“Nuclear option” lingers over Senate as members leave for August recess  —  Senate leaders failed to reach a bipartisan deal to speed through more of President Trump's nominees — so senators are heading home with a GOP promise of changing the rules when they return in September.

Trump Fires Official Over Jobs Report, Echoing an Authoritarian Playbook  —  In firing the head of the agency that collects employment statistics, the president underscored his tendency to suppress facts he doesn't like and promote his own version of reality.

Senate confirms Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia  —  Washington - The Senate on Saturday approved the nomination of Jeanine Pirro, an ardent loyalist of President Trump and a FOX News fixture, confirming the cable news personality to a top prosecutor post in Washington, D.C.

Trump's Tariffs Are Making Money.  That May Make Them Hard to Quit. … Shipping containers at the Port of Baltimore.  Even before the latest tariffs set in, revenue from taxes collected on imported goods grew drastically this year.Alyssa Schukar for The New York Times

Smithsonian will again include Trump in impeachment exhibit in ‘coming weeks’  —  The museum's decision to remove a placard referencing President Donald Trump from an impeachments exhibit sparked concerns over Trump's influence on the cultural institution.  —  The Smithsonian's National Museum …

DOJ is walking back the White House's goal to arrest 3,000 immigrants per day … It's not the only case that has featured the 3,000-arrest-per-day target as a crucial piece of evidence that the administration's single-minded drive to rack up arrests may have prompted immigration authorities to cut corners or break the law.

Laura Loomer Attack on West Point Appointee Reflects Larger Fight Over Trump  —  Jen Easterly, who had served in Republican and Democratic administrations, was headed to the academy.  Then a right-wing activist stepped in.  —  Hours after West Point pulled its offer to have her teach cadets …

‘They roll right over’: Many Democrats call their party weak and ineffective, AP-NORC poll finds  —  Many Democrats see their political party as “weak” or “ineffective,” according to a poll that finds considerable pessimism within Democratic ranks.  Republicans are more complimentary of their party …

After 47 years on the political beat for The Post, it's transition time  —  Dan Balz writes on his retirement from full-time work at The Washington Post after 47 years.  —  Just now  —  About two months ago, my wife was out for a walk and stopped to talk with a man working in his yard.

Prince Andrew and Donald Trump's Sick ‘P***y’ Conversations Revealed  —  GROSS  —  An explosive new book heaps more shame on the disgraced prince.  —  Donald Trump allegedly handed Prince Andrew a list of masseuses after the two men engaged in a sick conversation about “p—y.”

Dream turns to nightmare for midwest town in grip of US migrant crackdown  —  An imam's detention, firings and police violence have sown fear among immigrants who helped revive an Ohio town  —  For 50 long years, life in Hamilton, a town of 63,000 people a half-hour north of Cincinnati, was in decline.

Ex-Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces investigation by independent political watchdog  —  An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel …

Bad Bunny Just Wants to Stay Home.  So Do I.  —  On July 11, Bad Bunny kicked off his three-month residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.  The first nine shows were reserved for locals, but starting this weekend they are open to anyone, and hundreds of thousands of people from around the world will begin pouring into our archipelago.

Trump Rages About Claim He Killed Epstein: Author  —  PRESSURE COOKER  —  The president has denied any involvement in the sex trafficker's death, biographer Michael Wolff says.  —  President Donald Trump was taken aback by speculation that he was personally involved in Jeffrey Epstein's …

Democratic governors throw support behind Newsom, back partisan redistricting  —  “There's a bigger risk in doing nothing,” DGA Chair Laura Kelly said.  —  California Gov. Gavin Newsom, accompanied by several members of the Texas state Legislature, calls for a new way for California …