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 …

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.

‘Scorched It All’: How Trump Lost the Affordability Debate, According to Abigail Spanberger … Abigail Spanberger rode furor over rising costs to dominate Virginia's gubernatorial race last year — putting her among the first class of Democrats elected on the promise to tackle the affordability crisis.

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 …

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.

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 …

Trump Promoted Suspiciously Cheap Gas Stations.  Here's What He Didn't Tell You. … To understand how Donald Trump would come to use the power of the presidency to promote a small discount gas station operation — one with murky finances, mysterious ownership and allegedly dubious business practices …

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.

I Teach at a Business School.  It's Time to Shut Them Down.  —  This fall, another cohort of ambitious young professionals has arrived at business schools around the world for two-year programs with price tags in the six figures.  Their presence at some of the nicest and shiniest buildings …

Treasury secretary refuses to say if the U.S. sees Ukraine as an ally  —  Bessent denied that the U.S. government was involved in limiting Starlink speeds for Ukrainian forces and said it was “reckless” for Zelenskyy to say so. … Amid escalating tensions between President Donald Trump …

Steve Levitsky on the slide into “competitive authoritarianism”  —  “I continue to believe it's quite reversible.  But I think we crossed that line.”  —  ∙ Paid … Become one ⬇️  —  Perhaps the biggest reason the upcoming midterm elections are so critical …