Israel Knew Hamas's Attack Plan More Than a Year Ago  —  A blueprint reviewed by The Times laid out the attack in detail.  Israeli officials dismissed it as aspirational and ignored specific warnings.  —  Israeli officials obtained Hamas's battle plan for the Oct. 7 terrorist attack …

Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman on Supreme Court, dies at 93  — Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has died.  — O'Connor was the first woman to servce on the high court.  —  Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, has died.

Biden Wants to Abolish the Fees Trump Charges at His Resorts  —  In going after Donald Trump's business practices, Joe Biden is combining a hit on his opponent with a boost of his own economic record. … Biden resorts to a fresh Trump attack  —  Ahead of the 2024 election …

Behind the Curtain — Scoop: The Trump job applications revealed  —  We told you in a “Behind the Curtain” column last month that Trump allies are pre-screening the ideologies of thousands of potential appointees and employees in case he wins back the White House.

Speaker Johnson wrote foreword for book filled with conspiracy theories and homophobic insults  —  Speaker of the House Mike Johnson wrote the foreword and publicly promoted a 2022 book that spread baseless and discredited conspiracy theories and used derogatory homophobic insults.

Former U.S. Marine Pleads Guilty to Firebombing a Planned Parenthood Clinic in Orange County and Admits to Planning Additional Attacks  —  For Immediate Release  —  U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California  —  SANTA ANA, California - An Orange County man pleaded guilty today …

Florida GOP chairman faces allegations of sexual battery  —  The allegations against Christian Ziegler are in a heavily redacted 14-page police report shared with NBC News on Thursday.  His attorney confirmed he is under investigation.  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Republican Party …

Rand Paul performs Heimlich on fellow GOP senator  —  Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa thanked Sen. Rand Paul in a post on X after the incident.  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., performed the Heimlich maneuver on Sen. Joni Ernst during a Republican conference lunch at the Capitol on Thursday, according to a tweet by the Iowa senator.

Playbook: Steve Scalise unpacks the House GOP  —  With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  BREAKING OVERNIGHT — “War resumes in Gaza after truce collapses,” by Reuters' Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Suhaib Salem: “Israeli warplanes resumed pounding Gaza …

Steve Scalise reveals what's really happened since McCarthy's fall  —  The House Majority Leader illuminates what happened behind closed doors after Kevin McCarthy's ousting as well as what to expect next on impeachment; why he will vote against expelling George Santos; and how Speaker Mike Johnson …

Welcome to Our New ‘Bespoke Realities’  —  I've known conspiracy theorists my entire life.  In fact, there's probably a little bit of conspiracy theorist in each of us, myself included.  (Don't get me started on Game 6 of the 2002 N.B.A. Western Conference Finals.)

Why Biden and Harris Merchandise Doesn't Sell  —  Liberals aren't buying political merchandise this season.  —  POLITICO illustration/Photos by Getty Images, AP, iStock  —  You know things are starting to look iffy when you get to the Janet Yellen novelty merch.  —  That's no slight on Yellen.

MSNBC cancels Mehdi Hasan's show  —  The News  —  MSNBC is canceling outspoken opinion host Mehdi Hasan's weekend program and show on the streaming service Peacock.  —  Two people familiar with the move, which MSNBC privately announced to staff Thursday morning, told Semafor that Hasan …

Israel-Gaza war live updates: Airstrikes resume in Gaza as pause in fighting ends 23 minutes ago  —  Here are the hostages released by Hamas and those remaining in Gaza  —  Thin rations, heavy bombing: Israel's hostages start sharing their stories  —  Israel-Gaza war

The Bogus Historians Who Teach Evangelicals They Live in a Theocracy  —  A new book on the Christian right reveals how a series of unscrupulous leaders turned politics into a powerful and lucrative gospel.  —  POLITICO illustration/Photos by AP, Gage Skidmore, iStock

Santos Relishes the Limelight Even as His Show Looks Likely to Close  —  Before the debate about his possible expulsion from Congress, George Santos seemed to embrace his starring role in a scandal of his own making.  —  It was likely to be his second-to-last day serving in Congress …

Montana Judge Says TikTok Ban Likely Violates First Amendment  —  Social-media app sued after state passed law banning TikTok to protect residents' privacy  —  TikTok won a reprieve in Montana after a judge ruled a state law banning the app can't go into effect in January, saying it “likely violates the First Amendment.”

Dave Chappelle makes surprise visit to the Capitol ahead of evening show at The Anthem  —  Comedian Dave Chappelle made a surprise visit to the Capitol late Thursday afternoon, gathering with friends ahead of his Washington show in the evening.  —  While in the Capitol, the comedy legend took photos with staffers and lawmakers alike.