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.

Republicans Are Crude, Craven, Cruel.  It's Not Working Anymore.  —  In my column last week, I wrote about the Democratic Party's dramatic change of fortune in the race to control the Senate.  The expectation at the start of this election cycle was that Republicans would hold the chamber easily and …

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 …

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 …

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...

US is reducing staffing at 4 Middle East embassies over increased threats from Iran  —  The State Department is reducing staffing at four U.S. embassies in the Middle East after receiving intelligence that Iran has stepped up efforts to target American personnel in the region and elsewhere.

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 …

As Israeli election looms, Trump advisers see opportunity beyond Netanyahu  —  President Trump has endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu in Tuesday's Israeli election, but some of his advisers see opportunity for his Middle East agenda in a government led by someone else, U.S. officials tell Axios.

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'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 …

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 …

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 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 …

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 …