Biden is still leading in the polls, and voters say he won his first debate against Trump  — Democrat Joe Biden came into the first debate ahead of President Trump in the national polls.  — The first scientific polls to ask who won the debate Tuesday night show Biden coming out on top.

Revealed: Amy Coney Barrett supported group that said life begins at fertilization  —  Barrett signed newspaper ad in 2006 sponsored by St Joseph County Right to Life, an extreme anti-choice group  —  Amy Coney Barrett, the Trump administration's supreme court nominee …

Abbott orders counties to close multiple ballot dropoff sites  —  Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order Thursday requiring counties to close multiple locations where voters can drop off completed mail-in ballots.  —  As an election security measure, counties will be limited to one dropoff site …

Proud Boys, Black Lives Matter leaders hold joint conference: We ‘denounce White supremacy’  —  Local leaders of the right-wing group Proud Boys in Salt Lake City held a joint news conference with a local Black Lives Matter leader on Wednesday to correct the record and “denounce White supremacy” …

Judge rules federal law enforcement commission violates law, orders work stopped as attorney general prepares to issue report  —  Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement is not diverse, doesn't hold public meetings as law requires  —  A national commission on law enforcement launched earlier …

Internal document shows Trump officials were told to make comments sympathetic to Kyle Rittenhouse  —  WASHINGTON — Federal law enforcement officials were directed to make public comments sympathetic to Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager charged with fatally shooting two protesters in Kenosha …

Hong Kong Is China, Like It or Not  —  After months of chaos in the city, something had to be done, and the Chinese government did it.  —  Ms. Ip is a legislator and a member of the Executive Council in Hong Kong.  —  HONG KONG — No amount of outcry, condemnation or sanctions …

Trump's ex-national security adviser says president is ‘aiding and abetting’ Putin  —  Former national security adviser H.R. McMaster said Thursday that President Donald Trump is “aiding and abetting” Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to sow doubt about the American electoral system.

Biden poised to launch in-person canvassing in key states  —  NEW YORK (AP) — After months of avoiding direct contact with voters because of the pandemic, Joe Biden's campaign is about to launch in-person canvassing efforts across several battleground states.

DOJ Alumni Open Letter on Protecting Free and Fair Elections  —  We, the undersigned, are alumni of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) who have collectively served both Republican and Democratic administrations.  Each of us took an oath to defend the Constitution and pursue …

AG Nessel Files Felony Charges Against Jack Burkman, Jacob Wohl in Voter-Suppression Robocalls Investigation  —  LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed charges today against two political operatives for allegedly orchestrating a series of robocalls aimed at suppressing the vote in the November general election.

Trump's plans for rally in western Wisconsin up in the air  —  MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Donald Trump appears to have canceled a planned appearance in western Wisconsin amid calls from the city's mayor and the state's governor, both Democrats, that he not hold a rally amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Trump requires food aid boxes to come with a letter from him  —  The Agriculture Department last week began mandating that millions of boxes of surplus food for needy families include a letter from President Donald Trump claiming credit for the program.  —  The USDA's $4 billion Farmers …

Third-party candidate backs Graham in tightening SC race  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is getting campaign support from a third-party candidate, potentially bringing with him a narrow margin of conservative backers who could propel Graham over his Democratic challenger in a tightening race.

Biden Lead Looks Firmer as Midwest Moves His Way  —  Dear Readers: Join us today at 2 p.m. eastern for our latest episode of Sabato's Crystal Ball: America Votes.  We'll be reacting to the first debate and going over the state of the race, including the many rating changes we made today (see below).

Border Patrol Snipers Were Authorized to Use Deadly Force at George Floyd's Burial  —  Records obtained by VICE News show police in Pearland, Texas, invited federal agents to surveil Floyd's burial and authorized them to open fire in the event of unrest.  —  EG  —  KH

The Most Illuminating Moment of the Debate  —  The moments after your first child is born are humbling and overwhelming, the emotional equivalent of staring directly into the sun.  You realize that you are suddenly responsible for a human life that you helped create, a sliver of two souls smuggled …

United States Obtains Final Judgement and Permanent Injunction Against Edward Snowden  —  On Sept. 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia entered a final judgment and permanent injunction against Edward Snowden, a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency …

Snapchat has helped 1 million users register to vote, a possible boon to Democrats  —  When Americans cast their ballots in this year's presidential election, millions will do so because they registered to vote through such social platforms as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

South Carolina GOP asks Supreme Court to reinstate mail-in ballot witness requirement  —  South Carolina Republicans asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to reinstate the witness signature requirement for mail ballots ahead of the November election, extending the legal turmoil over the rule …

House prepares to pass revised COVID relief bill as White House talks hit roadblock  —  The House appeared likely to move ahead Thursday with Democrats' revised $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill as 11th-hour negotiations with the White House continued.  —  The latest: After meeting …

The Trump Administration Lost Millions of Dollars of Food and Water Meant For Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria  —  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has, in recent weeks, claimed that he is “the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico,” in an effort to win over Puerto Rican voters in Florida.