Scoop: New clue on Trump gap  —  On Jan. 6, 2021, during an apparent seven-hour gap in White House call logs that the House select committee investigating the attack is now trying to piece together, then-President Trump's executive assistant, Molly Michael, was absent for most of the day, three sources with direct knowledge tell Axios.

Russia's War Lacks a Battlefield Commander, U.S. Officials Say  —  WASHINGTON — Russia is running its military campaign against Ukraine out of Moscow, with no central war commander on the ground to call the shots, according to American officials who have studied the five-week-old war.

‘The baggage is too heavy’: GOP foes tee up last-ditch effort to sink Herschel Walker  —  Herschel Walker, the former football star who's armed with former President Donald Trump's enthusiastic endorsement, has been on a glide path to the GOP nomination since announcing his Senate bid in Georgia.

Inside Ginni Thomas' ‘Insane’ Hiring Memos for Trump  —  Ginni Thomas' suggested hires included known bigots and at least one suspected foreign spy, sources say.  —  Years before she became one of then-President Donald Trump's most prominent coup supporters, Ginni Thomas was already notorious …

Peter Baker, Susan Glasser to publish sweeping history of Trump presidency  —  Peter Baker and Susan Glasser will be out Sept. 20 with a sweeping history of the Trump presidency, “The Divider,” billed as “an ambitious first cut at this historical moment.”  —  The backdrop: Baker …

She Took the White House Photos.  Trump Moved to Take the Profit.  —  The former chief White House photographer made plans to publish a book of Trump photos.  The former president had other plans.  — Give this article- - - Read in app  —  WASHINGTON — As President Donald J. Trump's tenure came …

How Big Is the House Playing Field?  —  This week, Democratic and Republican campaign operations acknowledged that the House playing field is expanding.  The NRCC added another 10 House districts to its already robust list of 72 Democratic-held targets.  And on the Democratic side …

Biden Runs Out of Gas  —  “This is a wartime bridge to increase oil supply into production,” President Biden said during his announcement Thursday that he would release more barrels of oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve than at any point in American history.  His decision was also a concession.

U.S. economy adds 431,000 jobs in March … The national unemployment rate fell to a pandemic low of 3.6 percent in March, as employers added 431,000 jobs, further bolstering the most rapid labor market rebound on record.  —  Average hourly wages for private-sector workers …

Federal judge: Some new Florida voting laws unconstitutional  —  A federal judge ruled that multiple parts of a voting law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year are unconstitutional, striking down various provisions and prohibiting the Legislature from passing future voter laws without first getting approval from a court.

There Might Be a Stupid Explanation for the 7-Hour Gap in Trump's Phone Logs  —  That, plus: Why Colorado's secretary of state is being forced to take an opponent indicted for compromising voting equipment seriously.  (Hint: It has to do with the MyPillow guy.)

'He's a b—  ': Defense rests case in Whitmer kidnap plot after suspect's wild testimony  —  The defense in the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnap trial rested its case following the explosive testimony of a defendant who came off as a defiant hothead, if his comment about an undercover informant is any indication.

In Like Flynn: Clinton Lawyer Adopts a Familiar Defense Against Durham Charge  —  This week, a former Clinton campaign lawyer was in court with his counsel to fight the indictment by Special Counsel John Durham alleging a false statement to federal investigators.

100 year-old National Park Service Ranger Betty Reid Soskin retires after remarkable career  —  WASHINGTON - Betty Reid Soskin, the National Park Service's (NPS) oldest active ranger, retired today after a decade and a half of sharing her personal experiences and the efforts of women …

POLITICO Playbook: Biden's sophomore slump  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  For JOE BIDEN, this was one of those weeks that demonstrated the limits of the powers of the presidency.  —  Political scientists often like to rib pundits and the public for having a so-called “Green Lantern” …

Appeals Court Upholds Gibson's Bakery Massive Verdict Against Oberlin College  —  “The Gibson family appreciates the Court of Appeals' thorough and thoughtful analysis which rightly rejected all of Oberlin College's and Dean Raimondo's challenges on appeal.”  — Telegram  — Gab  — MeWe

Income Taxes for All?  Rick Scott Has a Plan, and That's a Problem.  —  The “Plan to Rescue America” is dividing the party and cheering Democrats, and its author, Senate Republicans' top campaign official, won't stop talking about it.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

Cloud of notoriety builds over Cawthorn after sex-and-drugs claims  —  Rep. Madison Cawthorn showed up in person for a primary challenger to one of his House GOP colleagues Wednesday night — just as fellow Republicans started suggesting he's the next incumbent under threat.

House passes $35-a-month insulin cap as Dems seek wider bill  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday passed a bill capping the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for insured patients, part of an election-year push by Democrats for price curbs on prescription drugs at a time of rising inflation.

Disney's Child-Predator Problem  —  Instead of promoting gender ideology, the company would be better served by addressing a longstanding history among its employees.  —  The Social Order  —  The Walt Disney Company has long presented itself as the voice for America's children.