5 takeaways on Fauci's hostile Senate hearing, GOP contempt threats  —  Former chief White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci's Senate hearing Wednesday ended up being an hours-long opportunity for Republicans to vent criticisms, arguments and theories on the COVID-19 response …

GOP Resistance Delays Key Vote on Trump's Attorney General Pick  —  Committee holdouts want ‘anti-weaponization fund’ formally killed and changes to no-audits language before they will back Todd Blanche  —  WASHINGTON—A key committee vote to advance President Trump's nomination of Todd Blanche …

Trump increasingly ‘exasperated’ on Iran as top officials can't agree on strategy  —  The president erupted at some of his top national security officials during a recent meeting, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the discussion.  —  WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump weighs …

Exclusive: Musk plans massive push for GOP in midterms  —  Tech billionaire Elon Musk is jumping into the midterms with a huge investment in a plan to boost Republican voter turnout, Axios has learned. … - America PAC will focus on door-knocking, digital advertising and direct mail aimed …

Mamdani Derangement Syndrome: Murdoch Media Lets Its Islamophobic Flag Fly  —  From Fox to the NY Post and WSJ, the media's embrace of anti-Muslim rhetoric just got worse.  Plus, why CBS News staff are telling Zeteo its flagship news program is ‘so f***ed.’  —  ∙ Paid

Saudi defense minister holds urgent meeting with Vance after Iraq strikes  —  Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman told Vice President Vance at the White House Wednesday that despite the joint U.S.-Saudi strike on pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, Saudi Arabia still favors de-escalation with Iran …

Fox News Poll: Democratic enthusiasm shapes North Carolina Senate race  —  In North Carolina, more Democrats than Republicans say they are extremely interested in the midterm elections (51% vs. 42%), and more Democrats also say they are extremely motivated to vote (58% vs. 50%).

Trump Unveils $22.5 Billion Redesign of Dulles Airport  —  The project would make the airport easier to navigate and include a new United lounge, officials said.  It's part of the president's plans to remake the Washington area.  —  President Trump unveiled plans for a $22.5 billion redesign …

Trump Has Made Billions in Office.  Will His Party Pay Politically?  —  The president took in a staggering $2.2 billion last year while in office.  Democrats are hoping to make it a campaign issue in the midterm elections.  —  President Trump has made more money while in office than most of us can even conceive of.

Singer Humiliates Trump After White House Uses His Song  —  MUSICAL MUTINY  —  His co-writer got even more personal.  —  Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan is leading the latest charge of musicians firing back against the White House for stealing their songs.  —  The chart-topping folk-pop …

Infectious disease expert on Fauci's Senate hearing face off with lawmakers  —  NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Dr. Céline Gounder about lawmakers' contentious questioning of former top U.S. health official Dr. Anthony Fauci Wednesday.

What Our Epstein Outrage Has Obscured  —  A woman showing the tattoo of one of her traffickers.Tamara Reynolds for The New York Times  —  Kanisha Hamilton became an expert on sex trafficking in the most unfortunate way, beginning at the age of 12.  So whenever she heard talk …

Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement  —  For release at 2:00 p.m. EDT  —  The Federal Open Market Committee approved the following statement for release by a 9 - 3 vote:  —  The Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3-1/2 to 3-3/4 percent, in support of the Federal Reserve's dual mandate.

Senior Trump Official Using Government Account To Smear Sitting Federal Judges  —  This “puts a bullseye” on judges already facing a spike in violent threats, warned U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, whose son was killed by a disgruntled litigant.  —  WASHINGTON - A senior Trump administration official …

Iran war live: US attack kills Iranian couple, toddler on Qeshm Island  —  Add Al Jazeera on Google  — US forces have bombed Iran, striking a residential building on Qeshm Island and killing a couple and their two-year-old child.  — Explosions were also heard on Kish Island …

Pacing the Frontier  —  A statement from 1,273 employees of frontier AI companies  —  Statement  —  AI could help create a dramatically better future, but that outcome is not guaranteed.  The world's leading AI companies believe they could be close to automating AI research.

Trump administration to dispense $600M for vaccines RFK Jr. held up … The departments of State and Health and Human Services confirmed Wednesday they are releasing $600 million Congress appropriated to an international partnership that helps developing countries buy and distribute vaccines.

Trump Says He Wants Supreme Court to Revive Suit Against Hillary Clinton  —  President Donald Trump said he will ask the US Supreme Court to revive his failed lawsuit accusing Hillary Clinton, the Democratic National Committee and others of conspiring to tarnish his 2016 campaign with bogus claims of collusion with Russia.

European soccer officials eye Qatari sports executive to challenge Infantino  —  BRUSSELS — European soccer officials are considering Qatari sports executive Nasser al-Khelaifi as a potential candidate in next year's election for FIFA's top job, after President Gianni Infantino's proposal …

Senate goes on record to oppose any possible pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell … - Why it matters: Democrats wanted to put every Republican senator on record as opposed to a potential pardon.  — By failing to object to Sen. Jacky Rosen's resolution, Republicans agreed that the president …

Could Jettisoning CNN Save the Paramount Merger?  —  After months of dread, Hollywood has been thrown sideways by the news that 12 state attorneys general might have found a way to trip up the merger that almost nobody in the entertainment industry wanted.  —  For months, the acquisition …

US uses dormant court to seek deportation of Afghan woman accused of aiding terror plot  —  An Afghan woman accused of supporting an Islamic State-inspired plot in the U.S. is the first person facing deportation through the Trump administration's use of an obscure court that remained dormant for 30 years …

Brewery stripped of alcohol permit after promising free beer when Trump dies  —  'They'll have to pry me out of my taprooms before I stop selling beer to thirsty progressives who come to visit us,' owner Kirk Bangstad said  —  A popular brewery that promised free beer to its patrons upon …

Marjorie Taylor Greene Ties the Knot With Brian Glenn in Las Vegas  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  RECOUNT ORDERED ON WEDDING GUESTS  —  UPDATE  —  7:46 AM PT ... Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the newylweds had dinner at Spago and got married at the Terrazza di Sogno in The Bellagio.