We're heartbroken, and the world is poorer: Herman Cain has gone to be with the Lord  —  You're never ready for the kind of news we are grappling with this morning.  But we have no choice but to seek and find God's strength and comfort to deal with it.  —  Herman Cain - our boss, our friend …

Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation  —  Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe.  —  Mr. Lewis, the civil rights leader who died on July 17, wrote this essay shortly before his death, to be published upon the day of his funeral.

Trump raises idea of delaying election  —  President Trump on Thursday suggested delaying the 2020 elections, something he does not have the power to do unilaterally, as he levied fresh attacks against mail-in voting.  —  Trump, who is badly trailing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden …

Texas Idiocracy  —  Are you surprised?  —  With the news that Representative Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) has tested positive for the coronavirus, there is a temptation to be less than gracious.  —  I intend to give in to that temptation.  —  This is not to say that we do not wish him a speedy recovery and …

U.S. economy contracted at fastest quarterly rate on record from April to June as coronavirus walloped workers, businesses  —  Data released by the Commerce Department on Thursday is another reminder of the pain felt this year as the nation went into an economic shutdown.

POLITICO Playbook: A peek inside the Playbook inbox: Boiling over with rage  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  PEOPLE IN THE CAPITOL ARE SICK AND TIRED.  —  QUITE LITERALLY.  —  SICK: THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS — the legislature for the most powerful country on Planet Earth …

Turning Point USA co-founder dies of coronavirus-related complications  —  The co-founder of conservative student group Turning Point USA, Bill Montgomery, has died from complications of the coronavirus, according to two friends of his.  —  Montgomery, who started it in 2012 …

Trump Plays on Racist Fears of Terrorized Suburbs to Court White Voters  —  President Trump painted a false picture of suburbs under siege, saying he was protecting them from the perils of low-income housing, as he seeks to win over white voters who were key to his 2016 victory.

U.S. Economy Contracts to Record 32.9%, Jobless Claims Rise to 1.43 Million  —  Economists expected nearly 35% contraction in GDP in latest quarter following coronavirus shutdowns  —  The U.S. economy contracted at a record 32.9% annual rate last quarter and weekly jobless claims rose to 1.43 million, amid signs of a slowing recovery.

He held a BLM sign in what he called 'America's most racist town.' The result?  A viral video of abuse.  —  As a gray Buick SUV approached the man holding a Black Lives Matter sign on a street in Harrison, Ark., the driver slowed down.  —  “What about White lives?” the woman in the passenger's seat yelled out.

Born-again fiscal conservatives are sign of Trump's weakening hand in Congress  —  A growing number of Senate conservatives have provided the latest sign of President Trump's weakening hand on Capitol Hill.  —  From the presidentially ambitious Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) …

Why Trump Might Quit  —  The purpose of the nationally televised Oval Office address was to announce new peace initiatives in Vietnam, but Lyndon B. Johnson saved the most startling news until the end of his speech on March 31, 1968.  With his country badly divided over a grinding war …

Trump Is Filling the Government With an Army of Kooks  —  Late Monday night, President Trump and his son Donald Jr. retweeted video testimonials about the alleged effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine.  The next day, the Daily Beast reported that one of the doctors in the video, Stella Immanuel …

Obama Unleashes on Trump Privately as He Raises $24 Million for Biden  —  Barack Obama has spoken candidly about President Trump to party donors, bringing up the sexual assault allegations against Mr. Trump and warning of his efforts to push “nativist, racist, sexist” fears.

The voters who are still backing Trump  —  Moderator: Here's what swing voters are saying about Trump  —  Rich Thau is the president and co-founder of the research firm Engagious, which specializes in message testing and message refinement for trade associations and advocacy groups.

A baseless US conspiracy theory found a foothold in Europe.  New research shows how  —  London (CNN)A baseless claim about a child sex-trafficking ring, a Washington, DC pizzeria, and Hillary Clinton has been passed around among conspiracy theorists for more than three years.

Barr says he won't wait until after election to reveal Durham's findings.  Democrats fear a campaign-altering surprise.  —  Attorney General William P. Barr reiterated this week that he will not wait until after November's election to release whatever U.S. Attorney John Durham finds …

Biden campaign launches first TV ads in Ohio  —  WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign is expanding its paid media effort into Ohio with a message focused on his new economic agenda, a sign of the campaign's increasingly bullish view of the battleground map and a shot …

Senate hearing for controversial Pentagon nominee Anthony Tata canceled just before it was set to begin  —  The nomination of a retired Army general for a senior civilian position in the Trump administration was cast into doubt Thursday morning when his confirmation hearing was canceled …

The Disinfomercial: How Larry King Got Duped Into Starring in Chinese Propaganda  —  ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.  Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they're published.  —  Jacobi Niv had paid Larry King a few thousand dollars apiece …

U.S. suffered worst quarterly contraction on record as virus ravages economy  —  The U.S. economy crashed in historic fashion this year — shrinking at a nearly 33 percent annualized pace in the second quarter — as the coronavirus pandemic ravaged businesses and sent joblessness soaring.