(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump spent months persuading a longtime ally to challenge Georgia’s sitting Republican governor. This week, he gave David Perdue another boost, orchestrating a deal for a rival to drop his campaign and instead run for Congress with the former president’s coveted endorsement.
Congress is passing a wave of bipartisan bills as Biden’s big plans stall
Between the Violence Against Women Act, a U.S.-China competition bill and a Postal Service overhaul, there is a new rush of legislative activity.
www.nbcnews.com
Senators: CIA has secret program that collects American data
Two Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee say the CIA has a secret, undisclosed data repository that includes information collected about Americans.
apnews.com
Cheney vows January 6 panel ‘won’t be intimidated’ after RNC censure for her involvement | CNN Politics
Rep. Liz Cheney on Thursday hit back at critics of the House select committee investigating January 6, saying the panel will move ahead with its investigation of the US Capitol attack regardless of criticism or intimidation attempts.
www.cnn.comUS warns of ‘distinct possibility’ Russia will invade Ukraine within days
Joe Biden due to speak with Putin by phone on SaturdayOfficials tell Americans to leave Ukraine in next 48 hours Joe Biden’s call to allies followed a situation room meeting at the White House to discuss the latest intelligence on the Russian military buildup. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA The US...
Blinken says Russia could invade Ukraine during Olympics
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Russia could invade Ukraine during the current Beijing Olympics so Americans should leave the Eastern European country immediately.
apnews.com
How inflation and tangled supply lines are gripping economy
High inflation and tangled supply chains have seeped into nearly every nook of the economy, forcing consumers and businesses to make painful decisions that many of them have never had to contemplate before.
apnews.com
Jill Biden helped gum up the Afghanistan evacuation effort, Navy admiral claims in report
An admiral for the U.S. Navy claimed “high-profile" requests, including one from first lady Jill Biden, caused disruption to overall Afghanistan evacuation efforts last year.
‘We have a project’: QAnon followers eye swing state election official races
As part of a calculated assault on democracy, QAnon steered far-right candidates toward secretary of state contests The elected candidates would be in prime position to overturn election results as they fit. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images QAnon, the extremist conspiracy movement whose...
Jan. 6 rioter from Beverly Hills has second thoughts on her guilty plea
Cosmetologist Gina Bisignano says that she thinks Capitol rioters were fueled by “very righteous anger," but that she had "no choice" but to take a plea.
www.nbcnews.com
Ukraine-Russia crisis: Biden, Putin to speak as White House says 'credible prospect' of imminent Russian invasion
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan urged Americans still in Ukraine to leave within the next 24-48 hours due to a credible threat of an invasion.
www.usatoday.com
Phoenix police say man shot ex-girlfriend before ambush
Police have identified 36-year-old Morris Jones as the deceased suspect in a shooting in Phoenix that injured nine officers.
apnews.com
‘We are scapegoats’: Arab journalists fired by Deutsche Welle
Contested ‘anti-Semitism’ case highlights Germany’s difficult relationship with Palestinian-Israeli politics.
US: Civilian toll in Syria raid may be higher than thought
U.S. military officials say there could have been more civilian casualties than initially thought in the U.S. raid that killed the top Islamic State leader in Syria last week.
apnews.com
New York Times defamation case about power, not politics, Palin's lawyer says
Sarah Palin fell victim to the New York Times' power when it published a 2017 editorial linking her to a mass shooting six years earlier, a lawyer for Palin said on Friday at her defamation trial against the newspaper.
Clinton chides Trump over allegations he flushed documents down the White House toilet: 'But her emails'
Hillary Clinton made light on Friday of allegations by former Trump administration staffers that they found ripped-up documents clogging a White House toilet and believed that then-President Donald Trump had attempted to flush them.
