Trump allies breach U.S. voting systems in search of 2020 fraud ‘evidence’  —  Chasing proof of vote-rigging conspiracy theories, Republican officials and activists in eight U.S. locales have plotted to gain illegal access to balloting systems, undermining the security of elections they claim to protect.

McConnell miscalculated Republican impeachment count against Trump, book says  —  Mitch McConnell thought the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol would finally vanquish Donald Trump, initially predicting that at least 17 Republican senators would vote to convict him in his impeachment trial …

U.S. GDP Drops 1.4% as Economy Shrinks for First Time Since Early in Pandemic  —  Supply disruptions weighed on the economy, but consumers and businesses continue to spend  —  U.S. gross domestic product shrank at a 1.4% annual rate in the first quarter as supply disruptions weighed on the economy …

Biden seeks $33 billion for Ukraine, powers to liquidate Russian assets  —  The White House will call on Congress to authorize such a move as it continues to seek new ways to punish Russia and support Ukraine  —  The White House on Thursday announced a proposal to allow U.S. authorities …

Reputed federal informant, whistleblower found dead in L.A. after he's reported missing  —  A reputed federal informant and whistleblower who went missing after he was reported to have turned over a trove of secret files about Deutsche Bank was found dead at a Los Angeles school this week, a police official said Wednesday.

It's Trump vs. Cruz in Ohio and Pa. Senate races  —  As Republican primary voters get closer to the polls, it's beginning to feel like mid-2016 again: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are on opposing sides.  —  The former president's late backing of J.D. Vance in Ohio and Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania …

Pregnancy From Rape Is ‘An Opportunity’ For Women, Says Republican Trying To Ban Abortion  —  Ohio state Rep. Jean Schmidt (R) defended her abortion ban recently, arguing that “just because you have emotional scars doesn't give you the right to take a life.”

Personally, I Prefer Having Fewer Nazis on Twitter  —  Like pretty much any journalist who compulsively wastes too much of their life on Twitter, I've had my fair share of unpleasant experiences with the site.  In part, that's because I'm Jewish, and I occasionally find my mentions flooded …

Princeton University investigating Sam Wang for research misconduct, toxic workplace issues  —  Head of Princeton Gerrymandering Project faces probe over data manipulation, retaliating against staff  —  Princeton University has launched an internal investigation of Sam Wang …

Russia's Long Disdain for Ukrainian Nationhood  —  Even Russian liberals and dissidents have traditionally shared Putin's view that Ukraine has no distinct cultural identity.  —  1x  —  As a young poet in the Soviet Union, Joseph Brodsky was persecuted by the authorities before escaping …

Biden Administration to Advance Ban on Menthol Cigarettes  —  FDA expected to publish proposed rules on Thursday, though ban wouldn't take effect until at least 2024; ‘Day of reckoning’  —  The Biden administration on Thursday is expected to take a significant step toward a national ban …

The Elondrop  —  The deal may have been signed, but the campaign is just beginning.  —  Elon should go over the heads of the establishment to offer all Twitter users a deal: every account worldwide gains full control over their username in a crypto wallet, plus a share of Twitter's new coin …

Russia is using dolphins to protect Black Sea naval base, satellite photos suggest  —  Satellite photos show Russia has placed trained dolphins at the entrance to a key Black Sea port, in a move that may be designed to help protect a significant Kremlin naval base there, according to a naval analyst.

How a former NBA player and activist became a far-right media darling  —  On the last Saturday in March, Royce White stepped into a Capitol Hill townhouse and descended the steps into a basement studio.  He shook hands with his host and settled into his chair in front of a microphone.

Opinion Are Democrats ‘sleepwalking’ into long-term catastrophe?  —  The frenzied midterm second-guessing among Democrats appears to be intensifying.  —  The stories are everywhere: Democrats fear that they've failed to counter GOP cultural attacks.  That they've fumbled the politics of immigration.

Ruby Cramer named Washington Post national political enterprise reporter  —  Announcement from National Editor Matea Gold, Deputy National Editor Philip Rucker and Deputy National Politics Editor Dan Eggen:  —  We are thrilled to announce that Ruby Cramer, whose penetrating …

Georgia Gov. Kemp signs bill into law that limits discussions about race in classrooms  —  (CNN)Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia on Thursday signed several education bills into law, including one banning the instruction of “divisive concepts” pertaining to race in classrooms.

A Clash Over Housing Pits U.C. Berkeley Against Its Neighbors  —  Dense cities are better for the environment.  Should residents have a say over what parts get dense?  —  Earlier this year, the California State Supreme Court issued a ruling that would have forced the University of California, Berkeley, to freeze its admissions.

Blake Masters' provocations reach back to his college days  —  In an essay published in an obscure libertarian publication and unearthed by JI, the Arizona Republican Senate hopeful quotes Goering and a noted conspiracy theorist who espouses antisemitic views

Lou Dobbs: ‘Who Reads NR?’  —  In response to my recent piece on howling moonbat Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lou Dobbs sneers: “Who reads NR?”  —  Well, Lou, since you raised the question, I'll answer it: You do.  —  We both know this.  —  We know this because we used to discuss it, often …

Scoop: Former Manhattan prosecutor blasts Trump and Barr in new book  —  Geoffrey Berman, who was fired by President Trump as the top Manhattan federal prosecutor, will be out Sept. 13 with a memoir, “Holding the Line,” that charges Trump with trying to undermine the office's integrity.

Revolt Brews in Michigan G.O.P. After Elevation of Trump Allies  —  The Republican old guard is protesting the direction of the party after it put forward two champions of Donald Trump's election falsehoods for attorney general and secretary of state.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

The Price Kids Pay: Schools and police punish students with costly tickets for minor misbehavior  —  and Jodi S. Cohen  —  PROPUBLICA  —  Illustrations by Laila Milevski  —  PROPUBLICA  —  The courthouse lobby echoed like a crowded school cafeteria.  Teenagers in sweatshirts …

Deborah Birx's first meeting with Donald Trump lasted just 30 seconds as he flipped on Fox News, book says  — Dr. Deborah Birx is out with a tell-all book about her time in the Trump administration.  — Birx says her first meeting with Trump in March 2020 about COVID-19 lasted only 30 seconds.

Florida gave voting rights to people with felony convictions.  Now some face charges for voting.  —  Florida authorities arrested a Black man while he was staying in a homeless shelter and charged him with voting illegally in a case tied to Republicans' drive to root out election fraud.

Iran nuclear talks freeze amid terrorist label spat — even with deal on the table  —  VIENNA — Negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal have reached a complete standstill.  —  Despite having a roughly 27-page agreement virtually ready to go, diplomats are still hung …

Putin's war on Ukraine has ‘driven US-Russia relations into the depths,’ US ambassador to Moscow says  —  (CNN)The Russian war on Ukraine has “driven US-Russia relations into the depths,” US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan told CNN on Thursday.  —  Although the top envoy …

Build Back Better Dies ... Again  —  In a final admission of defeat, the administration is rebranding its ‘Build Back Better World’ foreign-policy initiative, removing references to its failed domestic agenda.  —  President Joe Biden stands onstage before speaking about his Build Back Better agenda …

Look at All These Companies Bankrolling Republican Jan. 6 Apologists  —  Exclusive: A slew of Fortune 500 companies have donated millions to Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election results.  —  PB  —  It's not just Toyota.  —  A slew of Fortune 500 companies …