POLITICO Playbook: New revelations about Kevin McCarthy and Jan. 6  —  Presented by With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  DON'T MISS — Jonathan Lemire on the sensitivities around JOE BIDEN becoming the first presidential octogenarian on Nov. 20: “Biden's about to turn 80.

Elon Musk Spoke to Putin Before Tweeting Ukraine Peace Plan: Report  —  The world's richest man spoke directly with Vladimir Putin, Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer wrote.  —  MC  —  Elon Musk spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin before tweeting a proposal to end the war …

What's behind Russia's unusually big missile attack on Ukraine?  —  Russia lashed out on Oct. 10, striking many Ukrainian cities with 84 missiles and 24 exploding drones.  —  The places they hit were all civilian — multiple power plants but also a children's playground in the center of Kyiv.

What does Madison Cawthorn do now?  —  The defeated congressman's next chapter may offer insight into how redemption works, or doesn't, for a scandal-plagued Republican who still loves Trump  —  Madison Cawthorn left his Capitol Hill office on a recent afternoon like a man with a purpose …

Mastriano's Attacks on Jewish School Set Off Outcry Over Antisemitic Signaling  —  The G.O.P. candidate for governor, who promotes Christian power and disdains separation of church and state, is alarming Jewish voters in his contest with the Democratic candidate, Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish.

Biden's Folksiness Can Veer Into Folklore, or Falsehoods  —  President Biden has been unable to break himself of the habit of embellishing narratives to weave a political identity.  —  WASHINGTON — Standing in front of Floridians who had lost everything during Hurricane Ian …

Labor Department Moves to Change Independent Contractor Classification Rule  —  The Biden administration has issued a highly anticipated proposal on how it will approach independent contractor status under federal wage law, its second attempt to undo a Trump-era standard that it says leaves workers vulnerable to misclassification.

The Inevitable Indictment of Donald Trump  —  As an appellate judge, Merrick Garland was known for constructing narrow decisions that achieved consensus without creating extraneous controversy.  As a government attorney, he was known for his zealous adherence to the letter of the law.

Gabbard says she can't stay in 'today's Democratic Party'  —  Former Hawaii congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday said she's leaving the Democratic Party because it is “under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers who are driven by cowardly wokeness.”

Biden to ‘Re-Evaluate’ Relationship With Saudi Arabia After Oil Production Cut  —  Angered by the kingdom's decision to team up with Russia to slash petroleum output, the president signaled openness to retaliatory measures proposed in Congress, including a halt to arms sales and a new antitrust measure.

The Herschel Walker Abortion Exceptions Policy  —  For today's GOP, abortion is acceptable when it is for the convenience of the father, politics, and personal interest.  —  GOP Georgia Senate nominee Herschel Walker makes a solemn promise to his audience as part of his stump speech …

Bennet Leads O'Dea in Colorado Senate Race... Polis with Double-Digit Lead Over Ganahl in Governor's Contest  —  In the race for U.S. Senate in Colorado, Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet has a 7-point advantage over his Republican challenger Joe O'Dea among registered voters statewide.

How Trump's legal expenses consumed GOP donor money  —  As some Republican candidates face a fundraising shortfall, the former president, the RNC and key state parties have all spent significant sums on legal fights  —  Donald Trump's political operation has spent more money since he left office …

Evan McMullin, Sen. Mike Lee locked in nasty battle for Senate.  What does latest poll show?  —  Sen. Mike Lee, left, and Senate candidate Evan McMullin, right, are pictured in this composite photo.  Utahns like McMullin a little more than Lee, but the independent challenger has a lot …

How will Tommy Tuberville's corporate backers respond to his racist diatribe?  —  On Saturday, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) appeared at a rally in Minden, Nevada, to support the Republican nominee for Senate, Adam Laxit.  During his speech at the event, which also featured Donald Trump …

Government Officials Invest in Companies Their Agencies Oversee  —  Hidden records show thousands of senior executive branch employees owned stocks in companies whose fates were directly affected by their employers' actions, a Wall Street Journal investigation found

In Fight for Congress, a Surprising Battleground Emerges: New York  —  After a haywire redistricting process, New York has more congressional battlegrounds than nearly any other state.  Even the Democratic campaign chairman is locked in a dead heat.  —  POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. …

Why Republicans Could Prevail in the Popular Vote but Lose in the House  —  In a potential reversal of recent structural trends, there's a small chance of something we haven't seen since 1952.  —  Over the last few decades, we've gotten accustomed to the idea that Democrats could easily win …

Secret Service agents were denied when they tried to learn what Jan. 6 info was seized from their personal cellphones  —  WASHINGTON — Secret Service agents asked the agency for a record of all of the communications seized from their personal cellphones as part of investigations into the events of Jan. 6 …

Supreme Court rejects challenge to death sentence over racially prejudiced jurors  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away a Black death row inmate's appeal over claims he did not receive a fair trial because several jurors had expressed opposition to interracial relationships.

How Ron DeSantis Blew Up Black-Held Congressional Districts and May Have Broken Florida Law  —  A User's Guide to Democracy  —  Congress Works For You.  Here's How to Be a Better Boss.  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was incensed.  Late last year, the state's Republican legislature …

New poll gives Fung wider edge in RI race for Congress  —  PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A new poll has found Republican Allan Fung with a lead outside the margin of error for the first time in the race for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District, buoying GOP hopes of picking up a the blue-state seat next month.

J.D. Vance DOMINATES in Ohio Senate Debate Against Radical Left-Wing Congressman Tim Ryan  —  I wasn't sure what to expect in the debate between Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan and political newcomer J.D. Vance in the campaign for the open Senate seat in Ohio.  Ryan, who has been in Congress for nearly 20 years …

Supreme Court rejects appeal from Dylann Roof, who killed 9  —  The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Dylann Roof, who challenged his death sentence and conviction in the 2015 racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation.  Roof had asked the court to decide …

California's green bureaucracy gets the verbal smackdown it deserves  —  No one has ever gone broke betting that Democrats will return to the same old dopey talking points about big corporations causing all the world's evils.  They are forced to go back to this well quite often …

Whitmer's Approval Ticks Up in Michigan Ahead of Midterms as Most Governors Continue to Earn Positive Reviews  —  Charlie Baker (R-Mass.) reclaims his status as America's most popular governor  —  Ahead of next month's elections, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) has seen a modest improvement …