Supreme Court Rejects Voting Map That Diluted Black Voters' Power  —  Voting rights advocates had feared the decision would undermine the Voting Rights Act, which instead appeared to emerge unscathed.  —  Reporting from Washington  —  The Supreme Court, in a surprise decision …

Pat Robertson, broadcaster who helped make religion central to GOP politics, dies at 93  —  Pat Robertson, a religious broadcaster who turned a tiny Virginia station into the global Christian Broadcasting Network, tried a run for president and helped make religion central to Republican Party politics …

Oh-So-Mature Trump Aides Want Him to Focus on DeSantis' Penis  —  The 2024 GOP primary is headed for the dumbest places imaginable  —  THIS IS HOW petty and aggressively stupid the 2024 GOP presidential primary has become: several close aides and allies to Donald Trump want to challenge Ron DeSantis …

Gavin Newsom wants 28th Amendment for guns in U.S. Constitution  —  California's governor outlines a plan fueled by money left over from his recent reelection.  —  SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would restrict gun ownership …

‘Why the hell are we doing this?’  McCarthy's fractured leadership team faces new abortion tension  —  As the speaker and his majority leader trade barbs over why conservatives have paralyzed the floor, they're confronting a brushfire among House GOP centrists.

Cuba to Host Secret Chinese Spy Base Focusing on U.S.  —  Beijing will pay Havana several billion dollars for eavesdropping facility  —  WASHINGTON—China and Cuba have reached a secret agreement for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island …

Exclusive: Former White House official told federal prosecutors Trump knew of proper declassification process and followed it while in office  —  A key former White House official was interviewed earlier this year by special counsel prosecutors investigating the handling of classified materials …

George Santos' Lawyer Was Part of the January 6 Mob  —  Joseph Murray and an associate, currently listed as a Santos staffer, were in the crowd that surrounded the Capitol.  —  George Santos, the lying and indicted GOP congressman from Queens, New York, has steadfastly refused …

I Crashed Henry Kissinger's 100th-Birthday Party  —  The elite love him but for some reason won't say why.  —  On Monday evening at the New York Public Library's entrance on 42nd Street, several men were on their knees meticulously installing a red carpet on the stone steps …

CNN Insiders On What Led to Chris Licht's Exit, And What Comes Next: ‘Nowhere Near the Final Battle’  —  Chris Licht's ouster from the top of CNN came as little surprise.  The day before, one anchor at the network told me: “It would not shock me if Chris were to be thrown overboard tomorrow.”

Social Conservatism in U.S. Highest in About a Decade  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — More Americans this year (38%) say they are very conservative or conservative on social issues than said so in 2022 (33%) and 2021 (30%).  At the same time, the percentage saying their social views are very liberal …

Donald Trump asks for new trial in E. Jean Carroll case  —  The former president's lawyers contended in a court filing that the $5 million verdict was “excessive,” and should either be reduced or he should get a new trial.  —  A $5 million jury verdict that found Donald Trump liable …

FBI agent who testified for Republicans was suspended over leaked sensitive information  —  House Democrats are asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate whether Garret O'Boyle, who was presented as an FBI whistleblower by Republicans, lied to Congress.

Ukraine launches counteroffensive against Russia  —  KYIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian military has launched a long-anticipated counterattack against occupying Russian forces, opening a crucial phase in the war aimed at restoring Ukraine's territorial sovereignty and preserving Western support in its fight against Moscow.

The House GOP stalls out  —  Good morning, Early Birds.  East Coasters, be careful outdoors today.  It might be a good day to skip the fire pit.  Tips: earlytips@washpost.com.  Thanks for waking up with us.  —  Reading this online?  Sign up for The Early 202 to get scoops and sharp political analysis in your inbox each morning.

Alarm at rightwing push to reverse clean-energy success in Texas and beyond  —  Supporters of clean energy say they expect further battles ahead to prevent state's progress in solar and wind from being unwound  —  In the scramble before the end of Texas's legislative session last week …

Trump's Properties Charged Defense Department $1 Million, New Documents Reveal  —  Newly released documents reveal that Donald Trump's businesses charged his Department of Defense $976,000 during the first three years of his presidency, an amount that appears far greater than previously reported.

America's Suburbs Are Breeding Grounds for Fascism  —  Hate against trans people is rising, but the suburbs are what gives this hate its fervor and popularity.  —  The Target closest to where I sit is in Torrington, Conn. It's next to a Home Depot, a Wendy's, a Walgreens, a Walmart, a Chipotle.

Gene Simmons: Kiss star calls for Stormont restoration  —  It was a crazy crazy sight in Westminster as Kiss star Gene Simmons rocked up to Prime Minister's Questions and then called for the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland.  —  The rock star said Stormont must be restored to look after people's needs.

Cryptogeddon  —  If you are wilfully violating securities law, I have some advice: do not put “we are operating as a fking unlicensed securities exchange” in a message to another party, and if you absolutely must do so, do not say “bro” at the end.  —  Sadly this advice came too late …