Kennedy Center could close as early as Tuesday, warns of bankruptcy, documents show  —  Officials said the center is facing “certain fiscal collapse” within weeks, insist that adding President Donald Trump's name may be the only way to avoid bankruptcy.  —  Summary

Paid brokers tout ties to Trump's orbit to lobby for presidential pardons  —  Presidents have been pardoning criminals since George Washington.  It's a constitutional power — no explanation needed.  —  The Department of Justice does screen applicants and typically only recommends those who remorsefully seek mercy.

Crypto's political clout meets resistance on the left … The cryptocurrency industry is becoming a political liability on the left.  —  A massive spending spree by crypto companies in the 2024 elections established the industry as a political force capable of making allies and breaking critics in big races.

All eyes are on what Trump and Xi will do amid grim warnings of an AI apocalypse.  Here's what they've said.  — Fears of AI's apocalyptic capabilities have reached a fever pitch.  — Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, however, have yet to show that they're too concerned.

Trump Pushes Fed to Lower Rates Despite Pressure For a Hike  —  President Donald Trump reiterated that the US should have the lowest interest rates in the world even as his handpicked chair for the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, faces renewed pressure to raise borrowing costs.

E.P.A. Expected to Erase Limits on Climate Pollution From Power Plants  —  Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.  —  The Trump administration plans to announce Monday that the United States will no longer limit …

ESPN's Cruz Control … Jimmy Kimmel made an unusual announcement last week: He had an interview with a buzzy political candidate, but would not air it on his ABC late-night show.  Instead, his staff posted that interview with Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico to YouTube …

Democrats Have Midterm Momentum.  Here's What Risks Tripping Them Up.  —  The party is seeking to capitalize on Trump's unpopularity but has a fundraising shortfall and internal divisions  —  Democrats are grappling with several liabilities that risk impeding the momentum they have gained to retake control of Congress.

Texas Republicans denounce GOP statewide candidate over xenophobic post  —  Prominent Texas Republicans are denouncing Bo French, a Republican nominee to join the state's railroad commission, after he made a xenophobic post describing a group of Asian American students attending a University of Texas football game as a “problem.”

Trump Is Spending in Every Senate Battleground but One  —  President Donald Trump reported his largest spend so far this weekend, sending $21 million to candidates in competitive races as pressure ramps up for Republicans two months before the midterms.  —  The president's Senate spending …

National Security Agency launches historic restructuring  —  Gen. Joshua M. Rudd is retooling the massive spy agency to focus on priorities including AI, China and cybersecurity.  —  Summary  —  The National Security Agency is set to undergo its most extensive internal restructuring in at least a decade …

NY Dem House candidate modeled for XXX-rated BDSM ads while serving in National Guard  —  This New York pol has a secret BDSM past.  —  Chris Gallant, 37, the Democratic nominee running against Long Island Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) was previously involved in a very different kind of campaign …

U.S. Air Force officer shot down in Iran says he prayed while “free-falling” to the ground behind enemy lines  —  The Air Force colonel needed help when he crashed over a mountainous part of Iran's desert, separated from his crewmate, the pilot of the F-15E, after being shot down by Iran in April.

Sweden's election too close to call after late right-wing surge  —  STOCKHOLM — Sweden's high-stakes general election is heading toward a knife-edge finish that could yet hand power to the far right, according to official forecasts.  —  With most results now declared …

Takaichi Ally Wins Okinawa Vote, Aiding Military Build-Up  —  A candidate backed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling party ousted the incumbent governor of Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture in an election on Sunday, delivering a boost to the premier's push for a stronger military to stave off threats from China.

Pennsylvania woman died from complications of probable measles case, coroner says  —  The coroner said the unvaccinated 40-year-old woman exhibited many common symptoms of measles, such as a fever, cough, white spots inside the mouth and a rash.  —  Summary

Chip Roy is leaving Congress — but not before warning his colleagues about AI … Rep. Chip Roy isn't known for his touchy-feely approach to legislating.  But as the staunch conservative is preparing to leave Congress at the end of the year, he's raising difficult, philosophical questions …

Yankee Stadium tower among 10 ordered cleaned as Bronx Legionnaires' cases rise  —  Stream New York's #1 news - AccuWeather - original content 24/7  —  SOUTH BRONX (WABC) — New cases have been identified in a growing Legionnaires' disease cluster in the South Bronx, and city health officials …

Chicago's Mayor to Seek Reelection in Test of Progressive Clout  —  Brandon Johnson will seek a second term as Democratic mayor of Chicago, likely facing an uphill battle to stay in office as his opponents have raised millions ahead of next year's race.  —  Ending months of speculation …

Mississippi's mail ballot receipt deadline affirmed by federal appeals court after pivotal Supreme Court ruling  —  A federal appeals court formally put into effect a ruling allowing Mississippi to count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day.  The order follows the U.S. Supreme Court's June ruling …