The Strongest Evidence Yet That an Animal Started the Pandemic  —  A new analysis of genetic samples from China appears to link the pandemic's origin to raccoon dogs.  —  For three years now, the debate over the origins of the coronavirus pandemic has ping-ponged between two big ideas …

EXCLUSIVE: Dozens of Mar-a-Lago staff, from servers to aides, are subpoenaed in classified documents probe  —  At least two dozen people - from Mar-a-Lago resort staff to members of Donald Trump's inner circle at the Florida estate - have been subpoenaed to testify to a federal grand jury that's investigating …

Poland becomes first to pledge fighter jets to Ukraine  —  Poland on Thursday pledged it would send four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, the first NATO member to do so, in a significant move in Kyiv's battle to resist Russia's onslaught.  —  President Andrzej Duda said the planes …

As a Possible Indictment Looms, Trump's Team Plans to Attack  —  If the former president faces criminal charges, his campaign plans to begin a broad offensive against Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney and a Democrat, accusing him of political bias.

What Secrets Does the “Donald Trump of Beijing” Know?  —  The case against Guo Wengui could expose more about America's politics than China's.  —  The American adventure of Guo Wengui started eight years ago at a penthouse on Fifth Avenue, and it has ended there—for now, at least.

Wall Street rides to the rescue as 11 banks pledge $30 billion to First Republic Bank  —  A group of financial institutions has agreed to deposit $30 billion in First Republic Bank in what's meant to be a sign of confidence in the banking system, the banks announced Thursday afternoon.

The Republicans Have A DeSantis Problem  —  Been A Very Rough Couple of Weeks for the GOP's Bumbling Golden Boy  —  Perhaps the central insight of my 2022 election analysis was that I believed the Republicans had made a huge strategic blunder by running towards a politics - MAGA …

Utah governor signs bill banning abortion clinics across the state  —  The clinics have to close by the end of the year or when their license expires.  —  Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has signed a bill into law banning abortion clinics in the state, making it the latest to restrict the procedure since the

Federal appeals court blocks enforcement of Florida ‘Stop W.O.K.E. Act’  —  Public university professors in Florida may continue to share their opinions about racism, sexism, and discrimination in the classroom — at least for now — after three federal judges upheld a ban on enforcement …

House oversight chair Comer says ‘6 or 7 Biden family members’ potentially involved in business schemes … House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer is releasing information that he says reveals a Biden family associate used his business to transfer money from foreign businesses to various members of President Biden's family.

Regulatory Failure 101: What the Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank Reveals  —  It's an all-too-familiar cycle: First comes the boom, then the breathtakingly speedy bust, and then the bailout.  Now we're in the moment where everyone wonders where the financial regulators were.  —  Co-published with The Atlantic

Ron DeSantis' crackdown on “woke” banks could help a big Ron DeSantis donor  —  Today's bonus newsletter is written by Jason Garcia, an amazing corporate-accountability reporter who focuses on Florida.  He also has his own newsletter, Seeking Rents.  For more of Jason's indispensable reporting, subscribe.

Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedev 'has promised Wagner $15million if it assassinates Italy's defence minister'  — Il Foglio paper said Italy's intelligence service intercepted Medvedev's order  — Medvedev was president between 2008 and 2012 and a former prime minister

Once a darling of defense hawks, Ron DeSantis retreats  —  When Ron DeSantis first ran for a U.S. House seat in Florida in 2012, the retired Navy officer earned the support of one of the Republican Party's most prominent defense hawks.  —  John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador …

At Stanford, Public Accountability for Thee But Not for Me  —  The debate inside Stanford Law School, where activist students earlier this month shouted down federal circuit court judge Kyle Duncan at a Federalist Society event, has moved beyond whether those students should face any consequences for their outrageous conduct.

Secret document reveals Russia's 10-year plan to destabilize Moldova  —  A secret plan drawn up by Russia's security service, the FSB, lays out detailed options to destabilize Moldova - including supporting pro-Russian groups, utilizing the Orthodox Church and threatening to cut off supplies of natural gas.

Pence defends joke about Buttigieg ‘maternity leave’  —  The husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Thursday he hasn't heard from Mike Pence in the days since the former vice president mocked his family, but will continue to hold him accountable for his words.

Michigan Senate OKs proposals to expand gun safety measures in step forward for Democrats  —  Michigan Democrats moved one step closer Thursday to putting in place new gun safety measures after Senate lawmakers advanced a trio of proposals to expand background checks as well as establish gun …

Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for using a slur on “The View”: “I should've thought about it a little longer”  —  Whoopi Goldberg has apologized for using a word considered an ethnic slur on Wednesday's episode of ABC's “The View.”  —  During a conversation on the broadcast discussing former …