CNBC reports: Former President Donald Trump on Thursday pleaded not guilty to criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory in Georgia and waived his right to appear at his arraignment next week, according to a court filing. Trump’s arraignment on 13 felony charges is scheduled for Sept. 6 at 9:30 a.m. ET in Fulton …

The Hill reports: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has disclosed three trips he accepted from billionaire Harlan Crow last year, according to documents made public Thursday. Thomas has denied any wrongdoing in accepting the trips, two of which were to Dallas and one to Keese Mill, N.Y. His new financial disclosure form also includes supplemental information about a 2014 real …

Via email from hate group leader Brian Brown: The conventional wisdom in politics is that the Republican party supports conservative social issues and the Democrat party does not. If only that were true, America would be in better shape than it is. The sad truth is that we have been betrayed many times by Republican politicians who claim to be …

The Omaha World-Herald reports: In the latest chapter of Nebraska’s debate over transgender rights, Gov. Jim Pillen has signed an executive order narrowing the definition of male and female to be based solely on biological sex. Pillen signed the executive order Wednesday, which he titled the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” dictating that males and females are defined specifically by their …

Denver’s NBC affiliate reports: A tactical training group is no longer participating in a planned event with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office after Able Shepherd’s leaders disrupted a PrideFest celebration last weekend. A group of approximately 70 men interrupted DougCo PrideFest’s family-friendly drag show on Saturday. The men, wearing shirts reading “Stand to Protect Children,” stood blocking the view of …

NPR reports: Theodore McCarrick was once a cardinal – one of the highest-ranking positions in the Roman Catholic Church. He was also the archbishop of Washington, D.C. And he’s the only current or former U.S. cardinal to ever face sex abuse charges. But now a judge in Massachusetts has dismissed a criminal case against McCarrick stemming from the alleged molestation …

Politico reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze for nearly 30 seconds during a press conference Wednesday, an episode his office attributed to him being “momentarily lightheaded.” The Senate minority leader, speaking in Kentucky, froze while answering questions from reporters. Aides stepped in to help McConnell out and repeat questions. Before McConnell froze, he was asked about whether he planned …

The Washington Post reports: The nation’s top health agency is recommending easing restrictions on marijuana in what could portend a landmark shift in federal policy on cannabis. The Department of Health and Human Services has recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration that marijuana be reclassified as a lower-risk, Schedule III controlled substance. Marijuana is currently a Schedule I controlled substance, …

The Associated Press reports: Last year, Paxton’s travels were extensive. Records show that after winning a Republican primary runoff against George P. Bush — who cast Paxton as unfit for office — Paxton spent two months flying to cities in the Caribbean and Europe. It’s unclear who paid for Paxton’s travel, but the trips cost taxpayers a combined $91,000 for …

NBC News reports: The FBI arrested a Georgia man who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and then posted a video on social media bragging that rioters “took the White House,” the Justice Department said Wednesday. William Frederick Beals II, 52, of Ringgold, Georgia, is charged with a felony count of knowingly making false statements, along with several misdemeanor …

“I would freeze the current lines of control. I would further make a hard commitment that NATO will not admit Ukraine to NATO. That’s enough to get Putin to do the deal. But I will require something even greater in return, Jesse. Russia has to exit its military alliance with China. Right now, we’re pushing Russia further into China’s hands. …

The Daily Beast reports: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), a vocal participant in the right-wing criticisms of Bud Light over its brief partnership with a transgender influencer, was back Wednesday with a new bone to pick regarding beer: Dr. George Koob, director of the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, suggesting that recommendations for alcohol consumption could be reduced …

The Insider reports: In a sworn deposition from this past April, former President Donald Trump told New York officials that he was too busy “saving millions of lives” as president to run his company, let alone commit business fraud, a transcript released Wednesday revealed. “So you were too busy for the company?” Kevin Wallace, a lawyer for New York Attorney …

Bloomberg News reports: Users of X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, will be able to make video and audio calls through the platform without having to share their phone number, owner Elon Musk said in a post Thursday, in the latest expansion of services as he seeks to create an “everything app.” Musk wants X to become more …

From the Justice Department: Adam Michael Nettina, age 34, of West Friendship, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to using the telephone to threaten a group that advocates for LGBTQI+ people. As part of his plea agreement, Nettina also admitted sending messages to Maryland and Virginia state delegates due to their statements in support of transgender people. According to court documents, on …

Deadline reports: While Americans are getting increasingly used to emergency alerts from local police and fire officials, on October 4 at 2:20 p.m. ET they’ll receive something a little different. “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed,” the alert should read. It will be sent to all consumer cell phones in either …

The New York Times reports: Before any of those criminal trials will take place, Mr. Trump is scheduled for a civil trial in New York in October. During the trial, the attorney general, Letitia James, will seek to bar him and three of his children from leading their family business, the Trump Organization, and to require him to pay a …

The New York Post reports: Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro snapped at a protester and tried to snatch their “Trump lost” poster Wednesday after a federal judge rejected his bid to forestall a contempt of Congress trial. Navarro, 74, will face two counts starting Sept. 5 over his refusal to fulfill a subpoena from the House committee investigating the …

The Colorado Times Recorder reports: “CALL TO ACTION” blared the headline of the Colorado Republican Party’s email last week. What was so important that state GOP blasted an all caps request to its entire list? “Your support is needed for the January 6 prisoners. Please see the letter below and if you want to be included, please respond to this …

Politico reports: Blake Masters is making plans to launch another Arizona Senate bid, potentially as soon as next week, according to three people familiar with the matter. Masters did not reply to a request for comment. Masters won the GOP nomination last year but lost to Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in a critical swing state. Former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s …