SCOOP: Manchin Tells Associates He's Considering Leaving the Democratic Party and Has an Exit Plan  —  In recent days, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) has told associates that he is considering leaving the Democratic Party if President Joe Biden and Democrats on Capitol Hill do not agree to his demand …

Report: Sinema Bent on Destroying Biden Presidency to Keep Taxes on the Wealthy Low This sounds extremely bad.  —  News reports this week have portrayed Democrats in Congress as slowly converging on a deal to pass a shrunken version of President Biden's Build Back Better agenda.

When M.I.T. Asked Dorian Abbot to Speak, It Invited Criticism  —  Dorian Abbot is a scientist who has opposed aspects of affirmative action.  He is now at the center of an argument over free speech and acceptable discourse.  —  CHICAGO — The Massachusetts Institute of Technology invited …

Biden abruptly accelerates his involvement in agenda talks  —  For weeks, President Biden has met repeatedly with Democratic lawmakers as part of the tortuous negotiations over his agenda — but to the frustration of many, he has revealed few opinions of his own on what should remain in the plan and what should be jettisoned.

GOP Gains in Governor's Race  —  Enthusiasm gap and shift in voter priorities boost Youngkin  —  West Long Branch, NJ - With two weeks to go before Election Day, Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin are locked in a close battle for governor of Virginia.

Why Facebook is rebranding  —  Fresh details from the search for a new name.  PLUS: Five former employees weigh in  —  Programming note: Platformer will be off on Thursday to work on some ... stuff.  See you Monday!  —  Facebook is changing its name.  Perhaps you heard.

Moderna and J&J Covid-19 Boosters, Mixing and Matching Authorized by the FDA  —  The extra doses are expected to become available in coming days, once the CDC offers guidance on usage  —  U.S. health regulators significantly widened the nation's Covid-19 booster campaign …

Rep. Jim Jordan tells House panel he can't recall how many times he spoke with Trump on Jan. 6  —  Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Wednesday struggled to answer questions about his communications with then-President Donald Trump during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, telling a House panel …

Suspected human remains and items belonging to Brian Laundrie found in Florida park, FBI says  —  (CNN)What appears to be human remains and items belonging to Brian Laundrie, including a backpack, have been found in the Carlton Reserve in North Port, Florida, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson.

Netflix Employee Walkout Grows Tense as Trans Rights Protesters Clash With Dave Chappelle Supporters  —  Hundreds of Netflix employees and supporters gathered in the shadow of the streaming giant's Los Angeles headquarters on Wednesday to protest Dave Chappelle's standup special “The Closer.”

Leaked Oath Keepers Data Shows At Least 28 Elected Officials Have Ties To The Group  —  Over the past dozen years, at least 28 people who currently hold elected office joined or financially supported the Oath Keepers, the extremist group that figured prominently in the violent Jan. 6 storming …

Environmental group quits democracy rally because ‘Zionist’ groups are present  —  WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Washington D.C. branch of a national climate action group turned down a role at a voting rights rally because a “number of Zionist organizations” will be taking part.

The accused spy knew stealth was crucial from his work on submarines.  He surfaced anyway.  —  For years, the aspiring spy had gone to remarkable lengths to protect his identity and evade detection.  —  With a cash-bought burner phone, he created an anonymous email account …

The $100 Million Plan to Completely Fix Washington  —  In 2017, a Wisconsin dairy scion wrote a Harvard Business School case study applying “industry competitive analysis” to party politics.  The result is a $100 million plan to transform election rules.  Reid Hoffman and one of the Bay …

China conducted two hypersonic weapon tests this summer  —  Nuclear-capable ‘glide vehicle’ raises US fears that Beijing is developing new generation of arms  —  The Chinese military conducted two hypersonic weapons tests over the summer, raising US concerns that Beijing is gaining ground …

A worker in Florida applied to 60 entry-level jobs in September and got one interview  — Businesses across the US say they are struggling to find employees, especially for hourly work.  — Joey Holz decided to test their claims, submitting two applications a day in September.

Stymied Before, Trump Finds Backing for His Own Media Venture  —  A merger could give the former president access to nearly $300 million in cash — and perhaps a new platform.  —  Former President Donald J. Trump said on Wednesday that he had lined up the investment money to create …

Meet the New Owners of the Wu-Tang Clan's One-of-a-Kind Album  —  The government sold “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” to satisfy a judgment against its first owner, Martin Shkreli.  It ended up with a collective called PleasrDAO that paid an intermediary $4 million.

Attack hits Syria base that houses U.S. troops  —  WASHINGTON — A military outpost in southern Syria was hit by a coordinated attack on Wednesday, but a U.S. official said no American troops stationed there were injured or killed.  —  The official said the attack appeared to include at least one drone strike and possibly groundfire.

Youngkin Supporter Punches Reporter At Campaign Rally In Burke  —  BURKE, VA — A supporter of Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin struck a reporter outside a campaign rally in Burke Tuesday night, leading the journalist to report the incident to a Fairfax County police officer.

Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz says he talks every week to Sen. Joe Manchin, who is pushing to cut Biden agenda  — Billionaire Nelson Peltz told CNBC on Wednesday that he talks every week to Sen. Joe Manchin, a centrist Democrat who is pushing to shrink President Biden's agenda.