AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday directly rebutted Donald Trump’s false claims that Pence somehow could have overturned the results of the 2020 election, saying that the former president was simply “wrong.” In a speech to the conservative Federalist Society in Florida, Pence addressed Trump’s intensifying efforts this week to advance the false narrative that he could have done something to prevent Joe Biden from taking office.
GOP censures Cheney, Kinzinger as it assails Jan. 6 probe
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Republican National Committee censured two GOP lawmakers on Friday for participating on the committee investigating the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and assailed the panel for leading a “persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”
apnews.com
US and NATO military airplanes intercept Russian airplanes over North Atlantic | CNN Politics
US fighter jets, along with Norwegian and British military airplanes, intercepted Russian airplanes near NATO-allied air space on Thursday, according to NATO.
China joins Russia in opposing Nato expansion
Moscow and Beijing release a statement showcasing agreement on a wide range of geopolitical issues.
www.bbc.com
Romney rips GOP censure effort against Cheney, Kinzinger
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Friday criticized the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) effort to censure Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-I…
thehill.com
Emboldened China opens Olympics, with lockdown and boycotts
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the Winter Olympics open Friday night, inviting the world back — sort of — for the pandemic era’s second Games, this time as an emboldened and more powerful nation whose government’s authoritarian turn provoked some countries’ leaders to stay...
apnews.com
Unexpectedly Strong Jobs Report Caps A Better Week For Joe Biden
How much good news would it take for Joe Biden to shake his bad poll numbers? Probably more than this.
Michael Avenatti convicted of stealing from Stormy Daniels
NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Avenatti was convicted Friday of cheating porn actor Stormy Daniels out of nearly $300,000 she was supposed to get for writing a book about an alleged tryst with former President Donald Trump.
apnews.com
Democrats, teachers unions fight to keep parents from learning what their kids are taught
Democrats and teachers unions are actively working to block school curriculum transparency bills that they say could bring undue censorship and backlash against educators.
Death toll from mass shootings in United States is rising, study finds
A government-funded research project released on Friday sheds new light on the upward trend of mass shootings in the United States, finding that the number of Americans dying from mass shooters is on the rise, and most people who commit such acts of violence have a history of trauma or were in a...
Biden seeks to improve wages, efficiency in federal construction projects with labor order
The order will affect nearly 200,000 workers and apply to $262 billion in federal construction contracts, the White House said.
www.nbcnews.com
Donald Trump and Jim Jordan spoke for 10 minutes on the morning of January 6
The House select committee investigating the Capitol insurrection is now in possession of White House records that provide new details about a phone call Donald Trump made to Republican Rep. Jim Jordan on January 6, 2021 -- as the investigation drills down on the former President's...
www.cnn.com
Fox News Anchor Suggests White House Conspiracy on Surprisingly Good Jobs Report
Fox NewsFox News anchor John Roberts wondered on Friday whether the White House knew well in advance about the surprisingly good jobs report and, therefore, scheduled a presidential event to tout the numbers.Roberts’ colleague, meanwhile, had to remind him that the White House always holds an...
Russia, China push back against US in pre-Olympics summit
BEIJING (AP) — The leaders of Russia and China pushed back against U.S. pressure on Friday, declaring their opposition to any expansion of NATO and affirming that the island of Taiwan is a part of China, as they met hours before the Winter Olympics kicked off in Beijing.
apnews.com
Republican party calls January 6 attack ‘legitimate political discourse’
Party censures Cheney and Kinzinger, the only Republicans on the Capitol attack House panel, as Pence says ‘Trump is wrong’ A mob climbs through a window they broke at the US Capitol during the January 6 attack. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters In an extraordinary move, the Republican party...
