US defense officials contradict Trump: No indication yet of attack in Beirut  —  (CNN)Three US Defense Department officials told CNN that as of Tuesday night there was no indication that the massive explosions that rocked Beirut on Tuesday were an “attack,” contradicting an earlier claim from President Donald Trump.

‘She is absolutely our No. 1 draft pick’: GOP pines for Rice as Biden VP  —  Joe Biden still may be undecided about whom to pick for a running mate, but Donald Trump's team knows exactly whom it wants: Susan Rice.  —  Trump's aides and allies accuse Rice — without delving too deeply into the evidence …

Cori Bush Defeats William Lacy Clay in a Show of Progressive Might  —  The upset of the veteran congressman from St. Louis sent tremors though the Democratic establishment in Missouri and Washington, D.C.  —  ST. LOUIS — Cori Bush, a progressive activist and a leader of the swelling protest movement …

Trump campaign sues Nevada over bill expanding mail-in voting for general election  —  President Donald Trump's campaign has sued Nevada over a contentious bill recently approved in the ongoing special session of the Nevada Legislature that expands mail-in voting for the 2020 general election …

He Predicted Trump's Win in 2016.  Now He's Ready to Call 2020.  —  Most historians just study the past.  But Allan Lichtman has successfully predicted the future.  —  This is professor Allan Lichtman.  He's taught history at American University for almost 50 years.  He's a former steeplechase champion.

Republicans Aid Kanye West's Bid to Get on the 2020 Ballot  —  At least three people involved in the effort to get Kanye West's name before voters in several states have G.O.P. connections, renewing questions about the aim of his campaign.  —  At least three people who have been active …

Biden pushes back on cognitive test question: ‘Why the hell would I take a test?’  —  WASHINGTON — Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden shrugged off a question Tuesday about taking a cognitive assessment test, which President Trump has challenged him to do — while misrepresenting what the test measures.

A Brutal Assessment of Cable News  —  On the menu today: An MSNBC producer resigns, and metaphorically nails 95 theses to the doors of cable news, spotlighting how the industry has failed in its duties to inform the public; the president has another pyrotechnic explosion of a television interview …

I Was Bloodied and Dazed.  Beirut Strangers Treated Me Like a Friend.  —  In a land conditioned by calamity, people knew what to do, including helping wounded people they didn't know.  —  BEIRUT — I was just about to look at a video a friend had sent me on Tuesday afternoon …

Exclusive: Gov. Ron DeSantis Acknowledges State's Unemployment System Was Built With ‘Pointless Roadblocks’ To Pay Out ‘Least Number Of Claims’  —  MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Gov. Ron DeSantis is acknowledging or the first time that the state unemployment system was deliberately designed to frustrate people …

Republicans dodge Kansas nightmare as Marshall defeats Kobach  —  Rep. Roger Marshall won the GOP primary for an open Senate seat in Kansas on Tuesday, turning aside the controversial Kris Kobach — to the relief of Republicans concerned that Kobach could put not just the state but the party's Senate majority at risk this fall.

Republicans consider South Lawn of the White House for Donald Trump's convention speech  —  Republican National Convention planners are considering the White House South Lawn as the site of President Trump's nationally televised nomination acceptance speech later this month, according to a Republican familiar with the discussions.

Digital Revenue Exceeds Print for 1st Time for New York Times Company  —  The pandemic squeezed advertising for the web as well as print, but subscription growth was the best ever for a quarter.  —  Over a three-month period dominated by the coronavirus pandemic and a slowdown in advertising …

Instead Of Saying ‘Hey, Guys!’  At Work, Try These Gender-Neutral Alternatives … “Hey, guys!”  It's the greeting that launched a thousand meetings and Zoom calls.  —  Etymologists trace the term “guys” to the historical figure Guy Fawkes.  It's evolved from the name of one man who attempted …

Will Bill Barr Try to Help Trump Win the Election?  —  Two investigations appear to be potential fodder for pre-election political machinations.  —  Mr. Goodman, editor in chief of Just Security, and Mr. Weissmann, a senior prosecutor in the Mueller investigation, teach law at N.Y.U.

Missouri voters latest to approve Medicaid expansion  —  Missouri voters on Tuesday approved Medicaid expansion to many of the state's poorest adults, making their conservative state the second to join the Obamacare program through the ballot during the pandemic.

Bass corrects explanation for appearing at Scientology event  —  Karen Bass on Wednesday corrected her explanation for why she appeared and spoke effusively at the opening of the Church of Scientology's headquarters in Los Angeles a decade ago.  —  Bass had noted in a written statement …

25 percent of ballots in Brooklyn June primaries invalid  —  A staggering 25 percent of mail-in ballots cast in Brooklyn for June's primary elections were declared invalid, it was revealed on Tuesday, as Mayor Bill de Blasio called on the Board of Elections to shape up by November.

Mitch McConnell, the Turtle, Is Losing the Race Now  —  The majority leader dedicated himself to Republican of convenience Donald Trump, and it's looking like he may not be the majority leader for much longer.  —  BEAST INSIDE  —  It's been a bad, bad, bad summer for Mitch McConnell.