The public doesn't understand the risks of a Trump victory.  That's the media's fault  —  With democracy in the balance, the press must relay the crucial importance of this election and the dangers of a Trump win  —  Whatever doubts you may have about public-opinion polls, one recent example should not be dismissed.

Republican debate: Haley calls Ramaswamy ‘scum’ in dustup over TikTok  —  Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy swung at each other during the third Republican primary presidential debate over their use of TikTok, with Haley calling her opponent scum.

McSally says she was sexually assaulted during run  —  Former Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) said she was sexually assaulted Wednesday during a run along the Missouri River on the border of Nebraska and Iowa.  —  “I am OK,” McSally said in a video shared to Instagram after the run, while she was “still in an adrenaline state.”

Democrats' new abortion battle plan: Rush to get it on ballots in 2024 … - Voters now have explicitly endorsed abortion rights via ballot initiatives in seven states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year — in California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Vermont and now Ohio.

SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Agreement With Studios, Ending Actors Strike  —  The work stoppage will end 12:01 a.m. on Thursday. … The SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Committee approved the agreement in a unanimous vote on Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA announced.  The strike will end at 12:01 am Thursday.

Death toll in Gaza likely ‘higher than is being reported’: US official  —  A senior Biden administration official said the death toll of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is likely far higher than the 10,000 number being reported by the health ministry amid Israel's war against Hamas.

Gruesome Footage of Oct. 7 Hamas Atrocities Screens in Hollywood Under Heavy Guard  —  On Wednesday night, with a sizable security presence and protesters audible through the walls, some 200 members of the industry screened ‘Bearing Witness,’ comprising 43 minutes of uncensored footage, at the Museum of Tolerance in West L.A.

Ramaswamy Seemed to Call Zelensky a Nazi.  His Campaign Says That's Not What He Meant.  —  A spokeswoman for Mr. Ramaswamy acknowledged that, without context, his remark could be easily misunderstood.  —  Vivek Ramaswamy drew shock and criticism online on Wednesday when he appeared to accuse …

James Comer, Like Joe Biden, Also Paid His Brother $200K  —  James Comer is going after Joe Biden because he loaned his brother, James Biden, $200,000.  If that's the standard, James Comer may want to investigate himself. … Pay Dirt is a weekly foray into the pigpen of political funding.

Greene moves to force vote on Mayorkas impeachment  —  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Thursday moved to force a vote on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, reviving an issue that had largely fallen by the wayside as the GOP remains divided on its impeachment authority.

Broken Borders: AP & Reuters Pictures of Hamas Atrocities Raise Ethical Questions  —  On October 7, Hamas terrorists were not the only ones who documented the war crimes they had committed during their deadly rampage across southern Israel.  Some of their atrocities were captured …

Tim Scott's girlfriend is, in fact, real.  —  The senator debuted his significant other at the most charming of spots: the stage of the GOP primary debate.  —  Who says that politics isn't romantic?  —  Sen. Tim Scott on Wednesday finally debuted his girlfriend, bringing her onstage …

You've just lived through Earth's hottest 12 months on record  —  The planet is closer than ever to a 1.5 degree-Celsius warming threshold that could trigger irreversible ecological damage, analysis finds  —  The Earth just endured its hottest 12 months in the modern era …

Swing State 2024 Polling: Biden Trails Trump in Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Leads Trump in Michigan  —  Home Polls Swing State 2024 Polling: Biden Trails Trump in Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Leads Trump in Michigan

House GOP pulls second funding bill in a week  —  House Republicans pulled their annual financial services and general government funding bill Thursday amid divisions on abortion-related provisions and FBI funding.  —  It was the second time in a week that GOP leaders opted to punt a vote …

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee Says Women Who Have Abortions ‘Probably Got Talked Into’ it  —  During a Wednesday appearance on Hannity, Huckabee discussed the impact Republican messaging has had on abortion  —  Former GOP Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says that women who have received abortions probably …

More than 500 Biden campaign alumni want a Gaza ceasefire  —  What a letter from Biden's field staff and organizers says about how Democrats see the Israel-Hamas war.  —  For decades, American public opinion and policy on Israel has been near-monolithic.  But as Israel's bombardment …

Sunak's Team Discusses Cabinet Shakeup as Tories Turn on Braverman  — Deputy PM meets Sunak's aides to discuss changes, people say  — Reshuffle could come as soon as next week but date not decided  —  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's deputy held meetings this week to plan changes to the UK Cabinet …