Special counsel scrutinizing February 2020 meeting where Trump praised US election security protections  —  Special counsel Jack Smith's office has asked former US officials about a February 2020 Oval Office meeting where then-President Donald Trump praised improvements to the security of US elections …

Obama's chef ID'd as paddleboarder who drowned near former president's Martha's Vineyard estate  —  Barack and Michelle Obama were not present at the home at the time of the accident, authorities said  —  A paddleboarder who drowned near former President Barack Obama's Martha's Vineyard estate …

Exclusive: Hunter Biden's gallery sold his art to a Democratic donor ‘friend’ who Joe Biden named to a prestigious commission  — Insider has learned the identities of two Hunter Biden “friends” who were also buyers of his art: Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali and Kevin Morris.

Arkansas Man Sentenced for Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach  —  Defendant Beat Police Officer with a Flagpole  —  WASHINGTON - An Arkansas man was sentenced today on a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Twitter rival Mastodon rife with child-abuse material, study finds  —  Happy Monday!  Send news tips and summer podcast recommendations to: cristiano.lima@washpost.com.  —  Below: The Microsoft-Activision deal is back in the hands of the U.K.'s antitrust watchdog, and a key OpenAI employee departs.

Justice Department sues Texas after Gov. Abbott refuses to remove floating barrier  —  The Department of Justice has sued Texas Gov. Greg Abbott following the governor's refusal to remove a stretch of inflatable buoys on the Rio Grande, which sits between his state and Mexico.

Jury Decides Ammon Bundy Must Pay More Than $50M for Defaming Hospital  —  The anti-government leader waged a crusade over treatment of an ally's grandson, known as Baby Cyrus.  —  Anti-government agitator Ammon Bundy must pay an Idaho hospital more than $50 million for defaming it and targeting …

Donors, Don't Fund a Trump Plurality  —  As in 2016, Republican candidates won't drop out soon enough.  Here's how to give them a push.  —  Despite Donald Trump's apparent inevitability, a baker's dozen Republicans are hoping to become the party's 2024 nominee for president.

DeSantis involved in car accident on drive to Chattanooga; Florida governor unhurt  —  DeSantis spokesman says ‘We appreciate the prayers and well wishes of the nation’ after governor involved in crash  —  Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was involved …

Ron DeSantis' Latest Staff Shakeup Is Part of a Pattern  —  Ron DeSantis is looking for a fresh start.  Last week, the Florida governor fired roughly a dozen staffers and offloaded two top aides to a pro-DeSantis super PAC, signaling a campaign reset amid an existential crisis …

Democrats move to censure Marjorie Taylor Greene  —  Good morning, Early Birds.  Frank O'Hara died 57 years ago today.  He was only 40.  Carve out a minute today to read his perfect poem about Lana Turner collapsing.  Tips: earlytips@washpost.com.  Thanks for waking up with us.  —  Reading this online?

Florida and DeSantis dig in as criticism of Black history curriculum mounts  —  The teaching standards have again thrust Florida and DeSantis into America's politically polarized fight over how and what to teach children.  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida officials are digging in and defending …

IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine  —  International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have observed directional anti-personnel mines on the periphery of the site of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

Jason Aldean, Decrying ‘Cancel Culture,’ Has a No. 2 Hit  —  “Try That in a Small Town” went from overlooked to almost topping the charts after a week of controversy.  —  In May, the country star Jason Aldean released a single, “Try That in a Small Town,” with lyrics that paint contemporary urban life …

UPDATE #2-MSP Divers, Environmental Police Recover Body of Paddle Boarder from Edgartown Great Pond  —  UPDATE #2—Shortly before 10 AM the body of the missing paddle boarder was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond by Massachusetts State Police divers.  MSP Underwater Recovery Unit divers …

Former Anti-Abortion Leader and Aide to Alabama Lt. Gov. Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges  —  Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth once called Cole Wagner “a whiz-kid” and a “bright, young guy”  —  AS THE CHAIR of Alliance for a Pro-Life Alabama in 2018, Cole Wagner helped muscle into the Alabama Constitution …

McCarthy: Biden probes ‘rising to the level of impeachment inquiry’  —  House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said that he expects the House GOP's investigations into the foreign business activities of President Biden's family to rise to the level of an impeachment inquiry