Putin's partial military mobilization condemned by U.S., Europe … Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a “partial mobilization” of troops was condemned by United States and European officials as a dangerous escalation as the invasion in Ukraine falters.

New York AG Letitia James files $250M lawsuit against Trump for defrauding lenders, others  —  The suit accuses Trump and his firm of “persistent and repeated business fraud.”  —  For 20 years, Donald Trump and his family enriched themselves through “numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentations …

Trump vs. DeSantis in 2024?  USA TODAY/Suffolk poll shows Florida Republicans prefer their governor  —  In a hypothetical 2024 presidential primary in the Sunshine State, DeSantis leads Trump 48%-40%.  That's a reversal from a poll of Florida in January, when Trump led DeSantis 47%-40%.

‘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

Trump Endorsed QAnon Because He's Stuck  —  For a man who believes in nothing, has no coherent ideology or value system except his own continuing relevance, obsesses over conspiracies, and subsists on grievance and anger, Donald Trump took a long time to fully embrace QAnon.

Trump's legal payments soar in wake of Mar-a-Lago search, campaign finance filings show  —  Spending by Donald Trump's Save America PAC surged in August to more than $6.3 million — its highest monthly total of the year — as the former President waged court battles over the FBI's search of his waterfront Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

House Rating Changes: Schweikert Moves to Toss Up, Cuellar to Lean Democrat  —  As both parties begin to blitz the competitive battleground with ads, Republicans continue to be the party playing more offense, linking Democratic incumbents to “wasteful spending” and more IRS funding in the just-passed reconciliation bill.

The 2022 Elections in Ohio  —  Marist Ohio Poll  —  Vance & Ryan in Dead Heat in Ohio Senate Race, DeWine with 18-Point Lead in Governor's Race  —  In the U.S. Senate contest to fill retiring Senator Rob Portman's seat, Democrat Tim Ryan and Republican J.D. Vance are in a statistical dead heat …

Inside the Completely Legal G.O.P. Plot to Destroy American Democracy  —  Mr. Harris is a video journalist.  Ms. Cottle is a member of the editorial board.  —  For the past two years, Americans have been overwhelmed by a deluge of headlines suggesting democracy in the United States is under threat: Voter suppression.

Police: Driver admitted to intentionally killing teen at North Dakota street dance after political dispute  —  Court papers say 41-year-old Shannon Brandt confessed to a 911 dispatcher and police that he killed 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson due to a political dispute.

Meta: We're not-so-big tech now  —  As Meta shapes its antitrust defense, it has begun pointing out its plummeting stock price as a sign that competition is alive and well in its market. … It has lost ground to its surging rival TikTok, and its revenue has been curtailed by Apple's iOS privacy changes.

Revealed: the ‘shocking’ levels of toxic lead in Chicago tap water  —  Tests performed for thousands of Chicago residents found lead, a neurotoxin, in amounts far exceeding the federal standards  —  Erin McCormick, Aliya Uteuova and Taylor Moore with photographs by Jamie Kelter Davis

The six types of races that will decide control of the House in 2022  —  Analysis: The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates 31 House races as toss-ups.  Control of the chamber will come down to a very narrow cross-section of the country.  —  Republicans need to pick up at least five seats …

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.

Liz Cheney's role in electoral count bill fuels GOP distrust  —  The House is set to vote Wednesday on a bill to reform how Congress certifies presidential elections, but the involvement of the Jan. 6 committee — and in particular Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) — has drawn GOP opposition.