Dems near pivotal vote with climate agenda intact, prescription-drug plan dinged  —  Democrats have survived the vetting of the Medicare portions of their prescription drug reform plan, but lost ground on a separate pillar that penalizes drug companies for raising prices on individuals …

State Legislatures Are Torching Democracy  —  Even in moderate places like Ohio, gerrymandering has let unchecked Republicans pass extremist laws that could never make it through Congress. … As the Supreme Court anticipated when it overturned Roe v. Wade, the battle over abortion rights is now being waged state by state.

In Senate Battle, Democrats Defy Biden's Low Standing (for Now)  —  “The billion-dollar question,” as one Republican pollster put it, is whether Democratic candidates in crucial Senate races can continue to outpace the president's unpopularity.  —  PHOENIX — In a Senate split 50-50 …

Tim Ryan turned his race into a surprise Senate battleground.  Now comes the hard part.  —  Tim Ryan may be running ahead of J.D. Vance in Ohio.  But the cavalry is coming to Vance's rescue.  —  Whether Ryan can survive the coming ad onslaught and keep Ohio's Senate race surprisingly competitive is an open question.

Indiana Governor Signs First Post-Roe Abortion Ban, With Limited Exceptions  —  The law passed despite dividing Republicans.  Some of them said the measure was too restrictive; others objected to limited exceptions for rape and incest.  —  INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers passed …

Drop Box for Babies: Conservatives Promote a Way to Give Up Newborns Anonymously  —  After Roe, groups are seeking to expand safe haven laws, which allow women to surrender babies with minimal interference.  But these laws pose their own problems.  —  The Safe Haven Baby Box at a firehouse in Carmel …

How ‘Loyal Dog’ Sean Hannity Went From King of Fox News to Has-Been  —  Hannity was once Fox's most-watched host, but now he's fallen all the way to fourth place.  What happened?  —  Oh, how the mighty have fallen.  —  During the Trump administration, Sean Hannity was on top of the world.

Alex Jones must pay more than $45 million in punitive damages to the family of a Sandy Hook massacre victim, jury orders  —  Alex Jones ordered to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages in defamation trial  —  A Texas jury on Friday ordered Alex Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages …

Old problem for new governor - the distraction of ambition  —  On Wednesday evening, favor-seeking business people, lobbyists and activists, having stroked checks for four and five figures to Glenn Youngkin's political action committee, streamed into the former Tredegar Iron Works …

Florida officials speak out after state attorney Andrew Warren suspended  —  “Does my vote not count?” a sign read outside at a protest outside the Hillsborough County Courthouse Thursday evening.  — The question echoed throughout Tampa Bay, and Democrat politicians voiced their outrage.

Eric Greitens lost the Missouri Senate primary.  He won't disappear from politics  —  Whatever you want to call the two-minute speech former Gov. Eric Greitens made on election night, it wasn't a concession.  —  He did not congratulate Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on winning the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

In Turbulent Times, Xi Builds a Security Fortress for China, and Himself  —  Taiwan, Covid, “color revolutions,” the classroom: everywhere, China's leader sees threats that foreign forces can exploit, and he has enlisted the whole nation to resist.  —  Over informal, private meals with American leaders …

Tracking the Faceless Killers who Mutilated and Executed a Ukrainian POW  —  Editor's note: this article contains descriptions of sexual violence and murder which readers may find disturbing.  —  On July 28, a series of horrifying videos circulated on pro-Russian social media which depicted …

WATCH: Gleeful Jeanine Pirro Says Britney Griner Won't be Taking a Knee Anymore  —  WNBA star Britney Griner was sentenced this week to 9 years in prison.  The United States is working on getting her freed from jail and has discussed prisoner exchanges.  —  Since Griner has dabbled in activism …

Turkish Banks Are Adopting Russian Payments System, Erdogan Says  —  Five Turkish banks have adopted Russia's Mir payments system, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on his return from talks with President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Washington DC lightning strike that killed two offers climate warning  —  Scientists say that climate change is increasing the likelihood of lightning strikes across the United States, after lightning struck at a square near the White House, leaving two people dead and two others in critical condition.

Top scientist admits ‘space telescope image’ was actually a slice of chorizo  —  A French scientist has apologized after tweeting a photo of a slice of chorizo, claiming it was an image of a distant star taken by the James Webb Space Telescope.  Étienne Klein, a celebrated physicist …