Playbook: A breakthrough or a mirage?  —  Presented by With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  WELCOME TO WASHINGTON, MR. ZELENSKYY — This morning, more than two dozen Hill Republicans — including six senators, led by Ohio's J.D. VANCE — are sending a letter …

Why Is Donald Trump Afraid to Debate?  —  He's ducking exchanges with his competitors who could challenge his record and platform.  —  Donald Trump has a big lead in the polls for the GOP presidential nomination, but he's acting as if he has already won.  After skipping the first GOP debate …

Republicans can't pass bills for the same reason they support insurrection  —  The defense bill disaster shows that they can't even make deals with themselves. … Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the foaming clown car that is his caucus once again performed their expected rituals …

Conservative media titan Rupert Murdoch to step down as chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp.  —  He will become chairman emeritus of the two corporations, the company said in a news release.  —  Rupert Murdoch, the Australian press baron who reshaped conservative media in his image …

Ron DeSantis' descent continues, unabated by the debate and time on the trail  —  At the same time, the Florida governor is racing to raise money in Texas and California.  —  Ron DeSantis' long slide continues.  —  The Florida governor, once seen as the top rival to former President Donald Trump …

Ignorant, pathetic Merrick Garland wilts on the hot seat before Congress  —  You would think that an attorney general who has presided over the embarrassing debacle of the Hunter Biden investigation would express contrition, or maybe a little anger at the underlings who have shamed him …

Book banners target public libraries  —  The campaign to censor America's libraries is expanding.  —  A new report from the American Library Association (ALA) finds that this year, between January 1 and August 31, there have been “695 attempts to censor library materials and services and documented challenges to 1,915 unique titles.”

Meet the Real Househusbands of the ‘Squad’  —  It pays to be married to the “Squad.”  —  As Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), and Cori Bush (Mo.) rage against capitalism from within the halls of Congress, their husbands bring home the bacon …

Following layoffs, Boston University announces ‘inquiry’ into Ibram Kendi's Antiracist Center  —  Boston University announced Wednesday it would conduct an “inquiry” into Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's Center for Antiracist Research after complaints emerged about the center's culture and financial management.

Five suspected Russian spies to be charged in the U.K.  —  Britain has been seeking to take tougher action on external security threats and potential spies.  —  British prosecutors said on Thursday they had authorized charges to be brought against five Bulgarian nationals accused of spying for Russia for almost three years.

Former prosecutor who quit Trump-Russia probe says she left over concerns with Barr  —  Nora Dannehy had been part of the investigation led by John Durham.  —  HARTFORD, Conn. — A former federal prosecutor who helped investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe said Wednesday she left …

Extremists have turned Texas into a hotbed for hate, report finds  —  The report blames an “alarming rise in extremist ideology and activity” on white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ+ groups that are active or headquartered in Texas.  —  Texas continues to be a hotbed for extremism and antisemitism …

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton suggests he might run against Sen. John Cornyn  —  Paxton last week was acquitted on 16 impeachment articles alleging corruption, abuse of public trust, misuse of public funds and other charges.  —  In the wake of his impeachment acquittal …

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.