By Evan Perez & Shimon Prokupecz @ CNN.com, June 6

US investigators believe Russian hackers breached Qatar's state news agency and planted a fake news report that contributed to a crisis among the US' closest Gulf allies, according to US officials briefed on the investigation.

By Sarah Kliff @ Vox.com, June 6

[....] The Nevada legislature passed a bill Friday that would allow anyone to buy into Medicaid, the public program that covers low-income Americans. It would be the first state to open the government-run program to all residents, regardless of their income or health status.

By Alex Roarty @ McClatchydc.com, June 5

A coalition of well-heeled Democratic groups is launching a grassroots-oriented effort targeting a dozen House Republican incumbents, as party operatives prepare for a midterm election cycle they increasingly think will yield big gains for Democrats.

only 2 hours old, jumped to top of list, Op-Ed by Eugene Robinson, June 5 @ 5:21 pm

The statements President Trump issued on Twitter in recent days lead to a chilling conclusion: The man is out of control.

By Danielle Paquette @ Wonkblog @ WashingonPost.com, 3 hrs. ago

By Emily Shapiro & Scott Withers @ ABCNews.com, June 5

Five people were shot and killed by a "disgruntled" former employee at a workplace near Orlando, Florida, this morning, three years after the suspect was involved in another workplace violence incident there, according to authorities.

By Maryalice Parks @ ABCNews.com, June 5 

[....] The federal personnel office has not responded to ABC News' requests for comment, but two sources have confirmed to ABC News that the White House counsel’s office instructed legislative affairs departments to follow a new protocol to ignore requests for information from Democrats unless a Republican had signed on as well.

By Robin Wright @ NewYorker.com's News Desk, June 5

While the absolute number of attacks is down, the lethality of terrorism has risen sharply in the past two years.

Wright is an expert whose opinion should be paid heed because her years of experience on topic now gives her a big picture. Period. End of story.

If you can’t fix the problem quickly, it’s not fixed.

By Ian Millhiser, @ ThinkProgress.org, June 5

The Supreme Court handed down a brief order on Monday affirming a lower court’s ruling that North Carolina’s state legislative maps were an illegal racial gerrymander.

By Karim Faheem @ WashingtonPost.com, June 5

DUBAI — Four Arab nations led a diplomatic break with Qatar on Monday, moving swiftly to isolate the small but influential country after accusing Qatar’s rulers of supporting terrorist factions and stoking regional conflicts.

Okay, back to good old domestic, not Russian, "conspiracy" 

By Robert O'Harrow Jr. & Shaun Boburg @ WashingtonPost.com, June 3

By Ed O'Laughin @ NYTimes.com, June 2

DUBLIN — A gay son of an Indian immigrant is now all but certain to become the next prime minister of Ireland, a country that has rapidly been leaving its conservative Roman Catholic social traditions behind.

By David Ignatius @ The WashingtonPost.com, June 2

[....] Putin’s appearance at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was meant to showcase Russia’s role in the global economy. And in Putin’s prepared remarks, he was a smooth, genial salesman for his country. But then came a session with Kelly that included sharp questions about the hacking scandal, Syria and Ukraine — and Putin grew increasingly aggressive, sarcastic and peeved.

Current headline story @ WashingtonPost.com, by Abby Phillip & John Wagner, June 2

A few faithful rightists, like Evan McMullin and Jennifer Rubin, refuse to accept Trump’s incompetence and venality. Will their blogs and tweets force a reckoning?

By James Wolcott @ VanityFair.com, for the Summer 2017 issue

 United Nations News Centre, June 2

As heavy fighting continues to drive large numbers of people from Mosul, the United Nations refugee agency today appealed for urgent support to meet the critical needs of vulnerable children, women and men displaced from and returning to the city.

Op-ed by Nikki Hayley for The Washington Post, June 2

Nikki Haley is the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Her stated concerns are: the way membership on the council is determined, and the examples of Venezuela, Cuba, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine/Crimea.

By Erica L.  Green @ NYTimes.com, June 2

The education secretary, often criticized as an out-of-touch billionaire, has staffed her administration with a diverse set of subordinates, some from unlikely sources.

Op-ed by Thomas B. Edsall @ NYTimes.com, June 1

In the past, Democrats could support progressive policies knowing that the costs would fall largely on Republicans. Not anymore.

Before y'all start screaming, if you don't know Edsall's background, check out the entry on him on Wikipedia.