Nearly $1 billion in stimulus funds sent to prisoners in 2021, ‘terrorists and perverts’ got $1,400 checks - Washington Examiner
The federal government doled out nearly a billion dollars in stimulus payments to prison inmates in 2021 under President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, according to IRS records obtained by the Washington Examiner. The third-round stimulus payments to prisoners totaled $924.3 million, which...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden faces conflicting pressures as he closes in on a Supreme Court nominee
The first Black federal judge in Alabama, U.W. Clemon, urged the president not to choose appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden, Putin to speak as US says Russia could invade Ukraine during Olympics
The U.S. said Friday that a Russian attack on Ukraine could begin during the Olympics.
#MeToo bill only scratches surface of secretive courts
Congress passed landmark workplace legislation on Thursday, prohibiting companies from forcing certain kinds of employee lawsuits into arbitration, or private courtrooms outside public view. The big picture: Don't expect companies to abandon this practice — widely criticized for favoring...
Latest Ukraine updates: Several countries urge nationals to leave
Ukraine news from February 11: US, UK, others advise citizens to leave amid warnings of a potential Russian attack.
GOP congresswoman shows Republicans can't have it both ways with Trump
First Read is your briefing from "Meet the Press" and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.
www.nbcnews.com
How the Biden administration is aggressively releasing intelligence in an attempt to deter Russia | CNN Politics
For months, the Biden administration has fueled alarming headlines and surprised Washington with a remarkable drumbeat of official disclosures of previously classified intelligence revealing Russian moves as Moscow masses troops on the Ukrainian border.
www.cnn.comHow the GOP's Censure Fight Exposes the Party's Deeper Divide
WASHINGTON — More than a year after the 2020 election, Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud remain a destabilizing force for the Republican Party, dividing an activist base galvanized by a lie from elites in Washington who are hoping to hold the party together long enough to win back...
Biden unleashes dog-role-playing fetishist on key nuclear post - Washington Examiner
The Biden administration's new top dog at a key nuclear energy agency is an MIT-trained engineer whose sexual fetishes include tying up his partner while he eats dinner and watches Star Trek. Sam Brinton was appointed to serve as deputy assistant secretary of spent fuel and waste disposition in...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Firefighters in Puerto Rico secure wage increase after protests
The money will temporarily come from federal funds that run out in 2026 until officials identify a local source to make the increase permanent, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said.
www.nbcnews.comAmerican truckers distance from Canada protests
The Canadian truck protests started over vaccine mandates. But the trucking industry in the U.S. is more concerned about things like where to park their rigs.
www.politico.com
46 House Republicans call on Mayorkas to resign over ‘complete failure’ to lead DHS
Dozens of House Republicans are calling on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign, citing a "complete failure" to lead the department – pointing to recent tensions with Border Patrol and the relentless crisis at the southern border.
Biden and Putin will talk Saturday as US warns Americans to leave Ukraine in 48 hours over fears of Russian attack | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, a person familiar with the matter said, as the US warns Russia could attack Ukraine using bombs and missiles at any moment.
www.cnn.comNew poll: 55% of Americans say nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not 'important'
President Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman to replace Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, but a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll finds that most Americans report they’re lukewarm about his vow to pick the first Black woman to serve on the court in U.S. history.
French lawyer attacks EU over poster featuring Muslim woman
Social media outburst puts France’s treatment of its minority Muslim population back in the spotlight.
Surge of out-of-state donors boost Trump critic Cheney's campaign -but cannot vote for her
When Idaho nurse Joan West received a fundraising mailer from U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, she saw a way to address her regret for having voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and her worry about the future of U.S. democracy: She wrote a $500 check.
EXPLAINER: Where could revelations about Trump records lead?
