Top Items:
Tim Balk / New York Times:
Some Democrats, Scarred by 2024, Take a Harder Line on Trans Athletes — Democrats competing in historically conservative territory in the midterms are more aggressively responding to Republican attacks casting them as extreme. — In Ohio, a longtime Democratic congresswoman in a tough race …
RELATED:
Catie Edmondson / New York Times:
With Costs High, Tax Cuts May Fall Flat for G.O.P. in Fight for Congress — Tipped workers in Arizona have benefited from the G.O.P.'s big tax cut. But they face economic stress from other Republican policies. — Outside the clubhouse at a golf resort nestled into the mountains framing Oro Valley …
Alice Miranda Ollstein / Politico:
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 …
Discussion:
New York Times and Lawyers, Guns & Money
Amanda Carpenter / The Bulwark:
Why You Must Care About the Ballroom — Trump is defying Congress and robbing the American people to build it. — WHEN YOU CONSIDER all the outrageous things President Donald Trump has done in his second term, you might be tempted to think his big ballroom project doesn't rate high …
CMS:
Medicare Improvement Fund Premium Rebate Frequently Asked Questions — Medicare Improvement Fund Premium Rebate — Frequently Asked Questions — Q: What will the Medicare Improvement Fund do for Medicare beneficiaries? — A: The Administration is making a $90 Premium Rebate available …
Discussion:
Forbes, NBC News and The Washington Sun
RELATED:
Dan Diamond / Washington Post:
Trump announces plan to send $90 payments to millions of seniors
Trump announces plan to send $90 payments to millions of seniors
Discussion:
Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Salon, The Independent, Daily Mail, The Gateway Pundit, Mediaite and NewsNation
Alex Leary / Wall Street Journal:
New AI Czar Unveils Goals, Members of White House Task Force — The group will examine the technology's risks and opportunities—and focus on making sure the U.S. is first in the field — WASHINGTON— A new White House task force will have 120 days to report on the risks and opportunities …
Discussion:
Associated Press, NewsMax.com and Washington Examiner, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Peter Baker / New York Times:
How Trump Moved Ethical Lines With His Ads, Businesses and Summits — The president's decision to hold an international summit at his own private golf club, an idea rejected in his first term, illustrates how much he has shattered norms. — When President Trump decided in his first term …
Discussion:
Alternet.org
New York Times:
Kristi Noem's Agency Gave Her Donor a Lucrative Contract Just Before She Left — The Homeland Security Department signed a multi-million dollar agreement to buy five aircraft from a company owned by a political contributor of the secretary on her last day, documents show.
Selam Gebrekidan / New York Times:
Superpowers Race to Put Nuclear Reactors on the Moon — I'm based in Hong Kong, where I have been closely tracking the new space race between the United States and China. Last month, a series of documents caught my eye. — Selam Gebrekidan — The documents contained details …
Discussion:
NewsMax.com
Sarah Davis / The Hill:
Trump, Cotton tussle over daylight savings after cell phone number leak — President Trump repeatedly berated Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Saturday over his stance on a daylight savings bill after posting the Republican Congress member's cell phone number on social media.
RELATED:
Lauren McGaughy / New York Times:
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.
Discussion:
Fox News, NBC News, The Gateway Pundit, Breitbart, The Texas Tribune, Mediaite, The Daily Wire, RedState and The Washington Sun
RELATED:
Meredith Lee Hill / Politico:
The price tag on the Ken Paxton rescue mission has Republicans panicking
The price tag on the Ken Paxton rescue mission has Republicans panicking
Discussion:
Silver Bulletin, Alternet.org and Mediaite
Naftali Bendavid / Washington Post:
How Democrats hope to reverse Trump's changes to the presidency — As the midterms approach, some of the president's foes are working to ensure his aggressive approach to executive power doesn't outlast him. — SummaryLoading... Democratic House members are writing bills to rein in a president's emergency powers.
Emily Davies / New York Times:
Some Democrats Say Senate Race In South Carolina Is Winnable. Others, not so much. — Dr. Annie Andrews, a Democrat, is hoping to defeat Senator Darline Graham. Even some of her most ardent supporters sense that her bid is a long shot. — Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democrat running …
Discussion:
The Hill
Washington Post:
With threats to midterms, states say Trump administration isn't helping — U.S. spy agencies see Russia and others plotting to sow distrust and misinformation in the upcoming elections. — SummaryLoading... U.S. intelligence agencies are monitoring schemes by Russia and other adversaries …
Matthew Brockett / Bloomberg:
Australian Treasurer Calls US-Iran War an Economic ‘Disaster’ — Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the US war with Iran has been an economic disaster, blaming the conflict for higher inflation and borrowing costs worldwide and warning it's also damping global growth.
Anna Giaritelli / Washington Examiner:
ICE officers say internal chaos has led to thousands of employee departures — Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeing higher employee turnover rates under President Donald Trump than at any point in the federal agency's history. — In the first half of 2026, thousands of ICE employees left …
Fin Daniel Gómez / CBS News:
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 …
Alex Leary / Wall Street Journal:
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 …
Samuel Benson / Politico:
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.
Discussion:
Daily Mail, NewsMax.com and Mediaite
Sasha Rogelberg / Fortune:
Google cofounder Sergey Brin has spent $102 million to fight California's proposed billionaire tax—he could owe $13 billion if he loses — Google cofounder Sergey Brin has now spent more than nine figures combating California's proposed wealth tax. — According to filings …
Discussion:
Politico
Kate Kelly / New York Times:
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 …
Jonathan Chait / The Atlantic:
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 …

