The Capital Spectator is slipping out of the office early today and taking a day off tomorrow. The game plan is to return to the usual grind on Friday, August 24. Cheers!

The S&P 500 briefly traded in record territory yesterday before closing just below an all-time peak. Small-cap stocks, however, had no trouble setting new highs.
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Cohen pleads guilty, implicating Trump: CNN
Former Trump campaign chairman Manafort convicted on fraud charges: The Hill
Legal blows raises impeachment risk for Trump: Politico
Pressure rising on Trump to take a tougher stand on Russia: CNBC
US-China trade talks set to continue today: Reuters
Economists expect further slowdown in China’s growth if trade war rolls on: SCMP
US existing home sales for July expected to edge lower in today’s release: MW
S&P 500 briefly trades at a record high before closing just below previous peak: