Fox was resigned to a tough trial.  Then, a secret mediator stepped in.  —  Dominion held firm to its big-money claim, and the jury was seated, just before a dramatic ending to the defamation case  —  For months, as the pretrial proceedings wore on and the embarrassing internal messages kept spilling …

IRS Whistleblower Says U.S. Is Mishandling Hunter Biden Probe  —  In letter to lawmakers, Internal Revenue Service supervisor says he has information of ‘preferential treatment and politics’  —  WASHINGTON—An IRS supervisor has told lawmakers he has information that suggests the Biden administration …

Microsoft drops Twitter from its advertising platform  —  Yet another big B2B service passes on paying for Twitter's new high-priced API.  —  Twitter is being removed from yet another big B2B platform.  And this time it's one of the biggest companies in the tech industry.

No Labels Took More Than $100,000 From Clarence Thomas Buddy Harlan Crow  —  Years before megadonor Harlan Crow was reading ProPublica stories about his close ties with Clarence Thomas, often seen as maybe the most partisan justice on the Supreme Court, he was doling out donations …

Biden rejects McCarthy's debt-limit plan  —  The speaker on Wednesday unveiled House Republicans' plan to raise the debt limit while cutting federal spending, saying he hopes to pass the package next week.  —  President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a sweeping rebuke …

After high-flying start, DeSantis hits stumbling blocks on road to 2024  —  The governor, who started the year with momentum, is now confronting a considerably more difficult path as he prepares to launch a national campaign  —  Republican megadonor Ken Langone is eager to support Ron DeSantis for president in 2024.

Trump Says He May Skip Rape Case to Spare New Yorkers Traffic Hassles  —  The trial of writer E. Jean Carroll's allegations that the former president assaulted her at a department store is to begin next week.  —  Former President Donald J. Trump wants to come to a Manhattan trial over allegations …

The Hacker Who Hijacked Matt Walsh's Twitter Was Just ‘Bored’  —  The breach of the right-wing provocateur was simply a way of “stirring up some drama,” the attacker tells WIRED.  But the damage could have been much worse.  —  The hacker who claims to have compromised the Twitter account …

Supreme Court temporarily extends access to abortion drug, sets Friday night deadline  —  Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Wednesday temporarily extended a hold on a lower court ruling that would have imposed restrictions on access to an abortion drug, a move meant to give the justices more time to consider the issue.

Little girl, parents shot after basketball rolls into gunman's yard in Gastonia; suspect sought: police  —  GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) - A manhunt is underway for an “armed and dangerous” man accused of shooting several people including a six-year-old girl and her parents, according to the Gaston County Police Department.

Hundreds of Miles Apart, Separate Shootings Follow Wrong Turns  —  Two men appeared in courtrooms in different parts of the country on Wednesday, charged in shootings that came after minor missteps on everyday tasks.  —  Hundreds of miles apart, the two men stood in courtrooms, accused of shooting at someone who had made a wrong turn.

Boris Epshteyn, Trump Legal Adviser, Is to Be Interviewed by Special Counsel  —  The interview is the latest example of the focus by the special counsel, Jack Smith, on the role of lawyers working for former President Donald Trump.  —  Boris Epshteyn, a top adviser to former President Donald J. Trump …

DeSantis-backed board moves closer to nixing Disney pact  —  The board also announced a series of proposals that further the clash between the DeSantis administration and the California-based entertainment giant.  —  GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The board appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis …

DeKalb County releases autopsy in ‘Cop City’ protester Manuel Teran's death  —  Teran was protesting the development of a police training center.  DeKalb County has released the autopsy results related to the death of Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, who demonstrated against the construction …

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Makes His White House Run Official  —  Announcing his long-shot bid to challenge President Biden, he spoke to a crowd of people who voiced their shared skepticism about vaccines and the pharmaceutical industry.  —  Reporting from Boston

‘No one is above the law’: Federal judge trolls Manhattan DA as she green lights ex-deputy's deposition by House GOP  —  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's legal team lost their bid to block the deposition of his former deputy on Wednesday, as a federal judge appointed …

So-called 'Don't Say Gay' rules expanded through 12th grade in Florida  —  Classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity is limited.  —  The Florida Board of Education has voted to  —  expand restrictions  —  on classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

CDC allows second covid booster: Who should get it and when … Federal health officials this week updated their recommendations for the coronavirus vaccine to allow people who are at least 65 years old or immunocompromised to receive a second updated booster shot to strengthen protection …

Florida poised to make DeSantis' travel records secret  —  Open government advocates called it one of the worst ever proposed exemptions to the state's much-lauded Sunshine Law.  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' use of state planes and other information about his official travel …

‘I got duped’: Republican senator fumes over Trump-appointed judge's ethics scandal  —  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is upset that a controversial Trump-appointed judge concealed his involvement in an article attacking abortion rights and transgender people during his confirmation hearing, reported POLITICO on Wednesday.

Montana Republicans want censure while misgendering lawmaker  —  A group of conservative Republican lawmakers in Montana deliberately misgendered a transgender colleague in demanding that she be censored for language she used on the floor while speaking against a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for children.

Jonathan Majors' Issues Worsen as More Alleged Abuse Victims Cooperate With D.A.'s Office (EXCLUSIVE)  —  As Jonathan Majors prepares for a May 8 court appearance on domestic violence charges, his PR problems are about to get bigger.  —  Sources familiar with the matter tell Variety …