At a reception with members of Congress last night, President Trump claimed that the festering scandal regarding the Epstein files had actually made his poll numbers improve, Mediaite reports. Said Trump: “I have the best numbers I’ve ever had. You know, it’s amazing, I watch people on television,

“An effort is under way among some Pentagon officials to denounce Pete Hegseth as unfit to serve as Defense Secretary,“ the Daily Mail reports. Drafts of a letter have been circulating among high and mid-level military brass and civilian workers to “Let the American public know this guy has no clue

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) “plans to seek re-election in his crucial Hudson Valley swing seat next year rather than run for governor,” the New York Times reports. “Mr. Lawler had been openly exploring a campaign against Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, for months. Many Republicans viewed the

Beto O’Rourke told The Bulwark that he regrets not running negative ads against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in their U.S. Senate race.

Jonathan Martin: “The convergence of paltry fundraising, weak polling and a candidate seen as incapable of fixing either has some in the RGA’s orbit unenthused, I’m told, about giving much more than the $500,000 the group has already contributed to Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears.” “And while Sears and