The truth behind the Hunter Biden non-scandal  —  The story of Hunter Biden's involvement with the Ukrainian gas company Burisma isn't a scandal about his father, as the Trump campaign claims, but part of a personal tragedy for the vice president's son, compounded by this week's dissemination …

2020 Election Live Updates: Fearing Losses in November, Republican Senators Begin to Edge Away From Trump  —  The president held rallies in Florida and Georgia as Joe Biden traveled to Michigan.  A Republican colleague of Senator Kamala Harris mockingly mispronounced her name.

The News Media Isn't Biased Against Trump.  It's Biased For Him.  —  Going into his NBC town hall, President Trump decided, for some reason, that his thematic message would be his unfair treatment at the hands of the forum in which he was voluntarily participating.

Former White House chief of staff tells friends that Trump ‘is the most flawed person’ he's ever met  —  (CNN)Former White House chief of staff, retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, has told friends that President Donald Trump “is the most flawed person” he's ever known.  —  “The depths of his dishonesty is just astounding to me.

Let the blame game begin.  Republicans point the finger at Parscale, Kushner, Stepien, and Trump himself as the president's team braces for a potential 2020 blowout. … - President Donald Trump's advisors, campaign staff, and other Republicans are starting to assign blame for what could be a big loss …

Who Was ‘El Padrino,’ Godfather to Drug Cartel?  Mexico's Defense Chief, U.S. Says  —  Drug enforcement agents had long tried to solve the mystery of “El Padrino,” a shadowy, powerful force.  They've now identified him as Salvador Cienfuegos, Mexico's defense chief from 2012 to 2018.

White House Opposes Expanded Virus Testing, Complicating Stimulus Talks  —  Some administration officials say testing Americans with no symptoms of the coronavirus would hurt the economy and restrict civil liberties.  Democrats and some prominent experts say it would slow the virus and bolster economic growth.

Fearing a ‘Blood Bath,’ Republican Senators Begin to Edge Away From Trump  —  The statements offer an answer to the question of when Republicans might begin to repudiate the president after years of embracing him: the moment they believed he threatened their own political survival.

With Gardner trailing Hickenlooper, national GOP groups scale back spending in Colorado  —  “It's over,” Republican pollster says of Colorado's U.S. Senate race  —  Faced with a consistent stream of polls showing U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner headed for a loss next month, national Republican groups …

Trump billboard in Houston goes viral after being vandalized  —  A Donald Trump billboard located off Houston's Telephone Road has been vandalized, sparking a viral response on social media.  —  Personal injury lawyer Rogelio Garcia, 61, said he first spotted the billboard located …

Even in Defeat, Trumpism Isn't Going Anywhere  —  Republicans pining for days gone by have some tough truths to face  —  As the mad king raged at Savannah Guthrie for having the gall to question him about his conspiracy mongering, mask trutherism, and failure to even pretend to manage …

Third Justice Dept. Prosecutor Publicly Denounces Barr  —  The prosecutor also said he retired after staying on to protect a public corruption case against a Republican congressman.  —  WASHINGTON — A 36-year veteran of the Justice Department this week accused Attorney General William P. Barr …

HHS lawyer: Trump's drug cards could violate election law  —  The health department's top lawyer is warning in an internal memo that President Donald Trump's plan to give seniors $200 discount cards to buy prescription drugs could violate election law, according to three officials with knowledge of those legal concerns.

Self-proclaimed soybean farmer Joni Ernst doesn't know price of soybeans  —  And Sen. Ernst's reelection prospects look more bleak than ever.  —  In her third and last debate with the Democratic challenger for her Senate seat, Theresa Greenfield, on Thursday night, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) …

More Than 1,000 Current and Former CDC Officers Condemn U.S. Covid-19 Response  —  An open letter calls for the federal agency to play a more central role in addressing the pandemic  —  More than 1,000 current and former officers of an elite disease-fighting program at the U.S. Centers …

Joe Kennedy III campaign says it improperly spent $1.5 million in Senate primary  —  The campaign of Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III said Friday that it improperly spent $1.5 million of donations intended for the general election during the final weeks of his bitter and ultimately …

Jacinda Ardern claims historic victory in New Zealand election  —  New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's ruling Labour Party looked set for a comprehensive win in the country's general election on Saturday.  —  Driving the news: NZ Electoral Commission results show that with 93.1.% of votes counted …

Teacher in Paris suburb decapitated, allegedly after showing cartoons of prophet Muhammad in class  —  PARIS — A high school teacher in a Paris suburb was decapitated Friday afternoon, French authorities said, in an attack that occurred after the teacher had allegedly shown caricatures of the prophet Muhammad to his students.

Neo-Nazi and Proud Boys groups push Trump campaign poll watching operation online: Reports  —  “Some of these groups will be listening to his false claims of fraud.”  —  Oregon governor says Trump ‘is stoking the fires of hatred and division’  —  Kate Brown on her state's political unrest, mail-in voting system and wildfire aid.

String of Firms That Imploded Have Something in Common: Ernst & Young Audited Them  —  Big Four accounting concern reviewed the books of several companies where investors lost billions when scandals emerged.  The firm says it uncovered some of the problems at its clients.  —  TEXT  —  140 RESPONSES

Trump flails and shows no ability to reset as some Republicans voice their concerns  —  (CNN)As President Donald Trump began a packed day of events Friday, he delivered an unusually somber message to seniors — a group he won in 2016 and desperately needs to win back — speaking of the pain …

In Ohio, a Printing Company Is Overwhelmed and Mail Ballots Are Delayed  —  The company was until recently flying a “Trump 2020” flag over its Cleveland headquarters.  The problems it has had underscore the stress that mail voting has put on the nation's election process amid the pandemic.