Surrounded by Russians, commander describes life inside Mariupol plant  —  MUKACHEVO, Ukraine — The commander of Ukrainian forces' last stronghold in the southern port city of Mariupol, surrounded by Russians and subjected to a constant barrage of fire, said Tuesday that his soldiers will not surrender.

Trump-backed House candidate removed from ballot by Tenn. Republicans  —  The Tennessee Republican Party voted on Tuesday to remove former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus and two others from the August primary ballot in the state's 5th Congressional District.

Scoop: CNN+ looks doomed  —  Warner Bros. Discovery has suspended all external marketing spend for CNN+ and has laid off CNN's longtime chief financial officer as it weighs what to do with the subscription streaming service moving forward, five sources tell Axios. … Discovery executives disagree.

Elon Musk Races to Secure Financing for Twitter Bid  —  The world's richest man is trying to shore up debt financing, including potentially taking out a loan against his shares of Tesla, so he can buy Twitter for $43 billion.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

Scoop: Biden considers delaying Title 42 repeal  —  President Biden's inner circle has been discussing delaying the repeal of Title 42 border restrictions, now set to end May 23, according to a source with direct knowledge of the internal discussion. … That already endangers Democratic incumbents …

Saturday's Utah State Republican Convention would be a great place for Mike Lee to come clean, Editorial Board writes  —  Even if Lee abandoned the plot as unworkable, he owes voters a full accounting.  —  By The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board  —  Confession, it is said, is good for the soul.

Justice Dept. to appeal decision lifting mask mandate on planes, trains if CDC deems rule necessary  —  WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced Tuesday that it will appeal the ruling that lifted the federal mask mandate on planes, trains and transit systems, pending a decision by the Center …

Kremlin Insiders Alarmed Over Growing Toll of Putin's War in Ukraine  —  Almost eight weeks after Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine, with military losses mounting and Russia facing unprecedented international isolation, a small but growing number of senior Kremlin insiders are quietly questioning his decision to go to war.

Can The Democratic Party Define Itself?  —  With midterm elections approaching, the historian Michael Kazin discusses the problem of “moral capitalism” and the uneasy alliances at the heart of the Democrats' economic movement.  —  In the past several decades, Michael Kazin has written …

Oath Keepers and Proud Boys were in touch before US Capitol attack, texts reveal  —  The messages could strengthen a theory being explored by the House committee that January 6 included a coordinated assault  —  Top leaders in the Oath Keepers militia group indicted on seditious conspiracy charges …

The Peter Thiel D.C. Gateway Drug  —  With two weeks until the Ohio G.O.P. primary, Thiel is on a hot streak and doubling down on J.D. Vance.  A win could invigorate the billionaire's national ambitions.  A loss could relegate him to Miami—and send thirsty Republicans reeling.

Netflix Explores a Version With Ads as Subscriber Base Shrinks  —  Company ends first quarter with 200,000 fewer subscribers and says it expects to lose two million more in current quarter  —  Netflix Inc. said it is exploring offering a lower priced ad-supported version of the platform …

UAE cancels participation in Israeli flyover due to Temple Mount riots  —  The announcements came as the UAE Foreign Ministry summoned Israel's Ambassador Amir Hayek over police actions against Palestinian rioters on Jerusalem's Temple Mount and in the Old City

Real estate players shower DeSantis with campaign cash as housing prices soar  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — When real estate investor Moshe Popack wanted to host a political fundraiser for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, he spared no expense.  —  Popack, chair and CEO of YMP Real Estate Management …

They Know How Journalism Works!  They're Just Against It!  —  They want someone to knock on your door, too.  Not to put you in the newspaper, though.  —  On Tuesday, Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz published a story about a repulsive creep who uses her large online following to …

How U.S.-Saudi Relations Reached the Breaking Point  —  The decadeslong alliance is at risk over disagreements regarding oil production levels, security concerns and the invasion of Ukraine  —  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, wearing shorts at his seaside palace …

Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta registers as a foreign agent lobbying for Libya's government  —  High-powered Democratic lobbyist and political operative Tony Podesta has returned to currying influence under President Joe Biden's administration and is growing his slate of lobbying clients …

'It's Just Scaring People, and It's Not Saving Lives'  —  Stories about the pandemic's continuing risks for immunocompromised people may create unintended harms.  —  As the United States nears its numbing, millionth COVID death and shrugs its shoulders at a rise in cases, some Americans are feeling left behind.

House Rating Changes: 11 Moves, All in Favor of Republicans  —  Bigger picture coming a bit more into focus with redistricting nearly done  —  KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE  — We are making 11 rating changes in the House this week, all in favor of Republicans.

Biden's urgent moves on gas prices collide with lofty climate goals  —  The president took office determined to shift the nation's course on climate change.  That legacy could be threatened by the political urgency to cut gas prices.  —  President Biden entered office triumphantly rejoining the Paris climate accord.

Trump's Most Loyal Lawmakers Are Actually Losing Money  —  The members of Congress trying to mirror Donald Trump's politics the most are spending an awful lot.  —  Last year, it was a fundraising feast for the MAGA Goon Squad.  But in 2022, without the donor stimulus of an attempted insurrection …