Poll: Americans are anxious, pessimistic and deeply unhappy with Trump ahead of the midterms  —  The share of Americans who believe the country is on the wrong track is at the highest level of the president's second term, according to the NBC News Decision Desk Poll.

France in Shock After Protests Devolve Into Riots  —  Centrist and leftist leaders blamed each other after anti-government protests devolved into chaos.  —  France was in a state of shock on Sunday, as citizens woke to streets littered with shattered glass and images of burned …

Three Shootings in America  —  A week of our entirely-ordinary *extraordinary* violence … I want to highlight three incidents of gun violence this last week, each very ordinary — and each shocking in its own way.  —  First: A white nationalist attempted a mass shooting and to assassinate …

What Americans Really Prioritize When It Comes to Affordability … Americans are clear-eyed on what they want the government to do to address the affordability crisis: Step in to lower costs before trying to boost wages.  —  Six in 10 people say the government should prioritize bringing …

In Campaign's Final Stretch, Trump Can't Stop Praising Men's Bodies  —  As he stumps for midterm candidates, the president has been especially eager to talk about the physical appearance of some men.  —  The message delivered by a president during a high-stakes midterm campaign can be critical.

Graham Breaks With Trump Over Russia Sanctions Law Her Brother Championed  —  Senator Darline Graham, appointed to fill the Senate seat of her late brother, Lindsey, gently disagreed with the president's decision to exempt Russia from the sanctions legislation.

The overlooked geography of American poverty  —  California and Louisiana have something surprising in common: Both have among the nation's highest poverty rates when the cost of living is factored in, according to Census Bureau data. … But that familiar geographic divide starts to disappear …

She was building her dream home.  Then came a data center's ‘minor’ power plant on a shortcut permit  —  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — Merrie Saltana was three days away from pouring concrete for the foundation of her family's dream home when she heard about the data center proposed across the street.

Ukraine strikes oil facility in St. Petersburg as part of ‘massive’ drone attack  —  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week he had ordered the resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries following a three-day pause.  —  Ukraine struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg Sunday morning …

Why We Can't Solve the Affordability Crisis … If there's a constant in modern American political cycles, it's that voters are furious over affordability.  —  They were furious when inflation devoured their wages and Covid-era stimulus checks.  They stayed furious when oil …

Before ‘Medicare for All,’ This Senator Wants ‘Medicaid for Kids’  —  ONE REASON HEALTH CARE is such a good issue for the Democrats in this year's midterms is that pretty much everybody from the party's different factions agrees on the problem and the solution.  —  For the moment.

Warnock wants Democrats to focus on the South.  He's starting in Mississippi.  —  JACKSON, Mississippi — Raphael Warnock is racing to get Democrat Scott Colom elected in deep-red Mississippi.  It's part of his bigger bet on the South.  —  Colom, a charismatic local prosecutor …