Maryland GOP Throws It All Away  —  Republicans turned their backs on their popular two-term governor, Larry Hogan, by elevating a crank over his chosen moderate successor.  —  Back in April, I introduced readers to Dan Cox, a far-right kook and Maryland state legislator running for governor.

White House begins the search for fresh communications team  —  Longtime Biden adviser Anita Dunn is interviewing candidates to replace departing top communications members.  —  The White House is considering a major overhaul of its press and communications shop in the coming weeks …

Secret Service cannot recover texts; no new details for Jan. 6 committee  —  Listen  —  Gift Article  —  The U.S. Secret Service has determined it has no new texts to provide Congress relevant to its Jan. 6 investigation, and that any other texts its agents exchanged around …

Trump Electors Targeted in Georgia Criminal Inquiry  —  A prosecutor in Atlanta is investigating interference in the 2020 presidential election, an inquiry that has engulfed Donald J. Trump and many of his allies.  — Give this article- - - Read in app  —  Prosecutors in Atlanta …

After Indiana Mall Shooting, One Hero but No Lasting Solution  —  When a bystander fatally shot an assailant at an Indiana mall, the country again debated the wisdom of easier access to guns.  — Give this article- - - Read in app  —  It was an act of pluck and composure worthy of a scene in the movies.

Prosecutor: Steve Bannon thumbed his nose at the law  —  Outside court, the defendant denounced the House Jan. 6 committee and the case against him  —  Gift Article  —  Donald Trump confidant Stephen K. Bannon was “thumbing his nose” at Congress and the law when he refused to comply …

Trump urged Wisconsin Assembly speaker in July to decertify Biden 2020 election win  — Former President Donald Trump this month called Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and urged him to decertify President Joe Biden's 2020 election win in that state, Vos said.

U.K. Inflation Hits 9.4%, a New 40-Year High  —  Acceleration in consumer prices has triggered a surge in private sector pay, as BOE prepares for more rate rises  —  U.K.'s Next PM Faces Economic Hurdles After Boris Johnson Resignation … The U.K.'s annual rate of inflation rose …

E.U. proposes plan to ration gas ahead of ‘likely’ cutoff by Russia  —  Listen  —  Gift Article  —  BRUSSELS — The European Union proposed a plan on Wednesday to ration natural gas as it braces for the “likely scenario” that Russia could cut off the flow to Europe.

'It's the accumulation': The Jan. 6 hearings are wounding Trump, after all  —  The conventional wisdom about the Jan. 6 committee hearings was that no single revelation was going to change Republican minds about Donald Trump.  —  What happened instead, a slow drip of negative coverage, may be just as damaging to the former president.

Doctor who treated 10-year-old rape victim moves to sue state AG for defamation  —  Caitlin Bernard, the OB-GYN who provided an abortion on a 10-year-old girl from Ohio who was raped, took the first legal step to sue Indiana's attorney general for defamation over his comments alleging medical misconduct.

Matt Hilburn, who fought to ‘Unsuck’ Metro, dies at 54  —  His social media accounts, called Unsuck DC Metro, were among the most tartly entertaining and avidly followed by competitors  —  Listen  —  Gift Article  —  Matt Hilburn, a journalist and communications specialist best-known …

Mission largely accomplished, says Johnson in final PMQs  —  Play video BBC News Channel (UK Only)  —  Summary  — Boris Johnson says his “mission is largely accomplished... for now” in his final PMQs as prime minister  — He defends his record following attacks by Labour on the economy and public trust

Ohio Republicans want more action, effort from JD Vance in key fall Senate race  —  Complaints about JD Vance and his Senate campaign are rising among Ohio Republicans after the conservative populist posted an anemic second-quarter fundraising report.  —  Vance entered July with $628,804 …

House passes bill protecting marriage equality, with 47 GOP members voting ‘yes’  —  The House passed a bill on Tuesday to protect marriage equality, a direct response to an opinion from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas last month that called for reversing multiple decisions that enshrined LGBTQ rights.

Scoop: GOP's oil reserve amnesia  —  The Trump administration sold oil from the U.S. strategic reserves to China's largest oil producer in 2017, according to government data reviewed by Axios. … - Former President Trump and conservative media personalities have also criticized the sale …

Brett Kavanaugh's neighbors: For abortion rights but tired of protests  —  Weekly demonstrations on their street prompt increased noise complaints; police warn of possible arrests  —  Listen  —  Gift Article  —  On paper at least, Emily Strulson might seem a welcoming host …

Arizona Senate candidate embraces Trump's extreme style  —  Blake Masters's showing in the Aug. 2 primary will mark the next big test of the “New Right,” whose members preach economic populism, nationalism and conservative social values and pride themselves on breaking political taboos  —  Listen

Alan Dershowitz's Martha's Vineyard Cancellation  —  Recently, the emeritus Harvard law professor has felt shunned at his usual haunts.  Is it “cancel culture,” or something else?  —  Alan Dershowitz became one of the most famous lawyers in America by representing high-profile clients …

U.S. Messaging on Monkeypox Is Deeply Flawed  —  Officials seem unwilling to be direct about who is most at risk of the disease.  —  As monkeypox cases rise in the U.S., public officials are scrambling to balance concerns about stigmatization with the fact that the disease is largely affecting gay and bisexual men.