‘We have to suck it up’: Ken Paxton privately suggests cutting federal benefit programs to reduce national deficit  —  In a conversation that has been leaked in pieces to multiple publications, the GOP Senate nominee called for “reasonable cuts to mandatory spending,” which is driven by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Photo shows top Trump aide's daughter with pro-Russia politician in Bosnia  —  An image circulated on social media and verified by CBS News shows Katie Wiles, the daughter of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, recently traveled to Republika Srpska, the Bosnian-controlled territory led by pro-Russian Serb strongman Milorad Dodik.

Our Big Fat Greek Bribery Scandal  —  Last year, Donald Trump pardoned Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar 1, who was under indictment for federal bribery charges.  All he expected in return was that Cuellar, out of gratitude, would immediately switch parties and become a Republican.  To his shock, Cuellar never did.

Democrats spy a red-state opening.  There may not be enough cash for it.  —  Democrats' eyes may be bigger than their wallets.  —  Democrats across a slate of deep-red states are clamoring for more cash to fight for Senate seats that suddenly seem within reach, with polling showing …

Trump's foreign worker crackdown comes for Microsoft, Adobe, IT firms  —  Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the Trump administration is suspending Microsoft, Adobe and several other IT firms' ability to hire foreign-born workers for permanent residency in the U.S.

Trump faces his worst bankruptcy yet  —  To commemorate PN's 5th anniversary, this 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.

Justice Department seeks criminal charge for former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson  —  The former Trump aide was a star witness before the Jan. 6 committee.  The case is being pursued by the Civil Rights Division, led by Harmeet Dhillon.  —  WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is seeking …

Trump: Anyone saying “AI” is “THE ENEMY!”  The White House uses it  —  President Trump on Thursday called anyone who uses “Artificial Intelligence” instead of “Super Intelligence” “THE ENEMY!”  — even as the White House continues using the term “AI.”

How a U.S. Diplomat Suppressed and Altered Reports Critical of Israel  —  A top aide to Ambassador Mike Huckabee skewed information to portray the Netanyahu government in a favorable light, according to multiple officials and documents obtained by The Times.

Mike Johnson voices uncertainty about his future if GOP loses control  —  House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that he could leave Congress if Democrats regain control — the farthest he has gone in acknowledging what he would do in a GOP House minority.  “Heaven forbid, if we lose this majority …

Republicans Have an Andrew Tate Eel-Sex Problem  —  FOR ACCUSED SEX TRAFFICKERS AND RAPISTS, Andrew and Tristan Tate have been a real hit with the American right over the years.  —  A gleeful Tucker Carlson visited the Romanian compound shared by the brothers while they were under house arrest …

FBI post featuring El-Sayed runs afoul of Hatch Act, experts say  —  A new video from the FBI has spurred complaints the bureau has violated the Hatch Act by labeling Democrats — including current Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed — as part of the “defund the police crowd.”

Number of teens who identify themselves as gay or bisexual is in ‘free fall’  —  Conservatives have trumpeted the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but researchers say the reasons for the decline are unclear.  —  Loading...  Young teenagers are less likely to identify as lesbian …

The Democrats Who Let Trump's Oligarchs Buy Hollywood  —  Today on TAP: The Ellisons enlisted a host of Democratic notables to undercut the proposed merger's opponents.  —  The more we find out about the Ellisons' purchase of Warner Bros., the more dispiriting the tale becomes.

ICE has quietly used this warehouse as a detention facility all summer, neighbors say  —  ROXBURY, N.J. — On a warm morning, on Sept. 4, masked immigration agents rolled into Dover, New Jersey.  —  Footage of the raids rippled across social media, sent people into hiding and reignited rumors …

Mamdani's Oct. 7 commemoration outrages supporters and critics of Israel  —  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani tried to thread a needle on the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks by condemning Hamas' “horrific war crimes” and denouncing Israel's “genocide” in Gaza.  It did not go well.

Hegseth says public can watch execution  —  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday the public will be able to watch the execution of the Fort Hood shooter by firing squad.  —  Why it matters: The U.S. hasn't held a public execution in 90 years, and Hegseth's remarks raise questions …

Inflation on many everyday items was entirely due to tariffs, NY Fed says … The cost of many everyday items would have declined last year and early this year without President Donald Trump's tariffs, according to the New York Federal Reserve.  —  The cost of 67 categories of goods …

Trump's former defense secretary sees no end in sight for Iran war — to the benefit of America's ‘greatest adversary’ … The U.S.-Iran war could drag on for years, putting America at risk of overlooking China's rise to power, according to President Donald Trump's former defense secretary.

Peter Thiel slams Obama, Pope Leo in new ‘Antichrist’ lectures  —  Tech billionaire Peter Thiel is escalating his attacks on critics of artificial intelligence, accusing former President Barack Obama and the pope of exploiting the public's fears about AI, according to exclusive recordings …

Russian plague lab project reportedly received $800k in research funding from RFK Jr's Health and Human Services  —  Robert F Kennedy Jr allegedly allowed over $800,000 in taxpayer money to go to a research project with ties to the Siberian lab behind the possible Russian plague outbreak.

GOP Rep. Brad Finstad Runs Attack Ad That Erases Critical Voter From Photo  —  “What a poor decision,” Beth Benike said of her congressman altering her photo with Democrat Jake Johnson to make a fake image of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.  —  WASHINGTON - Minnesota small business owner Beth Benike …

U.S. Budget Deficit Jumps to Nearly $2 Trillion  —  Federal finances are stuck in a rut that alarms policymakers but hasn't moved them to change course  —  WASHINGTON—The U.S. budget deficit climbed to nearly $2 trillion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to the Congressional Budget Office …

Americans' Confidence in Food Safety Drops to New Low  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans' confidence that food sold at most grocery stores is safe to eat has fallen to its lowest level Gallup has recorded, with 65% now very or somewhat confident.  That is down from 73% last year and 72% in 2024, and well below the 81% recorded in 2019.

Democrat called anti-trans slur by Trump airs ad urging 'No men in women's sports'  —  Senate candidate Annie Andrews, a Senate candidate in South Carolina, released a transgender issues ad days after the president called her an anti-transgender slur.  —  Loading...

What's the Matter With France?  —  Is Europe's #2 economy too big to save?  —  France: 5 year CDS  —  Source  —  Suddenly, financial markets are treating France as the economic sick man of the Western world.  Yes, interest rates have been surging everywhere.

NFL to Supreme Court: States Should Regulate Prediction Markets  —  The National Football League wants state regulators, not the federal government, to oversee and regulate prediction markets such as Kalshi, the league wrote in a Supreme Court filing Thursday.

Trump bought up to $25 million in Meta and millions in SpaceX debt in August … President Donald Trump disclosed more than 500 securities transactions in August, including a purchase of up to $25 million in Meta stock and an investment of as much as $5 million in SpaceX debt two days …

Obama marvels at Democrats' Senate chances  —  “There are states right now in play that I would not have imagined being in play,” the former president said.  —  SummaryLoading...  Former president Barack Obama expressed surprise at Democrats' expanding midterm map at a private fundraiser Wednesday night …