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 …

GOP begins to look for new 2024 candidates amid fears over Trump  —  A growing number of Republicans are openly cheering for a competitive primary field in 2024 and encouraging candidates to jump into the race, as some in the GOP get increasingly anxious about the idea of Donald Trump becoming …

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

At Ivana Trump's Funeral, a Gold-Hued Coffin and the Secret Service  —  “People adored Ivana.”  — Give this article- - - Read in app  —  In death, as in life, her famous former husband loomed over Ivana Trump's story.  —  On Wednesday afternoon, when a funeral was held for Ms. Trump …

The new proposal to prevent a future coup is surprisingly good  —  Listen  —  Gift Article  —  As we reported this week, a bipartisan group of senators has been negotiating over complicated reforms designed to thwart a rerun of Donald Trump's coup attempt.

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 …

CIA Director: Putin ‘too healthy’  —  Vladimir Putin is “entirely too healthy,” CIA Director William Burns said Wednesday, throwing cold water on constant rumors that the Russian president is suffering from illness as he pursues his war on Ukraine.  —  Burns, speaking at the Aspen Security Forum …

How Democracy Dies in the 21st Century  —  In 2009, a violent mob stormed the presidential palace in Madagascar, a deeply impoverished red-earthed island off the coast of East Africa.  They had been incited to violence by opportunistic politicians and media personalities, successfully triggering a coup.

Same-Sex Marriage Bill, Considered Dead on Arrival, Gains New Life  —  The larger-than-expected G.O.P. vote in the House in support of legislation to codify marriage equality caught both parties off guard, suggesting there could be a narrow path to enactment.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

Lawsuit Claims Trump's Lawyer Called AG ‘That Black B*tch’  —  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 favorite New Jersey defense lawyer …

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Mark A. Milley Hold a Press Conference  —  Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Mark A. Milley  —  STAFF: Good afternoon, everyone.

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 …

Risks abound for both parties in uncertain Senate races  —  (CNN)In the fight to control the Senate, Democrats and Republicans are staring at equally uncertain, yet markedly different, paths to the majority.  —  Republican candidates are enjoying a favorable political environment …

Pelosi to Blinken: Label Russia as terrorist state, or else Congress will  —  Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had a message for Secretary of State Antony Blinken: Designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism — otherwise, Congress will.  —  The warning, made on a call between …

I Was Wrong About Trump Voters  —  The worst line I ever wrote as a pundit — yes, I know, it's a crowded field — was the first line I ever wrote about the man who would become the 45th president: “If by now you don't find Donald Trump appalling, you're appalling.”

Nebraska governor makes big donation to take out Greitens  —  Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is among the biggest donors to a super PAC devoted to torpedoing Missouri Republican Eric Greitens' Senate campaign.  —  The second-term governor, who hails from one of the wealthiest megadonor families …

I Was Wrong About Al Franken  —  During the height of the #MeToo movement in 2017, a woman named Leeann Tweeden accused Al Franken of sexually harassing her during his comedian days and produced a photo of him pretending to grope her breasts.  I called on Franken to resign from the Senate …

Biden seeking $37B for fighting crime, hiring more police  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is proposing to spend roughly $37 billion for fighting and preventing crime, including $13 billion to help communities hire and train 100,000 police officers over five years.

Trump Recently Urged a Powerful Legislator to Overturn His 2020 Defeat in Wisconsin  —  Donald J. Trump called Robin Vos, the speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, on July 9 and pushed him to support a resolution to retract the state's 10 electoral votes for President Biden.  — Give this article- - - Read in app