G.O.P. Nominee in Texas Privately Said Trump's Convention Hurt Him  —  Ken Paxton, one of the party's top Senate candidates and a Trump loyalist, said that “everybody's numbers dropped” after the event, according to audio obtained by The Times.  —  Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for Senate in Texas …

In Texas, Something Seismic Is Happening—and It's All Trump's Fault  —  James Talarico may or may not win the Senate race in Texas.  But here's something we can say right now: Given how close Talarico is coming in this red state after running such an overtly pro-immigrant campaign …

Schmitt happens all over effort to perjury trap Jack Smith  —  Ahead of PN's 5th anniversary next week, we're offering paid subscriptions at the special yearly rate of $40 (or about 16¢ per edition).  This newsletter is only possible thanks to the support of paid subscribers.

Dems boost their odds in Nevada  —  With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner  —  Good Wednesday morning.  This is Megan Messerly taking the pen.  The Senate may be skipping town soon, but not before Sen. Katie Britt gave us the reaction meme of the season.  Get in touch.

Republicans sink measure to spotlight Israeli violence in the West Bank  —  Senate Republicans rejected a Democratic-led resolution Tuesday that aimed to shed light on growing Israeli violence against Americans and Palestinians in the West Bank.  The overwhelming Democratic support …

The least popular war since Vietnam  —  Welcome back to The Argument's poll series, where we survey Americans on the issues everyone's fighting about.  Our full crosstabs are available behind the paywall at the end of this post.  Our last surveys have asked about elite perception, AI, crime, gender issues, and much more.

Can Trump Legally Demolish the Kennedy Center?  Experts Say Not Easily.  —  The president has entertained the idea of tearing down the performing arts venue.  Analysts say any plan would face multiple daunting challenges.  —  At first, the Trump administration raised the prospect of demolition quietly …

Supreme Court Allows Rapid Third-Country Deportations, for Now  —  The court also announced it would hear arguments in December on the legality of the Trump administration policy to swiftly deport immigrants to countries not their own.  —  The Trump administration can resume rapidly deporting immigrants …

NYC appeals Staten Island judge's ruling against Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax  —  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office filed an appeal on Tuesday following a Staten Island judge's ruling that barred notices from being sent to homeowners affected by the pied-à-terre tax.

Trump's AI “constitution” crowns day of accelerating ambition  —  With America's tech titans crowded around a single White House table Tuesday, President Trump extracted what he called a “morally binding” compact on AI safety.  — The terms were simple: Press ahead, project optimism and police yourselves.

Math needs a phonics-style reckoning  —  Teachers should teach students how to do stuff correctly.  —  ∙ Paid  —  At this point, everyone who cares about education policy at all has probably listened to Emily Hanford's “Sold a Story” podcast series, or pretends to have …

First Draft: 📺 Trump's White House Agrees His ‘Midterm Ads’ Are Illegal.  They're Doing It Anyway  —  Donald Trump is demanding the propagandistic TV ads, even as some of his aides fret they ‘obviously’ break federal law.  Missouri MAGA Senator Eric Schmitt, meanwhile, makes a fool of himself.

Right-Wing Groups Are Making Money Off John Fetterman  —  A Republican fundraising consultant alerted her colleagues this month in a private message about a hot new business opportunity from an unlikely source: Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat.

US ends military mission in Iraq, closing another chapter in decades of war  —  The U.S. military formally ended its mission in Iraq, the Pentagon said Wednesday, closing another chapter in more than two decades of American combat operations, withdrawals and returns to a country …

What the Russian oligarch who paid for Trump Jr's wedding party really wants  —  Putin ally aims for his sports association to regain control of Olympic boxing  —  Benedict Smith , Washington Correspondent.  Antonia Langford.  Hans van Leeuwen , International Economics Editor.

One More Reason Americans Hate AI: It Does Nothing for Them  —  One unifying dynamic in America today: Americans really, really hate AI.  What began as a form of NIMBYism — no one wants a data center in their neighborhood — has broadened into severe doubts about the technology as a whole.

The House reimburses lawmakers for D.C. expenses.  See who spent the most.  —  Taxpayers spent 21 percent more last year on the program, which helps cover the costs of food and lodging in Washington, a Post analysis found.  —  SummaryLoading...  House lawmakers spent $6.7 million …

The source of Brian Fitzpatrick's campaign ad attack fodder: A guest at his own wedding  —  Facing his toughest election challenge in years, GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has blanketed southeast Pennsylvania with attacks on his Democratic opponent — many of them citing what appear to be independent local news reports.

Burundi to take third-country deportees from US  —  Burundi has agreed to join a clutch of other African nations in receiving migrants from other countries deported from the US under President Donald Trump's hardline immigration policy.  —  However, Bujumbura will only accept those not accused …

Midterms 2026: El-Sayed, Rogers Reject AIPAC Money as Group Ties Turn Toxic  —  The lobbying powerhouse seeks to retain its influence despite accusations of partisanship and Israel's declining support with voters  —  It was once an article of faith that alignment with the American Israel …

Financial regulator investigates Adam Kinzinger over Kalshi trading  —  A top federal financial regulator is investigating former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger — an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump — for prediction market trades he made tied to his pardon by former President Joe Biden …

US withdraws from European anti-corruption panel in latest shift away from global groups  —  The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from a top European anti-corruption watchdog as it forges ahead with plans to disengage from international and multilateral organizations …

How Meta Uses A.I. Data Centers to Avoid Billions in Federal Taxes … Mark Zuckerberg says Meta's A.I. push is a tremendous success.  “Our investments in A.I. are accelerating every major part of our core business,” he has told investors.  “Every sign that we're seeing in our own work …

White House taps Strategic Petroleum Reserve  —  The White House announced plans to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve — a step meant to blunt rising gas prices looming over the midterm elections.  —  The US will offer to loan energy producers up to 40 million barrels of oil …

California poll: Voters back a billionaire tax, but the proposal falls short of majority support  —  A new NBCUniversal Local/Telemundo Station Group poll shows “yes” supporters leading 48% to 38% on the California ballot measure.  —  A plurality of likely California voters support a proposal …

Kristi Noem files for divorce from Bryon Noem  —  Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has filed for divorce from her husband of over three decades, Bryon Noem, six months after a tabloid published photos that appeared to show him wearing women's clothing and fake breasts and reported …

Zohran Mamdani's Campaign May Have Accomplished Something More Fundamental Than Moving Policy Debate to the Left  —  It's the people, stupid.  —  Pocket  —  Most commentary on Zohran Mamdani's campaign for mayor of New York City focuses on policy, technology, and charisma.

Maine university system strips ex-Sen. George Mitchell's name from building, scholarship over Jeffrey Epstein ties  —  The University of Maine System's Board of Trustees voted this week to remove the name of former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell from a building and a scholarship fund …

The Unheralded End of Mass Incarceration  —  America's prison population is plummeting thanks to lower crime rates.  The consequences are extraordinary.  —  In the past half century, thousands of books and articles have been written about mass incarceration.