Putin overruled his top security service in prisoner swap with Ukraine  —  The prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine in late September was approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin over the objections of his top security service, the FSB, which had concerns about a public backlash in Russia …

The Supreme Court Has a Crisis of Trust  —  The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values.  It is separate from the newsroom.  —  The Supreme Court's authority within the American political system is both immense and fragile.

Searching for survivors at Ian's ground zero, Fort Myers Beach.  It doesn't always end well  —  Pasco, a young black Labrador retriever on his first search and rescue mission, quickly picked up the scent on Anchorage Street.  He led a Miami firefighter to the top of a rubble pile and jumped down the other side.

National Archives says it's still missing records from Trump officials  —  The National Archives has told the House Oversight Committee that it has not yet recovered all of the records from Trump administration officials that should have been transferred under the Presidential Records Act.

Lawmakers Confront a Rise in Threats and Intimidation, and Fear Worse  —  Violent political speech has increasingly crossed into the realm of in-person confrontation for members of Congress in both parties, raising the prospect of a disastrous event.  —  WASHINGTON — In Bangor, Maine …

Trump escalates attacks on McConnell with ‘DEATH WISH’ post  —  An incendiary and racist message from the former president raised concerns about inciting more violence.  —  Former president Donald Trump is facing blowback for an inflammatory online message attacking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell …

‘Women are in charge.  They are leading’: Iran protests continue despite crackdowns  —  People, determined to defy violence by security forces and online blackout, are resorting to old-fashioned methods to organise unrest  —  The messages, printed on scraps of paper, were thrown …

Americans captured by Russia detail months of beatings, interrogation … TRINITY, Ala. — Alex Drueke and Andy Tai Huynh evaded Russian forces for hours, slogging through pine forests and marshes in Ukraine to avoid detection.  The U.S. military veterans were left behind — “abandoned,” …

American Prisoners Are Released From Venezuela and Iran  —  Caracas let go seven Americans in a trade for two nephews of Venezuela's first lady who had been convicted on drug charges.  Separately, Tehran freed its longest-held American prisoner.  —  WASHINGTON — Seven Americans held …

Kwasi Kwarteng's ‘budget day’ cocktail party with financiers who may have profited from crash  —  Kwasi Kwarteng attended a private champagne reception hours after delivering his mini-budget where hedge fund managers who would gain from a crash in the pound egged him on to commit to his plans.

Ticket-splitting voters were going extinct.  Now they may decide 2022's biggest races.  —  Ticket-splitters are back, and they're playing a starring role in the chaotic 2022 campaign.  —  In battleground states from Georgia to New Hampshire to Ohio, a potentially decisive slice …