Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin threatens states over elections  —  The secretary's comments come as the Trump administration is increasingly using government agencies to sow doubts about the nation's electoral system.  —  WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin …

Todd Blanche meeting leaves Epstein survivors stunned and angry  —  On Thursday morning, during the second day of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., dropped an unexpected ultimatum: While he acknowledged he was leaning toward supporting Blanche …

Wildfire smoke invades DC area with some of the worst air quality on record … As a cold front pushed a dense plume of wildfire smoke from Canada southward, the DC area awoke Friday to widespread very unhealthy (code purple) to hazardous (code maroon) air quality.

Exclusive / Darline Graham eyeing a run for a full Senate term  —  THE SCOOP  —  Appointed GOP Sen. Darline Graham indicated to the White House on Thursday that she may be interested in running for a full Senate term in South Carolina, according to three people familiar with internal party deliberations.

ICE to Pay Thomson Reuters $125 Million to Find ‘Voter Fraud’  —  A new procurement record says ICE wants access to personal data, including names, Social Security numbers, and ethnicity, to investigate in part what the agency calls “voters fraud.”  It also plans to use the data to investigate immigration fraud.

Trump Faces the Limits of U.S. Firepower and the Lessons of Past Wars  —  Like his predecessors, President Trump has struggled to turn battlefield successes into long-term victories.  —  President Trump has held fast to one belief over the course of the nearly five-month war with Iran …

Lettuce at Taco Bell in 5 states confirmed as a source of diarrhea-causing parasite  —  Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora.

Alan Dershowitz cancels on House Oversight ahead of planned Epstein interview  —  Alan Dershowitz, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School who worked to craft the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 plea deal, will not appear before the House Oversight Committee for his scheduled …

Top US tax lawyer forced out after White House clash over tax audits  —  The U.S. tax agency's top attorney was forced from his role in recent days after refusing White House demands to participate in tax audits, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Judge rules FEMA CFO's firing was illegal  —  ALEXANDRIA, Virginia-A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration violated the law when it fired the Federal Emergency Management Agency's chief financial officer without going through the steps Congress has mandated for terminating civil servants.

We Went to a Yacht Party for the Most Pro-Deportation People in DC … It was, they believed, time to party. … “Ahoy!  This is the captain speaking,” piped a cheery voice, not emanating from an actual captain, but rather a video of a former DHS staffer in a captain's hat.  “Where are we going on this boat?

Scoop: U.S. sending dozens more refueling planes to Israel ahead of possible escalation  —  The Trump administration notified Israel it is sending dozens more refueling planes to the country ahead of a potential expansion of military operations against Iran, three U.S. and Israeli officials said.

United Airlines Will Let Passengers Avoid Trump Airport And Switch To Miami Or Fort Lauderdale For Free  —  United Airlines is preparing for customers who may object to flying into an airport named for President Donald Trump, and reservation agents have been authorized to move those passengers …

The CDC Has a Cyclospora Lab.  DOGE Downsized It Last Year  —  “Based on simple math, these outbreak responses—which require rapid, timely responses—are going to be greatly diminished,” the former CDC lab director tells WIRED.  —  As cases of the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora rise across the US …

Trump Media pitched $100,000 monthly fee for fast feed of president's posts  —  Family company has quoted the six-figure sum for high-speed access to Truth Social platform  —  Donald Trump's social media company has discussed charging traders and investors as much as $100,000 a month …

Sara Rodriguez suspends Wisconsin governor campaign amid campaign finance issues  —  Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the Wisconsin Democratic governor primary Friday, citing her campaign's mishandling of financial reports.  —  Her departure from the race is a blow to the state's …

Massive health insurance upheaval leaves New Yorkers with big new bills  —  NEW YORK — Nearly half a million New Yorkers recently booted from a federally funded health insurance program are confronting an expensive and confusing marketplace as they search for new coverage.