How the DOJ has built a case against Trump for obstruction  —  FOLLOW THE STORY  —  I've been a naysayer on the notion that the Justice Department is trying to make a criminal case against former President Donald Trump based on the Mar-a-Lago raid, at least with respect to the offenses most often touted …

Mary Peltola, a Democrat, Defeats Sarah Palin in Alaska's Special House Election  —  Ms. Peltola notched a major upset against Ms. Palin and will finish the remaining four months of the term of Representative Don Young, who died in March.  —  In an upset with the potential to reverberate nationally …

Democratic Midterm Prospects Improve as Races Heat Up, WSJ Poll Finds  —  Independent voters, a key to victory in competitive general elections, are now tilting toward Democrats  —  Midterms 2022: Where Republicans and Democrats Stand on the Issues  —  Created with sketchtool.

The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Progress in Math and Reading  —  The results of a national test showed just how devastating the last two years have been for 9-year-old school children, especially the most vulnerable.  —  National test results released on Thursday showed in stark terms …

Defiant Rick Scott explains ‘strategic disagreement’ with McConnell over battle for Senate  —  Mitch McConnell is among the myriad Republicans questioning the Senate GOP's quality of candidates in the midterms.  Rick Scott wants everyone to stop doubting his recruits.

Republicans are readying lawsuits to block Biden's student debt plan  —  GOP attorneys general, top lawmakers and conservative groups are discussing legal options, alleging the White House's move to cancel student debt is illegal  —  Republican state attorneys general and other leading conservatives …

What Republicans refuse to grasp about the ‘Clinton standard’  —  For those who don't care about factual details, the GOP's “Clinton standard” framing may very well have superficial appeal.  But it's still ridiculous.  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham is facing quite a bit of criticism over his …

Brian Kemp's Running Mate Is a Fake Elector  —  Georgia's governor makes nice with MAGA by embracing the election deniers who think he cheated Trump.  —  Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp gets a lot of credit for resisting pressure from former President Donald Trump to “find the votes” …

Fetterman campaign says stroke recovery factors into fall debate plans  —  Advisers say Fetterman can engage in one-on-one conversations but struggles with more chaotic auditory environments  —  Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman's Senate campaign said Wednesday that his stroke recovery …

Michigan election board rejects abortion rights initiative  —  A Michigan elections board on Wednesday rejected an abortion rights initiative after its two Republican board members voted against putting the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

‘Gender Queer’ Author ‘Relieved’ After Court Rules Book's Sale Can't Be Restricted in Virginia  —  Maia Kobabe felt a wave of relief on Tuesday morning.  Waking up on the West Coast, an early morning peek at emails revealed a Virginia court had dismissed a lawsuit seeking to label Kobabe's book Gender Queer …

House Rating Changes: Five Races Move in Democrats' Direction, Including Alaska  —  Republican strategists express optimism that the Inflation Reduction Act and President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan will help them shift the spotlight away from abortion and Donald Trump and back onto Democrats' spending measures and inflation.

Pete Buttigieg has a bridge to sell you.  Just don't ask if it's linked to a campaign.  —  BERLIN, N.H.— Standing on a bridge with the picturesque Androscoggin River churning behind him, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg hoisted an oversized novelty check made out to the “City of Berlin” for $19,534,391.

GOP's midterm fear: Referendum on Trump  —  Top Republicans' biggest private fear — that November's midterms will turn on public opinion about former President Trump, not inflation and crime — is unfolding across the political landscape. … - It's also why Republicans no longer feel so confident of a landslide in the House.