In censure of Cheney and Kinzinger, RNC calls events of January 6 'legitimate political discourse'
In a resolution formally censuring GOP Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, the Republican National Committee on Friday described the events surrounding the January 6, 2021 insurrection -- which have been at the center of a House probe -- as "legitimate political discourse."
www.cnn.com
Pentagon: Deadly Afghan airport attack was not preventable
WASHINGTON (AP) — The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S.
apnews.com
Republicans at crossroads on Trump during RNC winter meeting
As the Republican National Committee's winter meeting kicks off, a rift is forming between the Republican party's interests and former President Donald Trump's concerns. NBC News' Ben Kamisar reports.
www.nbcnews.com
Black Lives Matter drops from ActBlue following Washington Examiner exposé
Black Lives Matter's fundraising pages on ActBlue were deactivated Friday, a day after the Washington Examiner exposed that BLM was still accepting donations on the Democratic platform despite claiming it had stopped amid questions about its finances.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Judges take over drawing dozens of House districts — and throw Dems a bone
The battles over new congressional lines are moving from state legislatures to courtrooms in a number of key states.
www.politico.com
Minneapolis mayor suspends no-knock warrants after police killing of Black man
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced on Friday a moratorium on no-knock warrants after police fatally shot a 22-year-old Black man during a raid on an apartment.
GOP censures Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, calls Jan. 6 riot 'legitimate political discourse'
The Republican resolution will have little practical effect; both Cheney and Kinzinger called the censure a capitulation to a dangerous ex-president.
www.usatoday.com
Black unemployment rate dips, labor force participation rises in January
The Black unemployment rate dipped to 6.9% in January from 7.1%.
The new GOP kingmakers: Out with the Kochs, in with Tucker
Paths to power and winning elections inside the GOP are changing rapidly and radically, spawning a new generation of kingmakers while diminishing the clout of many who lorded over the party for years. Why it matters: Fourteen of the Republican Party's top consultants and operatives across the...
GOP's election inquiry: Courts, conspiracies and more costs
A Republican inquiry into Pennsylvania’s 2020 presidential election inspired by former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud has spawned several court cases as it expands into multiple courses of inquiry, grows in cost and shows signs it will drag well into 2022. The...
AP PHOTOS: Beijing Olympics open with snowflakes & fireworks
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese athletes Zhao Jiawen and Dinigeer Yilamujiang stepped into the center of a newly formed snowflake and slid the Olympic torch into place — transforming the intricate crystal into a most unique cauldron.
apnews.com
Supreme Court could act soon on Alabama racial gerrymandering dispute
The Supreme Court could soon act on a dispute over whether Alabama’s new voting map infringes on the rights of Black voters in the first major redistricting case to reach the 6-3 conservative major…
thehill.com
‘Empty promises’: The US’s ‘Muslim ban’ still reverberates
Now-rescinded travel ban continues to have a lingering impact on US citizens and people around the world.
Former VP Mike Pence rejects Trump claim he could have intervened in 2020 election, calls it 'un-American'
Former Vice President Mike Pence delivered a speech in Florida Friday and pushed back against claims from former President Trump and his supporters that he had the ability to use his power to contest the 2020 presidential election.
U.S. winter storm leaves hundreds of thousands without power
Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were without power on Friday after a winter storm dumped sleet and heavy snow on a wide swath of the central United States this week, and more treacherous weather threatened parts of the Plains and New England.
Fed influence, shaky forecasts, delayed decisions: How the Biden administration misread the inflation threat
The Biden administration misread the rising threat of inflation for a variety of reasons, according to several economists and current and former officials.
WATCH: Dutch journalist dragged away by Chinese officials during Beijing broadcast
A European journalist covering the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was dragged away by Chinese law enforcement during a broadcast.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Iraqi militia attack on UAE a ‘message from Iran’
Analysts say drone strikes intended to put UAE on notice for its involvement in Yemen and Israel ties.
Lawmakers Rip Rep. Lauren Boebert For Her Most Clueless Constitution Claim Yet
The extremist Colorado Republican is getting called out on Twitter.
New York Times journalism practices draw scrutiny in Sarah Palin libel trial
New York Times editorial practices underwent withering scrutiny at times during the second day of Sarah Palin's defamation lawsuit trial against the outlet on Friday.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Texas man charged with threatening Georgia election officials pleads not guilty
A Texas man accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of threatening to kill election and government officials during a wave of violent rhetoric by believers in former President Donald Trump's false claim of voter fraud pleaded not guilty on Friday. Chad Christopher Stark, 54, of Leander, Texas, is...
Pence criticizes Biden’s pledge to nominate Black woman to Supreme Court
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday criticized President Biden for pledging to nominate a Black woman to replace the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court.In a speech to the F…
thehill.com
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s daughter working in Tenn. congressman’s office: report
A new House staffer reportedly has a major country music connection, calling Faith Hill and Tim McGraw mom and dad.Maggie McGraw, the middle child of the country music couple’s three daughters, is …
thehill.com
Why Build Back Better is both dead and alive
The position of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on Build Back Better? As clear as the Pope's Window after an application of Windex.
