Trump played tough with Putin when cameras were around, but a new book details his insecurities  —  Little is known about what happened in the 90-minute conversation between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Osaka, Japan, two years ago.

131 Federal Judges Broke the Law by Hearing Cases Where They Had a Financial Interest  —  The judges failed to recuse themselves from 685 lawsuits from 2010 to 2018 involving firms in which they or their family held shares, a Wall Street Journal investigation found

Top generals contradict Biden, say they urged him not to withdraw from Afghanistan  —  Top generals told lawmakers under oath on Tuesday that they advised President Joe Biden early this year to keep several thousand troops in Afghanistan — directly contradicting the president's comments …

Deadline Looming, Thousands of Health Care Workers in New York Get Vaccinated  —  Though many hospital and nursing home employees remain unvaccinated, officials say worst-case staffing shortages seem less likely.  —  When New York State officials issued a sweeping coronavirus vaccine mandate …

Youngkin caught saying he ‘can remove’ Virginia vaccine requirement ‘on Day One’  —  In an exclusive video, Republican Virginia gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin said he could eliminate the state's COVID-19 safety measures for state employees if elected.  —  The Republican candidate …

Milley admits to speaking with authors of best-selling Trump books  —  Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley admitted at a Senate hearing Tuesday that he spoke with Bob Woodward and other journalists for their recent books about the Trump presidency.

Pelosi Tries to Bulldoze Progressives on the Infrastructure Bill  —  But she claims it must pass to avoid an expiration of highway funding.  That's just not true.  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks about the infrastructure and budget legislation during her weekly press conference, September 23, 2021, on Capitol Hill.

Woman Accused of Starting Fawn Fire Was Attempting To Boil Bear Urine to Drink  —  SHASTA COUNTY (CBS SF) — According to court documents, the Bay Area woman accused of starting the Fawn Fire in Shasta County last week was attempting to boil bear urine so she could drink it when she allegedly set off the destructive blaze.

NY Times' cluelessness is wrecking journalism  —  I know, I know, you're probably sick of “anniversary journalism,” but it must be noted that this week marked the 32nd anniversary of Billy Joel's last big hit, the unforgettable “We Didn't Start the Fire.”  I'm thinking there's plenty of material …

Mitch McConnell is laughing in your faces, Democrats.  Do something about this.  —  There's an old maxim in politics that declares: “If you're explaining, you're losing.”  Well, you're also losing if you are sputtering with ineffectual outrage even as your opponent's primary response is to laugh derisively in your face.

‘No major incidents of illegal activity’: DHS told Pentagon as pro-Trump mob breached Capitol  —  On Jan. 6, more than 30 minutes after the first attackers breached barricades erected to protect the Capitol, the Department of Homeland Security sent an incongruous update to the Pentagon.

51% Of Texas Voters Say Abbott Doesn't Deserve To Be Reelected, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; President Biden's Approval Numbers Head South  — mail_outline  —  As Governor Greg Abbott faces reelection in 2022, a slight majority of voters say 51 - 42 percent that he does not deserve …

Facebook's Effort to Attract Preteens Goes Beyond Instagram Kids, Documents Show  —  It has investigated how to engage young users in response to competition from Snapchat, TikTok; ‘Exploring playdates as a growth lever’  —  Facebook Inc. has come under increasing fire in recent days …

Restaurant Review: Eleven Madison Park's Vegan Menu  —  Now vegan, Daniel Humm's acclaimed restaurant does strange things to vegetables.  —  8 PhotosView Slide Show  —  ›  —  Daniel Krieger for The New York Times … When you make a reservation at an independently reviewed restaurant through …

Dianne Feinstein to return to D.C. following husband's hospitalization  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Dianne Feinstein was absent from the Senate for a week due to her husband's hospitalization, but the California Democrat is returning to Washington in the midst of a tumultuous legislative session.

Byron York's Daily Memo: The Democratic cave begins  —  Welcome to Byron York's Daily Memo newsletter.  —  Was this email forwarded to you?  Sign up here to receive the newsletter.  —  THE DEMOCRATIC CAVE BEGINS.  Remember when President Joe Biden stunned the political world by threatening …

The Age of Progressive Misinformation  —  The vicious lie that mounted border agents whipped Haitians is only the latest entry in progressives' vast trove of propaganda.  —  How does a stupid and ridiculous lie come to be embraced and promulgated by top officials of the United States government?

Kyrie Irving wants to leave a legacy.  With his stance on vaccination, he just might.  —  Kyrie Irving is too smart for you.  He's so smart, he can outwit germs and governments.  He's so smart, you can't understand a word he's saying.  That's how smart he is.

We've reached the ‘Red Covid’ phase of the pandemic  —  (CNN)In his victory speech after the 2020 election, Joe Biden said this: “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify.  Who doesn't see red and blue states, but a United States.”  —  Roughly nine months into his presidency …

Trump's spiteful support for Abrams over Kemp sparks midterms fear from Georgia Republicans  —  (CNN)Donald Trump is escalating his fight against Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, and state Republicans fear it will give Democrats a stronger foothold in the key swing state as next year's midterm elections loom.

For Transgender Youth, Stigma Is Just One Barrier to Health Care  —  Discrimination, delays and systemic hurdles prevent young trans people from reaching the care they need, a new study finds.  —  Piper, a 17-year-old transgender girl, says she knows she is fortunate.

MacArthur will give 25 new fellows $625,000 each to pursue ‘high-risk, high-reward’ work  —  Reginald Dwayne Betts was at home in New Haven, Conn. when his phone rang with a number he didn't recognize.  The stranger on the other end of the line asked if he was alone.  Betts replied that his two sons were downstairs.

How the Christian right embraced voter suppression  —  Abortion isn't the only victory conservative evangelicals have won in 2021. … For decades, the Christian-right foot soldiers who form the backbone of the Republican Party have regularly and enthusiastically showed up for legislative battles …