TRUMP ENGINEERED A SUDDEN WINDFALL IN 2016 AS CAMPAIGN FUNDS DWINDLED  —  Tax records expose more than $21 million in highly unusual payments from the Las Vegas hotel Donald Trump owns with Phil Ruffin, routed through other Trump companies and paid out in cash.  —  Donald J. Trump needed money.

Scoop: Barr tells Republicans Durham report won't be ready by election  —  Attorney General Bill Barr has begun telling top Republicans that the Justice Department's sweeping review into the origins of the Russia investigation will not be released before the election, a senior White House official …

Trump planning to host 1st in-person event since diagnosis at White House on Saturday: Sources  —  His doctor said the president can hold “public engagements” starting Saturday.  —  Trump calls virtual debate ‘waste of time’  —  The latest on the next presidential debate …

Trump's Struggles Ripple Across the Sun Belt, Endangering G.O.P. Stronghold  —  President Trump is fading nationally as he alienates women, seniors and suburbanites, polls show.  But private G.O.P. surveys show he is in close races in solidly red states, too.

Ted Cruz warns the election ‘could be a bloodbath of Watergate proportions’ for GOP  — Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned that Republicans could see “a bloodbath of Watergate proportions” if voters are angry and broke when casting their ballots this year.  — He blamed Rep. Nancy Pelosi …

Hope Hicks returned to the White House to pull Trump across the finish line.  Then coronavirus hit.  —  When she returned to the White House on March 9 after two years away and a lucrative stint in corporate PR, Hope Hicks was supposed to be a talisman to re-create the magic of President Trump's against-the-odds 2016 campaign.

Ohio county says nearly 50,000 voters received wrong ballots  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Nearly 50,000 voters received incorrect absentee ballots in the county that is home to Ohio's capital, elections officials said Friday as they promised corrected ballots would be mailed within 72 hours.

Additional steps we're taking ahead of the 2020 US Election  —  Twitter plays a critical role around the globe by empowering democratic conversation, driving civic participation, facilitating meaningful political debate, and enabling people to hold those in power accountable.

Amy Coney Barrett failed to disclose talks on Roe v. Wade hosted by anti-abortion groups on Senate paperwork  —  (CNN)Judge Amy Coney Barrett failed to disclose two talks she gave in 2013 hosted by two anti-abortion student groups on paperwork provided to the Senate ahead of her confirmation hearing …

Alleged Baltimore-area member of far-right ‘Boogaloo’ movement arrested on federal gun charge  —  The FBI has arrested a Dundalk man on a firearms charge after identifying him as a member of the far-right Boogaloo movement, according to a new criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

Amid Campaign Turmoil, Biden Holds Wide Leads on Coronavirus, Unifying the Country  —  Most Trump, Biden supporters say their differences go beyond policies to ‘core American values and goals’  —  Pew Research Center conducted this study to understand how Americans view …

“We Are At War”: Heshy Tischler Is Not Done Stirring Up Orthodox Brooklyn  —  Editor's note: This story was produced in partnership with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.  —  On a sunny afternoon in June, Heshy Tischler showed up at Williamsburg's Middleton Playground with bolt cutters.

Trump Will Undergo Televised Medical Evaluation on Friday Night, Fox News Announces  —  SAY AAH  —  Cancel your Friday night plans immediately and prepare to be thrilled and maybe a little bit sick—because President Donald Trump is apparently going to have a “medical evaluation” on television.

Pelosis Take a Big Stake in CrowdStrike  —  The cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike rose to global prominence in mid-June 2016 when it publicly accused Russia of hacking the Democratic National Committee and stealing its data.  The previously unknown company's explosive allegation set off …

Debate commission claims Steve Scully's Twitter account hacked after Scaramucci tweet makes waves  —  C-SPAN host's tweet read: ‘@Scaramucci should I respond to trump’  —  Debate commission co-chair suggests Steve Scully was ‘hacked’ as Scaramucci tweet makes waves

‘The president is likely toast’: Trump's woes raise GOP fears of a blue wave  —  WASHINGTON — A series of setbacks for President Donald Trump has left some Republican operatives and donors fearing that the race for the White House is slipping away and proposing that the party shift focus to protecting seats in Congress.

Mike Pompeo: Clinton emails could be released before election  —  WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said his agency was working as fast as it could to release Hillary Clinton's missing emails after President Trump lashed his cabinet member for not making them public.

On Hannity's show, Trump reveals his corrupt, panicky endgame  —  Given President Trump's latest antics, we should probably get more serious about reacquainting ourselves with the concept of political violence, or violence undertaken to achieve political or ideological ends …

Trump got a $21 million tax break for saving the forest outside his NY mansion.  Now the deal is under investigation.  —  Five years ago, Donald Trump promised to preserve more than 150 acres of rolling woodlands in an exclusive swath of New York suburbia prized for its luxury homes and rural tranquility.

MAGA-Crazy Retirement Village Now Fears COVID—and Pence  —  “The virus was a hoax here until Trump got it,” one resident said.  —  MIAMI—Fresh off a vice presidential debate where he sported a reddish, sickly-looking eye, Vice President Mike Pence appears to be charging ahead with a plan …

Judge denies motion to extend Florida's voter registration  —  A federal judge has denied a motion to extend voter registration in Florida after a computer meltdown on the final day of registration might have prevented thousands of potential voters from taking part in November's presidential election

Donald Trump leads Joe Biden by 5 points in Texas, UT/TT Poll finds  —  The president leads the former vice president 50%-45% in Texas, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.  —  Copy link  —  President Donald Trump leads former Vice President Joe Biden with the support …

Hillary Clinton Says She Was Right All Along  —  Only one Democrat other than Joe Biden has experience running for president against Donald Trump, and she's not quite over 2016, or confident that Biden will be able to do what she couldn't.  —  Hillary Clinton has been in lockdown like everyone else.