“President Donald Trump on Friday labeled the Iran war ‘small potatoes,’ the latest attempt to minimize a six-month conflict that caused a spike in gas prices and led to the deaths of 18 American service-members,” CNN reports. Said Trump: “A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because […]

“Rep. James Comer (R-KY) indicated on Thursday that he has been in contact Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) staff, who have indicated that the aim is for the lawmaker to return to the Senate later this month,” Fox News reports.

“Labor Day gas prices are slated to be the highest on record, surpassing the previous one set in 2012,” Axios reports.

“President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday intended to make it easier for ranchers and farmers to process their own meat and sell it directly to consumers, characterizing the move as an effort to reduce the industry’s reliance on a handful of large meat-packers,” NOTUS reports.

“Another warning light is blinking for Senate Republicans: underperforming gubernatorial nominees in three crucial Midwest states,” Axios reports. “Strong candidates for governor can act as sheepdogs in tight Senate races, keeping Republican voters — and GOP-curious independents — moving in the party’s direction.” “That’s adding to GOP anxiety in Michigan and Iowa, where the Democratic […]

“President Trump is trying to cement his legacy — literally,” the New York Post reports. Said Trump: “It’s made with the most powerful steel welded together and concrete that is so hard and so strong it’s used in nuclear power plants. You could take a jackhammer and go to those columns and stand there for […]

“The Trump administration is working on a post-war strategy focused on a regional effort to contain Iran and expand normalization of relations between Israel and its neighbors,” Axios reports.

Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D) was interviewed by Sky News: SKY News: Donald Trump says you’re full of shit. EL-SAYED: At least I don’t let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.

“Democratic lawmakers and activists criticized Sen. John Fetterman after a Wall Street Journal report found that the senator had shirked many of his duties as a U.S. senator—instead focusing much of his attention on backing Israel and appearing on Fox News,” the Wall Street Journal reports. Said Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D): “This report […]

“Iran’s renewed attacks against Arab countries are raising the stakes for regional powers, with some saying they are losing hope that there’s any way out of the war — and that things will get worse before the November elections,” Politico reports. “The fear is that Iran is particularly motivated to increase strikes right now — […]

“President Donald Trump is expected ​to sign an executive order related to ‌beef on Friday, according to two sources familiar with the situation,” Reuters reports. “One of the sources said the order ​would pertain to country-of-origin labeling for ​beef.”

“John, if there is a decent bone left in your body, just quit. It’s an insult to decent people in our state for you to treat them and the office this way.” — Former Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA), quoted by Punchbowl News, on reports that Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has lost all interest in his […]

“President Donald Trump warned Thursday night that Maria Bartiromo’s fans ‘will not be happy’ after Fox News abruptly parted ways with the longtime anchor,” Mediaite reports.

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“Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick disclosed at least $250 million in income last year, mostly from his prior ownership of Cantor Fitzgerald,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Some of the country’s largest employers are pulling back on benefits as they face yet another year of near double-digit health care cost growth,” Axios reports. “It’s a sign that year-after-year spikes in medical costs have real consequences. And corporations are less willing to eat most of the increases.”

“After winning an upset primary victory over a field of better-funded, establishment-backed rivals, Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-NJ) is launching a super PAC to help other progressive underdogs do the same,” Axios reports.

“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) appears to have violated federal ethics law in significant ways when filing recent disclosures of his assets and liabilities, creating confusion about his net worth and holdings,” ProPublica reports. “Among them: Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, reported owning seven homes but said he earned no income from […]

“Maria Bartiromo’s attorney is pushing back on reports surrounding the longtime anchor’s departure from Fox News, saying Friday that claims she was fired or is no longer a Fox employee are ‘absolutely and unequivocally false,'” The Wrap reports.

“Leading AI chatbots provided inaccurate, unclear or outdated replies on 29% of basic questions about elections and voting procedures in tests this year ahead of the midterm elections, according to a new report,” NBC News reports.

“Democrats have an 8 in 10 chance of securing a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives this fall, according to Cornell political scientists whose model has correctly predicted winners of the previous 14 congressional elections,” the Cornell Chronicle reports. Said professor Peter Enns: “These forecasts aren’t deterministic – there is uncertainty. But given our […]

“Iran has grown more confident in its ability to attack targets in the Middle East and appears determined to continue the conflict for months to frustrate the United States, according to U.S. intelligence reports in recent weeks,” the New York Times reports. “In many respects, the assessments reflect what has been observable on the ground […]

New York Times: “Mr. Mamdani is a master of new media, and his rise to power has been driven largely by his ease in front of a camera and his ability to harness the seeming informality of social media to connect with broad constituencies.” “But as mayor, he has also been able to use taxpayer […]

“Federal regulators are opening an investigation into whether Tesla’s new steering-wheel-free taxis comply with safety rules a day after the company began offering rides in the vehicles,” Associated Press reports. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was looking into whether Tesla was in full compliance with federal rules in deploying so-called Cybercabs in […]

“North Carolina became the first state to start sending out mail-in ballots for November’s U.S. midterm elections on Friday, as Donald Trump’s administration fights to impose sweeping restrictions on the practice before millions of Americans cast their votes,” The Guardian reports.

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“The Federal Communications Commission has asked a federal judge to dismiss ABC’s First Amendment lawsuit challenging the agency’s early review of licenses for eight Disney-owned television stations, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction and that the network failed to establish that the scrutiny was retaliation over its programming,” The Wrap reports.

I got to this a little late last night because I was at the U.S. Open watching some great tennis, but Democrats got two potentially significant redistricting wins. First, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the state must use its old congressional map in this year’s general election. Join now to continue reading. Members […]

Lionel Laurent: “The Nov. 19 release date of video-game series Grand Theft Auto’s latest installment must seem like an agonizing wait for fans. But there’s an amuse bouche for those looking for perhaps less bloody but just as dramatic interactive thrills: A new game that puts you in the shoes of a French budget minister […]

“President Donald Trump on Friday demanded that the Federal Reserve slash interest rates or else he will cut off trade with countries with which the U.S. maintains trade deficits,” CNBC reports. “Trump issued the sweeping ultimatum in a Truth Social post reacting to a much-stronger-than-expected monthly jobs report by urging the central bank and its […]