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.

Russia's security service works to subvert Moldova's pro-Western government  —  A trove of sensitive materials obtained by Ukrainian intelligence and reviewed by The Washington Post illustrates how Moscow continues to try to manipulate countries in Eastern Europe

Appeals Court Upholds House's Effort to See Trump's Tax Returns  —  The former president is likely to appeal to the Supreme Court after the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit declined to rehear the matter.  —  WASHINGTON — A full federal appeals court denied …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Citing drugs at Rikers, NYC to ban incarcerated people from getting letters in the mail  —  Overdose deaths are skyrocketing in New York City jails, and the correction commissioner says banning physical letters is a way to stop it.  —  Commissioner Louis Molina said at a city council hearing Tuesday …

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?

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 …

‘Raise the challenge’: Eastman exhorts poll watchers to build a record  —  Trump's Jan. 6 adviser's comments in leaked recording of New Mexico meeting hint at post-election efforts to overturn votes.  —  At a speech last week before prospective GOP poll workers and challengers in New Mexico …

N. Korea fires ballistic missile toward sea, Seoul says  —  North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea on Friday, Seoul officials said, as its rival South Korea was wrapping up an annual military drill that the North views as an invasion rehearsal.

Could Iran's regime fall?  —  The protests are persisting, as the theocrats dither  —  Sitting on a podium before an assembly of sportsmen on September 11th, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, one of the world's longest-reigning leaders, sounded surprisingly perky.  Defying reports of his death …

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.

Georgia prosecutor urges Supreme Court to clear way for Lindsey Graham testimony  —  The Georgia prosecutor leading an investigation into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to clear the way for the testimony of Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.

‘Innuendos and baseless allegations’: Milwaukee claps back after Ron Johnson sows doubts about early voting in the city  —  As voters have already begun streaming to the polls, Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson this week raised doubts about early in-person absentee voting in Milwaukee and suggested …

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 …

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.

Roger Stone Warns Ron DeSantis It Would Be ‘Treachery’ To Run Against Trump  —  Stone again attacks DeSantis with ugly bid to help clear out a potential field of rivals to make a Trump run for the presidency easier.  —  Former President Donald Trump's longtime ally and “dirty trickster” …