White House Is Weighing Mass Pardons for Junior Staff  —  White House attorneys are evaluating whether to issue mass pardons to junior staffers, as Trump allies press the administration to protect lower-ranked officials from prosecution and other legal challenges, according to two sources familiar with the conversations.

Facing an electoral wipeout, Trump goes after the system  —  President Donald Trump is escalating his crusade to exert control of America's elections as his party barrels towards a potentially bruising midterm.  —  The Justice Department has already filed lawsuits in nearly every state to try and gain access to voter files.

How the Most Ruthless Ad of the Midterms Divided Republicans  —  The fallout from Vivek Ramaswamy's brutal spot targeting his Democratic rival in the Ohio governor's race showed that even in the Trump era, a political attack can be seen as going too far.  —  The most explosive advertisement …

US executives quit $25bn gas venture over claims of secret Russian control  —  Former CEO of Polar Train LNG tells FT that energy giant Novatek financed and held reins of strategic Alaska project without Washington's approval  —  The former chief executive of a $25bn US gas export venture …

Iran in ‘Advanced Stages’ of Planning Attacks Against Americans, Officials Say  —  The U.S. government has ordered diplomats and other federal employees to leave Saudi Arabia.  It is also drawing down staff at other missions in the region.  —  The U.S. government has put employees …

Fire devastates the Eagle's Nest retreat built for Hitler in Germany.  A person is detained  —  The retreat known as the Eagle's Nest built for Adolf Hitler in the Bavarian Alps was almost completely destroyed in a fire, and work to extinguish the blaze was still in progress Saturday, authorities said.

Woman in ad who said a Democrat endangers kids pleaded guilty to endangering kids  —  Shellie Flockhart, who called Iowa Democratic House candidate Sarah Trone Garriott “dangerous” for kids, pleaded guilty after authorities said she drove drunk with her children in the car in 2017.  —  SummaryLoading...

How Trump Gave the Worst Polluters a Free Pass  —  The president temporarily waived clean-air rules for industrial facilities that spew cancer-causing gases.  Then his appointees worked to gut the regulations altogether.  —  Within sight of a southeast Texas middle school stands a chemical plant …

DOJ demands that California counties help identify noncitizen voters  —  The move is the latest in a legal battle between California and the Trump administration as the White House attempts to root out suspected noncitizen voters.  —  The Department of Justice on Friday warned local election officials …

Trump's former campaign manager on GOP ahead of midterms: 'It's ugly'  —  President Trump's former campaign manager is joining a growing list predicting midterm doom for Republicans, highlighting recent allegations of government corruption as a key reason.  —  Bill Stepien, who managed …

Gen Z Is Broke and Fed Up With Politics … At Thanksgiving last year, a great-aunt tried to offer Kayla Cornett a reassuring example: Her older cousin had worked hard, saved and bought a house.  Cornett, 24, could do the same, she said — if she tried just a little bit harder.

Trump joins Hannity-Earhardt wedding rehearsal dinner at Mar-a-Lago  —  Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt held their wedding rehearsal dinner on Friday evening at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla.  —  Both Trump and first lady Melania Trump were in attendance …

In defense of empathy  —  Public Notice is proudly celebrating five years of independent journalism.  This special Saturday edition is possible thanks for paid subscribers.  Become one ⬇️  —  🙏 Subscribe to PN 🙏  —  Empathy is one of those things that really shouldn't need defending.

Washington's message to AI execs: Please shut up  —  Washington has always viewed Silicon Valley as culturally strange.  But the current crop of AI leaders is becoming a monumental political liability, lawmakers and White House advisers tell Axios. … - By centering the conversation around …

Trump wants to strip California of coastal protections unless state yields to list of demands  — 9 min Click here to listen to this article … In what one environmental law expert described as “a dangerous ultimatum,” the Trump administration said it would strip California of its authority …

Hillary Clinton thinks we should have 13 Supreme Court justices.  Here's why that matters.  —  Hillary Clinton may no longer be the most influential voice in the Democratic Party, but she remains a member in good standing of the party establishment.  So when she expresses support for expanding …

Dem infighting erupts over which candidates to fund in midterms homestretch  —  Democrats have more midterm targets than they can afford to tackle — and they are sparring over where to spend the limited cash they have.  —  The party's progressive and establishment wings are squabbling …