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.

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.

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

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.”

For Trump, a Golf Trip to Ireland Tees Up a Reunification Controversy  —  President promises to remove tariffs from Irish whiskey and awards the winner of the Irish Open the trophy at his Doonbeg course.  —  DOONBEG, Ireland—A general rule holds in golf that spectators quietly watch …

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 …

Second federal judge freezes Trump mail ballot order with U.S. Supreme Court poised to weigh in  —  The nation's highest court already is considering the administration's appeal of an order by U.S. District Court in Boston.  —  A federal judge late Sunday ordered that the U.S. Postal Service …

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.

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 …

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.