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 …

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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 …

The US is allowing hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the country to work legally  —  The Biden administration says it's granting temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who are already in the country — quickly making them eligible to work …

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 …

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 …

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.”

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.

Doug Burgum and Asa Hutchinson bare frustration with time running short to make GOP debate  —  Both are pondering what's next if they miss the second debate.  —  CONCORD, N.H. — Two candidates who were on the stage for the first GOP debate are still shy of the thresholds needed to make the second one on Sept. 27.

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 …

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.

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 moving ahead on three key military nominations stalled by Tuberville delays  —  The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Democrats briefly relenting in their ongoing feud with Sen. Tommy Tuberville …