Revelations that Donald Trump took government records with him to Mar-a-Lago are creating a political headache for the former president and a potential legal one too.
apnews.com
Sarah Palin's lawyers: New York Times libeled her amid pattern of sliming conservatives
Manhattan jury begins deliberations in suit over 2017 editorial that linked Palin group's targeting map to 2011 Arizona shooting.
www.politico.com
US conservative figures cheer on Canadian trucker protest
Several conservative media figures in the U.S. have lined up in support of Canadian truckers who are protesting COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates in their country
Landlords finding ways to evict after getting rental aid
A growing number of landlords are taking federal rental assistance to cover months of back rent but still moving to evict tenants.
apnews.com
Trucker protests: Ontario calls state of emergency
Demonstrations continue to shut down parts of Ottawa as well as vital border crossings.
www.bbc.comRepublicans Who Railed About Clinton Emails Are Quiet on Trump's Records
Donald Trump once thundered that the questions surrounding Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server were “bigger than Watergate.” On his 2016 presidential campaign, “where are her emails?” became a Republican rallying cry that was soon replaced with an even more threatening demand: “Lock...
Where have all the US workers gone? Will they come back?
The number of Americans either working or looking for a job is still down from pre-pandemic levels.
Retired Marine lieutenant general says critical race theory ‘undermines our military’s unity’ - Washington Examiner
A former Joint Staff director of operations believes current Pentagon officials are not adequately prepared for a military conflict, in part due to cultural factors such as critical race theory.Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Greg Newbold, in an op-ed for Task & Purpose this week, accused “our...
www.washingtonexaminer.comInside the totally legal, fairly macabre, classically political world of the true Zombie PACs
There are few rules that govern how a dead politician’s political committees spend its money.
www.politico.com
Rights groups: Biden should disavow racist rulings against Puerto Rico, territories
In century-old Supreme Court rulings known as the Insular Cases, a justice said U.S. territories were “inhabited by alien races” and they shouldn't have the same rights.
www.nbcnews.com
Kansas Republicans punish legislators for voting with Democrats on redistricting
Kansas state Senate Republicans have removed three of their own members from committee assignments after a dispute over new congressional district map lines earlier this week.State Senate President…
thehill.comPence schedules yet another spring trip to South Carolina
Former Vice President Mike Pence is making yet another visit to South Carolina, giving the commencement address at a Christian university in the early-voting state where Republican candidates often aim to drum up support among white evangelical voters. Columbia International University said...
White House vetting of candidates for Supreme Court vacancy well under way
The White House selection process for a Supreme Court nominee is well under way and on target for President Biden to name his choice by month's end, sources tell Fox News.
Black legal professionals hail Biden's historic Supreme Court promise
On Jan. 27, President Biden made history by announcing that he would nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court by the end of February. Biden’s vow reaffirmed a campaign pledge and is being hailed by Black legal professionals.
Goldman Sachs predicts seven rate hikes this year as Fed scrambles on inflation - Washington Examiner
Goldman Sachs predicted that the Federal Reserve will take an even more aggressive approach to raising interest rates in 2022 than previously anticipated as it scrambles to catch up with inflation. The financial service giant’s chief economist, Jan Hatzius, said in a report to clients that the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
POLITICO Playbook PM: Biden grapples with one war’s legacy and another’s threat
And the White House weighs a new package with more deficit reduction.
www.politico.com
Why some Black Americans might miss out on the $68 trillion transfer of generational wealth
Experts say wills aren't just for the wealthy, and urge more Americans — and Black Americans particularly — to plan for life after death.
www.nbcnews.com
White House says Russian invasion could begin ‘any day,’ urges US citizens to leave Ukraine
A Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin “any day,” including before the end of the Winter Olympics, Biden administration officials warned Friday, sounding a greater sen…
thehill.com
Race lawsuit brings NFL reckoning before Super Bowl kickoff
Ex-Dolphins coach Brian Flores has put renewed spotlight on league’s lack of coaching diversity before major game.
At least 6 British citizens and 1 American are being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan | CNN Politics
At least eight Westerners have been arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan during different incidents in the last two months, CNN has learned, marking a sharp escalation of Taliban actions against Westerners living in the country.
www.cnn.com
‘Uncharted territory’: Jan. 6 lawsuit could cost GOP lawmaker his job, experts say
Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., is trying to block a bid to disqualify him from holding office over his support of efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
www.nbcnews.com
Justice Sotomayor sees 'unprecedented' threat to Supreme Court in confirmation battles
Justice Sonia Sotomayor warns that intensifying partisanship around the Supreme Court confirmation process has pushed the court's independence to the brink of crisis.
