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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Today is a disastrous day for Democrats' 2022 chances  —  The news that the US economy unexpectedly shrank over the first quarter of the year is an absolute body blow to Democrats already reeling amid growing economic concerns ahead of the 2022 midterm election.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Opinion Amend the Constitution to bar senators from the presidency  —  To conserve the reverence it needs and deserves, the Constitution should be amended rarely and reluctantly.  There is, however, an amendment that would instantly improve the legislative and executive branches.

Blinken: Afghan women are benefiting from the stability and peace of Taliban rule  —  Jazz commented to me behind the scenes that this sounds like a story from the Onion.  Unfortunately, Secretary of State Antony Blinken really made this argument yesterday in his Senate testimony.

Ron DeSantis is following a trail blazed by a Hungarian authoritarian  —  The Florida governor isn't doing “competent Trumpism.”  He's inventing American Orbánism.  —  In June of last year, Hungary's far-right government passed a law cracking down on LGBTQ rights …

16 states, D.C., climate activists sue USPS to block its truck purchase  —  The lawsuits contend the agency has vastly underestimated the environmental impact of its “next-generation” vehicles, which get 8.6 mpg  —  Sixteen states, the District of Columbia and environmental activist groups …