The Epstein files sinkhole widening under Trump  —  These polls suggest the issue is a bigger problem than the president wants to admit.  —  As of this month, it has been exactly a decade since Donald Trump took a permanent polling lead in the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

Trump Administration Live Updates: President Wants Federal Inquiry Into Epstein's Ties to Prominent Democrats  —  Where Things Stand  — Epstein inquiry: President Trump said Friday he was directing the Justice Department to investigate ties that the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein …

Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts  —  On Oct. 2, the second day of the government shutdown, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived at Mount Rushmore to shoot a television ad.  Sitting on horseback in chaps and a cowboy hat …

Jeffrey Epstein advised Steve Bannon during 2018 pro-Trump media campaign  —  Text messages released by US House show convicted sex offender coaching Maga influencer on political messaging  —  The convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein apparently served as a behind-the-scenes adviser …

The Decline and Fall of the Heritage Foundation  —  Its descent into conspiracy-mongering and blatant bigotry was utterly predictable  —  There's deep turmoil at the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing “think tank” that calls itself “America's most influential policy organization,” and is responsible for Project 2025.

FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff  —  FBI Director Kash Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two other newly hired senior FBI staff members, exempting them from passing polygraph exams normally required …

Just 29% of Americans support US military killing drug suspects, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds  — Poll shows 29% of Americans support extrajudicial killings of suspected traffickers  — Trump administration claims courts unnecessary in drug war  — 21% support military action to oust Maduro, 31% back non-military means

Michael Flynn, DOJ in Settlement Talks Over $50 Million Claim  —  The Justice Department has been discussing settlements with two former officials from Donald Trump's first term who — like the president — claim they're owed major payouts from the US government as victims of politically-motivated actions.

New prosecutor to take on Georgia election case against Trump and others  —  The leader of a nonpartisan organization announced he will take over the Georgia election interference case against President Donald Trump and others after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was removed from the case.

GOP senators distance themselves from provision allowing them to sue over phone record searches  —  The senators' comments came after House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would hold a vote on the House floor to repeal the provision inserted by his Senate counterparts.

Olivia Nuzzi Did It All for Love  —  The former political journalist has written a combustive portrait of America, President Trump and the scandal with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that upended her career.  —  Olivia Nuzzi loved him.  She loved the politician, even though she was a political reporter …

Democrats “defined everything by identity,” Pete Buttigieg says in critique of his party  —  The former U.S. transportation secretary said the Democratic Party should focus more on issues gripping the country, such as health care and housing affordability.  —  TAKE OUR CONTENT — PLEASE!

Ponzi Schemer Who Got Trump Clemency Faces 50 Years in New Fraud  —  A convicted Ponzi schemer whose 24-year prison term was commuted by President Donald Trump in 2021 now faces as much as 50 years behind bars for an investor fraud that took place after his clemency.

Judge says he'll approve opioid settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue and Sackler family  —  A federal bankruptcy court judge on Friday said he will approve OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma's latest deal to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids that includes some money for thousands of victims of the epidemic.

Companies Predict 2026 Will Be the Worst College Grad Job Market in Five Years  —  Hires from the Class of 2026 will stay largely flat, employers project, as layoffs rise and AI is able to do more entry-level tasks  —  Employers rate the job market for college graduates

FBI throws cold water on story suggesting Capitol Police officer was Jan. 6 pipe bomber  —  The mystery of the pipe bomber's identity has allowed some Trump supporters to pose an alternative narrative about Jan. 6.  —  WASHINGTON — The FBI on Thursday threw cold water on a story …

Iran seizes tanker in Strait of Hormuz, US official says, as tensions remain high in region  —  Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker as it traveled through the narrow Strait of Hormuz on Friday, a U.S. official said, turning the ship into Iranian territorial waters …

Canadian boycott of US travel shows no sign of slowing  —  Kristy Gammon used to travel to the US from Canada at least once every other year, taking ski trips at Lake Placid in New York and travelling to Baltimore, Maryland, for her husband's favourite Orioles baseball games.

Harvard Faculty Disturbed by Revelations of Summers' ‘Cozy Friendship’ With Epstein  —  Harvard professors responded with outrage to a tranche of emails showing a close yearslong correspondence between former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers and sex offender Jeffrey E. Epstein …

US designates four European anti-fascist groups as terrorist threats  —  State department claims groups in Germany, Italy and Greece ‘conspiring to undermine foundations of western civilization’  —  The US state department has announced that it will designate four European self-described anti-fascist groups …

Exclusive: Department of Energy officials to meet with White House to tamp down Trump's idea of explosive nuclear testing  —  Top energy and nuclear officials in the Trump administration are planning to meet with the White House and National Security Council in the coming days …

No one leaving New York City because of Mamdani, say two top real estate CEOs … New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's views have sparked fears that there will be an exodus of companies and capital from the city.  But two of the city's top commercial real estate executives say it's simply not true …

Survivors Urge Congress to Release Epstein Files in Powerful Open Letter  —  Survivors demand Congress end decades of secrecy and deliver long-overdue accountability.  —  Twenty-four survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes—joined by members of Virginia Roberts Giuffre's family …