WVa Senate rescinds 1972 Equal Rights Amendment ratification
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The Republican-led West Virginia Senate moved quickly Friday to rescind the state’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, declaring that it expired in 1979.
apnews.comU.S. intelligence report details 'indirect' Russian government support for Western neofascist groups
A U.S. intelligence community assessment obtained by Yahoo News concludes that the Russian government is providing “indirect and passive support” to neofascist groups operating in the U.S. and elsewhere, but stops short of accusing the Kremlin of supplying financial or material assistance to...
Biden officials fall behind blue states on masks - Washington Examiner
The federal government has fallen behind many states over decisions to rescind mask mandates now that the omicron wave is subsiding, leaving an ideological gulf between Democratic governors and the Biden administration. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy set off a gubernatorial frenzy on Monday to lift...
www.washingtonexaminer.comSchumer tees up Califf vote for next week
While many senators have not yet publicly stated how they'd vote, some key Republicans haven't ruled out supporting Califf.
www.politico.com
Biden frees frozen Afghan billions for relief, 9/11 victims
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to split $7 billion in Afghan assets frozen in the U.S. to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and create a trust fund to compensate Sept. 11 victims.
apnews.com
Maine man indicted in burning of Black church
Martin Luther King Jr. Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Massachusetts, was significantly damaged. Dushko Vulchev was driven by racial animus, according to court documents.
www.nbcnews.comRepublicans wonder if Pence has what it takes to challenge Trump
Mike Pence and his allies are growing bolder in making a case for his leadership, and there is evidence that Pence is gaining resolve to run in 2024, whether or not Trump does.
Ukraine-Russia crisis: What to know about the fears of war
Thousands of Russian troops are engaging in sweeping maneuvers in Belarus amid intense diplomacy to prevent war between Russia and Ukraine.
apnews.com
Clinton hawks ‘But Her Emails’ hats after report on Trump documents
Hillary Clinton is hawking new “But Her Emails” hats, selling the headwear amid a report that former President Trump disposed of documents in the toilet of the White House.Clinton highlighted the $…
thehill.com
Anti-gay pastor still in contention for job in Adams administration
Fernando Cabrera, who represented the Bronx as a Democrat in the City Council, has been showing up at a municipal building across the street from City Hall while he awaits his assignment in the Adams administration.
www.politico.com‘Disgusting’: Republican Senate hopeful condemned over ‘showdown’ TV ad
Jim Lamon’s ad depicts ‘shootout’ with Democrats including Mark Kelly, senator whose wife Gabby Giffords was shot in deadly attack Jim Lamon in September last year. Criticism of the ad has been swift. Photograph: Jonathan J Cooper/AP A Republican Senate primary candidate in Arizona has been...
Assessing Trump’s risk if he mishandled White House documents | CNN Politics
Reports of former President Donald Trump’s possible mishandling of federal documents found at his Mar-a-Lago resort have prompted legal experts to handicap: Could Trump be charged with a crime?
www.cnn.com
Ontario premier declares emergency, tells truckers to go home and end protest
Premier Doug Ford said the trucker protest amounts to a “siege” of downtown Ottawa and the Ambassador Bridge.
www.nbcnews.com
CIA is secretly collecting bulk data pertaining to Americans, senators say
A partially redacted letter from Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said the program existed outside the normal bounds of oversight.
www.nbcnews.com
CIA has been secretly collecting data on Americans in bulk, senators say
The Central Intelligence Agency has conducted a secret, bulk surveillance program without congressional approval for years and two senators have called for new information about the program that includes data on Americans, according to a statement on Thursday.
