Anthony Fauci invokes 5th Amendment right not to testify at Covid hearing, calls Sen. Rand Paul ‘unhinged’  —  The former top health official said he would invoke his 5th Amendment right not to testify to avoid the possibility that Republicans might try to prosecute him for perjury.

Iran Launches Surprise Missile Attack on U.S. Forces  —  Strikes came before the U.S. military confirmed joint attacks with Saudi forces on Iran-backed groups in Iraq  —  Iran launched a surprise ballistic-missile attack on American forces in Jordan, a U.S. official said …

‘Preposterous’: Comey team attacks charges over alleged threat to Trump  —  A May 2026 FBI interview with notorious mobster “Sammy the Bull.”  A text message from a disgruntled acquaintance misled by a Rudy Giuliani podcast.  An actress' late-night television routine.

Why Do We Tolerate Elon Musk's Racist Commentary?  —  “The Turner Diaries” is a work of white supremacist agitprop.  It purports to be the diary of a neo-Nazi militant, Earl Turner, who is working to overthrow the United States government — or as the book calls it, “the System” — through a group called “the Organization.”

Capitol agenda: Senate launches push for Graham's final bill  —  The Senate is one step closer to achieving a top legislative priority of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham in a feat that seemed impossible a year ago.  Graham's legislation targeting Russia with expanded sanctions got …

Bari's New ‘60’ Slate … On Tuesday afternoon, I received an urgent tip on the encrypted-messaging app Signal: Ross Douthat, the conservative opinion columnist at The New York Times, was set to leave the newspaper and join “60 Minutes.”  Initially, I was skeptical.

Trump overrode his own agencies to deny four Democratic disaster requests  —  President Donald Trump overruled his own agencies when he denied disaster aid for four Democratic-led states this month.  —  Emails between state and federal officials obtained by POLITICO along with more than 150 pages …

Blanche nomination hangs by a thread as Cornyn stands by settlement ultimatum  —  GOP Sen. John Cornyn said Wednesday, less than 24 hours before a critical committee vote, that he is “not prepared” to support Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general as the two continue to tangle …

Trump Administration to End Medicare Drug Plan Subsidy  —  Program that held down premiums not renewed for 2027, resulting in higher costs for some seniors  —  The Trump administration plans to end a subsidy program that helped hold down premiums for Medicare drug plans …

CNN Poll: Americans doubt Trump is paying enough attention to the country's most important problems  —  A record-high 73% of US adults say that President Donald Trump hasn't paid enough attention to the country's most important problems, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds, with just 27% saying he's had the right priorities.

Thune's next nightmare  —  Senate Majority Leader John Thune has one of the toughest jobs in Washington.  It could get even harder next year. … But the Senate leader could enter the next Congress with diminished power, leading a conference whose loyalty increasingly lies with Trump.

Domestic Abuse Allegations Rock an Ohio House Race  —  Representative Max Miller, a Republican, is facing accusations of abuse from his ex-wife in a bitter family feud that might put his otherwise safe seat in play.  —  A sordid, yearslong family drama involving two powerful Republican members …

Todd Blanche Colluded with an Italian Mafioso ... and Also Rudy Guiliani ... to Indict Jim Comey  —  Jim Comey has filed his pretrial motions.  The memoranda and backup for each are here (Fitzgerald's affidavit is a worthwhile place to start):  — Motion to Dismiss (MTD) for lack of a true threat

A U.S. Citizen Deleted His Phone's Data.  Now He Faces a Felony Charge.  —  Federal prosecutors charged a man returning to the United States with obstruction because he gave them a passcode that erased his smartphone during a customs search.  —  It sounds like something that James Bond would use …

The fake historian advising Trump's anti-Smithsonian crusade  —  Last Friday, President Trump released an executive order directing officials to install signs outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (NMAH) informing visitors that the museum presents history inaccurately.

Can Anyone Spare a Buck for Texas?  —  One of America's most competitive Senate races features a surprising dynamic: No Republicans are spending money yet.  —  By THEODORE SCHLEIFER  —  TIMESVIDEO

ICE agents target NC's Pisgah National Forest and make multiple arrests, feds say  —  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has extended its reach into North Carolina's wilderness areas to find people suspected of living in the country illegally.  —  On Sunday, multiple arrests …

US commander warns troops their videos help Iran, sources say  —  The top U.S. commander for the Middle East has warned troops that cellphone videos shared online can help Iran target American bases, and sources told Reuters some deployed personnel could soon be ordered to surrender their phones.

Harmeet Dhillon demonstrates danger of posting through it  —  This edition of PN is made possible by paid subscribers.  Become one ⬇️  —  🫵 Subscribe to PN 🫵 … On October 3, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division …

Trump's Tariffs Are Sending Some Companies Back to China … Workers at factories in China and Thailand assembling and testing flashlights for sale to American customers.Videos by Lauren DeCicca and Qilai Shen  —  On a dusty piece of land south of Bangkok, a flashlight factory stands full of promise.