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” …

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 …

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 …

Rudy Giuliani concedes he made ‘false’ statements about Georgia election workers  —  The Trump ally's acknowledgment came in a Tuesday filing related to the 2020 election workers' lawsuit about baseless claims of fraud that he made against them.  —  Rudy Giuliani conceded in a court filing Tuesday …

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.

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 …

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.

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

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 …

How the Ultrawealthy Use Private Foundations to Bank Millions in Tax Deductions While Giving the Public Little in Return  —  It's a simple bargain: The rich get huge tax breaks by donating art, property and company shares to benefit the public.  But some donors collect millions while offering little or no public access.

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 …

Labor Department says number of children it found working illegally is up 44% since October  —  While Labor touted increased enforcement, a top Biden administration official faced criticism from Congress about reports of migrant minors working dangerous jobs.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Fed approves hike that takes interest rates to highest level in more than 22 years  — The Federal Reserve approved a much-anticipated interest rate hike that takes benchmark borrowing costs to their highest level in more than 22 years.  — The quarter percentage point increase will bring …

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.