Trump praises fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter during rally speech  —  Ex-president calls Hopkins' cannibalistic Lecter ‘late, great’ while condemning ‘people who are being released into our country’  —  Donald Trump on Saturday praised fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter …

Trump appointee blasts Fifth Circuit over “landmines” in its recent decisions  —  “Parties should not be allowed to manipulate the court system to order trial judges ‘how’, ‘what’, and ‘when’ to rule,” Judge Mark Pittman wrote.  —  In a case that has already ping-ponged around the federal court system …

A wargame simulated a 2nd Trump presidency.  It concluded NATO would collapse.  — Trump has threatened to quit NATO.  A wargame examined the possible ramifications.  — The US player abandoned Ukraine and ceased NATO participation, triggering crisis in Europe.

He's Running for Senate With an Immigrant's Origin Story.  Here's the Rest.  —  Bernie Moreno, the Republican challenging Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio, tells a riches-to-rags-to-riches tale.  But the reality isn't so tidy.  —  He is running for the Senate as an immigrant who made good …

Biden taps Obama, George Clooney, Julia Roberts and the Clintons for mega fundraisers  —  One high-profile event will feature a contest with Clooney and Roberts on social media platforms to engage grassroots donors, according to details first shared with NBC News.

Manafort will no longer take on Republican convention role  —  Manafort had offered to work free on the Republican convention, meeting with officials in recent weeks about his role.  —  Paul Manafort, the longtime political power broker who served as the 2016 chairman for Donald Trump's presidential campaign …

Pelosi rebuked to her face during Oxford debate after condemning Americans clouded by ‘guns, gays, God’  —  Pelosi suggested Americans refuse to listen to Democrats about certain issues due to their beliefs about ‘guns, gays, [and] God’  —  Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. …

Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest after event roiled by protests over war in Gaza  —  Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday with “The Code,” an operatic pop-rap ode to the singer's journey toward embracing a nongender identity.

Former Utica Mayor and School Board President Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Scheme  —  For Immediate Release  —  U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York  —  Louis LaPolla Stole Nearly $40,000 in Scholarship Donations  —  SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Louis LaPolla, age 78, of Utica …