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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Hegseth indicates some US troops could be redeployed from Europe to Western Hemisphere  —  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated on Saturday that some U.S. service members could be redeployed from Europe to the Western Hemisphere as the Trump administration ramps up its deadly campaign against drug cartels in South America.

Republicans don't have a clear boogeyman for this year's midterms … Republicans have tried to find a new boogeyman this year as they rail against Democratic socialism and the “radical” left: Zohran Mamdani.  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.  Bernie Sanders.  —  Still more mentioned than all of them …

Head Start fight reaches tipping point as advocates push back against proposed Trump changes  —  The Trump administration is moving ahead with big changes to Head Start, the federal early childhood education program that serves low-income families, to the outcry of advocates who say the proposals …