Minnesota GOP attorney general hopeful boasts staffers were Jan. 6 participants - Washington Examiner
Lynne Torgerson, a Republican candidate for Minnesota attorney general, said at a recent candidate forum that at least two members of her staff participated in the events of Jan. 6 and described the people who stormed the Capitol as "heroes." The comments are a snapshot of wider fractures within...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Dems' latest challenge: Draining the Hill's swamp (at least a little)
They have a flurry of bills to reconcile, splits among their own and a potential GOP filibuster to contend with. But voters might reward them.
www.politico.com
Demings campaign touts Carville backing, but stays quiet on comments about punching unvaccinated
Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., has been touting the endorsement of veteran Democratic strategist James Carville as she seeks the Democratic nomination for the Florida Senate race but is keeping quiet about his recent comments about punching "piece of sh--" unvaccinated people in the face.
The Gen X activists upending Democratic politics
On this week’s show, Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Siva Raj and Autumn Looijen, co-founders of the Recall SF School Board campaign and California newsletter editor Jeremy B. White about the San Francisco school board recall election.
www.politico.com
Smithsonian to show 120 orange statues of female scientists
The Smithsonian will commemorate Women’s History Month in March by displaying 120 3D-printed statues depicting women who have excelled in the fields of science and technology.
apnews.com
Hit by realities of 50-50 Senate, Democrats turn focus to bipartisanship | CNN Politics
Democrats on Capitol Hill are pivoting away from talking about what was once was a cornerstone of their agenda – the Build Back Better Act – to focusing on a batch of smaller, bipartisan proposals that they hope can show voters that even a 50-50 Senate can work.
www.cnn.comBiden tries to breathe new life into drug price reforms
Biden was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Rep. Abigail Spanberger at a Virginia event to talk drug price reform.
www.politico.com
At Olympics and beyond, getting away with it is Russia's way
Be it sports, politics, hacking or war, the recent history of Russia’s relationship with the world can be summed up in one phrase: They get away with it.
apnews.com
Biden tells Americans in Ukraine to 'leave now' as possible Russian invasion looms
President Biden warned Americans who remain in Ukraine that they should get out of the country amid growing tensions along the border there as Russian President Vladimir Putin weighs whether to invade.
Beto O'Rourke flip-flops again on confiscating AR-15s as polls show him trailing Texas Gov. Abbott
Democratic Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke appears to have flip-flopped – again – on confiscating AR-15s, as polls show him trailing behind Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
US ramps up Ukraine warning, says Russia may invade any day
The Biden administration is escalating its warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it could take place at any time.
apnews.com
Senators allege CIA collected data on Americans in warrantless searches | CNN Politics
Two Democratic members of the Senate Intelligence Committee have raised concerns about how the CIA has handled Americans’ information collected incidentally as part of the agency’s foreign surveillance programs, in what the lawmakers say amounts to “serious problems associated with warrantless...
www.cnn.com
Watchdog investigating DHS inspector general over retaliation allegations | CNN Politics
The Department of Homeland Security Inspector General is being investigated as part of a newly revealed probe looking into allegations of retaliation, according to documents shared with CNN.
www.cnn.com
Russia makes failed attempt to shut down prominent LGBTQ rights group
While a government lawsuit seeking to shut down the Russian LGBT Network is in limbo, advocates say the suit is likely just a “first step.”
www.nbcnews.com
High energy prices send Europe's businesses, homes reeling
Spiking energy prices are raising utility bills from Poland to the United Kingdom, leaving people struggling to make ends meet and small businesses uncertain about how much longer they can stay afloat.
apnews.com
Biden plans to use $7 billion in Afghan funds for humanitarian relief, 9/11 compensation
President Joe Biden signed an executive order setting in motion a plan to split $7 billion in Afghan government funds between relief and 9/11 victims compensation.
6 stabbed in 'violent scene' at Philadelphia home
Six people were stabbed in a Philadelphia home early Friday in what police are calling a "very violent scene."
