Postal Service backlog sparks worries that ballot delivery could be delayed in November  —  The U.S. Postal Service is experiencing days-long backlogs of mail across the country after a top Trump donor running the agency put in place new procedures described as cost-cutting efforts …

How Jared Kushner's Secret Testing Plan “Went Poof Into Thin Air”  —  This spring, a team working under the president's son-in-law produced a plan for an aggressive, coordinated national COVID-19 response that could have brought the pandemic under control.  So why did the White House spike it in favor of a shambolic 50-state response?

Tucker Carlson Calls Barack Obama a ‘Greasy Politician’ Who ‘Desecrated’ John Lewis' Funeral  —  ‘CAN YOU IMAGINE?’  —  After Barack Obama eulogized the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis, Fox News host Tucker Carlson said the former president was “greasy” for “desecrating a funeral with campaign slogans.”

Joe Biden narrows down his VP list, with Karen Bass emerging as one of several key contenders  —  Bass on VP talk: ‘willing to serve’ however I can  —  (CNN)Joe Biden heads into the weekend weighing the biggest decision of his presidential campaign so far, and people close to the process tell CNN …

Republicans and White House at Odds Over Kansas Senate Race  —  Some in the G.O.P. want President Trump to endorse the opponent of Kris Kobach, who they worry could cost them a traditionally safe Senate seat.  So far, the White House has declined to do so.  —  WASHINGTON — As the Kansas …

More Than Just a Tweet: Trump's Campaign to Undercut Democracy  —  Floating the idea of delaying the election was the latest step in the president's running effort to discredit the election, risking long-term damage to public trust in the system.  —  Nothing in the Constitution gives President Trump …

DHS compiled ‘intelligence reports’ on journalists who published leaked documents  —  The Department of Homeland Security has compiled “intelligence reports” about the work of American journalists covering protests in Portland, Ore., in what current and former officials called an alarming use …

The Pandemic Is Damaging the GOP Brand Everywhere  —  Although hardly any of the governors grappling with the fiercest coronavirus outbreaks are on the ballot this fall, voters' verdicts about their performance loom heavily over another electoral battle with enormous implications for the balance …

Trump in trouble as nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling of COVID-19, protests, Russia: POLL  —  Trump is underwater on his handling of the coronavirus, protests and Russia.  —  Nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling …

Exclusive: Trump's ICE chief Matt Albence leaving post  —  Matt Albence, the acting director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will leave his post by Labor Day, the Washington Examiner was first to report Thursday.  —  Albence informed senior ICE officials in a private phone call Thursday evening …

EXCLUSIVE: Fearing Trump interference, FBI agents hid copies of Russia investigation docs  —  (CNN)Adapted from “TRUE CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS: The Investigation of Donald Trump,” by Jeffrey Toobin.  Copyright © 2020.  Available from Doubleday.  —  In the hours after President Donald …

Trump ordered federal forces to quell Portland protests.  But the chaos ended as soon as they left.  —  PORTLAND, Ore. — After President Trump ordered federal law enforcement officers into Portland, Ore., earlier this month, the protests largely ended the same way for days: with tear gas, rubber bullets and arrests.

Census Door Knocking Cut A Month Short Amid Pressure To Finish Count  —  The Census Bureau is cutting short critical door-knocking efforts for the 2020 census amid growing concerns among Democrats in Congress that the White House is pressuring the bureau to wrap up counting soon for political gain, NPR has learned.

Burn the Republican Party Down?  —  It would damage the country, and those who say yes bear some blame for the president's rise.  —  Where did Donald Trump come from?  Where is the GOP going?  Should the whole thing be burned down?  A lot had to go wrong before we got a President Trump.

John Cleese Sounds Off on ‘Complete Asshole’ Trump and His ‘Very Stupid’ Voters  —  “There is no hope for us that we could ever live in an intelligent, kind, well-run society,” the comedy legend says in this preview from “The Last Laugh podcast.”  —  When John Cleese tells people …

Twenty Things You Probably Didn't Know about Susan Rice  —  Being soft on African dictators, pondering the electoral implications of calling genocide genocide, and giving Richard Holbrooke the finger  —  ne: In April 1994, Susan Rice was a rising star on the U.S. National Security Council who worked under Richard Clarke.

NBC Insiders Say Entertainment Boss Fostered Toxic Culture, Under Investigation  —  Current and former employees allege that NBC Entertainment chairman Paul Telegdy engaged in racist, sexist and homophobic behavior: “It was par for the course.”  —  On June 4, former America's Got Talent …

Obama's Filibuster Swipe  —  He frames it as racist.  That will end debate among Democrats.  —  By The Editorial Board  —  Anticipating a November romp, prominent Democrats have been dropping hints that they'd scrap the filibuster for legislation if they win the Senate.

Pinellas sheriff to Rays: Breonna Taylor tweet was ‘just wrong’ and ‘reckless’  —  Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said he'll reevaluate whether his agency will work with the baseball team in the future.  —  Pinellas County's top cop condemned the Tampa Bay Rays for posting a tweet calling for the arrests …

Trump's Racism Won't Win the Suburbs.  But It May Diversify Them.  —  The United States is full of lily-white, deep-blue suburbs with lawn signs that shout Black Lives Matter — and zoning laws that whisper, But preserving “neighborhood character” matters more.

John Lewis Was the Anti-Trump  —  The president doesn't seem to know what democracy is; the congressman embodied it.  —  In his final essay, published on Thursday in The New York Times, Representative John Lewis of Georgia offered welcome words of encouragement and wisdom for everyone protesting discrimination and injustice.

Fauci, White House COVID-19 task force officials testify on Capitol Hill  —  The hearing comes amid growing tension between the doctor and the president.  —  LIVE NOW  —  As the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute …