Homeland Security watchdog halted plan to recover Secret Service texts, records show  —  The Department of Homeland Security's chief watchdog scrapped its investigative team's effort to collect agency phones to try to recover deleted Secret Service texts this year, according to four people …

Conspiracy website InfoWars parent files for bankruptcy  —  The parent of far-right conspiracy website InfoWars filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection on Friday as the company and its founder Alex Jones face up to $150 million in damages in a trial over longstanding falsehoods he perpetuated …

Russian National Charged With Spreading Propaganda Through U.S. Groups  —  Federal authorities say the man recruited several American political groups and used them to sow discord and interfere with elections.  —  MIAMI — The Russian man with a trim beard and patterned T-shirt appeared …

House overcomes internal rancor to pass assault weapons ban  —  House Democrats passed an assault weapons ban for the first time in roughly 30 years Friday, a legislative feat on a politically fraught issue that tested the unity of the caucus.  —  The historic legislation passed along party lines …

As Starbucks exits, Union Station struggles with safety, empty stores  —  The closure of a Starbucks because of ‘challenging incidents’ is adding fuel to concerns about the conditions of Washington's busiest transit hub  —  Starbucks is departing Union Station on Sunday while citing safety concerns at the iconic transit hub.

Trump endorses Tudor Dixon in Michigan governor's race  —  SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Tudor Dixon, a conservative media personality who is leading the polls in Michigan's Republican race for governor, secured former President Donald Trump's endorsement on Friday.  —  “When I met Tudor Dixon …

Why an unnamed ‘White House employee’ could be a pivotal Jan. 6 witness  —  Two anonymous White House staffers are at the center of important episodes in the Jan. 6 probe.  Are they the same person — and also the person Trump tried to call?  —  With the revelation that several senior Trump …

Twitter Censors All Content From The Epoch Times  —  The social media company ‘must explain itself for this outrageous act of censorship,’ Senator Marco Rubio says  —  Twitter on July 28 imposed a blockade on all content from The Epoch Times without explanation, raising further concerns …

When Can Dying Patients Get a Lifesaving Abortion?  These Hospital Panels Will Now Decide.  —  When Elizabeth Weller's water broke during the 18th week of her pregnancy, the prognosis was bleak: With almost no amniotic fluid left, the fetus could not survive.

Jon Stewart Fires Back at Ted Cruz's ‘Bullshit’ Excuses  —  The comedian and activist went off on Cruz, calling his reason for opposing a bill that would provide healthcare to veterans “inaccurate, not true, bullshit.”  —  After days of lobbying Republican senators from Capitol Hill …

Fox News, Once Home to Trump, Now Often Ignores Him  —  The former president hasn't been interviewed on the Rupert Murdoch-owned cable network in more than 100 days, and other Republicans often get the attention he once did.  —  It's been more than 100 days since Donald J. Trump was interviewed on Fox News.

America First is laying plans to perpetuate Trumpism beyond Trump  —  The rightwing group is planning a future more authoritarian, more extreme and more ruthless - with or without the former president  —  He spoke in lurid detail of cities overrun by violent crime.  He railed against the media, deep state and liberal elites.

Life sentence for Canadian man who joined ISIS, narrated propaganda videos  —  Mohammed Khalifa, 39, admitted to executing two Syrian soldiers on videos.  —  A Canadian man who was radicalized online, uprooted his life and joined the Islamic State in Syria, rising to a top position …

The Descent of Men  —  The ‘new manliness’ makes vices into virtues and cruelty into courage.  —  Dear Reader (including some of my snowflakier colleagues who are triggered by self-indulgent wordplay),  —  I'm having a minor crisis.  I have an indefensible fondness for double entendre …

An Alleged Affair to Remember  —  A close reading of the media melee over what did and didn't happen between Sergey Brin, Elon Musk, and Nicole Shanahan reveals the second order consequences, near and far term. … It also set off a series of cascading questions about the article of journalism, itself: What counts as an affair?

Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin's war effort in Ukraine  —  CNN Exclusive by Nima Elbagir, Barbara Arvanitidis, Tamara Qiblawi, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Mohammed Abo Al Gheit, Darya Tarasova Video by Alex Platt, Mark Baron Graphics by Sarah-Grace Mankarious, Marco Chacón, Natalie Croker and Henrik Pettersson

Blinken Resists Push to Label Russia a Terrorist State  —  The Biden administration is wary of making the designation despite strong calls from Congress and pleas from Ukraine.  —  WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate supports it unanimously.  So does House Speaker Nancy Pelosi …

Top FDA Officials Concerned About Pressure to Authorize COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters: Emails  —  Top officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were worried about what they saw as pressure being placed on them by vaccine companies and the White House to clear booster shots, according to newly released emails.

UK heatwave: Weather forecasters report unprecedented trolling  —  Weather forecasters faced unprecedented levels of trolling during this month's extreme heat in the UK, according to leading figures in the industry.  —  The BBC's team received hundreds of abusive tweets or emails questioning …

‘Breaking Bad’ statues shine light on actors, Albuquerque  —  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Bronze statues of mythical methamphetamine cookers Walter White and Jesse Pinkman were installed at a convention center in Albuquerque on Friday to celebrate the “Breaking Bad” TV series and its entertainment legacy …

North Texas Conservatives Police High Turnout and Close Races as “Anomalies” Suggesting Fraud  —  Election deniers nationwide are twisting civic engagement and results they don't like into evidence of rigged elections.  —  At a January presentation, a speaker lists election figures he coniders to be “anomalies.”

Biden Job Approval Dips to New Low  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden's job approval rating has fallen below 40% for the first time and now sits at a personal low of 38%.  Between September and June, the president's rating had ranged narrowly between 40% and 43%.

Over 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war killed in Russian captivity  —  More than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war have reportedly been killed in what is believed to be a Russian attack on a prisoner camp in Russian-occupied Donbas on July 28.  This is possibly the worst crime against captive …

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield makes ‘last-minute’ decision to stay in her role  —  (CNN)White House communications director Kate Bedingfield is staying on in her role, a surprise decision coming after the White House announced she would be leaving, multiple sources told CNN.

Exclusive: Biden EPA to tackle coal industry carbon with rules on other pollutants  —  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to use new limits on traditional pollutants like ozone and coal ash to help encourage the retirement of the nation's remaining coal-fired power plants …

Spanish prosecutor asks for eight-year jail term for Shakira  —  A Spanish prosecutor is seeking a prison term of eight years for Colombian superstar Shakira over a 14.5 million-euro tax fraud case, a prosecutor's office document showed on Friday.  —  The singer, who has sold …