Former military contractor executives charged for making illegal donations to Susan Collins - Washington Examiner
Three executives of a defense contractor prohibited from making political contributions were indicted on federal charges for making unlawful donations to Sen. Susan Collins and a political action committee supporting her. Although the indictment did not name the candidate who received the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Court temporarily blocks key Biden climate accounting measure
A federal court has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s use of a key climate accounting measure — a decision that could have major effects on climate change regulations. Judge James…
thehill.com
Austin city council members accuse police of antisemitism for tweet on crime, Soros DA donations
Members of the Austin City Council hurled accusations of antisemitism at the Texas city's police department after the local police officer union sounded the alarm about surging crime across the country and billionaire financier George Soros' donations to district attorney candidates.
EXPLAINER: Putin’s Ukraine strategy mixes threats, diplomacy
With Russia carrying out a massive military buildup near Ukraine and the West roundly rejecting Moscow’s security demands, a window for diplomacy in the crisis appears to be closing.
apnews.com
Analysis: A grim portrait of Biden’s unhappy America | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden often says America’s best days are ahead. It just doesn’t feel that way right now.
www.cnn.com
Rep. Fallon introduces bill to scrap diversity visa lottery, limit asylum claims
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, introduced legislation on Friday that would scrap the diversity visa lottery and impose penalties on immigrants who have overstayed their visas -- and it includes provisions to prevent asylum fraud.
Russia-Ukraine tensions threaten Europe's oil supply, reigniting debate over Biden's climate agenda
Tension on the Ukrainian border is stoking fears in Europe of an interruption in natural gas from Russia, and renewing the debate over President Biden's climate agenda.
Outgoing chief archivist at center of ERA fight and Trump documents controversy
Recent controversies over the certification of the Equal Rights Amendment and improper record-keeping of Trump-era documents have pushed the nation's chief archivist, whose typical pro forma responsibilities render him unknown to all but the most knowledgeable Washingtonians, into the middle of...
www.cnn.com
Deportees say they were beaten back in Venezuela, ask U.S. for second chance
After being expelled by ICE through the Dominican Republic, several Venezuelans say they were mistreated on their return. They've left again — and still hope for U.S. asylum.
www.nbcnews.com
Andrew Cuomo to file legal complaint against Letitia James related to sexual harassment report
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reportedly plans to file a professional misconduct complaint against state Attorney General Letitia James with a state Supreme Court committee that can disbar attorneys.
Beijing's ambitious Olympic COVID bubble: So far, so good
One week into the 17-day event, China seems to be meeting its formidable COVID-19 Olympic challenge with a so-called “bubble” that allows Beijing Games participants to skip quarantine but tightly restricts their movement so they don't come in contact with the general population. There have been...
apnews.com
National Football League has been lobbying the SEC on blockchain technology
The National Football League has been lobbying the Securities and Exchange Commission on blockchain technology.
California considering bill to create trust funds for COVID-19 orphans
A bill in the California state house is looking to give foster kids who lost a parent to COVID-19 some financial help.
The family that froze to death a world away from home
The Patels seemed to have a stable life in India. Why did they die in a field on the US-Canada border?
www.bbc.com
Rep. Greg Pence quietly navigates loyalty to his brother and Trump allies | CNN Politics
Former Vice President Mike Pence was under immense pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election when fellow Republicans turned to an under-the-radar source for reassurance: his older brother, GOP Rep. Greg Pence.
www.cnn.com
UFC champion defends embattled podcaster: ‘I’m black … that’s my n***** Joe Rogan’ - Washington Examiner
UFC champion Israel Adesanya defended controversial podcaster and comedian Joe Rogan during a fight press conference Thursday evening. A reporter began to ask UFC President Dana White a question about Rogan, when Adesanya, a New Zealander born in Nigeria, chimed in. SPOTIFY CEO TOLD EMPLOYEES...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Sudan's military rulers step up crackdown, arrest activists
CAIRO (AP) — Amira Osman, a Sudanese women's rights activist, was getting ready for bed a few minutes before midnight when about 30 policemen forced their way into her home in Khartoum last month.
apnews.com
Lawmakers allege 'secret' CIA spying on unwitting Americans
Spy agencies are conducting "warrantless backdoor searches" of Americans, two Democrat senators say.
www.bbc.com
George Gascon recall campaign gets support from left-leaning Hollywood honchos
A campaign to recall Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is receiving donations from high-profile figures across the political spectrum.
