Leaked Audio of Sen. Joe Manchin Call With Billionaire Donors Provides Rare Glimpse of Dealmaking on Filibuster and January 6 Commission … West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, in a private call on Monday with a group of major donors, provided a revealing look at his political approach to the most thorny issues confronting lawmakers.

Biden wiped the smirk off Putin's face  —  Seasoning and sobriety are underappreciated virtues in politics.  Voters normally opt for novelty and excitement when choosing a president.  The result is that we usually wind up with foreign policy neophytes in the Oval Office.

Justice Dept. Ends Criminal Inquiry, Lawsuit on John Bolton's Book  —  President Donald J. Trump had pressured the department to use its legal powers to stop his former national security adviser from publishing embarrassing details about him.  —  The Justice Department has closed …

House passes bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday … The House on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of making Juneteenth a national federal holiday with a 415-14 tally, and Democrats are hopeful President Joe Biden will sign the measure into law by Saturday.

Scardina v. Masterpiece Cakeshop  —  Description: The same attorney who filed an unsuccessful complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission in 2017 commenced a lawsuit in state court over the same custom cake request the attorney made at that time.  The request was for a custom-designed cake …

11 GOP senators back bipartisan infrastructure plan, boosting its chances of moving forward  — Eleven Republican senators now support a bipartisan infrastructure framework, which would give a bill enough votes to pass the Senate if all Democrats get on board.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘No yellow!’  Hunter Biden used slur to refer to Asians in 2019 texts with his cousin Caroline who asked if he preferred ‘foreign or domestic’ women - as he's already been blasted as racist for using the n-word  — Hunter Biden referred to Asians with the offensive term 'yellow …

2 South Carolina executions halted until firing squad formed  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the planned executions of two inmates by electrocution, saying they cannot be put to death until they truly have the choice of the firing squad option set …

IT IS OBSCENE: A TRUE REFLECTION IN THREE PARTS  —  When you are a public figure, people will write and say false things about you.  It comes with the territory.  Many of those things you brush aside.  Many you ignore.  The people close to you advise you that silence is best.  And it often is.

The Forever-Trump Movement Has Won  —  The 45th president lost an election and incited a failed insurrection, but his grip on the GOP is absolute.  What's next for a party at war with democracy — and the future?  —  The heretics left the champagne and orange juice untouched, but the conversation flowed freely all the same.

Marjorie Taylor Greene's insincere apology  —  On Monday, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized for comparing former mask mandates to the Holocaust.  —  “The Holocaust is — there's nothing comparable to it,” said the Georgia Republican following a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Monday.

‘Pure insanity’: How Trump and his allies pressured the Justice Department to help overturn the election  —  New documents and emails reveal how far the president and his supporters were willing to go to try to keep Donald Trump in office in a frenzied three-week stretch that tested Justice Department leaders.

YOU ARE NOT A RACIST TO CRITICIZE CRITICAL RACE THEORY.  —  Dismiss those pretending that if you don't like what's happening in our schools, you're a jingoistic moron who doesn't want kids to learn about racism.  —  7 hr ago  —  Since a year ago, CRT-infused members of The Elect …

Victoria's Secret Swaps Angels for ‘What Women Want.’ Will They Buy It?  —  The embattled lingerie giant is attempting the most extreme brand turnaround in recent memory: an effort not just to redefine itself but also the very idea of what “sexy” is.  —  The Victoria's Secret Angels …

Aide says former Homeland Security head Tom Ridge had stroke  —  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge suffered a stroke Wednesday at his home in suburban Washington, D.C., a longtime aide to the former Pennsylvania governor said.

GOP congressman refuses to shake hands with D.C. police officer who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6  —  Rep. Andrew S. Clyde (R-Ga.), who voted against awarding police officers the Congressional Gold Medal for their bravery in protecting the U.S. Capitol against violent, pro-Trump rioters on Jan. 6 …

American College Student Freedom, Progress and Flourishing Survey  —  The American College Student Freedom, Progress and Flourishing Survey is an annual survey conducted by the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth.  The survey assesses student perceptions …

Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, Forceful on Jan. 6, Privately Are in Turmoil  —  The far-right groups face a cash squeeze, internal discord, social-media cutoff and isolation from the financial system  —  The far-right group the Oath Keepers is splintering after board members accused the founder …

To truly build back better, we need a Justice 100 solution  —  The Biden administration has ushered in a new progressive era.  Its “build back better” playbook of policies and initiatives address the serious challenges of our generation: climate change, economic recovery, racial justice and a safety net for struggling families.

Jean Guerrero to join The Times as an Op-Ed columnist  —  The following announcement was sent on behalf of Editorial Page Editor Sewell Chan and Op-Ed Editor Terry Tang:  —  We're delighted to announce that Jean Guerrero, an award-winning journalist, essayist and author, is joining the Los Angeles Times as an opinion columnist.

How Democrats could win Alaska's Senate seat thanks to ranked-choice voting  —  Republicans need to keep all of their current Senate seats to have a shot at regaining control of the Senate in the 2022 midterms.  A conservative insurgency combined with a new ranked-choice voting system may put GOP control of Alaska in doubt.

Biden administration cancels Trump limits on asylum eligibility  —  Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday rolled back a pair of Trump administration legal decisions that had narrowed access to the U.S. asylum system, where caseloads have ballooned in recent years from soaring numbers of claims.