POLITICO Playbook: Schumer double dares McConnell  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  SCHUMER-MCCONNELL FACEOFF ON THE DEBT CEILING — CHUCK SCHUMER is about to double-dog dare MITCH MCCONNELL and his members to vote against a debt ceiling increase this fall.  Just weeks after the minority leader implored …

CNN's Cuomo Conundrum: A Star Anchor With a Brother in Trouble  —  Chris Cuomo, the top-rated host, left some colleagues confused after he did not acknowledge the calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resignation during his Tuesday show.  —  Earlier this year, CNN executives floated an idea to their star anchor Chris Cuomo.

Biden to sign order aiming for half of new vehicles to be electric by 2030  —  President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order Thursday setting a national goal for electric and other zero-emissions vehicles to make up half of new cars and trucks sold by 2030, senior Biden administration officials said.

As Florida hospitals fill, DeSantis tries changing the subject … It was on Tuesday afternoon when President Joe Biden sent a not-so-subtle shot across the bow of two prominent Republican governors, noting that Florida and Texas alone account for one third of the nation's new COVID-19 cases.

Biden's lawless eviction ban deals another blow to rule of law  —  A U.S. president, under severe pressure from his party's base, repeatedly denies he has the legal authority to take unilateral action his base wants him to.  Eventually, he flip-flops, taking the exact executive action …

EXCLUSIVE U.S. developing plan to require foreign visitors to be vaccinated -official  —  The Biden administration is developing a plan to require nearly all foreign visitors to the United States to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of eventually lifting travel restrictions that bar …

Texas GOP Official Mocked COVID Five Days Before He Died of Virus  —  H. Scott Apley's Facebook page was filled with anti-mask, anti-vaccine content until he was suddenly hospitalized on Sunday.  —  A GOP official from Texas who regularly espoused anti-vaccine and anti-mask views online …

Mike Richards in Advanced Negotiations to Become Permanent Host of ‘Jeopardy!’  (EXCLUSIVE) … “Jeopardy!” executive producer Mike Richards is in advanced negotiations with Sony Pictures Television to become permanent host of the venerable quiz show, taking the reins of the syndicated powerhouse …

Donald Trump wants his supporters to carry “Trump Cards.”  — Donald Trump wants his supporters to carry “Trump Cards.”  — The Trump camp sent an email on August 4 asking supporters to choose their favorite design.  — The cards come emblazoned with gold lettering and bear the former president's signature.

They Were Accused of Wearing Blackface.  Now They're Suing Their College.  —  Last winter, students at California Lutheran University received a message from their president with disturbing news.  —  “Two racist incidents involving social-media posts by Cal Lutheran students occurred in the last week …

Seeking Immunity From Suit Over Jan. 6th Attack, Rep. Mo Brooks Tells Judge He Was Simply ‘Cooperating’ with the ‘White House’  —  Rep. Mo Brooks asked a federal judge to declare that he was immune from a civil lawsuit filed by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) alleging that the Alabama Republican …

Majority of likely voters would remove Newsom from governor's office, poll finds  —  More than half of likely voters in California say they would vote to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom next month, according to a statewide survey released Wednesday.  —  The poll, conducted by SurveyUSA …

Feds Arrest ‘George Washington’ In Jan. 6 Case Using Phone Tracking, Facial Recognition  —  The FBI arrested Missouri's Isaac Yoder, who admitted to entering the U.S. Capitol during the deadly insurrection while wearing colonial attire.  —  Federal agents arrested a man on Wednesday who stormed …

Lawyer: Capitol Cop Who Shot Ashli Babbitt ‘Ambushed’ Her on Jan. 6 Without Warning  —  Officer identified as Lt. Michael Byrd, top, in House chamber before the Ashli Babbitt slaying in the hall.  A Capitol Police officer says Byrd wasn't following firearms training.  (See photo detail below.)

Defense Secretary Austin expected to make Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for active duty troops  —  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to seek authorization to make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for all active duty troops as soon as this week, following President Joe Biden's directive …

Florida COVID update: Another hospitalization record is set  —  Florida reported 16,935 new COVID cases, 140 deaths and more than 12,000 people hospitalized in the state as of Tuesday, the third day in a row of record-breaking COVID hospitalizations as Florida hospitals temporarily suspend elective surgeries …

$5,800 Whiskey Bottle, a Gift From Japan to Pompeo, Is Missing, U.S. Says  —  The State Department is investigating what happened to it.  —  The State Department is investigating the whereabouts of a $5,800 bottle of whiskey the Japanese government gave to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019 …