In China, Blinken Faces Clashing Agendas and a Question: Will Xi Show Up?  —  There's much to talk about, but it's not clear if it will be constructive.  Meetings in Beijing will offer clues as to whether the two nations can smooth over tensions.  —  Edward Wong reported from Beijing, and David Pierson from Singapore.

The Memo: Trump's legal defenses draw derision — even from some conservatives  —  Former President Trump and his allies have been throwing up defenses over the Mar-a-Lago documents since an indictment leveling 37 criminal charges against him was unsealed June 9.

First ever Partygate video revealed as Tories drink, dance and laugh at Covid rules  —  The Conservatives face the threat of a new police probe as an exclusive video shows officials joking about their rule-bending Christmas bash at the party's headquarters in London during lockdown

Now she's out of a job.  Her struggle is just beginning.  —  Deep Reads features The Washington Post's best immersive reporting and narrative writing.  —  BUFFALO — Lexi Rizzo was cleaning dishes in the back of her Starbucks store on March 31 when she noticed that her manager was printing a document, her hands shaking.

Pence vows to ‘clean house’ at Justice Department if elected, citing trust issues  —  Former Vice President and 2024 candidate Mike Pence said he would “clean house” in federal law enforcement if he was elected president.  —  “The American people have lost confidence in the Department of Justice.

“Unfriending” America: The Christian right is coming for the enemies of God — like you and me  —  Rising far-right Christian movement linked to GOP calls for “kingdom revolution” led by an “army of believers”  —  “You've got a friend in Pennsylvania!” was the theme of the state's ad campaign to promote tourism in the 1980s.

Biden Administration Engages in Long-Shot Attempt for Saudi-Israel Deal  —  The president and his aides are pressing an aggressive diplomatic effort as Riyadh makes significant demands in exchange for normalization, including a nuclear deal and a robust U.S. security pact.

Spotify Has Stopped Even Sort of Trying to Stem Joe Rogan's Vaccine Misinformation  —  As a recent conversation between the podcast host and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes clear.  —  A broad swath of the anti-vaccine universe celebrated Thursday, when Joe Rogan, the biggest podcaster in the country …

Texas Ends Water Breaks for Construction Workers Amid Heat Wave  —  THIRSTY  —  A triple-digit Texas heat wave is drawing new attention to a law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott this week, ending water break requirements for construction workers.  The legislation, signed Tuesday …

‘All we received was abandonment’ Migrants sent to Sacramento by DeSantis speak out  —  They saw themselves in the video that Florida officials offered up as proof of their consent to travel to California, but they said it's not what it seemed.  —  They were happy, yes.  That part was true.

Nikki Haley's husband begins Africa deployment as she campaigns for 2024 GOP nomination  —  Michael Haley, the candidate's husband of 26 years, has been a constant at his wife's campaign events since she became a White House candidate.  —  CHARLESTON, S.C. — Nikki Haley's husband deployed Saturday …

Senate Republicans love Tim Scott.  They just can't say so politically.  —  So far, just two Senate colleagues have endorsed Scott's presidential bid.  Some say many are afraid of backlash from Donald Trump.  —  Congressional bureau chief  —  His fellow Republican colleagues can't say enough …