Mitch McConnell escorted away from cameras after freezing mid-press conference  —  A few minutes later, McConnell walked back to the press conference by himself.  —  WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suddenly stopped speaking during a weekly Republican leadership press conference …

Hunter Biden's Plea Deal in Jeopardy  —  The judge is questioning the scope of his deal, and the parties are furiously trying to salvage it.  Under the agreement with the Justice Department, Biden had agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and avoid prosecution and jail time on a gun charge.

Former lawmaker says Trump asked him to overturn the 2020 election but so far he hasn't been contacted by special counsel  —  Former Rep. Mo Brooks said he is “mildly surprised” that Jack Smith's office hasn't reached out to him.  —  Former Rep. Mo Brooks is “mildly surprised” …

Sinéad O'Connor, acclaimed Dublin singer, dies aged 56  —  The Irish musician found worldwide fame with hit single Nothing Compares 2 U in 1990  —  Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor has died at the age of 56.  —  In a statement, the singer's family said: “It is with great sadness …

Biden Orders U.S. to Share Evidence of Russian War Crimes With Hague Court  —  The step signals a major shift in American policy and ends months of resistance by Pentagon officials who feared setting a precedent that could pave the way for the court to prosecute U.S. troops.  —  Reporting from Washington

Giuliani Concedes He Made False Statements About Georgia Election Workers  —  Rudolph W. Giuliani said he still had “legal defenses” in a case brought by two election workers who said he had defamed them as he asserted that the 2020 election was marred by fraud.

Author Who Debunked RFK Jr. A Decade Ago Thinks His Candidacy Is ‘Pretty Depressing’  —  “Describing his views as ‘controversial,’ I think, is dishonest,” author Seth Mnookin said of the long-shot Democratic presidential hopeful.  —  Two decades before he was a candidate …

Mayorkas baffled by Dem rep's bizarre historical trivia in border hearing  —  Mayorkas appeared before the House Judiciary Committee  —  DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appeared irritated by a peculiar line of questioning by a Democratic congressman whose questions involved him quizzing the top official on presidential history.

U.S. Says Main Thrust of Ukraine's Counteroffensive Has Begun  —  Artillery duels flared along the southern front, as troops trained and equipped by the West pressed forward.  —  Here's what we're covering:  —  ‘This is the big test’: U.S. officials describe a new Ukrainian effort to sever Russia's hold on the south.

Man who attacked House lobby where Ashli Babbitt was shot is convicted  —  Chad Barrett Jones was convicted of smashing glass outside the House Speaker's Lobby on Jan. 6  —  A Kentucky man who was part of a mob smashing windows to the House Speaker's Lobby in the Capitol on Jan. 6 …

Doctors who put lives at risk with covid misinformation rarely punished  —  A Wisconsin doctor in 2021 prescribed ivermectin, typically used to treat parasitic infections, to two covid-19 patients who later died of the disease.  He was fined less than $4,000 — and was free to continue practicing.

How George Santos Used Political Connections to Fuel Get-Rich Schemes  —  Mr. Santos, a first-term House member under federal indictment, often tried to use his candidacy and ties to Republican donors to create moneymaking opportunities.  —  About a year before George Santos was elected to Congress …

Fired DeSantis Staffer Called White Nationalist Nick Fuentes a Good Influence  —  Nate Hochman was cut from the DeSantis campaign after reportedly making a pro-Nazi meme about the governor.  —  During a December 2021 Twitter Spaces conversation with white nationalist Nick Fuentes …

West Africa recorded over 1,800 terrorist attack in first six months of 2023, regional official says  —  West Africa recorded over 1,800 terrorist attacks in the first six months of the year resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths with dire humanitarian consequences, and a top regional official …

Teachers association sues Tennessee education department over race education restrictions  —  The association is challenging restrictions on the teaching of race in schools.  —  A teachers association in Tennessee has filed a federal lawsuit against the state education department's restrictions …

Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement  —  For release at 2:00 p.m. EDT  —  Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace.  Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low.  Inflation remains elevated.