Trump weighed bombing drug labs in Mexico after he mistook adviser, new book shows  —  The 607-page ‘Confidence Man,’ from New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, details unusual and erratic interactions between Trump and world leaders, members of Congress and his own aides

As campaign struggles, Doug Mastriano plans ‘40 days of fasting and prayer’  —  It was billed as a blockbuster, but ended up a flop.  If Doug Mastriano's “big rally” last weekend were a movie, its Rotten Tomatoes score would be in the single digits.Only a few dozen supporters joined …

Biden Appears to Ask If Dead Congresswoman Is in Attendance at White House Event  —  YIKES  —  During the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on Wednesday, President Joe Biden seemingly asked if the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) was in attendance.

UNDER SEAL, TRUMP ACCUSES HAND-PICKED SPECIAL MASTER OF NOT FOLLOWING ORDERS UNDER SEAL, TRUMP ACCUSES HAND-PICKED SPECIAL MASTER OF NOT FOLLOWING ORDERS  —  Trump appears to be accusing his hand-picked Special Master, Raymond Dearie, of violating Judge Aileen Cannon's rules under seal.

‘Putin Is a Fool’: Intercepted Calls Reveal Russian Army in Disarray  —  In phone calls to friends and relatives at home, Russian soldiers gave damning insider accounts of battlefield failures and civilian executions, excoriating their leaders just weeks into the campaign to take Kyiv.

Security Alert for U.S. Citizens in Russia  —  Event: On September 21, the Russian government began a mobilization of its citizens to the armed forces in support of its invasion of Ukraine.  Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals' U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance …

What Country Is the Wall Street Journal Living In?  —  The paper's editorial board deludes itself with its endorsement of Kari Lake.  —  The headline of a Wall Street Journal editorial caught my eye: “Arizona's School Choice Election.”  Rubbing my eyes, I read it again.

Oath Keepers trial: A 1800s-inspired defense meets most significant Jan. 6 prosecution yet  —  In a case that could be a referendum on the insurrection, “prosecutors are really going for the three-pointer” against an untested, controversial defense.  —  Stewart Rhodes and others from the Oath Keepers …

Corey Lewandowski cuts deal on charge stemming from alleged unwanted sexual advances  —  Former senior Donald Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski has cut a deal with Las Vegas prosecutors after he was charged with misdemeanor battery, stemming from allegations of unwanted sexual advances toward a woman during a charity dinner in Sept. 2021.

Billionaire-backed legal group sues to block student loan forgiveness  —  In August, President Biden announced he would provide student debt relief to lower and middle-class borrowers.  Under the plan, eligible individuals would get up to $20,000 in student debt canceled if they received Pell Grants and up to $10,000 otherwise.

Texas Governor's Race: Abbott Leads O'Rourke 53% - 46%, Quinnipiac University Texas Poll Finds; Texas-Mexico Border Ranks As #1 Issue Among Likely Voters  — mail_outline  —  Six weeks before Election Day, Republican incumbent Greg Abbott has a 7-point lead over Democratic challenger …

Why NOT Me?  —  “You're due for a mammogram,” my gynecologist said, looking over my medical chart.  It was May; I had just gotten a pap smear and was still sitting on the exam table in my pink cotton (open in the front) gown.  —  “That's crazy, I just got one!”  I told her, with a hint of indignation.

‘The Wire’ Creator David Simon Defends Show Against ‘Conservative Art’ Label  —  David Simon, the creator of the classic HBO drama “The Wire,” bristled Tuesday in defense of the show after it was called “the best piece of conservative art ever made.”  —  Simon, reacting in a lengthy Twitter thread …

Romance novel model pleads guilty to dragging officer down Capitol steps on Jan. 6  —  WASHINGTON — When former President Donald Trump called on supporters who believed his lies about the 2020 election to go to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, a Michigan bodybuilder-turned-construction worker responded with enthusiasm.

Christine Drazan, Tina Kotek neck-and-neck in race for Oregon governor, new poll from The Oregonian/OregonLive shows  —  Republican Christine Drazan and Democrat Tina Kotek are neck-and-neck in the three-way race for governor six weeks before the November election, according to a new poll commissioned …

It's About (Danged) Time: Lizzo at the Library!  —  It all started with a tweet.  —  Last Friday, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden saw that the one and only Lizzo was coming to D.C. for a concert.  The pop megastar is a classically trained flautist.  The Library has the world's largest flute collection.

Poll: Most U.S. Republicans reject ‘MAGA’ label  —  Overall, 42% of Republicans embraces the “MAGA” label while 58% disavow the term, according to a new poll.  —  A total of 42% of Republicans in the U.S. identify as “MAGA” Republicans, while 58% disavow the term, according to a new national poll by J. Ann Selzer and Grinnell College.

The Right's Lust for Violence  —  Roger Stone, Michael Anton, Kyle Young, and the Oath Keepers.  —  The House January 6th Committee has postponed today's hearing because of the massive Hurricane Ian bearing down on Florida.  But we have an idea what we were going to see.

CEO Says He's Been “Praying for Inflation” Because It's an Excuse to Jack Up Prices … The CEO of Iron Mountain Inc. told Wall Street analysts at a September 20 investor event that the high levels of inflation of the past several years had helped the company increase its margins …

Hurricane Ian gets nasty quickly, turbocharged by warm water  —  Hurricane Ian is quickly gaining monstrous strength as it moves over oceans partly heated up by climate change, just like 30 other Atlantic tropical storms since 2017 that became much more powerful in less than a day.

Alzheimer's Progression Slowed by Drug in Major Trial  —  Shares of Eisai Co. and partner Biogen Inc. surged after they reported that a drug significantly slowed Alzheimer's disease, making it the first medicine to blunt progression of the most common dementia in a definitive, large-scale trial.

Minnesota AG Nominee Wants to Defund Corporate Law Enforcement  —  GOP corporate attorney Jim Schultz has hammered incumbent Keith Ellison over crimes that aren't in his office's jurisdiction.  His solution?  Stop pursuing crimes that are.  —  Republican attorney general candidate Jim Schultz speaks during …

Court throws out Sidney Powell's ‘Kraken’ counterlawsuit against Dominion Voting  —  On Wednesday, a federal judge tossed out a counterlawsuit from lawyer Sidney Powell that was levied against Dominion Voting Systems in an attempt by the Trump associate to fend off the massive defamation lawsuit against her.

Iranian woman whose death led to mass protests was shy and avoided politics  —  The young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, whose death in police custody triggered nationwide protests, was a shy, reserved resident of a small town who never challenged the country's clerical rulers or its Islamic dress code, sources close to the family said.

Tim Ryan Says Americans Need To Give Up Gas Cars as He Drives Around Ohio in Gas Guzzlers  —  Rep. Tim Ryan (D., Ohio) says the United States is ready to ban gas cars, arguing in 2019 that socialist Bernie Sanders's plan to ban gas vehicles wasn't ambitious enough.  On the Senate campaign trail, Ryan is sticking to gas guzzlers.

US believes it's unlikely Putin will use a nuclear weapon but threat has ‘elevated’  —  US officials believe that the likelihood Russian President Vladimir Putin will use a tactical nuclear weapon in his struggling war in Ukraine is perhaps the highest it has been since Russia invaded in February …

WATCH: Riley Gaines teams up with Rand Paul to combat biological men in women's sports  —  Collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines has teamed up with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in the fight against biological men who identify as transgender women competing against biological women in sports.