“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.

Trump loses again in bid to erase his N.Y. hush money conviction  —  BY ASSOCIATED PRESS AND SPECTRUM NEWS STAFF NEW YORK CITY  —  A federal judge on Friday once again spurned Donald Trump's effort to erase his hush money conviction, rejecting the president's bid to move the state court case …

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 …

Kanye Exec Milo Yiannopoulos Detained by ICE in Louisiana  —  MILO YIANNOPOULOS KANYE EXEC IN ICE CUSTODY ... Apprehended in Louisiana … Milo Yiannopoulos has been apprehended by ICE in Louisiana ... TMZ has learned.  —  The controversial political personality is currently being held at an ICE detention center, per inmate records.

The Crisis for Democrats in Michigan  —  The Senate election presents liberals with a grim choice.  —  The hard-left twitch streamer Hasan Piker warned Jewish Americans last week that their excessive identification with Israel would subject them to anti-Semitic attacks.

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 …

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.

Florida AG says he wasn't a grand jury target.  So why didn't he testify?  —  A grand jury tried to find out how taxpayer funds landed in the coffers of a political committee operated by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier — without asking him directly, according to a copy of the grand jury report obtained by CBS News Miami.

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 …

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 …

Warsh Seeks to Calm Concerns About Fed's Grip on Elevated Inflation  —  In a high-profile speech, Kevin M. Warsh said the Federal Reserve was chiefly responsible for taming inflation.  If price increases did not return to the central bank's target quickly, “we have work to do,” he said.

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 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.

Trump seeks vast, potentially costly U.S. stake in Venezuelan oil industry  —  A deal, which may come together early next month, would be contentious and could cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars.  —  Summary  —  The Trump administration is negotiating a long-term stake in a vast share …

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 …

Trump Updates Defamation Suit Against The New York Times  —  The president has argued that the news organization sought to undermine his 2024 presidential campaign by disparaging his reputation as a businessman.  The Times has moved to dismiss the lawsuit.  —  President Trump updated …

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 …

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.

Hegseth Weighs Summoning Top Military Leaders to Quantico for Second Time  —  The defense chief declared ‘no more beardos’ in speech last year  —  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering inviting hundreds of senior military personnel back for an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico this year …

CNN uses pic of Dolly Parton Vegas impersonator during tribute, apologizes to icon's family for blunder  —  CNN was forced to apologize to Dolly Parton's family for mistakenly using a photo of a Las Vegas impersonator of the country music legend while reporting on her death.

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 …

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.

John Cornyn is raising money for competitive Senate races — just not in Texas  —  The GOP senator said he plans to use his considerable fundraising prowess to help colleagues in New Hampshire, Michigan, Alaska and elsewhere.  —  TAKE OUR CONTENT — PLEASE!

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 …

Elon Musk's super PAC begins pouring money into the midterms online  —  America PAC has launched digital ads in three key states with Senate races, urging people to register to vote and criticizing socialism and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.  —  Billionaire Elon Musk's super PAC launched digital ads …

‘So much fringe science’: RFK Jr's advisers are pushing an extreme makeover in autism research  —  Experts warn the 336-page plan from RFK Jr's advisers deflects federal dollars into unreliable alternative therapies  —  Autism groups and researchers have reacted with alarm …

Trump's midterm campaign theme is unrequited love  —  The president senses a crisis in his cult of personality.  He believes the path to victory is through unwavering devotion  —  Donald Trump has framed his theme for the midterm elections.  It has come to him as naturally and inevitably …