Israel showed US ‘smoking gun’ on Hamas in AP office tower, officials say  —  “We showed them the smoking gun proving Hamas worked out of that building,” a source close to Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said.  “I understand they found the explanation satisfactory.”

Republicans' conflicting message: Embracing Trump election lie is key to prominence, just stop asking us about it  —  The Republican Party's contorted response to Donald Trump's false claim that the election was stolen was on stark display as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy stood in the White House driveway.

A surge of newcomers pack Georgia GOP meetings across state  —  The grassroots effort to punish Gov. Brian Kemp largely fizzled at key Republican meetings across the state this weekend even as record crowds of activists continued a relentless focus on former President Donald Trump's lies …

New mask guidance does not grant permission for widespread mask removal: Walensky  —  Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, appeared on ABC's “This Week.”  —  CDC director discusses new mask guidance for fully vaccinated Americans  —  Dr. Rochelle Walensky talks about the Centers …

Republican Arizona election official says Trump ‘unhinged’  —  PHOENIX — The Republican who now leads the Arizona county elections department targeted by a GOP audit of the 2020 election results is slamming former President Donald Trump and others in his party for their continued falsehoods about how the election was run.

The demise of ‘thoughts and prayers’: How the clichéd greeting-card condolence died amid a rash of mass shootings … The wordsmith-in-chief found himself flummoxed.  It was June 2015, and President Barack Obama had been invited to a memorial service for nine Black churchgoers gunned …

Man charged with wife's murder illegally cast her ballot for Trump, officials say: ‘I just thought, give him another vote’  —  The county clerk immediately knew something strange was going on last fall.  A mail ballot had arrived from Suzanne Morphew — a woman missing since May.

The man who didn't invent Flamin' Hot Cheetos  —  For the last decade, Richard Montañez has been telling the story of how he invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos.  The world has been eating it up.  —  It goes like this: He was working as a janitor at Frito-Lay's Rancho Cucamonga plant …

Democracy depends on two guys named Joe  —  Opinion by  —  Two Joes will determine whether we protect the voting rights of all Americans.  And one may have to persuade the other to get the job done.  —  These are no ordinary Joes.  I am, of course, speaking of President Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.).

Matthew McConaughey making calls as he weighs running for Texas governor  —  Alright, alright, alright ... he might, he might, he might.  —  Matthew McConaughey has publicly said a run for Texas governor in 2022 is a “true consideration.”  —  But the Academy Award-winning actor's interest goes …

Matt Gaetz equates sex trafficking investigation with earmarks in Ohio speech  —  STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican mired in controversy, told a crowd of Republican activists Saturday that sexual misconduct allegations involving him are as benign as legislative earmarks.

Joe Biden is proving even more of a ‘master of disaster’ than Jimmy Carter  —  President Joe Biden entered office poised to oversee a record recovery and a return to the booming economy and all-round stability of pre-pandemic life.  Instead, he's turned out to be a master of disaster …

Space Force commander fired after comments made on conservative podcast  —  Washington, DC (CNN)A Space Force lieutenant colonel has been removed from his command after appearing on a conservative podcast criticizing the United States military.  —  Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier joined …

Increasingly active younger voters liberalize US electorate  —  President Biden, the oldest man ever elected to the White House, won on the strength of an emerging cohort of younger voters who are increasingly finding their political voice — and growing their influence in an electorate in which older voters are losing sway.

Jail Time and Big Fines: G.O.P. Seeks Harsh Penalties for Poll Workers  —  Republicans seeking to restrict voting are proposing strict punishments for election officials and workers who make errors or violate the rules.  —  AUSTIN, Texas — Anita Phillips has been an election judge in Texas for 17 years …

Maya Wiley Lands Major Endorsement From Rep. Hakeem Jeffries  —  Mr. Jeffries, New York's top House Democrat, said he intended to engage in significant efforts on Ms. Wiley's behalf, including making campaign appearances with her.  —  Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York …

Colonial Pipeline returns to ‘normal operations’ following shutdown  —  Colonial Pipeline officials said early Saturday morning they “have returned the system to normal operations” after the company was forced to shut down operations last week following one of the most disruptive cyberattacks in history.