Exclusive audio: Trump defends threats to “hang” Pence  —  Former President Trump — in a taped interview with Jonathan Karl of ABC News that was shared with Axios — defended, quite extensively, supporters who threatened to “hang” former Vice President Mike Pence.

Judge in Kyle Rittenhouse trial makes inappropriate Asian food joke  —  (CNN)The judge presiding over the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse confused observers after making a strange and off-color joke inside the courtroom on Thursday.  —  “I hope the Asian food isn't coming …

POLITICO Playbook: Trump sours on DeSantis  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  TODAY'S MUST-READ — “The toughest trial KEVIN MCCARTHY faces on his way to becoming House speaker isn't reclaiming the majority.  It's what comes afterward.”  That's the blunt takeaway from Olivia Beavers' big piece …

St. Jude Hoards Billions While Many of Its Families Drain Their Savings  —  St. Jude's Unspent Billions … A series of sharp knocks on his driver's side window startled Jason Burt awake.  —  It was the middle of the night on a Saturday in 2016.  Burt was sleeping in his pickup truck …

Biden's broken promise: Build Back Better will force 30% of middle class families to pay higher taxes - breaking president's vow to only tax the super-rich, analysis finds  — Tax Policy Center analysis finds some middle class taxpayers would pay more  — Increases would be modest, and the average household would not pay more

The strong winds of climate change have failed to move the opinions of many Americans  —  Most believe global warming is a problem, but the partisan divide is growing  —  Even as windstorms became more powerful, wildfires grew more deadly and rising seas made damaging floods more frequent …

Christie's calculus: Trump is ‘in the rearview mirror’  —  He doesn't actually say the name Donald Trump when he lays out what's wrong with the Republican Party.  —  But it's obvious who Chris Christie is talking about in recent speeches, interviews and in a new book that's set for release next week.

A record 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs in September as labor market tumult continued  —  Rising covid cases, problems finding child care, and better wages elsewhere have all prompted a record number of Americans to quit their jobs.  —  A record 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs in September …

Attorney: No more ‘Black pastors’ in court for Arbery case  —  BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — An attorney for one of the white men standing trial in the death of Ahmaud Arbery told the judge Thursday he doesn't want “any more Black pastors” in the courtroom after the Rev. Al Sharpton sat with the slain man's family.

Biden nominates Califf as FDA chief  —  President Joe Biden has nominated former Commissioner Robert Califf to lead the Food and Drug Administration Friday, in a move that would bring the Obama-era official back for a second tour atop the agency.  —  The selection would end …

An Air Force sergeant killed himself on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  The note he left is heartbreaking.  —  Kenneth Omar Santiago's perfect smile dazzles on social media as he poses in his Air Force uniforms — flight suits to mess dress.  —  He accepts military awards …

The Resistance Liar … Adam Schiff was one of the star attractions at Donald Trump's first impeachment trial.  In his role as one of the House impeachment managers, Schiff pressed his case on the Senate floor by summoning an earnest indignation.  He would at times get hoarse and weary.

Sen. Murkowski announces reelection bid in a race featuring a Trump-backed GOP challenger  —  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced Friday that she will seek reelection to a seat for which former president Donald Trump has already backed a Republican challenger following Murkowski's vote …

The danger of critical race theory  —  By now, most Americans have heard of critical race theory.  But many do not know just how radical or pernicious CRT is — because, as a new study from the American Enterprise Institute shows, the media does not explain its key tenets in its coverage.

'But he's Jewish': Opponent questions Mandel's faith in Ohio Senate primary debate  —  A Republican Senate candidate in Ohio is doubling down on a controversial campaign ad, insisting voters need to be aware of an important fact: that the frontrunner in the primary is Jewish.

Nassau police: Lake Ronkonkoma man phoned death threat to Rep. Andrew Garbarino  —  A Lake Ronkonkoma man is in custody after making a telephoned threat on the life of U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino over a recent vote by the Bayport Republican, Nassau police said.

The White House Says Its Plans Will Slow Inflation.  The Big Question Is: When?  —  The Biden administration has argued that its infrastructure and broader economic package will slow rapid price increases.  But that will take time.  —  Rocketing inflation has become a headache for U.S. consumers …

Covid vaccine holdouts are caving to mandates — then scrambling to ‘undo’ their shots  —  As mandates spread, anti-vaccine groups have been trafficking in pseudoscience treatments meant to remove or counteract the vaccines.  Experts say it's like trying to “unring a bell.”

Harris: Hey, did you know that prices have gone up?  —  Now why would anyone think that Democrats have to find a way to boot Kamala Harris out of the way to compete in 2024?  This performance at a Paris presser should make all Americans confident in this administration's ability to deal with adversity ... right?