Maggie Haberman Says Pushing Back in Trump Risky for Dems: ‘There Is a Crime Problem Everywhere’  —  CNN commentator and New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman said Democrats risk seeming out of touch when they push back on President Donald Trump over his policing takeover.

Trump Bureau of Labor Statistics nominee was bystander outside Capitol on Jan. 6, White House says  —  The White House said E.J. Antoni was in town for meetings unrelated to Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.  —  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's pick to run the Bureau …

Trump to offer Putin minerals for peace  —  US president will propose money-making opportunities to encourage Russia to end Ukraine war  —  Donald Trump is preparing to offer Vladimir Putin access to rare earth minerals to incentivise him to end the war in Ukraine.

Republican Senator Says He Doesn't Wear Seatbelt in D.C. Because He Fears Being Carjacked: 'I Don't Buckle Up'  —  Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) said he does not wear a seatbelt while driving in Washington, D.C., lest doing so prevent him from acting quickly in case he's carjacked.

Defending Trump's Orders Leaves DOJ Lawyers Showing Strain, Seeking Delays  —  Mass departures from the US Justice Department and a rising flood of lawsuits are squeezing government lawyers defending administration policies, with signs of strain spilling into court.

Illinois judge denies Paxton's request to help arrest Texas Democrats  —  An Illinois judge on Wednesday declined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's (R) request to hold Texas Democrats who fled there in contempt.  —  Paxton reached across state lines to seek a ruling that would effectively force …

Unyoke the Sciences From the Humanities  —  Arts and sciences typically cohabitate.  Should they?  —  Things are going badly for universities.  They are in the crosshairs of an erratic and aggressive government willing to threaten anything in its path.

First lady Melania Trump puts Hunter Biden on $1B notice over ‘false, defamatory’ Epstein comments  —  The Daily Beast retracted an article and James Carville apologized after publishing similar claims  —  EXCLUSIVE: First lady Melania Trump is putting Hunter Biden on $1 billion notice …

Electricity prices are surging, opening up a new line of attacks against Republicans  —  Just now  —  Good morning, Early Birds.  We are two days away from a two-week newsletter break, but who's counting?  Send tips to [email protected].  Thanks for waking up with us.

Multiple law enforcement officers shot in southern Virginia  —  Multiple law enforcement officers have been shot in southern Virginia, a congressman said Wednesday.  U.S. Rep. John McGuire, who represents Virginia's 5th congressional district, said in a post on X that his thoughts and prayers …

Scoop: Schumer courts Peltola for Alaska Senate race  —  Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is quietly pressing former Rep. Mary Peltola (D) to plunge into the Alaska Senate race. … Landing Peltola would give him a third statewide winner to cause problems for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).

A GOP divide is growing over Trump's redistricting play … These strange divisions underscore the complex political dynamics of the president's latest power play.  It's become a loyalty test that could boost Republicans' chances of keeping their trifecta in Washington …

Bessent says he'll push to end congressional stock trading … Speaker Mike Johnson resisted Rep. Anna Paulina Luna's (R-Fla.) plans to try to force a floor vote on a ban in September.  But just as the effort to pass a full-out ban has bipartisan support, it also has fierce bipartisan opposition …

Texas Republicans are betting Latino Trump voters will stick with them.  That's no sure thing.  —  The congressional maps Republicans are drawing to boost their chances of keeping control of Congress depend on, to varying degrees, preserving their gains with Hispanic voters.  —  Just now

Trump Administration Can Withhold Billions in Aid, Appeals Court Rules  —  In a 2-to-1 vote, a federal appeals court panel ruled that foreign aid groups that sued to recover funds that President Trump froze cannot challenge the decision.  —  A federal appeals court panel cleared …

Israel courts MAGA influencers amid Gaza backlash  —  The Israeli government is courting popular MAGA influencers in an effort to address Republican divisions over the war in Gaza, where scenes of violence and starvation have fueled global outrage. … Even within the traditionally pro-Israel GOP …

CEOs tighten grip on workplace culture, dialing back flexibility … - “If a self-directed, virtual, or hybrid work schedule is essential for you to manage your career aspirations and life challenges, you will have a difficult time aligning your priorities with those of the company and the culture …

Scoop: White House suspicious of Lewandowski's “temp” work  —  Corey Lewandowski doesn't want to clock out of his temporary government gig.  So, administration officials believe, he's avoiding clocking in. … - But administration officials tell Axios they believe Lewandowski …

Violent crime in border cities fell below national rate in 2024  —  Several U.S. border communities saw violent crime drop below the national average in 2024, as nationwide rates fell to 20-year lows, according to new FBI data analyzed by Axios. … - That was a sizable drop from 2023 …

Proponent of Medicaid cuts set to brief House Republicans as they plot another megabill … Those staff-level meetings continue as House GOP leaders try to plot a way forward amid skepticism over whether another sprawling domestic policy bill is even possible given the difficulties Republicans had coming to agreement over the first one.

Veterans Beg Ron DeSantis to Stop Killing Them  —  BACKSTABBER  —  Ron DeSantis, who is a veteran himself, has overseen the executions of five vets this year alone.  —  Ron DeSantis is under fire for turning against his fellow service members and letting executioners slaughter five veterans this year alone.

Bessent Has Yet to Fully Divest Assets, Raising Concern at Ethics Agency  —  The Treasury secretary has been slow to shed assets, including farmland, posing potential conflicts of interest.  —  The U.S. government's ethics watchdog agency said this week that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent …

Trump revokes Biden order promoting competition in the US economy  —  Move further unwinds initiative to crack down on anti-competitive practices in agriculture, drugs and labor  —  Donald Trump on Wednesday revoked a 2021 executive order on promoting competition in the US economy issued by Joe Biden, the White House said.