Republicans tried to punt health care cuts until after the midterms.  It didn't work.  —  The political bill for Republicans' health care agenda is coming due earlier than they'd hoped.  —  Republicans' signature legislation from Trump 2.0 — 2025's One Big Beautiful Bill Act …

Democrats Are Underfunding the Races That Could Remake the Map … The Florida Democrat may well have to test that argument.  —  He is confronting the same daunting predicament as other gubernatorial candidates around the country: Democrats are poised to enjoy their best midterm election in two decades …

Trump Announces Another Payment to Voters Ahead of Midterms  —  The president says he'll send $90 to Medicare recipients to offset premiums, the latest financial pledge as Republicans trail in key contests  —  WASHINGTON- President Trump is doubling down on promising financial benefits to voters …

Without Saying His Name, Paxton's Estranged Wife Says to Vote for Him  —  In a new ad, the wife of Ken Paxton, who is divorcing him for alleged adultery, tells Texas voters to focus on the “whole team,” not “individual players.”  —  Angela Paxton wants to clear the air.

A gut punch in Ohio: Nearly 1,400 laid off at truck factory just days before Trump rally  —  Sipping tea from beer mugs with his co-workers, Kyle Bos listed the ways his life is changing.  Bos has two daughters, with a third due in January.  At the grocery store, five items cost as much as a full cart once did.

Trump urges calls to Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton in push for permanent daylight saving time  —  President Donald Trump on Saturday pressured Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas to support a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, urging Americans to call what appeared to be the personal cellphone number of Cotton …

U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Now Involve an Oil Deal Tied to Trump Allies  —  President Vladimir V. Putin brought up a sale of Russian energy assets with President Trump's envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, pushing a deal that raises new questions about conflicts of interest.

Tennessee Prison Commissioner Resigns After Failed Christa Pike Execution  —  Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada has resigned as head of the state's prison system following this week's failed execution of Christa Pike.  It was the second time this year …

Trump taps Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as AI czar: WSJ reports … Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has been chosen as the Trump administration's new AI czar, leading its response to artificial intelligence amid growing concerns about the risks …

Ted Cruz blasts JD Vance as ‘insecure,’ says he's focused on helping GOP win midterms  —  Sen. Ted Cruz fired back at JD Vance for suggesting he's already focused on a 2028 presidential bid, calling the vice president “insecure” while insisting he's focused on the 2026 midterms.

IRS Employees Looked at Celebrities' Tax Records, Report Says  —  Inspector general warns that the agency doesn't have effective ways to stop employees from peeking at data  —  WASHINGTON—Dozens of Internal Revenue Service employees improperly viewed the tax records of celebrities …

The Mainstreaming of Anti-Indian Bigotry  —  A Republican schism over a social-media post by a Texas politician revealed that the party's defense of a color-blind meritocracy has its limits.  —  Christopher rufo, the conservative activist best known for his opposition to critical race theory …

With Elon Musk's Return to Washington, Possible Conflicts of Interest Resurface  —  The founder of SpaceX, with billions of dollars in military contracts, joins several other defense industry executives on a Pentagon advisory board.  —  In unveiling a panel to study the future of warfare this week …

As Midterms Near, Justice Alito Says He Considers Each Year Whether to Retire  —  The justice, the second oldest on the court at 76, told CBS News that he decided against stepping down last term.  He could face pressure should Democrats win the Senate in November.

Byron Donalds Walks a Tightrope of Trump Loyalty in Florida's Race for Governor  —  GOP congressman poised to become MAGA power broker if he wins his tightening contest  —  Between now and November, we're bringing you profiles of the political figures reshaping their parties and defining …

Zohran Mamdani Is Showing the World How It's Done  —  A few days before the leaders of the world streamed into the cavernous, marble-lined General Assembly Hall to deliver their speeches on the grave crises convulsing our combustible world, Mayor Zohran Mamdani offered his own …

Rep. Burchett planning to block NYC socialist Chevalier from Congress after she claimed to use American flag as napkin  —  Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) plans to try to block Democratic nominee and New York socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier from taking her seat in Congress if she wins the Nov. 3 election …

Latino Dems urge Democratic Governors Association to put money behind Gina Hinojosa as Texas governor's race tightens  —  Latino Democratic leaders are renewing calls for the Democratic Governors Association to invest more heavily in Texas after a New York Times/Siena College poll showed …

A 20-year-old Amish woman with leukemia got measles and died in Pa.'s largest outbreak in three decades  —  The headstone had not yet been placed Thursday on the freshly dug grave where a 20-year-old Amish woman was buried this week amid the rolling clover fields and dairy farms at the edge of suburban Philadelphia.