France's Macron projected to win presidency, holding off Le Pen's far-right threat to upend Europe and relations with Russia  —  PARIS — Emmanuel Macron is projected to become the first French president in two decades to win a second term, holding off a far-right challenge by Marine Le Pen that could have upended Europe.

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.”

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.) …

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 …

Saudi Royals Are Selling Homes, Yachts and Art as Crown Prince Cuts Income  —  Kingdom's senior princes are trying to raise cash and avoid scrutiny from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman  —  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—Saudi princes have sold more than $600 million worth of real estate …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Republicans Have Picked An Election Denier To Run Michigan's Elections  —  WASHINGTON — Michigan Republicans endorsed Kristina Karamo, a first-time candidate who has spread lies about the 2020 election, to run all the state's elections as the party's candidate for secretary of state.