CNN Poll: Most Biden detractors say he’s done nothing they like since becoming president | CNN Politics
Nearly 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of how Joe Biden is handling his presidency, with most of that group saying there’s literally nothing Biden has done since taking office that they approve of. The finding, from a CNN Poll conducted by SSRS in January and February, highlights the entrenched...
www.cnn.com
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva fights positive test ahead of women's individual event
Valieva was cleared to compete on appeal, but the IOC has challenged.
Biden tells senators he plans to begin interviewing Supreme Court finalists next week
The president met Thursday at the White House with Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but did not review specific women under consideration for the post.
www.cbsnews.com
What the US is watching that could signal Russia is launching an invasion of Ukraine | CNN Politics
It might be a cyberattack targeting Ukraine’s energy grid. Or the movement of Russian battalions and tanks along the border and into firing range. Or perhaps even a long-range missile attack.
www.cnn.com
Last of three Tennessee inmates who escaped through air vent captured after other two died
Johnny Shane Brown, 50, was captured Thursday without incident by the Wilmington Police Department in North Carolina.
www.nbcnews.com
KC Fed chief confirmed Biden nominee Sarah Bloom Raskin personally lobbied for fintech firm, GOP senator says
Biden Federal Reserve nominee Sarah Bloom Raskin called Kansas City Fed President Esther George to advocate for a fintech company, Sen. Pat Toomey says.
California high court won't hear Manson follower parole case
The California Supreme Court has denied a potential bid for freedom by Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s rejection of her parole
SpaceX's Elon Musk: 1st orbital Starship flight maybe March
SpaceX's Elon Musk says the first orbital flight of his towering Starship could come in another month or two
States get go-ahead to build electric car charging stations
States are getting the go-ahead to build a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations that would place new or upgraded stations every 50 miles along interstate highways.
apnews.com
Canadian trucker protests start to hurt auto plants nationwide
Border delays from the truck blockade hurt plants as far away as Kentucky.
www.nbcnews.com
Young workers shed new light on life inside Amazon warehouses with viral videos
Six current and former Amazon warehouse workers say the company’s Covid-19 policies opened the door for a flood of TikTok content.
www.nbcnews.com
Doping hearing to decide Russian skater's Olympic fate
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva’s right to compete in the women’s event at the Beijing Olympics will be decided at an urgent hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
apnews.com
U.S. women's hockey beats Czech Republic in close game to advance to semifinal
The United States will face either Finland or Japan in the semifinal after a 4-1 win against the Czech Republic on Friday.
www.nbcnews.com
Shaun White describes emotional final run — and what's next after Olympic farewell
The oldest halfpipe rider in Olympic history said he hopes to have inspired the next generation of snowboarders.
www.nbcnews.com
3 San Francisco school board Democrats to face recall election Tuesday
San Francisco voters will head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to recall three Democrats on the city’s school board who have been embroiled in controversy over the last year.
Biden dog Commander to make TV debut during 'Puppy Bowl'
President Joe Biden's puppy Commander will make his TV debut on Super Bowl Sunday. The German shepherd and Biden's wife, Jill, will appear in a video message during the broadcast of “Puppy Bowl XVIII.”
apnews.com
New doc explores the disparities that fuel Black maternal mortality
“We don’t want people to walk away from this film scared to give birth. We want them to feel empowered," said filmmaker Paula Eiselt.
www.nbcnews.com
DC high schools receive bomb threats for 3rd straight day
Public high schools in Washington, D.C., faced a fresh wave of bomb threats Thursday, despite the arrest of a teenager who is accused of making some of the previous threats.
apnews.com
Former major league outfielder Jeremy Giambi died in suicide
The 47-year-old was found dead Wednesday at a home in Claremont.
www.nbcnews.com
Police speak directly to the unknown Delphi killer: 'Today could be the day -- sleep well'
This weekend marks five years since the murders of two eighth-grade girls in Delphi, Indiana -- a murder mystery that's still unsolved.
