Only 7 Candidates Have Qualified for the Next Democratic Debate  —  While 20 presidential candidates debated this past week, far fewer are assured the chance of doing so again in September.  —  So you made it through the second set of Democratic debates.  Congratulations!  Ready to talk about the next ones?

No more debate.  Impeachment inquiry is underway  —  Although Special Counsel Robert Mueller's testimony may not have been a summer blockbuster, it confirmed the damning conclusions of his report.  The investigation revealed substantial evidence that President Trump obstructed justice.

Trump's former top adviser: tariffs backfiring on US  —  US President Donald Trump's trade war with China is backfiring and impacting the US economy, according to his former chief economic adviser.  —  The tariff battle has had a “dramatic impact” on US manufacturing and capital investment, Gary Cohn told the BBC.

After ‘Send her back!’ chant, Ohio rally a test for Trump  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — President Donald Trump's latest rally will be a test for both candidate and crowd.  —  The Cincinnati gathering Thursday night will be Trump's first since his audience chanted “Send her back!” …

Jeffrey Epstein Hoped to Seed Human Race With His DNA  —  Jeffrey E. Epstein, the wealthy financier and accused sex trafficker, had an unusual dream: He hoped to seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating women at his vast New Mexico ranch.  —  Mr. Epstein over the years confided …

Trump Orders Navy to Strip Medals From Prosecutors in War Crimes Trial  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump intervened Tuesday once again on behalf of a Navy SEAL who was charged but acquitted of war crimes in the death of a captured Islamic State fighter in Iraq, ordering the military to punish …

What America Gets Wrong About Tracy Flick  —  In “Election,” she's preyed upon by a teacher and almost cheated out of her rightful victory.  But somehow she's the villain.  —  Even if you've never seen “Election,” Alexander Payne's 1999 comedy about high school politics run amok, you probably know something about Tracy Flick.

Scarborough blasts 2020 Democrats for attacking Obama's policies more than Trump's  —  MSNBC “Morning Joe” anchor Joe Scarborough on Wednesday night slammed 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, saying they were spending more time attacking former President Obama's policies than President Trump during …

Fox News Stars Go After Tomi Lahren for Sexist Jab at Kamala Harris  —  “Do you have any idea how damaging this is to women who've actually been sexually harassed, assaulted or demeaned in the workplace?” one of Lahren's Fox co-workers tweeted at her.  —  Several of Tomi Lahren's Fox News colleagues …

Donald Trump Lied About Almost Dying In Helicopter Crash, Ex-Employee Says  —  “Total, total lie,” said former Trump Organization vice president Barbara Res.  —  President Donald Trump made up a story that he narrowly avoided boarding a helicopter that crashed and killed five people …

Charlotte Is Starting To Regret Hosting Trump's Renomination Convention  —  President Donald Trump's racist and xenophobic statements have drawn official condemnation from a city that is now predominantly black and Latino.  —  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Republican Party leaders scoping out locations …

James Comey's next reckoning is imminent — this time for leaking  —  The Justice Department's chief watchdog is preparing a damning report on James Comey's conduct in his final days as FBI director that likely will conclude he leaked classified information and showed a lack of candor …

Notes on the State of Politics  —  Debate effects can fade; Trump may be running behind his approval; the NC-9 special; a Magnolia runoff?  —  KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE  — The polling effects from the first debate largely wore off by the time the second round started.

Don't mock Marianne Williamson, Democrats need her spiritual politics in dark Trump era  —  Williamson is not a dingbat interloper in the 2020 Democratic debates.  It's been frustrating to see my brilliant friend caricatured based on ignorance.  —  CONNECT

Voter Purge Rates Remain High, Analysis Finds  —  New data reveal that counties with a history of voter discrimination have continued purging people from the rolls at elevated rates.  —  Using data released by the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in June, a new Brennan Center analysis …

RNC chair defends GOP donor platform in tense meeting  —  Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel grew visibly emotional during a meeting with senior GOP officials on Wednesday, as she insisted that she isn't personally profiting off a new, President Donald Trump-endorsed small-donor platform.

Dying Gasp of One Local Newspaper  —  The Warroad Pioneer, a pillar of its small Minnesota town, ended its 121-year run with bloody marys, bold type and gloom about the void it would leave behind.  —  WARROAD, Minn. — Whenever she thought her small staff would be facing a particularly stressful deadline …

‘How the hell is this not inciting violence?’  Gun store erects billboard with minority lawmakers' faces … The sign warns of the “4 Horsemen” — typically a reference to biblical imagery symbolizing the end of the earth: conquest, war, famine and death.  —  But the North Carolina billboard …

APNewsBreak: Gun safety groups to host presidential forum  —  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two prominent gun safety organizations said Thursday that they will host a forum for Democratic presidential candidates in Las Vegas on Oct. 2, the day after the city marks the second anniversary of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

US President Donald Trump, in phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, offered assistance to Moscow in fighting wildfires in Siberia, the Kremlin press-service said Wednesday.  —  According to the statement, Putin has informed the US president that a large air group has been deployed …

Republicans rattled after surge of retirements  —  The House GOP has been smacked by a wave of retirements over the past few weeks — but some Republicans fear the worst is yet to come.  —  With the GOP relegated to the minority for the first time in eight years, a mix of veteran …

Team Trump Turns to Lindsey Graham to Cut an Iran Deal  —  But somehow, the administration is turning to dovish Rand Paul to work with Iran, too.  —  President Trump wants a new deal with Iran to replace the nuclear agreement he pulled out of, and he's turning to one of his most hawkish confidants to help do it.

NH Primary Source: Talk at RNC meeting of recruiting Lewandowski to run for US Senate  —  LEWANDOWSKI FOR SENATE?  Don't look now but.....  GOP sources tell New Hampshire Primary Source that President Donald Trump's former campaign manager is the subject of serious discussion about being recruited …