As Kyle Rittenhouse trial nears end, judge's decisions from the bench come under scrutiny  —  Regardless of how he is viewed, Judge Bruce E. Schroeder is indisputably a man with fixed rules for how trials in his Kenosha County courtroom will be run.  Some are basic, some unorthodox …

Texas schools can again set their own face mask rules after federal judge overrules Gov. Greg Abbott's ban  —  The judge said the governor's order impedes children with disabilities from the benefits of public schools' programs, services and activities, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Axios on HBO” exclusive: Christie taunts Trump for losing  —  Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, lacing up for a possible presidential run in 2024, told “Axios on HBO” he won't back down from a fight with former President Donald Trump, taunting his longtime friend for losing the last election.

Black Lives Matter activists threaten ‘riots’ if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates controversial NYPD anti-crime units  —  Leaders of the city's Black Lives Matter movement on Wednesday threatened “riots” and “bloodshed” in the streets if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reverses the abolition of the NYPD's controversial anti-crime units.

Manchin may delay Biden social spending plan over inflation  —  Red-hot inflation data validates the instinct of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to punt President Biden's Build Back Better agenda until next year — potentially killing a quick deal on the $1.75 trillion package, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.

Biden Got His Infrastructure Bill.  Now He Has to Sell It to Voters.  —  Inside the Democratic Party, concerns are growing about whether the president will be able to fully capitalize on a major legislative victory.  —  Joe Biden is selling.  But is anyone buying?

Democrats' lofty tax agenda imperiled by resistance from within  —  The White House and its allies wanted to rewrite the tax code, raising rates on businesses and the wealthy.  But key Democrats balked, and they scaled everything back.  —  Democrats swept into power earlier this year promising …

Trump allies are pushing for ‘stay away’ strategy in some 2022 races  —  (CNN)Donald Trump is expected to maintain a prolific schedule of campaign rallies to boost Republicans in next year's midterms.  But on the heels of Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin's victory in Virginia …

‘I think we should throw those books in a fire’: Movement builds on right to target books  —  Perhaps the most infamous quote of the 2021 Virginia governor's race — and indeed of any 2021 race — belongs to Democrat Terry McAuliffe: “I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”

I was born in a Chinese ‘reeducation camp.’ I'm watching history repeat itself  —  Nury Turkel is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, vice chair at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and fellow of the Renew Democracy Initiative's Frontlines of Freedom project.

London's River Thames, now home to sharks, seals and seahorses, is no longer ‘biologically dead’  —  Some 60 years ago, parts of the River Thames were declared biologically dead.  But the famous waterway that cuts through London has been revived and it is now home to hundreds of wildlife species, such as seahorses and sharks.

D.C. enters agreement with Marshals Service to address ‘systemic failures’ in city's jail  —  The deal is the latest step toward tackling deficiencies at the jail after a surprise inspection prompted marshals to transfer inmates because of poor conditions  —  The D.C. Department of Corrections …

The Democrats need to go back to school  —  A week after Republicans won the Virginia governor's race, it is increasingly obvious that Fox News and red Twitter did not invent parental anger about what's been happening in public schools.  Nor is frustration limited to the suburbs — or peculiar to the Old Dominion.

Speier and Congressional Colleagues to Introduce Resolution Calling for Censure of Rep Gosar  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), co-chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus (DWC), and Representatives Jim Cooper (TN-5); Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), co-chair of the DWC …

Andrew Cuomo Under Oath: Proud, Prickly and Often Unable to Recall  —  A transcript of Mr. Cuomo's 11 hours under questioning over sexual harassment allegations paints an extraordinary portrait of a combative governor.  —  He offered denials in flurries.  He protested, quibbled, digressed or simply could not recall.

Biden's ‘I feel your pain’ conundrum  —  President Joe Biden is trying to convey that the economy is doing great, though its greatness still isn't all that good; that his massive infrastructure bill is historic, but far more spending is needed and soon; and that even though America has bounced …

Embattled GOP Senator Says a Staffer Messed Up His Campaign Reports and Vanished.  We Found Him in Minutes.  —  Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) is accused of a number of major campaign-finance violations.  The campaign blames it on one particular staffer who it says “vanished.”  Not quite.

Hollywood Studio Projects Get Stricter About COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates  —  As the federal government pushes employers to act, producers are increasingly enforcing the requirements: “Nobody wants an Aaron Rodgers situation.”  —  As studios debate how to handle COVID-19 vaccine resistance …

Blinken Warns Russia Against Making a ‘Serious Mistake’ in Ukraine  —  Appearing with Ukraine's foreign minister, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the intentions behind Moscow's latest military buildup were unclear.  —  WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Wednesday …

Two teens were charged with murder in the shooting that led to an 8-year-old girl's death at a high school football game  —  Two teenagers who prosecutors say started a gunfight outside a Sharon Hill high school football game that led to the fatal police shooting of 8-year-old Fanta Bility …

The Anti-Critical Race Theory Movement Will Profoundly Affect Public Education  —  The election of Glenn Youngkin and other anti-CRT candidates demonstrates how exploiting white fear continues to galvanize voters … Opinion  —  The election of Glenn Youngkin and other anti-CRT candidates demonstrates …

Domestic extremists pushing violence against Congress, school and health officials, DHS bulletin says  —  WASHINGTON — Domestic extremists continue to exploit false narratives to promote violence online, calling for attacks on members of Congress, public health and school officials …

Why White Voters With Racist Views Often Still Support Black Republicans  —  Can white voters who back a Black candidate still hold racist beliefs and views?  —  That question has come to the fore in the wake of Glenn Youngkin's gubernatorial victory in the blueish state of Virginia.

US joins international cybersecurity partnership that Trump snubbed  —  (CNN)The United States has joined an 80-country agreement that condemns reckless behavior in cyberspace and seeks to mobilize resources to secure the software supply chain that the Trump administration declined to sign …

Hunter Biden makes flashy NYC art scene debut at gallery show for his pricey paintings  —  First son Hunter Biden acted like a full-fledged member of the New York art scene Wednesday evening, making a flashy appearance at the gallery where his unexpectedly pricey paintings are being displayed.