Fire company suspended after alleged racist remarks, mocking of girl killed in police shooting
Another local fire company made the allegations at a board meeting in Darby Township, Pennsylvania.
www.nbcnews.com
Colorado county clerk turns herself in to authorities for charges of obstructing a peace officer and obstructing government operations | CNN Politics
Mesa County, Colorado, Clerk Tina Peters turned herself in to local authorities Thursday morning, a day after the Grand Junction Police Department had issued a warrant for her arrest.
www.cnn.com
US buys 600K doses of new COVID antibody awaiting clearance
The Biden administration says it has purchased enough doses of a yet-to-be approved antibody drug to treat 600,000 patients with COVID-19.
apnews.com
Top German court rejects injunction against vaccine mandate
Germany’s Constitutional Court has refused to temporarily block the implementation of a coronavirus vaccine mandate for care and health workers that is due to come into force in mid-March.
apnews.com
CDC study: Booster effectiveness wanes after 4 months, but still significant
The effectiveness of COVID-19 booster shots wanes somewhat after four months but still provides substantial protection against hospitalization, a new study shows. The study, released by the Ce…
thehill.com
Pfizer postpones FDA request for Covid vaccine for kids under 5
The company said it believes three doses "may provide a higher level of protection in this age group."
www.nbcnews.com
Macron refused to take Russian Covid test
A source says the health procedure was unacceptable amid reports France was protecting Mr Macron's DNA.
www.bbc.com
A customer told to wear a mask in a Chicago hot dog restaurant threw snow at an employee and then broke a glass door | CNN
A man who was told to wear a mask at a well-known Chicago hot dog restaurant threw snow at an employee and shattered the business’ glass door, authorities said Thursday.
www.cnn.comCOVID conflict: Democratic governors skip ahead of Biden and CDC on easing mask mandates
Democratic governors in several states ease COVID-19 mask mandates even as President Biden and the CDC continue to press for mask use.
Rep. Comer accuses Fauci, CCP of covering up COVID origins 'from day one': 'Is he a mad scientist?'
House Oversight Committee ranking member James Comer, R-Ky., made accusations against Dr. and Anthony Fauci and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during a Thursday phone interview with Fox News Digital, also blasting the Biden administration for wasting “a lot of time" to get to the bottom of...
COVID pandemic’s ‘acute phase’ could end by midyear: WHO
WHO head Tedros says acute phase of pandemic could end by middle of the year if 70 percent of the world gets jabbed.
Blue states cite falling COVID-19 cases, not new studies, to justify mask mandate changes
Several Democrat-led states are finally scaling back on masking requirements, citing declining COVID-19 case numbers for the changes rather than scientific evidence that they are not needed.
California to debate mandating Covid vaccines at all workplaces
The bill would require workers to show proof of vaccination.
www.politico.com
White House plans for pandemic’s next stage amid internal debate
The Biden administration’s effort over the past month to develop a new Covid strategy has sparked an internal debate about how far to go.
www.nbcnews.com
Maskless New York parent booted from school board meeting days after school officials posed maskless
A Western New York parent was dragged out of a school board meeting by security for not wearing a mask days after members of that school board and other local officials were photographed maskless at an official event.
Less than 1% of NYC's municipal workers face termination Friday over vaccine status
About 4,000 New York City municipal workers are facing termination Friday for not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Dem senators urge ICE to provide boosters, vaccine 'education’ to detained illegal immigrants
Democratic senators are urging the Biden administration to provide COVID-19 boosters, as well as "vaccine and booster education" to illegal immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, amid fears of rising COVID-19 cases in detention centers.
