GOP frets ‘dangerous’ result in Tennessee … Democrat Aftyn Behn's overperformance in the Tennessee special election — which attracted millions of dollars in spending and national attention in its final days — continues a trend of concerning electoral results for the GOP.

Federal authorities plan operation in Minnesota focusing on Somali immigrants, AP source says  —  Federal authorities are preparing a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that would primarily focus on Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the U.S., according to a person familiar with the planning.

The Potemkin Pentagon Press  —  Presidents—they're just like the rest of us.  Yesterday, Donald Trump had a deeply human experience: repeatedly dozing off throughout a meeting after burning the candle at both ends on an epic all-night social media binge.  Unfortunately, that meeting …

Pete Hegseth faces deepening scrutiny from Congress over boat strikes  —  Pete Hegseth barely squeaked through a grueling Senate confirmation process to become secretary of defense earlier this year, facing lawmakers wary of the Fox News Channel host and skeptical of his capacity, temperament and fitness for the job.

Leaked memo exposes flimsy legal basis for Trump boat strikes  —  DOJ's classified, “legal authorization” for the missile attacks is beginning to collapse.  —  Today the administration's drug-boat scandal blew wide open — not because of a new strike, but because a leaked Justice Department memo shows …

What the Left Could Learn From Trump's Brutal Efficiency  —  Those of us opposed to MAGA complain plenty about what the Trump administration has done or is doing to the government — drawing on vast administrative resources for deportations, taking stakes in private companies, destabilizing the Federal Reserve.

A sickening moral slum of an administration  —  Regarding Venezuela, Ukraine and much more, Trump and his acolytes are worse than simply incompetent. … Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal.  Without a war.  An interesting achievement.

Lawmakers ask AG Pam Bondi for a status update on releasing the Epstein files  —  Five members of Congress spanning both parties and both chambers want a briefing by Friday on the Trump administration's progress in releasing the Epstein files.  —  WASHINGTON — Five members of Congress …

Young Republicans chapter plans to host far-right German leader after ‘I love Hitler’ chat … In a statement to POLITICO, the group defended inviting the German politician, calling the AfD a model for fighting the far left and denying their “über alles” statement was intended to invoke Nazism.

For Trump, Even the National Guard Shooting Is About Immigration  —  And he won't let the facts get in the way of his agenda.  —  FROM THE MOMENT THE NEWS BROKE of the attack on two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., the commentary has been missing something.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley will run for reelection, foregoing Senate race  —  Rep. Ayanna Pressley won't challenge Sen. Ed Markey for his Senate seat and instead plans to seek reelection to her House seat, she announced today, ending weeks of speculation about the progressive Democrat's political future.

Federal Judge Bars Some Warrantless Immigration Arrests in D.C.  —  The judge found that immigration agents were likely acting illegally when making arrests without a warrant.  —  A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday ordered federal immigration officers to stop making arrests …

Murdochs blessed Fox News plan to air 2020 election fraud claims, Smartmatic alleges  —  In key hearing in defamation case, Fox counters that network simply covered allegations by Trump associates  —  Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch authorized a plan for Fox News to embrace Donald Trump's false claims …

ICE Arrested and Separated Chinese Father From 6-Year-Old Son, Advocates Say  —  ICE agents arrested a Chinese father and his 6-year-old son, separating the two and sending the father to Orange County Jail while the whereabouts of the son remain unknown as of Tuesday morning.

Trump Claims Former President Joe Biden's Pardons Are Invalid  —  President Donald Trump falsely claimed Tuesday that all pardons and commutations signed by former President Joe Biden are now “invalid” because they were allegedly authorized using the autopen.

Transcript: Trump White House Rages at Pop Star Who Nailed MAGA “Evil” … Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network.  I'm your host, Greg Sargent.  —  This week brings a confluence of events that all tell the same story.

Fed Pick Puts Pressure on Bessent to Deliver for Trump  —  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is leading the search for the next Federal Reserve chair, could face President Trump's wrath if the person chosen does not quickly lower interest rates.  —  In an August post on Truth Social …

U. of Alabama Suspends Black and Female Student Magazines, Citing D.E.I. Guidance  —  Officials told staff members at two student-run publications, called Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice, that they were not compliant with Attorney General Pam Bondi's memo on diversity programs.

Trump used a slur against Tim Walz.  Many on the right didn't mind  —  Note how few Republicans have criticized the president for invoking the word long used as a pejorative for people with disabilities. … Much has been made of the fact that after President Donald Trump posted …

Family of victim in alleged Trump ‘drug boat’ killings files first formal complaint  —  Exclusive: Petition says Colombia citizen Alejandro Carranza Medina was illegally killed in US airstrike on 15 September  —  A family in Colombia filed a petition on Tuesday with the Washington DC-based …

Nasdaq Tells Trump Crypto Partner Alt5 Sigma It ‘No Longer Meets’ Listing Requirements After Missed Report  —  Topline  —  Nasdaq notified Alt5 Sigma — a partner with the Trumps' World Liberty Financial crypto venture — that it is noncompliant for failing to file its third-quarter report …

“Captain Gains” on Capitol Hill  —  Using transaction-level data on US congressional stock trades, we find that lawmakers who later ascend to leadership positions perform similarly to matched peers beforehand but outperform them by 47 percentage points annually after ascension.

Hawley pitches new health care tax plan  —  Sen. Josh Hawley is pitching his colleagues — and President Donald Trump — on a new health care plan.  The Missouri Republican's proposal comes as his party is grappling separately over what its strategy on health care should be as the Senate stares …

Trump announces pardon for Democratic Rep Henry Cuellar  —  President Donald Trump announced a “full and unconditional pardon” Wednesday for Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and his wife, Imelda.  —  “For years, the Biden Administration weaponized the Justice System against their Political Opponents, and anyone who disagreed with them.

It's time to sound the alarm on growing fiscal and financial risk  —  Rising public debt is one concern — another is how it is being financed  —  Prior to the financial crisis of 2007-09, the Bank for International Settlements made itself unpopular with monetary authorities around the world …

Pope Leo Confronts Trump: Don't Invade Venezuela — and No “Solo Deal” in Ukraine  —  Happy Giving Tuesday!  —  Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to giving back to organizations doing good in our communities, our nation, and the world.  —  While other organizations rely on the wealthy …

Stefanik secures NDAA provision after high-profile fight with Johnson  —  Rep. Elise Stefanik declared victory over Speaker Mike Johnson Wednesday, saying she had secured the inclusion of a key provision she wanted attached to the annual Pentagon policy bill after a remarkable public spat with the speaker a day earlier.