At the same time, he defended the oil-rich monarchy as an “incredible ally” and kept open the possibility that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not order Saudi agents to kill Jamal Khashoggi. The kingdom’s claim that Khashoggi was killed after a fistfight escalated inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul was met with a torrent of international skepticism Saturday.
Even if they were stunned by the sudden admission of their government’s involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside its consulate in Istanbul, very few Saudis would be courageous enough to publicly criticize the country’s leaders — and in particular the crown prince.
(The Associated Press)
Jamal Khashoggi rattled Saudi officials with his restrained appeals for human rights, and his killing has transformed him into a powerful symbol for free expression.
Opinions
Campaign 2018
Democrats retain their strength in suburban areas, but President Trump’s rising approval and the fight over Brett M. Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination are boosting GOP candidates in conservative and rural districts.
The president’s ability to dominate the political conversation has put congressional candidates from both parties in a tricky spot.
@PKCapitol
Analysis More than 70 lawmakers who took the oath in January 2017 will be gone and 30 incumbents are in toss-up races. Next year’s freshman class could be huge.
The story must be told.
Your subscription supports journalism that matters.
While hundreds of migrants waited at an official border crossing point in Guatemala, hundreds — or even thousands — more gave up on crossing legally and swam or took small rafts into Mexico.
(The Washington Post)
Christopher Skaife became a Yeoman Warder after a quarter century of service in the British Army and has spent the past 11 living at the Tower of London and caring for his revered winged charges.
With trade deals, infrastructure spending and military drills, Japan seeks a new path to counter the rise of China and shifting Asian policies in Washington.
Analysis
Oklahoma showed some progress under a new defensive coordinator and returned to the win column over TCU, and Purdue had a play-to-win ethos from the start of their 49-20 beatdown of Ohio State.
MLB Playoffs: NLCS, Game 7
Dodgers vs. Brewers Yasiel Puig’s three-run homer sealed a 5-1 win and set up a World Series showdown against the Boston Red Sox.
Capital Weather Gang
As the day shortens, trees and other vegetation begin to prepare for winter. But unlike mammals, they don’t grow a winter coat — they shed their extra layers.
Retropolis
The Past, Rediscovered Almost 200 years before conspiracy theorists raised alarms about school-shooting hoaxes, the Anti-Mason Party saw Freemasons as a sinister threat to the U.S. government.
Weekend Picks
Retropod
Podcast 
(Library of Congress)
Family and friends had known about the president’s intimate relationship with Mary Peck for years, but whispers about their involvement were growing.
