U.S. kills al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in drone strike in Kabul  —  The United States has killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda and one of the world's most-wanted terrorists, who, alongside the group's founder, Osama bin Laden, oversaw the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President Biden announced Monday evening.

Senate GOP backtracks after veterans bill firestorm  —  Senate Republicans are reversing course on a veterans health care bill, signaling they'll now help it quickly move to President Joe Biden's desk after weathering several days of intense criticism for delaying the legislation last week.

Inside the wild Bedminster lobbying spree that led to Trump's double Missouri endorsement  —  Former President Donald Trump called Republican Senate candidate Eric Schmitt Monday evening, after posting on social media that he would endorse in Missouri's GOP primary, and told him to look out for an announcement.

Viktor Orbán Comes to CPAC  —  Will the audience care about his recent racist speech, his kowtowing to China, or his lack of support for Ukraine?  —  In May of this year, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) came to Budapest, attracted by the persona of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Retired DC cop who testified before January 6 committee says Trump ‘adamantly’ wanted to go to Capitol  —  Former officer in Trump's Jan. 6 motorcade speaks out 03:12  —  Washington (CNN)A retired Washington, DC, police officer who was part of Donald Trump's motorcade on January 6, 2021 …

Democrats' Approval of Supreme Court at Record-Low 13%  —  Washington, D.C. — After several prominent rulings at the end of its term in June, most of which were decided in favor of conservatives' positions on the issues, the U.S. Supreme Court's overall job approval rating is 43%, statistically unchanged from last year's 40% reading.

Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency to Support State's Response to Monkeypox  —  SACRAMENTO - As part of the state's ongoing response to the monkeypox outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom today declared a State of Emergency to bolster the state's vaccination efforts.

RNC links up with ‘Stop the Steal’ advocates to train poll workers  —  The Republican National Committee has been relying on a stable of the party's most prolific spreaders of false stolen-election theories to pilot a sweeping “election integrity” operation to recruit and coach thousands …

POLL: Fetterman Takes Sizable Lead Over Dr. Oz, 52% to 38% Among Likely Voters; 10% Undecided in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate Race  —  Mayor John Fetterman leads Dr. Mehmet Oz 52% to 38% among likely voters in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race, according to a new poll from nonpartisan political …

GOP eyes 2024 payback for Manchin's Dems-only deal  —  Sen. Joe Manchin is on the verge of giving Democrats a long awaited energy, tax and health care law.  Republicans will get a chance to serve their revenge cold in two years.  —  In a potential 2024 race, the West Virginia Democrat …

Holocaust 'doesn't even compare' to abortion deaths, says GOP nominee for Illinois governor  —  Darren Bailey is facing Democratic incumbent J.B. Pritzker, who is Jewish, in the general election  —  Darren Bailey, the Republican nominee for Illinois governor, said in a video posted to Facebook …

Top Democrats, Alleging Cover-Up, Seek Testimony on Secret Service Texts  —  The leaders of two House committees told the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general that they had developed “grave new concerns over your lack of transparency and independence.”

Elite Universities Are Out of Touch.  Blame the Campus.  —  Looking out the window of a plane flying over Boulder, Colorado, recently, I was reminded how much American universities stick out from their surroundings.  —  I'd never been to Boulder, or visited the University of Colorado's flagship campus …

First on CNN: Top economists say Democrats' health care and climate package will put ‘downward pressure on inflation’  —  (CNN)Congressional Democrats' climate and health care package is getting a boost from a group of top economists, who wrote in a new letter that the so-called Inflation Reduction Act …

Abortion bans violate religious freedom, clergy say in new legal campaign  —  When the Rev. Laurie Hafner ministers to her Florida congregants about abortion, she looks to the founding values of the United Church of Christ, her lifelong denomination: religious freedom and freedom of thought.

Florida Power & Light operates an exclusive, invite-only lounge for lawmakers and lobbyists  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Consider it Tallahassee's version of the fabled smoke-filled backroom.  —  Florida Power & Light, one of the state's most politically powerful companies …

Analysis Deems Biden's Climate and Tax Bill Fiscally Responsible  —  Despite Republican claims, the new legislation would be only a modest corporate tax increase, Congress's Joint Committee on Taxation found.  —  After more than a year of trying — and failing — to pack …