The tech right pivots left  —  With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner  —  Good Wednesday morning — and a special note of gratitude and thanks to all the vets on Veterans Day.  Get in touch.  —  In today's Playbook ...  — Palantir's Alex Karp softens on Dems as they prepare to retake Congress.

White House threatens criminal investigation into Democrats' oversight efforts  —  The White House's top lawyer is threatening a criminal investigation of Democrats for conducting what he alleges are illegitimate investigations into the executive branch — a stark escalation from the Trump administration …

ICE Officer Involved in Maine Shooting Expressed Hatred of Immigrants  —  The agent talked of foreign bloodlines, denounced noncitizens and more, according to emails obtained by The Times.  His fatal shooting of a Colombian-born motorist in July remains under investigation.

Scoop: Bessent confronts Lutnick over China inaction  —  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confronted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over a failure to place Nvidia customer Megaspeed on a list of companies that pose national security concerns, sources familiar told Axios.

Somali Bodyguard Was Indicted in a Bid to Incriminate Ilhan Omar  —  Prosecutors used statements made during a green card interview to pressure a former bodyguard to provide evidence against the Minnesota congresswoman, his lawyer said.  —  Federal prosecutors filed a felony charge earlier …

“We Have No One”: How Trump's Dismantling of the VA Left a Veterans Hospital in Crisis  —  John Falchetto was a survivor.  In Vietnam, his river gunboat came under devastating rocket fire.  He was the only one to make it out alive.  But this February, Falchetto, who had just turned 80, began to have piercing stomach pains.

Colom extends slim lead over Hyde-Smith in Mississippi Senate race  —  Mississippi Senate candidate Scott Colom (D) extended his slim lead by more than 3,000 votes over Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) ahead of two crucial ballot deadlines in the week after Democrats saw sweeping victories in the midterm elections.

Scoop — Stephen Miller's post-midterm focus: MAGA and men  —  Stephen Miller wants to use his new role as White House chief of staff to win back young and minority men who helped elect President Trump in 2024 but swung toward Democrats in the midterms, two people familiar with the administration's plans tell Axios.

The Left's Election Denial  —  The Democrats' most impressive victories in 2026 came from mainstream or moderate candidates.  —  Bernie sanders and his acolytes have spent the past decade insisting that Democrats would command national majorities if only they embraced his left-wing policies.

State Dept. official took Mediterranean trip paid for by tech billionaire  —  Stripe's Patrick Collison paid an estimated $11,900 for Sarah B. Rogers's portion of an international vacation last year, according to a new disclosure.  —  Loading...  Sarah B. Rogers, a top official at the State Department …

Alina Habba Mildon Faces Discipline Over Settlement at Trump Golf Club  —  The state's Office of Attorney Ethics recommended discipline for her role in brokering a sexual harassment settlement involving a waitress at the president's golf club in Bedminster, N.J.

Flying by pricey military jet, Rubio rarely misses a Florida football game  —  The secretary of state, who is required to travel by government plane, defended his trips to his alma mater to see his son play.  —  SummaryLoading...  GAINESVILLE, Fla. — College football here comes with its rituals …

Capitol agenda: The left looks to Van Hollen for a shake-up  —  Chris Van Hollen is having a very strange moment.  The 67-year-old Maryland lawmaker has caught the attention of a handful of progressive lawmakers and activists who have gotten increasingly vocal this week that it's …

How a Misquote by a Supreme Court Justice Imperils Gun Restrictions  —  When the Supreme Court begins weighing the constitutionality of assault-weapons bans next month, the justices will be guided by the court's own precedent: a landmark ruling that such restrictions are allowed only if a firearm is both “dangerous and unusual.”

Joe Biden swarmed by protesters during surprise Dublin visit to support Hunter  —  Chaos broke out near the event attended by Biden and his family  —  Become an Independent member to bookmark this article  —  Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?

Forget The Ballroom.  Trump's $3 Billion Tax Play Is His Legacy Project  —  Donald Trump figured out how much his golf courses could save him in taxes on the day he turned 60.  He called it the greatest birthday gift of his life.  —  This voice experience is generated by AI.  Learn more.

Look Who Has a Southern Strategy  —  You need only glance at the recent political history of the states of the Deep South to get a sense of the magnitude of the political earthquake that shook the region in last week's elections.  —  South Carolina, which elected a Democrat, Annie Andrews …

Dems put Noem on notice  —  President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March, but Democrats aren't finished with her. … - “Noem, Markwayne, Miller, Homan, Bovino, what's up? … - She was referencing current DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin (who replaced Noem) …

AOC Plans to Keep Progressives Waiting  —  Progressives — and potential 2028 presidential candidates — waiting on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's decision about her political future will be waiting for a minute.  —  “I will be deliberating this privately, but I probably …

Lawler's long view  —  POST WAVE OVERHAUL: Republican Rep. Mike Lawler believes the state GOP's political infrastructure needs to be improved.  —  The party needs a better ground game and a stronger data operation mixed with a robust fundraising apparatus, he said.

Donor Who Bankrolled RFK Jr.'s Flights Also Hosted Him on His Yacht  —  Democrats ask Kennedy about $250,000 in gifts he received from Gavin de Becker  —  Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sailed around Greece in a yacht with Gavin de Becker, a campaign donor and close friend …

Memo to MAGA: Todd Blanche is not your lawyer  —  Public Notice is proudly celebrating 5 years of independent journalism.  Support our work by becoming a paid subscriber ⬇️  —  👍 Subscribe to PN 👍  —  Last Tuesday's blue tsunami set off a red stampede at the Justice Department.

Bessent Is Moved From D.C.-Area Home to Military Base Amid Iranian Threats  —  The Treasury secretary, who is leading an economic pressure campaign against Iran, is the latest Trump official to leave his home over security concerns.  —  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently moved …

The Nvidia spy scandal was hiding in plain sight  —  China's spy service bet on lust and arrogance, and Washington was slow to see the risk.  —  Keith Riggin, a former CIA station chief in Beijing who later advised U.S. companies on the Chinese intelligence threat, says he gave American executives …