Secret Service watchdog knew in February that texts had been purged  —  Listen  —  Gift Article  —  A watchdog agency learned in February that the Secret Service had purged nearly all cellphone texts from around the time of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, but chose not to alert Congress …

Senators announce bipartisan bills to stop candidates from stealing elections  —  WASHINGTON — After months of negotiating, a group of senators announced two proposals Wednesday designed to close gaps in federal law and prevent future candidates from stealing elections.

In Harvard study of Jan. 6 rioters, top motivation is clear: Trump  —  Researchers at Harvard University who conducted the largest study yet of what motivated Jan. 6 rioters say the data is clear: The most common responses focused on former President Donald Trump and his lies about the election.

Federal investigation of Hunter Biden reaches critical juncture, sources say  —  The federal investigation into Hunter Biden's business activities is nearing a critical juncture as investigators weigh possible charges and prosecutors confront Justice Department guidelines …

Biden Approval Hits New Low Amid Public Discontent With Both Parties, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Nearly Half Of Americans Worry About Being Mass Shooting Victim  — mail_outline  —  One and a half years since President Joe Biden took office, Americans give President Biden …

GOP freezes up on same-sex marriage  —  Mitt Romney doesn't think it's necessary.  Richard Burr hasn't read it.  And Todd Young is “fixated” on microchips.  —  Those are some of the answers Republicans gave Wednesday on whether they'd back legislation writing same-sex marriage into law.

Larry Hogan snubs Republican victor in Maryland, escalating Trump proxy war  —  Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland signaled on Wednesday that he opposed the gubernatorial candidate backed by Donald Trump, the latest escalation of a proxy war between the term-limited Republican governor and the former president.

Former Trump White House aide who met with January 6 panel attacks witnesses, lawmakers in profane and sexist rant  —  (CNN)A former Trump White House aide who met with the January 6 committee earlier this week went on a profane and sexist rant on a livestream after his testimony …

Heat Wave Complicates Global Energy Crisis and Climate Fight  —  First, Russia upended the world energy market, then searing temperatures drove up demand for energy, forcing some of the world's largest economies to scramble to secure power for their citizens.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

Steve Bannon's offer to testify in the House January 6 inquiry might have backfired at his criminal trial  — Steve Bannon's lawyers told jurors about his recent offer to testify in the House January 6 inquiry.  — Prosecutors called the offer “sudden” and underscored that it cost the House panel precious time.

Ukraine's first lady tells the U.S. Congress that ‘Russia is destroying our people.’  —  Ukraine's first lady addressed Congress on Wednesday, asking for more weapons to defend against what she called the “Russian hunger games” killing children and ripping apart families.

Joe Biden says he has cancer in possible gaffe  —  President Biden said Wednesday that he has cancer — making either a gaffe or a stunningly casual health announcement during a speech about global warming in Massachusetts.  —  Biden was describing the health effects of emissions …

John Fetterman, in first interview since stroke, talks recovery and return to U.S. Senate campaign trail  —  This story will be updated.  —  In his first media interview since suffering a stroke days before the May primary election, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman …

Even a day after Jan. 6, Trump balked at condemning the violence  —  The House committee investigating the Capitol attack expects to show portions of outtakes Thursday from remarks Trump delivered Jan. 7, when aides pressed him to repudiate the riot.  —  Gift Article

Dem Group's Lawsuit Accuses Campaign Watchdog of Giving Trump ‘Edge’  —  ACT NOW  —  According to a Democratic super PAC, Donald Trump is essentially running for president—holding rallies, giving interviews—even though he hasn't officially declared as much.

Donald Trump's Defense Lawyer Alina Habba Sued by Employee For Yelling N-word  —  Donald Trump's favorite New Jersey criminal defense lawyer is in hot water after allegedly repeatedly singing the n-word while listening to rap.  And there's more. … Donald Trump's new favorite …

New evidence disputes Trump's citizenship question rationale for census  —  Listen  —  Gift Article  —  Previously unreleased internal communications indicate the Trump administration tried to add a citizenship question to the census with the goal of affecting congressional apportionment …

Americans Who Can't Afford Homes Are Moving to Europe Instead  —  More Americans are relocating to Europe, driven across the Atlantic by the rising cost of living, inflated house prices, a surging dollar and political rancor at home.  —  Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece and France are among the most popular destinations.

Welcome to the New Era of Political Memoir, Where Leaving Readers Uneasy Is the Point  —  This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIME's politics newsletter.  Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.  —  Maybe Donald Trump was onto something with those non-disclosure agreements.

Pence signals a 2024 bid as he meets with lawmakers and delivers South Carolina speech  —  See how close rioters got to Pence as they breached the Capitol 03:07  —  (CNN)Former Vice President Mike Pence is no longer keeping his cards close, telegraphing in several high-profile moves this week …

Arizona Republican censured by party over testimony on resisting Trump  —  Rusty Bowers, the Arizona house speaker who testified to the January 6 committee about how he resisted Donald Trump's attempt to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden in the sun belt state, has been formally censured by his own Republican party.

Mystery solved: DOJ secretly thwarted release of Russia documents declassified by Trump  —  In the final hours of the Trump presidency, the U.S. Justice Department raised privacy concerns to thwart the release of hundreds of pages of documents that Donald Trump had declassified …

Endemic Covid-19 Looks Pretty Brutal  —  It may surprise you to learn, given the mood of the country — and indeed the world — about the pandemic that probably half of all Covid infections have happened this calendar year — and it's only July.  By December, the figure could be 80 percent or more.