White House adviser gives Trump cover on Alabama hurricane claim  —  One of President Trump's top advisers on Hurricane Dorian issued a lengthy statement on Thursday defending the president's repeated claims that forecasts showed Alabama getting hit by Hurricane Dorian, adding another twist …

REVENGE OF THE NEVER TRUMPERS: HOW A “KAMIKAZE” PRIMARY COULD PIERCE THE FOX NEWS BUBBLE, PUT NEW HAMPSHIRE IN PLAY, AND HIT TRUMP WHERE IT HURTS  —  It's not just a pipe dream for frustrated Weekly Standard fanboys.  If the president's mental fitness becomes a viable conversation on the center right …

PM's brother quits as Tory MP and minister  —  Jo Johnson, younger brother of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is quitting as a Conservative MP and minister, saying he is “torn between family loyalty and the national interest”.  —  The business minister and MP for Orpington, tweeted that there was an “unresolvable tension” in his role.

Tensions mount between Trump, Pence camps heading into 2020 election  —  WASHINGTON — When Vice President Mike Pence flew to Europe as the stand-in for President Trump at the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II, it appeared to be another sign that the famously fickle president trusted his vice president.

CNN, Human Rights Campaign to host Democratic presidential town hall focused on LGBTQ issues  —  (CNN)The Human Rights Campaign Foundation announced Thursday it will host a CNN Democratic presidential town hall in California this fall focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues.

Donald Trump Has Never Explained a Mysterious $50 Million Loan.  Is It Evidence of Tax Fraud?  —  Donald Trump's massive debts—he owes hundreds of millions of dollars—are the subject of continuous congressional and journalistic scrutiny.  But for years, one Trump loan has been particularly mystifying …

Trump Somehow Replaces Unqualified Mideast Envoy With Even Less Qualified One  —  One of President Trump's most absurd personnel moves was appointing his real-estate lawyer Jason Greenblatt as special envoy to the Middle East.  Greenblatt had no serious foreign policy experience …

Trump administration unveils plan to revamp the housing market  —  Proposal would release Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from government control  —  President Trump's administration on Thursday released a sweeping plan that could remake the U.S. housing market starting with ending more than a decade …

Beto O'Rourke: Meghan McCain Is Almost Giving People ‘Permission to Be Violent’  —  The ex-congressman has championed a mandatory gun buyback proposal.  He says those warning it could spark violence are creating a permission structure for that violence to occur.

Made In America: For $9.50 An Hour, They Brew Tear Gas For Hong Kong  —  A BuzzFeed News investigation found low-paid American workers producing tear gas in potentially dangerous conditions.  It's then shipped to Hong Kong, where it's used against pro-democracy protesters.  —  Reporting From

Trumpworld Anxiety Grows Over a Rising Elizabeth Warren  —  They once thought they'd delivered the political kill shot.  But now GOP operatives are complaining that nothing sticks to Warren.  —  Over the summer, Trumpworld operatives, Republican Party oppo researchers …

Jim Mattis and the surrender of America's adults  —  The thing about grown-ups is they are supposed to say when enough is enough.  Jim Mattis had obviously had enough when he resigned as Donald Trump's secretary of defence in December.  Now the retired general — and the former leading …

Sen. Ernst says lawmakers should discuss fixing Social Security ‘behind closed doors’  —  Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said at a recent town hall that lawmakers should discuss fixing Social Security “behind closed doors,” prompting a wave of criticism from liberal and advocacy groups.

John ‘Sully’ Sullivan was ‘everything we wanted America to be’  —  Communities of friends, family and admirers in Washington, Massachusetts and Jordan came together this week to mourn the passing of John Sullivan, former U.S. diplomat, husband, father, humanitarian, cancer survivor and the life of every party he attended.

The Daily 202: The biggest losers from Trump's diversion of military funds for his wall  —  THE BIG IDEA: Sometimes it's worthwhile to step back and remember how we got here.  —  President Trump promised repeatedly that he would get Mexico to pay for a border wall when he ran in 2016.

It's Time for Black Athletes to Leave White Colleges  —  In the summer of 2018 Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was then ranked as the top high-school football player in America, visited Florida A&M University, in Tallahassee.  When a player of Thibodeaux's caliber visits a perennial football power—say, Alabama—it's called Wednesday.

Authorities Suspect Man of Making and Selling Gun Used in Texas Shooting  —  Law-enforcement officials suspect Lubbock, Texas, man sold rifle to assailant in a private sale  —  Law-enforcement officials said they have identified a person of interest they suspect of illegally manufacturing …

As potential deal with the Taliban looms, Pompeo says U.S. ‘delivered’ on mission in Afghanistan  —  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States has “delivered” on its mission to oust al-Qaeda from Afghanistan and deter terrorist attacks plotted in the country and neighboring Pakistan.

Academics craft a plan to infuse billions into journalism: Give every American $50 to donate to news orgs  —  Here is a novel idea for saving serious journalism: Give every adult American $50, via an income tax checkoff, to donate to a favorite news outlet.  —  This is not the work …

Contaminant found in marijuana vaping products linked to deadly lung illnesses, tests show  —  State and federal health officials investigating mysterious lung illnesses linked to vaping have found the same chemical in samples of marijuana products used by people sickened in different parts …

Why Was the FBI Incurious About a Hot Collusion Tip Involving This Man?  —  Even after the 2016 presidential election, Trump-Russia dossier author Christopher Steele and company kept coming up with allegations that Donald Trump and his campaign had conspired with the Kremlin.

How I Went From Nonsmoker To Craven Juul Addict  —  Last week, I received a friendly yet professional email from a publicity firm called Locust Street saying it was contracted by e-cigarette startup (and perfect companion to a black cherry White Claw) Juul.  This would be normal …

Miners union president: 'Coal's not back.  Nobody saved the coal industry.'  —  (CNN)The president of United Mine Workers of America said Wednesday that the coal industry is not “back,” despite President Donald Trump's claims.  —  Cecil Roberts said at an event in Washington that his message …

California Democrat Raul Ruiz faces a challenge from ... Raul Ruiz  —  Voters in California's 36th Congressional District have a novel opportunity: They could switch their representative without the bother of having to learn a new name.  —  Rep. Raul Ruiz wrested his inland California district …

Official: Trump to challenge California authority on mileage  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is moving forward with a proposal to revoke part of California's authority to set its own automobile gas mileage standards, a government official said Thursday, confronting a state …

John McWhorter thinks we're getting racism wrong  —  Hello everyone.  I'm Jane Coaston, senior politics reporter at Vox with a focus on conservatism (Ezra will be back from vacation next week).  “Antiracism... is now a new and increasingly dominant religion” writes John McWhorter …

Leif Olson to Rejoin Labor Department Days After Resignation  —  Appellate lawyer Leif Olson will return to the Labor Department just days after he resigned.  —  Olson resigned from the agency Aug. 30, less than four hours after Bloomberg Law asked the department for comment on a Facebook conversation …

Keller: Joe Kennedy Starting To Sound Like A Senate Candidate  —  BOSTON (CBS) - “Are you in or out?” we asked Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Fourth District) about a possible Senate run as he sat down for an exclusive WBZ-TV interview Thursday.  “Working through it,” he said.