GOP unites in brinkmanship over default, rejecting Biden compromises  —  Several House Republican lawmakers have begun casting doubt on the Treasury Department's deadline for averting a financial crisis  —  During a closed meeting Tuesday morning at a GOP hangout a block from the U.S. Capitol …

Trump's Secret Weapon to ‘Ratf-ck’ DeSantis  —  The ex-president has joked about “anti-woke” entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy running for president as a way to audition for a slot in a potential second Trump term: “Does he want a job?”  —  IN HIS BATTLE against Ron DeSantis for the 2024 nomination …

Twitter Is a Far-Right Social Network  —  It can no longer be denied.  —  Twitter has long been described, even by its most ardent users, as a hellsite.  But under Elon Musk, Twitter has evolved into a platform that is indistinguishable from the wastelands of alternative social-media sites such as Truth Social and Parler.

Target's Pride collection features ‘tuck-friendly’ swimsuits for adults, not kids  —  CLAIM: Target's Pride collection features a bathing suit for kids that is labeled “tuck-friendly.”  —  AP'S ASSESSMENT: False.  The “tuck-friendly” swimsuits are only offered in adult sizes …

Amanda Gorman's Biden inauguration poem was moved out of an elementary library at a Miami-Dade school after a parent complained  —  The acclaimed poem written by Amanda Gorman for President Joe Biden's inauguration was moved from the elementary section of a Miami-Dade County public school …

G.O.P. Split in Texas Breaks Wide Open With Drunkenness Accusation  —  Attorney General Ken Paxton's accusation against the House speaker came as the House investigated Mr. Paxton's request for $3.3 million to settle a suit accusing him of corruption.  —  Reporting from Houston

Republicans' Wacky Ten Commandments School Bill Fails  —  THOU SHALT NOT  —  A bill that would have forced Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom failed to advance in the Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday.  The bill, which passed the state Senate in April …

Fearing indictment is imminent in classified docs probe, Trump team requests meeting with DOJ  —  The former president's attorneys requested the meeting with AG Merrick Garland.  —  Former President Donald Trump's legal team has formally requested a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland …

The deepening radicalization of Donald J. Trump  —  Watch how the former president's positions and rhetoric have grown more confrontational and extreme as he seeks a second term  —  In the immediate aftermath of Jan. 6, 2021, President Donald Trump stayed mostly silent …

As staff shield Feinstein from the press, a picture really is worth a thousand words  —  Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter.  It's Wednesday, May 24.  I'm Kent Nishimura, a staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times based out of Washington.  I cover politics and national news.

The Dodgers Promote Anti-Catholicism  —  When businesses celebrate various identity groups among their customers and employees, it can easily descend into cloying and opportunistic pandering.  But it is mostly harmless, in the way that drinking green beer on St. Patrick's Day or wearing plastic sombreros on Cinco de Mayo is harmless.

Roberts says Supreme Court will address ethics issues  —  Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said Tuesday night that he was “confident” that the Supreme Court will convince the public that the court “adheres to the highest standards of conduct.”  —  Accepting an award at the American Law Institute …

Trump's worst judge will hear a $1.8 billion attack on Planned Parenthood  —  Remember that guy who tried to ban mifepristone?  He's back.  —  Remember Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk?  Last month, Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee to a federal court in Texas, tried to remove mifepristone …

Hillary Clinton: Dianne Feinstein Shouldn't Retire  —  Secretary Hillary Clinton defended her friend and former colleague Senator Dianne Feinstein, whose advanced age and failing health have prompted calls for her to resign from the Senate, saying that Feinstein's resignation would not be …

Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers investigate incident of a man intentionally disturbing a bison calf; incident results in death of calf  —  MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers are asking the public for information about an incident …

Uvalde school massacre: The story and the year that changed me  —  Editor's Note: Editor's note: Shimon Prokupecz is CNN's Senior Crime and Justice Correspondent.  He and his team have covered the botched law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary school shooting since it happened one year ago.

How conservative activists worked to kill an effort to protect Florida election workers from harassment  —  Florida lawmakers were poised this year to protect election workers from harassment.  Then, conservative “election integrity” activists worked to kill the effort.

Driver With History Of DUI Charged With Murder In Rock Creek Parkway Crash That Left Three Dead  —  A D.C. woman with a history of driving under the influence has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder for a high-speed crash on Rock Creek Parkway in mid-March that killed three people …