Elon Musk begins mass layoffs at Twitter  —  Employees said the layoffs came across teams, as Twitter broadly reduced its workforce.  Musk originally pitched investors on cutting Twitter's staff up to 75 percent.  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Elon Musk is beginning mass layoffs at Twitter …

Exclusive: DOJ mulling potential special counsel if Trump runs in 2024  —  As Donald Trump inches closer to launching another presidential run after the midterm election, Justice Department officials have discussed whether a Trump candidacy would create the need for a special counsel to oversee …

Oprah Winfrey announces her support for Dr. Oz opponent, John Fetterman  —  Oprah Winfrey is making her voice heard.  —  Ahead of the midterm elections, Winfrey hosted “A Virtual Voting Conversation” on Nov. 3, where she and community leaders discussed the importance of voting during the critical election.

Scoop: Trump team eyes Nov. 14 announcement  —  Former President Trump's inner circle is discussing announcing the launch of a 2024 presidential campaign on Nov. 14 — with the official announcement possibly followed by a multi-day series of political events, according to three sources familiar with the sensitive discussions.

Democrats fear midterm drubbing as party leaders rush to defend blue seats  —  Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton and other prominent Democrats are scrambling to bolster candidates in places President Biden won comfortably in 2020  —  Democrats across the country scrambled Thursday to bolster candidates …

Scoop: House GOP to release 1,000-page road map for Biden FBI probe  —  Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee will release a 1,000-page document on Friday detailing allegations of politicization of the FBI and Justice Department under the Biden administration, Axios has learned.

Midterms horror as Republican candidate's daughters, three and five, are almost KILLED after gunman opens fire at North Carolina home - where Democrat rival filmed campaign ad - with bullet landing close to where they slept  — The congressional candidate's daughters, aged 3 and 5 …

October Jobs Report  —  U.S. Job Growth Remains Strong … Employers added 261,000 jobs in October, a sign that the economy is resilient.  —  Monthly change in jobs  —  +261,000  —  +600,000 jobs  —  +400,000  —  +200,000  —  Oct.  —  Jan.  —  April  —  July  —  Oct.

Joe Rogan Admits He Lied About Schools Using Litter Boxes  —  NO SH*T  —  Joe Rogan has admitted he lied about a school letting “furry” children use litter boxes, walking back his claims from a month ago that have since been amplified by Republican Senate Don Bolduc.

Trump Files a Suit Against N.Y.'s Attorney General, and Against Advice  —  The case, filed in Florida, seeks to stop Letitia James's lawsuit in New York and includes Mr. Trump's signature rhetoric.  His legal advisers are split on the wisdom of filing it.  —  Members of Donald J. Trump's …

Trump loyalist Kash Patel questioned before Mar-a-Lago grand jury  —  Appearance on Thursday focused on claims that Donald Trump broadly declassified documents before leaving White House  —  Kash Patel, a loyal aide to Donald Trump and former White House deputy, faced questions …

Nets suspend Kyrie Irving at least five games without pay  —  NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets suspended Kyrie Irving for at least five games without pay Thursday, dismayed by his repeated failure to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs.”  —  Hours after Irving refused to issue …

McConnell's PACs put money where Trump's mouth is  —  If Republicans take back the Senate next Tuesday, thank Mitch McConnell.  —  Through his super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), and other affiliated groups, the Republican leader has led an extraordinary, quarter-of-a-billion-dollar effort …

Miami Trump supporter convicted of shooting at men after argument over Biden flag on Jet Ski  —  A Miami jury on Thursday convicted a Donald Trump supporter who was accused of shooting at two men in a dust-up that started over one of them flying a “Ridin' with Biden” flag on his Jet Ski on Election Day 2020.

Two Russian soldiers suspected of raping a pregnant woman near Kyiv  —  Ukrainian police report that two Russian service members from the 90th Tank Division are suspects in a criminal case about the rape of a pregnant woman and the torture of civilians outside of Kyiv in March 2022.

L.A.'s mayor's race is tightening as Rick Caruso closes in on Karen Bass, new poll finds  —  The race for mayor of Los Angeles was tightening rapidly as it entered its final week, with Rick Caruso cutting deeply into Rep. Karen Bass' lead, putting him within striking distance in the contest to run the nation's second-largest city.

A Michigan judge tried to block an abortion rights measure.  His ex-wife says he helped her get an abortion in college.  —  PLYMOUTH, Mich. — When Brian Zahra learned that he had impregnated his 20-year-old girlfriend in May 1983, he grabbed the yellow pages, found an abortion clinic …

How a secret meeting put Hakeem Jeffries on track to replace Pelosi  —  The race to succeed Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the leader of House Democrats may have been clinched at a meeting in the Capitol on Sept. 1.  —  That's when House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries …

Lawyer in Detroit absentee ballot lawsuit yells at judge, cites debunked conspiracy film  —  During a court hearing that lasted nearly nine hours, the attorney representing GOP secretary of state candidate Kristina Karamo in a legal bid seeking to halt the count of tens of thousands …

How a pro-Trump youth group remade the Arizona GOP, testing democracy  —  Charlie Kirk's Turning Point network worked to purge officials who affirmed the 2020 election results  —  PHOENIX — The young conservative activist had a plan, and he wanted the veteran Arizona House speaker to push it.

Judge shoots down Mike Lindell's bid to reclaim seized phone, access warrant affidavit  —  A federal judge on Thursday sharply rejected an effort by Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO, to reclaim a cellphone seized by the FBI in September.  —  U.S. District Court Judge Eric Tostrud ruled …