Ex-Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson claims Rudy Giuliani groped her on January 6  —  Exclusive: in a new book, Hutchinson describes incident in which the former New York mayor put his hand ‘under my blazer, then my skirt’  —  Cassidy Hutchinson, the former Trump aide turned crucial January 6 witness …

Why the White House is letting McCarthy flail  —  The administration has no plans to help as Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans inch closer to a government shutdown.  —  Speaker Kevin McCarthy is struggling to pass a bill to fund the government — and the White House isn't about to throw him a lifeline.

Free COVID test kits are coming back.  Here's how to get them.  —  The Biden administration is preparing to resume taking orders for free at-home COVID-19 tests starting September 25, officials announced Wednesday.  The administration is also planning a new infusion of money to boost domestic manufacturing of the test kits.

Democrats have been winning big in special elections  —  That could bode well for them in the 2024 election.  —  Democrats just scored a big win in an election on Tuesday: Democrat Hal Rafter defeated Republican James Guzofski 56 percent to 44 percent in a special election to fill …

Pro-Trump Lawyer Lin Wood Turned State's Witness in Georgia Racketeering Case, DA Reveals  —  A once-prominent defamation lawyer who represented Richard Jewell, Lin Wood surrendered his law license in July under the shroud of disciplinary proceedings  —  A Facebook icon representing …

Three fake electors charged in Georgia election probe seek to move cases to federal court  —  David Shafer, Shawn Still and Cathy Latham are among the 16 Georgians who acted as so-called false electors for Trump in Georgia in 2020.  —  Three Georgia Republicans who participated …

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

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Launches American Climate Corps to Train Young People in Clean Energy, Conservation, and Climate Resilience Skills, Create Good-Paying Jobs and Tackle the Climate Crisis  —  In its first year, the American Climate Corps will put more than 20,000 young people …

Exclusive: Pentagon to review cases of LGBTQ+ veterans denied honorable discharges under “don't ask, don't tell”  —  Thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans who were kicked out of the military because of their sexuality could see their honor restored under a new initiative the Defense Department is set …

Kari Lake to launch Arizona Senate bid next month  —  The close ally of Trump is looking to run in the swing state again.  —  Arizona Republican Kari Lake will launch a Senate run as soon as early next month, according to three people familiar with her plans.

White House told U.S. ambassador to Japan to stop taunting China on social media  —  Rahm Emanuel has mocked Chinese President Xi Jingping, speculating about the recent disappearance of a top official.  —  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden's aides have asked that Rahm Emanuel …

96-year-old federal judge suspended in clash with colleagues over mental fitness  —  Colleagues of Pauline Newman, a 96-year-old federal appeals judge, have suspended her from hearing cases as part of a clash over her mental fitness.  —  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's active judges …

Trump and Meadows joked about Covid on plane after Biden debate, book says  —  Exclusive: Ex-aide Cassidy Hutchinson says Trump ordered White House guests who tested positive to remove masks in Oval Office  —  Donald Trump and his chief of staff Mark Meadows joked about the then US president having Covid …

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do  —  Rupert Murdoch didn't want to dump his ratings leader and favorite Fox host.  But was Tucker Carlson giving him a choice?  —  After Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, Fox News — to the surprise of many, including founder Rupert Murdoch, who loathed Trump …

Florida's “War on Woke” Is Spurring a Brain Drain  —  Thanks to Ron DeSantis's education policies, the state is seeing an unprecedented exodus of teachers, professors, and college students.  —  Pocket  —  This article appears in the October 2/9, 2023 issue, with the headline “Florida's Brain Drain.”

Merrick Garland faced fire from Republicans on Hunter Biden, Trump  —  House Republicans peppered Attorney General Merrick Garland with criticisms during the nearly six-hour House Judiciary Committee hearing.  The divide between Democratic and Republican lawmakers on a range of issues …

Ohio abortion rights activists suffer blow in suit over referendum language  —  A fetus will now be referred to as an ‘unborn child’ on a ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution  —  In this year's only opportunity for US voters to directly weigh in on the right to abortion …

Murdoch Compared to ‘Mafia Boss’ Ordering Hit in Smartmatic Case  — Fox Corp. is seeking dismissal from the $2.7 billion lawsuit  — Company says Smartmatic case is ‘disconnected from reality’ … Fox Corp. agreed to pay $787.5 million in April to another voting-machine company …

‘This Is What We Do:’ Pro-Ukraine Republican Group Takes To Airwaves In Aid Fight  —  Ads and “report cards” are among the tools the group is deploying to bolster support for embattled country.  —  LOADING  —  Judy B. is a 64-year-old professional therapist who lives in the Houston area.

Senate Poised to Confirm Military Chiefs, Sidestepping Tuberville Blockade  —  Three generals were on track for confirmation, but Senator Tommy Tuberville, the Alabama Republican who has been blocking them, said he would continue to hold up others over a Pentagon abortion policy.