Vladimir Putin's situation looks ever more desperate  —  A planned military mobilisation in Russia, and fake referendums in occupied Ukraine, are signs of weakness  —  Editor's note (September 21st 2022): This piece was updated after Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilisation of reservists …

Hungry migrants were lured with $10 McDonald's gift certificates to gain their trust and fly them to Martha's Vineyard, lawsuit against Ron DeSantis says  — Hungry Venezuelan migrants were given $10 McDonald's gift cards to gain their trust, a lawsuit says.

Special master to Trump's lawyers: 'You can't have your cake and eat it'  —  NEW YORK — The senior federal judge tasked with reviewing the materials seized by the FBI from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate sharply questioned the former president's attorneys Tuesday during their first hearing in his courtroom.

‘Unchecked’ book excerpt: Inside McConnell's decision not to convict Trump  —  “Let's just ignore him,” the GOP Senate leader said at one point, underscoring his hands-off approach on whether to stand up to pro-Trump lawmakers after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol

Biden aims to rally world leaders behind Ukraine in U.N. remarks  —  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will use his remarks at the United Nations General Assembly Wednesday to rally the world in support of Ukraine as part of a broader call for countries to protect the established international order.

Scoop: McConnell-aligned super PAC pulls out of Arizona  —  The Mitch McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund is canceling $9.6 million in television ads for the Arizona Senate race, confident that other outside conservative groups will make up much of the difference for Republican nominee Blake Masters.

Trump to Face Sexual Battery Suit Under New ‘Survivors’ Law  —  Donald Trump has faced a defamation suit from journalist E. Jean Carroll over her allegations that Trump raped her.  Now she's escalating the suit.  —  E. Jean Carroll, the journalist who claims she was raped by Donald Trump decades ago …

Man admits to killing teen after political dispute in Foster Co., court docs allege  —  MCHENRY, N.D. (Valley News Live) - A community is mourning the loss of an 18-year-old man from Grace City, North Dakota, as investigators look into what led up to a deadly crash.

Justice Dept. Charges 48 in Brazen Pandemic Aid Fraud in Minnesota  —  The defendants were charged with stealing $240 million intended to feed children, in what appears to be the largest theft so far from a pandemic-era program.  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Justice Department said on Tuesday …

Health Panel Recommends Anxiety Screening for All Adults Under 65  —  The guidance comes as Americans are coping with illness, isolation and loss from the pandemic, as well as other stressors like inflation and rising crime.  —  A panel of medical experts on Tuesday recommended …

The Jews of the Jews … On September 11, the New York Times published a 6,900-word exposé of New York State's Hasidic yeshivas under the title “In Hasidic Enclaves, Failing Private Schools Flush with Public Money.”  According to the Times, the state's 100-plus Hasidic boys' schools fail …

A Doocy on the border  —  Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration.  With help from Allie Bice.  —  There's a tall Fox News reporter in his mid-30s with slicked back hair and an air of combative indignation …

Senate set to approve treaty fighting climate super-pollutants  —  Good morning and welcome to The Climate 202!  Below, we have more updates on the damage and power outages in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Fiona.  But first:  —  Senate will likely approve Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol this week

Al Gore sees the world at ‘tipping point’ for climate action  —  LONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - (This Sept. 20 story has been refiled to correct typo in second bullet point)  —  The world is at a “positive tipping point” in the fight against climate change as surging oil and gas costs spur governments …

2 plead guilty after stealing more than $100 million in GI Bill funds  —  The Justice Department received a guilty plea on Sept. 16 in a Post-9/11 GI Bill fraud case that cost the Veterans Affairs more than $100 million.  —  Michael Bostock, of Nampa, Idaho, and Eric Bostock, of Riverside …