Exclusive: Boat at center of double-tap strike controversy was meeting vessel headed to Suriname, admiral told lawmakers  —  South America  —  The alleged drug traffickers killed by the US military in a strike on September 2 were heading to link up with another, larger vessel that was bound for Suriname …

American Medical Association trustee denounces CDC panel's vaccine vote as ‘reckless’  —  A trustee of the American Medical Association (AMA) denounced a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) panel's vote to change hepatitis B vaccine guidance as “reckless” and urged the agency to reject the recommendation.

'People aren't dumb': Republicans worry they're not doing enough on affordability  —  Republican lawmakers, aides and strategists tell NBC News they worry that high prices and their party's poor messaging on affordability could cost them in the midterms.  —  WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans …

Democrats Need to Treat the Supreme Court Like the Villain It Is  —  The Cross Section is a reader-supported publication.  To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.  —  On Thursday, the Supreme Court offered the latest in its ongoing series …

HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait  —  As you walk down a particular hallway on the seventh floor of the Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., you'll find a line of photographic portraits of all the people from years past who have led the Public Health Corps …

Vanity Fair, Olivia Nuzzi Agree to Part Ways  —  Nuzzi joined the magazine as an editor earlier this year  —  Vanity Fair and Olivia Nuzzi said they have agreed to part ways following new revelations and allegations about an affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and her behavior while reporting on him.

The Supreme Court will decide whether Trump's birthright citizenship order violates the Constitution  —  The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to take up the constitutionality of President Donald Trump's order on birthright citizenship declaring that children born to parents …

Immigrants kept from Faneuil Hall citizenship ceremony as feds crackdown nationwide  —  Becoming a U.S. citizen takes years and involves immigrants acquiring a green card, extensive interviews, background checks, classes and a citizenship test.  The naturalization ceremony is the final step to the process …

Pipe bomb suspect told FBI he believed 2020 election conspiracy theories  —  The suspect has been cooperating with the FBI, according to sources, and is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday.  —  WASHINGTON — The man charged with planting two pipe bombs near the Democratic …

Pardoned Democrat Henry Cuellar wants GOP to probe his prosecutors … The investigation Cuellar referred to appears to be an ongoing probe of DOJ “weaponization” led by House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).  —  Cuellar ran into Jordan shortly after Trump announced the pardon of Cuellar …

Feds raid Tucson restaurants in homeland security operation  —  Agents with Homeland Security Investigations carried out targeted enforcement operations at multiple Taco Giro restaurants in Tucson early Friday, which federal officials said was the result of a years-long investigation into immigration and tax violations.

Chi Ossé ends early bid to challenge Jeffries … The move puts an early cap on Ossé's campaign, after the 27-year-old councilmember filed paperwork to run for the Brooklyn-based 8th District just last month.  —  The DSA voted not to endorse the young councilmember's challenge late last month …

Frank Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96  —  He designed some of the world's most recognizable buildings, notably the spectacular Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, his masterpiece.  —  Frank O. Gehry, one of the most formidable and original talents in the history of American architecture …

Karoline Leavitt's Brother Had Grim Custody Fight With ICE-Arrested Ex … The mother of Karoline Leavitt's nephew was reportedly engaged in a nasty years-long custody battle with the White House press secretary's brother before she was detained by Immigration and Customs enforcement last month, WBUR reported Friday.

Halligan Continues as U.S. Attorney, Prompting Criticism From Judges  —  The Justice Department has seized on a lack of explicit instruction from a federal judge to keep Lindsey Halligan in place for now.  —  The legal decision that ended the criminal cases against the former F.B …

Trump's Security Strategy Focuses on Profit, Not Spreading Democracy  —  President Trump's new National Security Strategy describes a country that is focused on doing business and reducing migration while avoiding passing judgment on authoritarians.  —  Latin American countries must grant no-bid contracts to U.S. companies.

Biden Slams Republicans for Using L.G.B.T.Q. Identity as ‘Political Football’  —  The former president defended his support for transgender rights, a stance that has provoked second-guessing among some Democrats.  —  Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Friday offered a defense of his support …

Trump nominations package hits stumbling block in Senate  —  Senate Republicans hit a temporary stumbling block in their latest effort to confirm dozens of President Donald Trump's nominees.  Democrats blocked Republicans from successfully taking an initial step toward confirming a package …

Trump wants to be known as a peacemaker while frequently threatening war  —  The president talks frequently of his desire for more peace.  And he likes talking like a warmonger. … President Donald Trump wants the world to know: The United States is on a war footing.

Trump administration moves to deny visas to factcheckers and content moderators  —  Action detailed in a state department memo directs officials to deny visas to any applicant engaging in ‘censorship’  —  The Trump administration has moved to formalize a crackdown on the issuance of visas …