TREASURY PAID.   NPR.  “The Trump Organization sent the U.S. Treasury an undisclosed sum last week, in the first of what it says are annual payments to compensate for hotel profits from foreign officials.”

RETIRING MEMBER$.   OS.  “In all, the 42 members of Congress plan to retire or have already resigned ahead of November’s midterm election, and their campaign committee war chests boast a combined $50 million.”

DIGITAL RISING.   FN.  “Trump’s media digital media platform played a major role in helping him secure the White House and will likely give him an advantage in 2020.”

HATCH ACT IN THE NEWS.   MW.  “The Hatch Act prohibits executive branch employees from using their ‘official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or affecting the result thereof.'”

CAMPAIGN FINANCE HARM.  BH.  “Issues of free speech aside, evidence shows even if further restrictions were imposed on campaign finance, they would simply not meet their intent.”

AL:  DEFENSE FUND OK.   AL.  “Just one of the many notable changes the bill proposes would change how public officials accused of wrongdoing can pay legal fees.”

CA:  PAY TO PLAY REPEAL.   RO.  “The political choice Orange County lawmakers face on Thursday is whether to reopen the spigot of campaign contributions to the county executive from companies that hope to win or renew county contracts.”

RI:  COMPLAINT DISMISSED.   RPR.  “The Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted Tuesday to dismiss an ethics complaint filed against Gov. Gina Raimondo by state Republican Chairman Brandon Bell.”

TX:  SOROS IN.   SAN.  “Liberal billionaire George Soros earlier this month poured nearly $900,000 into the campaign of Joe Gonzales, a Democrat running to unseat Bexar County District Attorney Nicholas ‘Nico’ LaHood, according to reports filed Monday.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.