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 …

Tennessee execution of Christa Gail Pike is halted by a court  —  A federal appeals court has halted the execution in Tennessee of Christa Pike about an hour before it was set to begin  —  This photo provided by the Tennessee Department of Correction shows Christa Pike on Jan. 12, 2023.  (TDOC via AP)

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Trump to Tout $54 Billion Korean LNG Plan in Battleground Alaska  —  President Donald Trump is set to unveil South Korea's plan to invest some $200 billion in the US, including $54 billion for a long-stalled venture to export natural gas from Alaska that's been championed by a Republican senator in a tight reelection contest.

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 …

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 …

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.

Newsom bars ICE from using shock gloves, other ‘Orwellian’ tactics in California  —  California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday signed into law a state ban on law enforcement use of electric shock gloves in the Democrat's latest push back against the Trump administration's “Orwellian immigration tactics.”

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

‘Christian Warrior’ Candidate's Dark Past Revealed  —  EXCELLENT DAY FOR AN EXORCISM  —  Fresh videos and posts unearthed by the Daily Beast have placed the Republican under growing scrutiny as the midterms loom.  —  A MAGA-backed ministry leader vying to be Colorado's next governor once laughed …

The White House's AI Bot Is Going Through It  —  The Trump administration broadening its embrace of artificial intelligence.  The results have been mixed, to say the least  —  ADD US AS A GOOGLE PREFERRED SOURCE … Americans shouldn't worry, though, the president says …

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 …

Capitol agenda: One day more?  —  Senators are circling a rapid escape from Washington today.  Majority Leader John Thune told Jordain the chamber could wrap up by the end of Wednesday.  “No certainty around this yet but it seems to be that everybody is ... heading toward a glide path tomorrow night …

Trump's nominee to be nation's top doctor clears key hurdle in Senate committee  —  Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News contributor, is the third person the president has nominated to be surgeon general in his second term.  —  Loading...  President Donald Trump's pick …

How Trump keeps undercutting his anti-communist message  —  Speaking in the Oval Office this week, President Trump once again claimed he wanted to give $5,000 to every adult in the U.S. — but only if Republicans win the House and Senate in November.  —  It's an idea he first proposed …

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 …

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 …