Top Twitter executives fired as Elon Musk takeover begins  —  Musk's $44 billion deal to acquire the social media company closed on Thursday night.  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Elon Musk took control of Twitter late Thursday as his $44 billion deal to takeover the company closed.

James Bennet was right  —  Controversy over an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) consumed the New York Times in June 2020 and claimed the job of then-editorial page editor James Bennet.  Two-and-a-half years later, Bennet has shared some thoughts about the episode — and, in particular, the role of Times Publisher A.G. Sulzberger.

Trump Loses Latest Push to Block Tax Returns From House Panel  —  A federal appeals court rejected former President Donald Trump's request to reconsider a ruling that his tax returns must be disclosed to a congressional committee.  —  The order from the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit clears …

The 2022 Race for the House, in Four Districts, and Four Polls  —  Swing-district polls by The New York Times and Siena College show how the midterm races are being shaped by larger, surprising forces, beyond the traditional red and blue divide.  —  President Biden is unpopular everywhere.

As Governor's Race Tightens, a Frantic Call to Action Among Democrats  —  Democrats and their allies are pouring millions of dollars into late-stage ads and get-out-the-vote efforts to help Gov. Kathy Hochul as she fends off her Republican challenger, Lee Zeldin.

First on CNN: January 6 committee moves forward with Secret Service interviews  —  The House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol is wrapping up its review of more than a million pages of Secret Service documents and plans to bring in top agents …

Kanye West has a disturbing history of admiring Hitler, sources tell CNN  —  Several people who were once close to the artist formerly known as Kanye West told CNN that he has long been fascinated by Adolf Hitler — and once wanted to name an album after the Nazi leader.

Scoop: John Kerry preparing to leave Biden administration  —  Special climate envoy John Kerry is actively considering leaving the Biden administration after next month's COP27 summit, soliciting advice from friends and colleagues on how to stay involved in climate efforts from the private sector …

Hawaii's Big Island gets warning as huge volcano rumbles  —  Hawaii officials are warning residents of the Big Island that the world's largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, is sending signals that it may erupt.  Scientists say an eruption isn't imminent, but they are on alert because of a recent spike …

Putin Rails Against ‘Western Elites’ in Speech Aimed at U.S. Conservatives … Putin's remarks seem to be aimed at conservatives in the U.S. and Europe.  —  President Vladimir V. Putin, in a speech seemingly aimed more at winning over political conservatives abroad than his own citizens …

Trump lawyers and DOJ met in sealed court hearing related to Mar-a-Lago investigation Thursday  —  Watch members of Trump's legal team enter closed-door hearing  —  Haberman reveals what info he could give prosecutors  —  Police investigate break-in at office of candidate for Arizona governor Hear …

Man Who Dragged Officer Into Jan. 6 Mob Is Sentenced to 90 Months  —  The sentence for the defendant, Albuquerque Cosper Head, was one of the most severe penalties handed down so far in the Justice Department's investigation of the Capitol attack.  —  A Tennessee man was sentenced on Thursday …

Climate Protester Glues His Head to ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’ Painting  —  The artwork by Johannes Vermeer, exhibited in The Hague, was the latest artwork to be targeted by protesters concerned about climate change.  One person glued his head to the painting and another glued his hand to the wall.

HUEXCLUSIVE: Families Are Wondering How To Get Their Tuition Back After Donda Academy Closes For The Remainder Of The School Year  —  Parents are concerned about tuition refunds after Donda Academy issued out an email, letting them know that “effective immediately” the school will be closed!

Why I Keep Getting Mistaken for a Conservative  —  The Left no longer tolerates dissent  —  One of my longtime survival strategies as a career freelance writer is a policy of saying yes to everything.  This includes paid work, of course, but it also includes lunch invitations, since the only thing I love more than writing is eating.

Central VPA shooter bought gun in private sale after background check blocked previous attempt, police say  —  Police said an FBI background check successfully blocked him from buying the gun from the dealer on Oct. 8.  He then bought a gun in a private sale.

Frank Luntz Claims Trump Was ‘Seriously Considering’ Announcing 2024 Run Before Midterms to ‘Take Credit’ for GOP Gains  —  Republican pollster Frank Luntz claimed on Thursday that former President Donald Trump “was seriously considering” announcing a presidential bid before the midterm elections.

Trump '24 Foreplay  —  Who's in?  Who's out?  Where's Javanka, and whether to expect cameos from Hope, Bannon, Miller, Stepien, and more?  Plus, a special bonus edition of midterm fears on the right and left.  —  There's a bit of denialism swirling around D.C., and around …

Republicans Kemp, Walker Lead in Key Georgia Races  —  Less than two weeks before Election Day, Republicans lead in the closely watched midterm races for governor and U.S. Senator in Georgia.  —  A new telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and “The Absolute Truth” …

Michigan GOP gubernatorial nominee invoked conspiracy claiming Democrats sought to ‘topple’ US in retaliation for losing Civil War  —  The Republican gubernatorial nominee in Michigan invoked a conspiracy that the Covid-19 pandemic and protests in the summer of 2020 after the killing …

Topline Results for October 2022 Times/Siena Polls in Four Congressional Districts … Survey conducted Oct. 19-24 among 431 likely voters.  —  Thinking ahead to the November general election, are you almost certain that you will vote, very likely to vote, somewhat likely to vote, not very likely to vote, or not at all likely to vote?

Russia continues funding media in the U.S.  —  RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA MONEY CONTINUES TO FLOW: Months after Russia invaded Ukraine and media companies dropped the country's state programming, Russian government funding continues to flow into U.S. media.  —  Between April and the end of September …

GOP's Cheney endorsing Michigan Democrat Slotkin in a first  —  Republican Rep. Liz Cheney is expected to endorse and campaign for Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, the first time that the critic of former President Donald Trump who lost her GOP primary has crossed party lines to formally support a Democrat.

State pays millions to company employing undocumented workers linked to deputy's death  —  Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has paid more than $8 million to a construction contractor since authorities found it had hired several undocumented workers — including two men who have been charged …

Dozens of subpoenas issued in investigation involving Sen. Bob Menendez  —  Dozens of federal grand jury subpoenas have been issued in the past several months as part of the ongoing federal criminal investigation involving several individuals in New Jersey and the powerful Democratic chairman …

D.C. activists to rally for Brittney Griner by smoking pot near embassy  —  Cannabis advocates are calling for a “smoke out” Thursday outside the Russian embassy in Northwest Washington, where protesters plan to smoke marijuana and demand the release of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner …

Pentagon PSYOP Scandal Demands an Urgent Debate on Propaganda Ethics  —  It's time for a public debate about clandestine PSYOPs, argues Dr. Emma L. Briant, a political communication scholar who researches contemporary propaganda and information warfare, and its governance and ethics in an age of mass-surveillance.

How Do Drag Shows Advance U.S. National Security?  —  The Biden administration pushes woke ideology on the world at the expense of American values.  —  1x  —  The exportation of American culture has long been one of our nation's greatest soft-power assets.

Lucianne Goldberg, 1935-2022  —  Lucianne Goldberg was—she owned the term proudly—a broad.  A grand broad—big, blowsy, sexy, and up for a good time from morning till night.  She was the first and the last person I ever knew to spend her days inserting cigarettes into a cigarette holder …