Law & Crime reports: Conservative public figure Ben Shapiro is defending Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh against a recent sexual misconduct allegation by raising questions about the high court member’s penis. The internet predictably responded from the window to the walls with ridicule. “We’ve had a bevy of public figures in recent years who have had their genitalia described on …

The Associated Press reports: The House Oversight Committee says it is investigating whether Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao acted improperly to benefit herself or her family’s shipping company. Two Democratic leaders sent a letter Monday asking Chao to turn over documents related to the New York-based company, Foremost Group. Chao’s father and sisters own the company, which transports material to and …

Reuters reports: President Donald Trump on Monday declared Tehran was likely behind strikes on Saudi oil facilities, but that he wanted to be sure and he hoped to “avoid” war. “It is certainly looking that way at this moment,” he told reporters when asked if he believes Iran carried out the attack. Trump said “we pretty much already know” but …

Jared Holt reports at Right Wing Watch: Right-wing persona non grata Milo Yiannopoulos announced that he has adopted a “fursona” as a snow leopard and that he purchased tickets to a furry convention; in response, organizers rescinded his event registration. Yiannopoulos posted an email screenshot to one of the few platforms he has left—his Telegram messaging channel—on Saturday and claimed …

Politico reports: The Working Families Party endorsed Elizabeth Warren for president on Monday — delivering both a victory for the Massachusetts senator and blow to her liberal rival, Bernie Sanders. “Senator Warren strikes fear into the hearts of the robber barons who rigged the system, and offers hope to millions of working people who have been shut out of our …

“When you tell law-abiding Americans that you are going to forcibly steal their lawfully owned and responsibly used property, that’s a threat. And saying that ‘No, you are not, I want to be able to defend myself’ in return, that is not a threat. Telling someone like Beto O’Rourke has been doing — that’s a threat of promised action. “And …

The New York Times reports: State prosecutors in Manhattan have subpoenaed President Trump’s accounting firm to demand eight years of his personal and corporate tax returns, according to several people with knowledge of the matter. The subpoena opens a new front in a wide-ranging effort to obtain copies of the president’s tax returns, which Mr. Trump initially said he would …

The Phoenix New Times reports: In a 4-3 opinion, The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Phoenix-based Brush & Nib Studio, a small business that refused to produce wedding invitations for LGBTQ couples. The case pitted the business owners against the city of Phoenix, with key elements including the concepts of artistic freedom, religious rights, and anti-discrimination laws. …

WNYC reports: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) pressed Monday that he personally believes President Trump should be impeached as senior Democrats try to defend their recent muddled messaging on the issue. “Personally, I think the president ought to be impeached,” Nadler told WNYC’s Brian Lehrer. He acknowledged that impeachment is unlikely to lead to Trump’s removal, given widespread …

The Daily Beast reports: The U.S. Secret Service has formally requested the purchase of two jet skis in order to better protect President Trump and his family during their frequent stays at their vacation homes. “President Trump and his family spend several weeks throughout the year in Mara Lago FL and Hamptons NY. The first family is very active in …

CNBC reports: Global oil prices spiked 20% when markets reopened on Monday, after a weekend attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities suspended the production of 5.7 million barrels a day. That amounts to roughly 5% of the world’s total daily crude oil production. State-run oil company Aramco said in a statement that work was underway to restore production. The U.S. …

“I’ve given up on the Republican Party, the Republican party is a cult, right. They no longer stand for ideals. The Republican Party right now is all about washing their leaders feet every day, that’s what they do. We’re going to take our campaign directly to Republican voters — and I’ll add in all 50 states. “We’re gonna campaign in …

Roll Call reports: Replying directly to Trump on Twitter, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) slammed the president for, in her view, seeking marching orders with regard to a potential strike against Iran following the attack on a Saudi oil plant. “Trump awaits instructions from his Saudi masters,” Gabbard wrote. “Having our country act as Saudi Arabia’s bitch is not ‘America First.’” …

“One of the reasons that you are seeing all of these Christians who are depressed and having suicidal thoughts and committing suicide and living just like the world is because they are still of the world. Satan is still their daddy. When you don’t sin, folks, you are not going to have all those issues. “Perfect and holy people do …

Politico reports: President Trump on Monday suggested the House Judiciary Committee investigate former President Obama’s post-presidency book deal and agreement with Netflix instead of pursuing various inquiries into the Trump administration. Trump returned to the subject a couple hours later, when he appeared to equate allegations that he has profited off the presidency by declining to put his assets in …

The Washington Post reports: “President Trump’s wall costs less than the Obamacare website. Let that sink in, America.” — Quote attributed to comedian Tim Allen in an Instagram post by Eric Trump. Eric Trump, one of the president’s sons, has quite a following on social media, so his posts attract a lot of attention. But there are two big problems. …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Amid calls from activists in Orange County for a ban on gay conversion therapy, conservative and religious groups along with two men who survived the Pulse nightclub shooting hosted a rally Saturday at Lake Eola Park promoting “deliverance to the LGBTQ community” through religion. Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan in an interview Friday with non-profit Truth …

Axios reports: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will escalate her caucus’ anti-Mitch McConnell messaging this fall, testing a theory that this can be more effective than just continuing the party’s anti-Trump rhetoric, Democratic leadership aides tell Axios. Democrats are still divided over how much to focus on President Trump ahead of the 2020 elections — and they’re aware that “Trump fatigue” …

The Hill reports: The New York Times on Monday added a correction to a report accusing Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. The correction notes that friends of the woman allegedly involved in the incident with Kavanaugh during law school say she does not recall it. The Times in the story published Saturday reported a former classmate of …

CNN reports: The United Auto Workers union went out on strike against General Motors Sunday night, the first work stoppage in the US auto industry in 12 years. The union’s 48,000 hourly workers walked out at 31 GM factories and 21 other facilities, spread across nine states, mostly in the center of the country. It’s the largest strike by any …