Exclusive: New evidence in special counsel probe may undercut Trump's claim documents he took were automatically declassified  —  The National Archives has informed former president Donald Trump that it is set to hand over to special counsel Jack Smith 16 records which show Trump and his top advisers …

Prince Harry and Meghan ‘paparazzi car chase’ was not ‘near catastrophic’, NYPD officials suggest  —  A taxi driver who picked up the Sussexes has said “I don't think I would call it a chase” - but added the couple were “quiet and seemed scared” as they sat in the back of his car for around 10 minutes.

F.B.I. Revokes Security Clearances of 3 Agents Over Jan. 6 Issues  —  At least two of the three agents are scheduled to testify on Thursday to a House panel investigating what Republicans contend is the “weaponization” of federal agencies against conservatives.

A Sinister Flop  —  Special Counsel John Durham served up not an investigation, but an excuse for future partisan abuses.  —  Defending Donald Trump was always awkward.  —  So many incidents unfolded in a familiar pattern.  Somebody would accuse the ex-president of something bad.

No One Is More Dangerous For The White House Than Ron DeSantis — Including Donald Trump  —  The Florida governor is more informed, tactical and calculated, which makes him way more dangerous.  —  Imagine Donald Trump, but with brains and savvy.  —  OK ... most people have those.

Ron DeSantis Signs Law Allowing Trans Kids to Be Taken From Their Families  —  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a horrifying bill Wednesday that will let the state take transgender minors away from their families if they are receiving gender-affirming care.

House expected to take up resolution to expel Santos as GOP eyes off-ramp  —  The House voted on Wednesday to refer a Democrat-led resolution to expel Rep. George Santos to the Ethics Committee, a move that allowed Republicans to avoid weighing in directly on the politically perilous question …

Senate Democrats ask Biden to ready 14th Amendment, bypass GOP on debt limit  —  House Democrats also begin a long-shot attempt to force a vote on a debt ceiling increase without other spending cuts  —  A group of Senate Democrats is circulating a letter urging President Biden to prepare …

Study Offers New Twist in How the First Humans Evolved  —  A new genetic analysis of 290 people suggests that humans emerged at various times and places in Africa.  —  Scientists have revealed a surprisingly complex origin of our species, rejecting the long-held argument that modern humans arose …

Appeals court appears likely to restrict access to key abortion pill  —  Judges aggressively question lawyers for Justice Dept. and drug company about the FDA's regulation of mifepristone  —  NEW ORLEANS, La. - A federal appeals court on Wednesday seemed prepared to limit access …

‘We made history tonight:’ Donna Deegan will be the next mayor of Jacksonville  —  Donna Deegan celebrated her win Tuesday night at Estrella Cocina in Downtown Jacksonville surrounded by supporters and family.  —  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — First Coast News has called the Jacksonville mayoral race in favor of Donna Deegan.

Montana becomes 1st state to ban TikTok; law likely to be challenged  —  Montana became the first state in the U.S. to completely ban TikTok on Wednesday when the state's Republican governor signed a measure that's more sweeping than any other state's attempts to curtail the social media app.

Watchdog Finds Rollins Violated Hatch Act: ‘Extraordinary Breach of Public Trust’  —  Rachael Rollins announced on Tuesday that she will resign as Massachusetts' top federal prosecutor, saying she didn't want to become a distraction amid the Office of Special Counsel's investigation …

2024 Trump Nomination Would Hurt Down-Ballot Republicans, Poll Finds  —  A rematch of the 2020 election next year, pitting President Joe Biden against former president Donald Trump, would hurt down-ballot Republicans, a new poll has found.  —  If Trump is at the top of the ticket …

PEN America, Penguin Random House sue Florida school district over book bans  —  Writers' group PEN America and publisher Penguin Random House have sued a Florida school district over its removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Writers' group PEN America …

Theranos founder Holmes loses bid to stay out of prison, hit with huge restitution bill  —  Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and former CEO Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani were on Tuesday ordered to pay $452 million to victims of the blood-testing startup's fraud, and an appeals court also denied Holmes' request …

Kaitlan Collins, Moderator of Trump Forum, Named CNN's 9 p.m. Anchor  —  The appointment caps a fast rise at the network by Ms. Collins, 31, who previously covered the Trump and Biden administrations.  —  CNN has selected Kaitlan Collins to host a new weeknight show at 9 p.m. …

BREAKING: Drudge Reports Hannity to Replace Tucker in Major Shake Up — Fox News Responds  —  The Drudge Report dropped a siren-blaring scoop on Wednesday announcing an imminent shake-up at Fox News, eventually reporting that Sean Hannity will take over at 8 p.m.

Deutsche Bank to Pay $75 Million to Settle Jeffrey Epstein Accusers' Suit  —  A civil complaint alleged the financial institution facilitated the disgraced financier's sex-trafficking ring  —  Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $75 million to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit charging …

Public confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court is at its lowest since 1973  —  Amidst the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court dropped dramatically among those who support access to abortion, based on an analysis of GSS data.

Pennsylvania GOP Doubles Down on Election Deniers, Including a Fake Trump Elector  —  After nearly all Pennsylvania counties certified their primary results last year, six Republican commissioners spread out across three counties stood in the way of completing the process.

Texas Legislature Bans Transgender Medical Care for Children  —  Over the opposition of Democrats and the loud protests at the Capitol this month, the Texas Legislature voted on Wednesday to approve a bill banning hormone and puberty blocking treatments, as well as surgeries for transgender children.

I've never seen the Kremlin so rattled  —  Anna Nemtsova is a Daily Beast correspondent and a contributing writer for the Atlantic.  —  A mysterious drone attack on the Kremlin.  A car bombing that wounded a key advocate of the invasion of Ukraine.  Four military aircraft shot down in a single day — inside Russia's borders.

The Party Is Cancelled  —  Inside a monthly New York City hangout, where fired university professors and controversial TikTokers get together to have discussions they feel they can't have anywhere else.  —  Every month, more than two hundred people from the media, academia …