More Voters Trust Biden on Covid  —  Challenger pulls into double-digit lead over Trump  —  West Long Branch, NJ - Joe Biden holds a 12-point lead over Donald Trump among all registered voters in Pennsylvania and anywhere from an 8-point to 11-point lead among likely voters, according to the Monmouth ("Mon-muth") University Poll.

Trump Live Updates: Trump, Back at the White House, Continues to Downplay Virus  —  The president is charging into uncharted territory, against the advice of doctors who warned against leaving the hospital and about the random and often lethal nature of Covid-19.

White House staff, Secret Service eye virus with fear, anger  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The West Wing is a ghost town.  Staff members are scared of exposure.  And the White House is now a treatment ward for not one — but two — COVID patients, including a president who has long taken the threat of the virus lightly.

Senior Pentagon leadership quarantining after exposure to coronavirus  —  (CNN)The top US general, Gen. Mark Milley, and several members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are quarantining after a top Coast Guard official tested positive for coronavirus, several US defense officials tell CNN.

Biden defines $400,000 a year as ‘wealthy,’ but that income only makes you upper-middle class in big cities  — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says his tax hikes would affect only the wealthy.  — He defines “wealthy” as those who make more than $400,000 a year.

Police officer charged with murder in shooting of Black man at gas station … A Texas police officer who fatally shot a Black man has been arrested and charged with murder, authorities said Monday night.  —  The officer, Shaun Lucas, of the Wolfe City Police Department did not take reasonable action …

Lincoln Project unveils “Operation Sam Houston,” a $1 million ad campaign in Texas  —  New this morning: The Lincoln Project, the group led by former Republican strategists working to defeat President Donald Trump, is launching a $1 million ad campaign in Texas.

‘An embarrassment’: Trump tweet angers pandemic survivors  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Dizzy with a soaring fever and unable to breathe, Scott Sedlacek had one thing going for him: He was among the first people to be treated for COVID-19 at Seattle's Swedish Medical Center, and the doctors and nurses were able to give him plenty of attention.

Facebook removes Trump post falsely saying flu is more lethal than Covid  —  (CNN)Facebook on Tuesday removed a post from President Trump in which he falsely claimed that Covid-19 is less deadly than the seasonal flu.  —  Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed the company removed the post …

Democrats Haven't Landed a Punch on Amy Coney Barrett  —  Supreme Court Sides with GOP, Reinstates South Carolina's Ballot Witness Requirement  —  House Democrats Want to Force You to Pay for Abortion  —  Her Supreme Court nomination has been smooth sailing so far.  —  T

GOP county chair in Arkansas dies from COVID-19 - his committee hosted a maskless gathering last month  —  The chairman of the Craighead County Republican Committee in Arkansas has died from complications while fighting the coronavirus, reported KAIT8 News.  —  Steven Farmer's GOP committee hosted …

The 10 Bellwether Counties That Show How Trump Is in Serious Trouble  —  Each one is in a battleground state.  Votes from people there will matter a lot — and offer Joe Biden several paths to victory.  —  Mr. Wasserman is the House editor at The Cook Political Report.

Trump military valet tests positive for Covid-19  —  A military valet who comes in contact with Trump tested positive for Covid-19 over the weekend, a person familiar with the matter tells NBC News.  —  Military aide close to Trump tests positive for coronavirus  —  3h ago / 1:05 PM UTC

Michelle Obama: Vote for Biden like your lives depend on it  —  Former first lady Michelle Obama is making her closing message to Americans in a campaign video released less than one month before Election Day, imploring voters to “vote for Joe Biden like your lives depend on it.”  Source: CNN

Pulitzer Board Must Revoke Nikole Hannah-Jones' Prize … We call on the Pulitzer Prize Board to rescind the 2020 Prize for Commentary awarded to Nikole Hannah-Jones for her lead essay in “The 1619 Project.”  That essay was entitled, “Our democracy's founding ideals were false when they were written.”

Subject of Project Veritas voter fraud story says he was offered bribe  —  Liban Osman is featured prominently in a video released last week by the conservative media operation Project Veritas claiming there is “massive voter fraud” in Minnesota orchestrated by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

The meta Trump book you didn't know you needed (and wanted) to read  —  What Were We Thinking: A Brief Intellectual History of the Trump Era  —  If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.

Battleground state lawmakers seek law changes to avoid ‘man-made disaster’ of mail-in ballot delays  —  Pre-canvassing allows election workers to more readily count votes on Election Day  —  Mail-in voting sparks debate in PA  —  Despite efforts in many states to expand early voting …

Sen Ron Johnson (R-WI) discusses his positive COVID19 diagnosis  —  Sen. Ron Johnson took his 6th precautionary COVID test a few days ago, fully expecting his 6th negative because he felt absolutely fine.  The test, however, came back positive so now he's in his third quarantine.

The Weirdest 90 Seconds in Presidential History  —  Don't cry for Donnie, America.  The truth is, he never left you.  —  Donald Trump's photo op on the Truman Balcony following his return to the White House with COVID-19 is one of the most disturbing, absorbing, foreign images I can recall.

Biden makes $6M bet on Texas, ending drought for Democrats who've written off state for decades … Former VP still hasn't shown up in person, but 'it's a hell of a lot more than anybody else ever spent,' state Democratic chairman says.  —  WASHINGTON — With President Donald Trump hamstrung …