Patrick Leahy Appeals To Biden: Send Leonard Peltier Home From Prison
“He is exactly the kind of individual who should be considered for clemency,” said Leahy, who served in the Senate with Biden for 36 years.
Several establishment Republicans push back on party's punishment of Cheney and Kinzinger
Several establishment Republicans, including 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney, are publicly criticizing their party's decision to censure GOP Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger over their service on the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.
www.cnn.com
U.S. judge rejects Shkreli's objections to lifetime drug industry ban
A U.S. judge on Friday rejected former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli's objections to being banned for life from the drug industry and having to repay $64.6 million after jacking up the price of a lifesaving drug.
House passes American COMPETES Act to counter Chinese manufacturing
The House of Representatives Friday passed sweeping legislation to increase U.S. economic competitiveness with China that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said was designed to "keep America No. 1."
A hopeful sign? Despite Russian warning, Ukraine talks go on
MOSCOW (AP) — When the U.S. and NATO rejected the Kremlin’s security demands over Ukraine last week, fears of an imminent Russian attack against its neighbor soared. But instead of sending armored armadas across the Ukrainian border as the U.S.
apnews.com
Russia wins China’s backing in NATO showdown over Ukraine
Beijing agrees with Moscow that US-led NATO military alliance should not admit new members.
Lethal US raid on IS encounters a doll, crib, bomb, bullets
When helicopters carrying some 50 U.S. commandos thumped onto the ground in Syria an hour after midnight, the raiders confronted a houseful of extremists and children. Baby comforts were inside — a stuffed bunny, a blue plastic swing, a crib.
apnews.com
How low can Biden's polling go? President tries to fight off Carter comparisons
President Joe Biden aspired to be like Franklin Roosevelt, but as he embarks on his second year in office, there are closer parallels between him and former President Jimmy Carter, foreshadowing Democratic defeats in the 2022 midterm elections.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
What comes next after the stunning jobs report
The report was so solid that it provides more fuel for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
www.politico.com
Revealed: Trump reviewed draft order that authorized voting machines to be seized
Then president, during contentious December 2020 meeting, also agreed to appoint Sidney Powell as special counsel to investigate fraudSign up to receive First Thing – our daily briefing by email Trump during his rally to supporters before the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January. Photograph...
California urged to keep nuclear plant open to meet climate goals
Nearly 80 scientists and academics, including a former U.S. energy secretary, on Thursday urged Governor Gavin Newsom to delay closure of California's remaining nuclear plant to comply with state laws on fighting global warming.
US official urges China not to ‘look the other way’ on Russia’s threats to Ukraine
A senior State Department official on Friday warned that the world is closely watching China’s engagement with Russia as the U.S. and its partners in Europe work to stave off a potential Russi…
thehill.com
Republican National Committee overwhelmingly votes to censure Cheney, Kinzinger for sitting on Jan. 6 panel
The RNC takes the rare step in censuring two fellow Republicans, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger
Biden takes victory lap with January jobs report
“America’s job machine is going stronger than ever,” Biden said at the White House.
Apple, Broadcom win new trial in $1.1BN Caltech patent case
A US court threw out a jury verdict ordering Apple and Broadcom to pay $1.1bn to the California Institute of Technology.
Manhattan DA clarifies policies after a month of criticism
Manhattan's top prosecutor tried Friday to blunt questions about his commitment to trying cases of armed robbery and assaults on police, backing away from some controversial policies he outlined days after taking office last month. In a new memo, District Attorney Alvin Bragg said gunpoint and...
NBC talks politics, human rights in Beijing Olympics opening ceremony coverage
During the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Olympics on Friday, hosts and experts on U.S. network NBC spoke in stark terms about China's alleged rights violations and Russia's conflict with Ukraine, directly addressing the geopolitical tensions underpinning the Games.
White House briefing room returning to normal capacity Monday
The White House briefing room will return to full capacity beginning Monday, according to the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), roughly a month after the number of reporters in the ro…
thehill.com
A Minnesota teen is running for office in Vermont. The state's election laws allow it.
