Macron beats far-right rival Le Pen in French presidential election, early projections show  — If Macron's win is confirmed then it would make him the first French president in two decades to win a second term.  — The 2022 campaign was set against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine …

Elizabeth Warren Calls Out Kevin McCarthy As A ‘Liar And Traitor’  —  “That is really the illness that pervades the Republican leadership right now.  That they say one thing to the American public and something else in private,” she said.  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) …

The Belarusian railway saboteurs who helped thwart Russia's attack on Kyiv  —  When Russian troops first streamed across the Belarusian border into Ukraine for what they had assumed would be a lightning assault on Kyiv, they were intending to rely on the region's extensive rail network for supplies and reinforcements.

Bonfires of Vengeance  —  Ron DeSantis' attack on Disney isn't “populism”  —  Happy Sunday.  —  My good friend Matt K. Lewis describes Ron DeSantis's retaliation against Disney as “the clearest sign yet that the Republican Party has reordered itself as a populist, working-class party—instead of a pro-business party.”

Saudis' Biden snub suggests crown prince still banking on Trump's return  —  Refusal to help US punish Russia and $2bn investment in Kushner fund signal crown prince's displeasure with Trump's successor  —  Saudi Arabia appears to be banking on Donald Trump's return to office by refusing …

Twitter Re-Examines Elon Musk's Bid, May Be More Receptive to a Deal  —  Two sides are meeting Sunday to discuss takeover bid, people familiar with the matter say  —  Twitter Inc. is re-examining Elon Musk's $43 billion takeover offer after the billionaire lined up financing for the bid …

Putin abandons hopes of Ukraine deal and shifts to land-grab strategy  —  Russian president was considering settlement with Kyiv last month but now sees no prospect of that  —  Vladimir Putin has lost interest in diplomatic efforts to end his war with Ukraine and instead appears set on seizing …

Climate activist dies after setting himself on fire outside of US Supreme Court  —  A climate activist has died 24 hours after setting himself on fire on the steps of the Supreme Court on Earth Day.  —  Colorado photojournalist Wynn Alan Bruce, 50, suffered critical injuries in the incident …

Pence Refusing to Get in Secret Service Car on Jan. 6 ‘Chilling’: Raskin  —  Former Vice President Mike Pence's refusal to get into a Secret Service vehicle during the January 6 Capitol riot is being called “chilling” as the House select committee prepares to reveal its findings sometime before the end of the year.

D.C. police officer says Sen. Mike Lee opposed Jan. 6 investigation to cover up his actions  —  Lee argued an independent investigation into the insurrection would be too partisan.  —  Police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020, accused Sen. Mike Lee of lying about his reasons …

Joe Kahn can be a great New York Times editor  —  I know him.  Here's why I think he might be the man for this perilous moment.  —  Unlike The Washington Post, whose last three top editors came from other news organizations — the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe and the Associated Press …

Confirmed: John Durham Has Withheld Discovery That DOJ Already Disproved His Claims of Political Malice  —  In his reply filing in the fight over what evidence will be submitted at his trial, Michael Sussmann confirmed something I've long suspected: John Durham has not provided Sussmann …

He Fuels the Right's Cultural Fires (and Spreads Them to Florida)  —  Christopher Rufo helped make critical race theory a conservative rallying cry.  Now he sees L.G.B.T.Q. issues as an even more potent line of attack.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

Orrin G. Hatch, longest-serving Republican in Senate history, dies at 88  —  Orrin G. Hatch, a conservative Utah Republican who came out of political nowhere to win a U.S. Senate seat in 1976 and ended his career 42 years later as the longest-serving Republican in the chamber's history …