  —  The half-brother of a man found hanged from a tree in Southern California was involved in a gunfight with authorities Wednesday in the Mojave Desert, law enforcement sources told NBC News and NBC Los Angeles.

10 Problematic Films That Could Use Warning Labels  —  It's now widely accepted that despite being a beloved classic, “Gone With the Wind” needs an explanation of its context when it's screened on TV or in theaters.  HBO Max says it will eventually restore the Oscar-winning film to the service, but with “context and framing.”

Uncle Ben's rice to change brand as part of parent company's stance against racism  —  The parent company of Uncle Ben's rice said Wednesday that “now was the right time to evolve” the brand, including visually, but did not release details of what exactly would change or when.

Our New Polling Averages Show Biden Leads Trump By 9 Points Nationally  —  Today we launched our general election polling averages, nationally and for all states with a sufficient number of polls.  Recent polls show former Vice President Joe Biden with a solid lead over President Trump nationally, and in most swing states.

Trump to use Tulsa as test run for mass crowds ahead of convention  —  President Trump's campaign plans to turn this weekend's Tulsa rally into a massive pro-Trump festival complete with musical acts, and it's flying in high-profile backers and camera crews to show the world the fervency of his supporters.

Senate Democrats weigh shutting down GOP police reform plan  —  Senate Democrats are agonizing over what to do about Senate Republicans' police reform proposal.  —  They can either vote down the legislation next week and face charges of obstruction amid a national reckoning on race …

Joe Biden Begins First General Election TV Ad Blitz  —  The $15 million advertising effort will target six fall battlegrounds, all states that President Trump carried in 2016.  —  Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is making his first television ad buy of the general election …

What helps non-black people support Black Lives Matter?  A signal from someone in their own ethnic group.  —  Our surveys uncover how this messaging works  —  The public outcry following the shooting deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Sean Reed in Indiana …

Progressive donor group announces $59M vote-by-mail campaign  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A network of deep-pocketed progressive donors is launching a $59 million effort to encourage people of color to vote by mail in November, a step many Democrats view as crucial to turning out the party's base during the coronavirus pandemic.

Black Teenage Boy Found Hanged Outside Houston Elementary School: Report  —  Houston Police said a black teenage boy was found hanged outside an elementary school, reported the Houston Chronicle.  —  The boy was found in a remote corner on Ehrhardt Elementary School property in Spring …

The Coming Urban Exodus  —  Failing progressive governance is making daily life too chaotic and stressful in many U.S. cities.  —  In his speech last weekend to the graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, President Trump said something with which, in normal times, few would disagree …