What will it take for Biden to bring fractured Democrats together?  —  It was never going to be easy.  —  Democrats are struggling, torn between moderates and progressives, as they try to reach consensus on President Biden's signature domestic initiatives, the big bipartisan infrastructure bill …

White House faces grueling choices as major cuts hang over Biden economic package  —  White House officials are preparing how to dramatically scale back President Biden's economic agenda if forced to accommodate the demands of centrist lawmakers critical to its passage, according to five people with knowledge of internal discussions.

Taiwan angered after largest ever incursion by Chinese air force  —  Taiwan sharply criticised China on Saturday after Beijing marked the founding of the People's Republic of China with the largest ever incursion by the Chinese air force into the island's air defence zone.

‘Kraken Queen’ Sidney Powell Is Now on Trump's ‘No-Go List’  —  BLACKLISTED  —  “Her problems right now do not need to be the [former] president's problems,” one knowledgeable source said.  —  Being Sidney Powell is harder than it used to be.  —  Once, she was a key player in Donald Trump's inner circle.

Ozy Media Says It Is Shutting Down  —  The digital media start-up had come under scrutiny for its business practices in recent days following articles in The Times.  — Read in app  —  Ozy Media, the digital media company that came under scrutiny for its business practices in recent days …

Why I felt betrayed by Netflix's Midnight Mass  —  Horror is a natural refuge for atheists and sinners.  But Netflix's Midnight Mass made me feel erased.  —  I've been trying to put my finger on why Midnight Mass, Netflix's new seven-part series from the creator of The Haunting of Hill House …

Hack exposes law enforcement officers who signed up to join anti-government Oath Keepers  —  Will Carless Grace Hauck Erin MansfieldUSA TODAY  —  The law enforcement officers described what they could offer the Oath Keepers:  —  “I have a wide variety of law enforcement experience …

Arrest made in arson incident at Travis County Democratic Party office  —  Law enforcement authorities say they have made an arrest in Wednesday's arson incident at theTravis County Democratic Party office in East Austin.  A “Molotov cocktail” was thrown inside the office and ignited during the early morning hours.

Bannon fires up ‘shock troops’ for next GOP White House  —  WASHINGTON — Scores of former Trump political appointees gathered at a GOP social club Wednesday night to hear Steve Bannon detail how they could help the next Republican president reconfigure government.

Jan. 6 Was Worse Than It Looked  — Read in app  —  The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values.  It is separate from the newsroom.  —  However horrifying the Jan. 6 riot …

U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Surpasses 700,000 Despite Wide Availability of Vaccines  —  The latest Covid-19 deaths were concentrated in the South, and included more younger people than before.  Every age group under 55 saw its highest death toll of the pandemic this August.  — Read in app

“They Tell Me I Shouldn't But . . .”: Sotomayor Calls on Law Students to Oppose the Texas Abortion Law  —  Modern justices have long chafed at the restraints of judicial ethical rules about public commentary.  The late Ruth Bader Ginsburg was celebrated as “notorious” due in part …

Ted Cruz Is Blocking Biden Nominees  —  Dozens of nominations have been held up by a fight between the Texas senator and the Biden administration over a Russian gas pipeline project.  — Read in app  —  WASHINGTON — The arrival of a new U.S. ambassador to Mexico is usually a routine event.

Governor's race in Va. has Republicans dreaming of a post-Trump future  —  A tense race for governor in Virginia is testing a new reality for Democrats and Republicans: how to run when Donald Trump is not in the White House and not on the ballot.  —  Democrat Terry McAuliffe …

Caslen calls coming to USC ‘biggest regret of my life’ as emails show split over departure  —  COLUMBIA — More than four months after resigning as president at the University of South Carolina amid a plagiarism scandal, Bob Caslen remains bitter about how his 21-month tenure ended.

Abortion rights hang in the balance, as advocates rally across the country  —  Abortion-rights advocates are protesting in cities across the U.S. on Saturday, with their movement feeling deeply uneasy about what comes next after Texas enacted the nation's most restrictive abortion law …