Republicans cling to Walker's denials  —  Good morning, Early Birds.  Congratulations to White House grounds superintendent Dale Haney on 50 years of service.  (Haney started weeks before President Biden was first elected to the Senate.)  Tips: earlytips@washpost.com.  Thanks for waking up with us.

Saudi Arabia and Russia plan deep oil cuts in defiance of US  —  Riyadh and Moscow seek reductions that would push prices higher at crucial Opec+ meeting  —  Saudi Arabia is seeking to raise oil prices at a crucial meeting in Vienna, in a move set to anger the US and aid Russia.

Time for U.S. to reevaluate Saudi relationship, Sen. Chris Murphy says ahead of OPEC output cut  — OPEC+'s plans to cut oil production is a “mistake,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy.  — “I think it is a mistake on their part.  And I think it's time for a wholesale re-revaluation …

Republicans have edge on crime, immigration ahead of U.S. midterms -Reuters/Ipsos poll  —  U.S. voters prefer Republicans over Democrats for solving immigration and crime problems, suggesting the Republican emphasis on border security and fighting crime could help it in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Intervene in Review of Mar-a-Lago Records  —  In earlier cases, the justices have ruled against Mr. Trump when he sought to shield his financial and presidential records from prosecutors and congressional investigators.  —  WASHINGTON — Former President Donald J. Trump asked …

First on CNN: Barnes raises more than $20 million in third quarter of closely watched Wisconsin Senate race  —  Democratic Senate candidate Mandela Barnes raised more than $20 million in the third quarter of 2022, according to details from the Wisconsin lieutenant governor's campaign …