Mike Pence Says He Hopes the Supreme Court Will Restrict U.S. Abortions  —  Budapest, Hungary (AP) — Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that he is hopeful the new conservative majority on the Supreme Court created during his and President Donald Trump's administration …

Nearly half of the unvaccinated say they're willing to get a coronavirus shot.  The challenge is trying to get it to them.  —  Yolanda Orosco-Arellano decided she would get the coronavirus vaccine long before it became available.  But securing an appointment for it was less straightforward.

Pelosi signals she won't move $3.5T bill without Senate-House deal  —  Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has signaled to colleagues in both chambers that she will not put the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package on the House floor for a vote until it's clear that it can also pass the 50-50 Senate.

The U.S. Debt-Ceiling Drama Is Back, But Democrats Can Finally Break the Cycle  —  We've been here before—in 1995-96, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019.  This time may end a little differently.  —  Joe Biden has had to confront plenty of new problems since becoming president …

The Five Coup Schemes of Donald J. Trump  —  Last year, John Eastman, whom CNN describes as an attorney working with Donald Trump's legal team, wrote a preposterous memo outlining how then-Vice President Mike Pence could overturn the 2020 election by fiat or, failing that …

EXCLUSIVE: New emails reveal Hunter Biden asked for $2 million plus ‘success fees’ to help unfreeze Libyan assets … Two previously unpublished emails sent by business contacts of Hunter Biden indicate that the president's son requested an annual retainer of $2 million to help recover billions …

Lauren Boebert paid rent and utilities with campaign funds, FEC filings show  —  Republican congresswoman later reimbursed her campaign for $6,650  —  Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert paid rent and utility bills with campaign funds in violation of federal campaign finance laws, new filings with the Federal Election Commision show.

Psaki pressed on whether Biden has ‘ever’ been to southern border  —  Fox News' Peter Doocy notes ‘we have not found any record’ of Biden ever visiting border  —  White House press secretary Jen Psaki didn't have an answer Wednesday on whether President Biden has ever or will ever visit …

Biden Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Tied to Alleged 2016 Clinton Scheme to Co-Opt CIA and FBI to Tar Trump  —  White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan figures prominently in a grand jury investigation run by Special Counsel John Durham into an alleged 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign scheme …

Maine Braces Itself for Paul LePage  —  LEWISTON, Maine — Remember Paul LePage?  Sure you do.  He's the former governor of Maine who has called himself, accurately enough, “Donald Trump before Donald Trump” — a hot-headed, vulgar and sometimes erratic figure who regularly made international headlines …

A year after Trump said he wanted to “get rid of the ballots,” has the press learned anything?  —  “That particular question was the precursor to everything that followed - the Big Lie, the Insurrection and what we're living with as far as Trump being in denial about the election results...”

Has Covid Cost Australia Its Love for Freedom?  —  Half the country is locked down, and its borders remain closed.  But most Australians are willing to make these sacrifices in pursuit of a collective freedom from fear of the virus.  —  SYDNEY, Australia — In the war against the coronavirus's …

What Is the Average Federal Individual Income Tax Rate on the Wealthiest Americans? … Abstract: We estimate the average Federal individual income tax rate paid by America's 400 wealthiest families, using a relatively comprehensive measure of their income that includes income from unsold stock.

Grand Jury Returns Indictments Charging 2 Afghan Evacuees with Crimes While at Fort McCoy & Wisconsin Residents with Gun & Drug Crimes  —  MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today.

Diplomat overseeing ‘Havana Syndrome’ response is out after 6 months  —  WASHINGTON — The top State Department official overseeing the response to “Havana Syndrome” is leaving her position after only six months on the job, three officials tell NBC News.  —  Ambassador Pamela Spratlen …

Trump Sends Out Three Increasingly Furious Late-Night Statements in 77 Mins  —  U OK?  —  Donald Trump is doing fine, and don't let three absolutely raging statements sent out within 77 minutes make you think otherwise.  The first, posted by his spokeswoman Wednesday night …

White House blames Boris Johnson after U.S. press corps' questions for Biden shut down  —  Members of the White House press corps filed a formal complaint after a meeting between President Biden and the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ended with questions only from members of the British press.

Little Outcry Over Antifa's Equal-Opportunity Beatdowns of Journalists Left and Right  —  Above, Maranie Staab, photojournalist thrown to the pavement covering antifa Aug. 22 in Portland.  —  From covering displaced refugees around the globe to the obstacles faced by protesters seeking change in America …

Facebook to testify on kids' safety as lawmakers probe a whistleblower's revelations  —  Happy Thursday and welcome to The Technology 202!  Below: Meet “Help Desk,” a new initiative our colleagues are launching to help you navigate the murky world of personal technology.  But first:

Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America  —  I spent virtually no time with Senators Mike Lee of Utah, or Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, talking about the 2020 Presidential Election Scam or, as it is viewed by many, the “Crime of the Century.”