“That sucker is open”: U.S. gains the upper hand in the battle for Hormuz  —  The Strait of Hormuz has been Iran's most powerful card since the start of the war in late February.  But over the past two months, U.S. officials say the American military has steadily eroded Iran's leverage over the crucial waterway.

Trump Is Quietly Working to Give Part of Yosemite to a Private Developer  —  For more than a year, the National Park Service has been quietly working to fulfill an unprecedented directive from Trump officials: Parcel off a corner of Yosemite National Park to give to a private developer.

Wyoming Governor Objects to ‘Very Odd’ D.O.J. Election Monitoring  —  Governor Mark Gordon, a Republican, said he was concerned by the behavior of election observers who visited a polling station in Cheyenne.  —  Two election monitors from the Justice Department tried to interview voters …

What Darline Graham's Ugly, Viral Outburst About Death Really Reveals … Darline Graham, who just sashayed into the Senate seat of her late brother, Lindsey Graham, likes to tell a story about her parents.  They both passed away fairly suddenly—her mother of Hodgkin's lymphoma and her father of a heart attack.

The Trump DOJ Is Running Out of Ways to Humiliate Itself In Public  —  For some time now, I have been tracking the Justice Department's alarmingly rapid transformation from one of the legal profession's most prestigious employers into a clubhouse for semiliterate dunces whose primary qualification …

Judge again blocks Trump mail ballot executive order in ruling that's likely to be swiftly appealed  —  A federal judge on Thursday halted — at least for now — attempts to implement President Donald Trump's executive order limiting mail voting.  —  The move stalled the directive for a second …

Vaccine misinformation spreads as RFK Jr suggests two measles deaths were ‘fabricated’  —  Anti-vaxxers are spreading conspiracy theories after two recent measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania  —  Anti-vaccine activists are trying to track down the families of two people …

In closely watched speech, Warsh signals Fed may need to raise rates  —  JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming — Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh on Friday laid the groundwork for a possible interest rate hike in the coming months, arguing that the economy is strong and the labor market is at full employment, while inflation is concerning.

Gas Prices Are High.  Trump's Supporters Are Feeling The Most Pain.  —  Gas at the pump costs 40% more than it did before the Iran war began in February, according to the Energy Information Administration.  And whether you're a die-hard Democrat or red-blooded Republican or somewhere in between …

Trump looks to ease beef processing regulations  —  President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration will seek changes to allow farmers and ranchers to slaughter and process their own products in response to calls to loosen the grip of the big companies that dominate U.S. meat processing.

Hope Florida reemerges as midterm issue with leaked grand jury report  —  JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Democrats are using a leaked grand jury report on Hope Florida as a fresh line of attack against Sunshine State GOP incumbents, seizing on findings that Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration …

Are voters finally realizing GOP presidents are disasters?  —  Michael Tomasky makes the case that they are.  —  ∙ Paid  —  This edition of PN is made possible by paid subscribers.  Become one ⬇️  —  “Trusting the Republicans more on the economy at this point …

Trump's Cabinet is fanning out to help juice the base.  It's not going as planned. … President Donald Trump is fanning out his Cabinet across the country to sell his accomplishments and shore up key constituencies ahead of the midterms.  —  It isn't quite working out that way.

Autopsy shows Tennessee National Guard fatally shot 20-year-old armed man in the back  —  Tennessee National Guard members assigned to a federal anti-crime task force in Memphis fatally shot an armed 20-year-old man in the back, according to an autopsy report obtained Thursday by The Associated Press …

Meet the Megadonors Who Have Poured $1.2 Billion Into the Midterms  —  The leaderboard of the top 20 donors is dominated by the tech industry and ultrawealthy Republicans.  —  The reporters analyzed tens of thousands of financial transactions, researched political networks and examined …

Canada Hires 48 Scholars Away From Top U.S. Universities  —  A crackdown on American academia by the Trump administration has handed Canadian universities a rare opportunity to lure some top researchers north.  —  Twenty-one universities in Canada announced on Thursday the hiring of dozens …

Democrats Want Fighters.  A Former Republican Has Ideas.  —  Even longtime political professionals are still muddling through the Trump era.  They are trying to make sense of what voters want, how politicians communicate and how the parties are evolving.  —  A former Republican strategist …

GOP convention will battle NFL openers for attention  —  Republicans will have some stiff competition for eyeballs when they hold their first-ever midterm convention next month in Dallas — the NFL, American television's undisputed champion of ratings.

Trees are coming down by the dozen as Trump's D.C. golf makeover nears  —  The president's promised overhaul of the East Potomac course has not officially begun, but tree removal has already been taking place for weeks.  —  Summary  —  Across East Potomac Golf Links …

Corporate America Cut Big Checks to Trump.  Now CEOs Fear Subpoenas Are Coming.  —  Tech firms are courting Democrats and hiring advisers to prepare for potential investigations if Republicans lose control of the House  —  Some U.S. companies with close ties to President Trump are taking steps …

For Once, a New York Jet Is Destined to Win Something  —  A House race in Arizona pits Jay Feely, a former Jets kicker, against Amish Shah, a former sideline doctor for the team.  Jets fans in the district say it's a welcome distraction from all the losing.  —  “All right, I've had enough!”

White South Africans could get $4,500 in aid if they come to U.S. as refugees  —  The assistance, which helps pay for basic needs such as housing and food, would nearly double under a new policy.  —  White South Africans who come to the United States as refugees could get up to $4,500 per person …

Fetterman: Democratic Party has ‘socialism problem’  —  Centrist Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) says the Democratic Party has a “socialism problem,” pointing to candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, and Graham Platner, who dropped out of the Maine Senate race.

Trump undermines his own stance on Iran, gives Russia and China a pass on Tehran aid  —  On foreign assistance to Iran, the American president drew a red line last week.  This week, he signaled weakness toward countries that cross that line.  —  It was just last week when Donald Trump published …

Blue-Collar Jobs Are the New Flashpoint in Data-Center Fight  —  Trade unions threaten to withhold support for politicians, joining the building backlash  —  Much of the public outcry over data-center construction has centered on electricity costs, water consumption and noise.

Spencer Cox's Crusade … On august 9, 2023, Utah's governor, Spencer Cox, found himself sitting across from Joe Biden in an armored presidential limousine as it idled in downtown Salt Lake City.  Working up the nerve to pitch a far-fetched idea, he cleared his throat.

Harald V, Norway's King as Tradition and Modernity Collided, Dies at 89 … King Harald V of Norway, whose 35-year reign opened an ancient monarchy to a contentious cast of family connections, including a draper's daughter; a celebrity shaman; and Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, died on Friday in Oslo.

Belgium summons US ambassador again over jibe at health minister  —  This is not the first time the US ambassador has made controversial personal attacks against Belgian politicians.  —  Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has summoned U.S. Ambassador Bill White for a second time this year …