Capitol Police called to investigate swastika in GOP congressional office … The U.S. Capitol Police was called about an American flag altered to include a swastika and displayed inside the office of Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio), his spokesperson said.  —  POLITICO obtained an image taken during …

Trump Administration Authorizes Covert C.I.A. Action in Venezuela  —  The development comes as the U.S. military is drawing up options for President Trump to consider, including possible strikes inside the country.  —  The Trump administration has secretly authorized the C.I.A. to conduct covert action …

What Do the New Pentagon Press Reporting Rules Say?  —  Wednesday was a major moment for the coverage of the United States military.  Scores of journalists with access to the Pentagon handed in their press passes rather than sign on to new rules laid out by Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense.

No One in the GOP Hitler Chat Was a “Kid”  —  We checked.  Sorry, JD Vance.  —  Vice President JD Vance would like you to do anything but pay attention to those abhorrent leaked texts from young Republicans that Politico covered on Tuesday.  And if you do read them, he wants you to think they're just …

Scoop: Dozens of Dem candidates won't commit to backing Jeffries  —  Dozens of Democrats running for U.S. House seats across the country told Axios they either wouldn't vote for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as party leader or declined to commit to doing so.

The Conservative Justices Have So Many Ideas For How to Kill the Voting Rights Act  —  The Republican justices already know where they're going.  They just have to figure out which route they're going to take to get there.  —  The Supreme Court heard oral argument today in Louisiana v. Callais …

Brown University rejects Trump administration compact  —  President Christina Paxson P'19 P'MD'20 said that the compact would “restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown's governance.”  —  President Christina Paxson P'19 P'MD'2 announced that she formally rejected …

Trump Invites Ballroom Donors to Glitzy White House Dinner  —  Dinner set to include representatives from Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Meta, Google, Amazon.com and Palantir  —  WASHINGTON—More than three dozen organizations and individuals, including companies with business before the federal government …

Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups  —  Effort would install at the IRS's criminal unit an ally of President Trump who has drawn up a list of investigative targets  —  The Trump administration is preparing sweeping changes at the Internal Revenue Service …

I-5 may be shut down due to concerns over live-fire military event at Camp Pendleton  — Parts of I-5 may be closed beginning Friday over concerns Navy ships will fire live ordnance over the freeway during a military celebration.  — The potential closure would affect a section between Orange …

White House budget director plans to shut US consumer finance watchdog within months  —  White House budget director Russell Vought said on Wednesday he wants to close the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau even though President Donald Trump's administration has argued in court that there is no such plan.

Border Patrol Posts Instagram Propaganda Video Featuring Antisemitic Slurs  —  The video was pinned to Border Patrol's Instagram Reels.  —  READING TIME 5 MINUTES  —  Read Later Read Later  —  A U.S. Border Patrol video featuring antisemitic lyrics went viral on X on Tuesday …

Trump Considers Overhaul of Refugee System That Would Favor White People  —  The proposals would transform a program aimed at helping the most vulnerable people in the world into one that gives preference to mostly white people who say they are being persecuted.

NBC News' 150 Layoffs Gut Black, Latino, Asian American and LGBTQ+ Diversity Teams  —  The verticals focused on Black, Latino, Asian American and LGBTQ+ groups will remain, but they come amid a broader shift in media away from diversity efforts  —  NBC News eliminated its teams dedicated …

Bessent says bailout for Argentina will double to boost U.S. influence in region  —  The Trump administration is arranging another $20 billion infusion from banks and sovereign wealth funds to prop up the flailing Argentine peso.  —  The Trump administration is working to arrange private-sector financing …

Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money  —  The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.

U.S. Enters 15th Day of Late-Night Jokes About Government Shutdown  —  Jimmy Kimmel told his viewers that in 2018, “Trump shut the government down until they brought back the McRib or something.” … Day 15 and Counting  —  There's no end in sight for the government shutdown, which entered its 15th day on Wednesday.

Trump Administration Decimates Birth Control Office in Layoffs  —  The layoffs have raised fears that the administration could be effectively ending an initiative that provides contraception for millions of low-income women.  —  The Trump administration has targeted a federal office …

Thune reveals to MSNBC he's offered Democrats a vote on Obamacare subsidies  —  “We can guarantee you get a vote by a date certain,” Senate Republican leader John Thune said.  —  In a wide-ranging sit-down interview with MSNBC, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. …

Trump 3.0  —  With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine, Ali Bianco and Rachel Umansky-Castro  —  Good Thursday morning.  This is Jack Blanchard.  Get in touch.  —  ZOHRAN TV: Tonight at 7 p.m. ET, POLITICO's Senior Politics editor Sally Goldenberg will co-moderate the New York City Mayoral …

He Tweeted Charlie Kirk “Won't Be Remembered as a Hero.”  The State Dept. Revoked His Visa.  —  As part of the Trump administration's drive to lionize the late Charlie Kirk and chill criticism of his politics, the State Department announced on Tuesday that it had revoked visas …

How National Service Can De-Polarize America  —  Nowadays, it's less about doing good than pathways to jobs and restoring face-to-face connections that can help bridge the divide. … Amid the barrage of scary news, some Americans are trying to think through what might be possible in a post-Trump era.

Oval Office Becomes a Diorama of Power Dynamics as Trump Goes After Rivals  —  Top officials, unwilling to fight for the historical independence of their institutions, watched on Wednesday as President Trump continued his pursuit of controlling law enforcement.

Free Press Reporter Discovers That Being An Amoral Dickhead Can Cost You Friends  —  It can be hard to maintain friendships as an adult.  People move to new cities, start families, and experience all sorts of other life events that make it difficult to keep in touch.