Vermont's constitution has quirky allowances around age and residency for candidates seeking some statewide offices.
www.usatoday.com
House votes to expand data tracking of college students
The House of Representatives voted Friday to empower the Department of Education to increase data collection of college students.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
The "Rooney Rule" was going to solve the NFL's hiring issue. The numbers show the problem runs deep.
"How is it that we've plummeted to almost being back to square one?" an architect of the rule said of the lack of diversity hiring.
www.nbcnews.com
China Gaslights the World by Picking Uighur Athlete to Ignite the Olympic Flame
Rob SchumacherChina responded head-on to criticism of its human rights abuses in Xinjiang province today by choosing a young athlete of Uighur descent to light the Olympic flame at the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics.Western leaders including President Joe Biden had snubbed the Beijing...
Eric Adams uses racial slur in unearthed 2019 video on policing
An unearthed video of newly-minted New York City Mayor Eric Adams shows him using a racial slur in a talk on policing.
At least 35 LGBTQ athletes will compete at Beijing Olympics, a Winter Games record
This year’s queer athletes will be venturing to China’s capital from 14 countries and will compete in nine different sports.
www.nbcnews.com
House passes bill to counter China's influence with manufacturing and research investment | CNN Politics
The House of Representatives voted Friday to make sweeping investments in American manufacturing and scientific research as well as changes to trade policy in an effort to make the US more competitive on the global stage and counter China's growing economic influence.
After talk of war shakes economy, Ukraine looks to U.S. for help
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy complained that Western officials talking about an imminent invasion caused panic in financial markets.
www.nbcnews.com
GOP lawmakers call for investigation into Hunter Biden's Chinese business dealings
Republicans from both chambers of Congress slammed "Biden, Inc." for the lack of transparency in Hunter Biden's Chinese dealings that involved companies linked to the highest levels of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Senate Democrat pushes U.S. Postal Service to buy cleaner delivery fleet
The chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Friday asked the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to reverse course and buy a cleaner fleet of next-generation delivery vehicles.
Sixty years after U.S. embargo, its imprint affects Cubans' daily lives
“I understand that there are sanctions,” a young musician said, “but they are supposed to be against the government, not the people.”
www.nbcnews.com
McCarthy in bind as conservatives push GOP to oust Cheney in her primary
GOP leaders are facing growing pressure from conservative hardliners to put their political muscle behind a primary challenge seeking to oust Rep. Liz Cheney, a move that puts top Republicans in an awkward spot as they try to avoid intraparty fights and the ire of Donald Trump in their quest to...
www.cnn.com
Parents: Amir Locke 'executed'; mayor halts no-knock entries
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis mayor imposed a moratorium on no-knock warrants Friday, two days after a SWAT team entered a downtown apartment and killed Amir Locke, a 22-year-old Black man who his parents said was “executed” after he was startled from a deep sleep and reached for a legal...
apnews.com
House competition bill aims to boost minorities in science and technology
The bill includes authorizing $900 million for grants and partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities.
The Fed's climate work is facing unprecedented scrutiny
A Senate hearing on Thursday showed intense interest in the Federal Reserve's climate work as Republicans' fear of anti-oil banking policies gives a key nominee a rocky path to confirmation.Driving the news: Senate Banking Committee Republicans pressed Sarah Bloom Raskin, President Biden's pick...
NewsCorp hit with cyberattack, allegedly from China
NewsCorp hit with cyberattack, allegedly from China.
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison to join probe of no-knock warrant shooting
Minnesota’s attorney general will join the investigation into the fatal police shooting of Amir Locke, a Black man who was killed while asleep on the couch during an early morning no-knock wa…
thehill.com
Lone suicide bomber was responsible for deadly Afghanistan airport blast, military review finds
The bomb killed 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghans days before American forces withdrew from the country.
www.nbcnews.com
Michael Avenatti convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for stealing from Stormy Daniels | CNN Politics
Michael Avenatti was convicted Friday of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for stealing from Stormy Daniels.
Arkoosh drops out of Pa. Dem Senate primary
The physician was the lone high-profile woman seeking the Democratic nomination.
www.politico.com
Facebook suffers biggest one-day value drop of any US company in history
Facebook parent company Meta shed more than $220 billion in market capitalization on Thursday, the largest such single-day decline for a U.S. company in history.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
No 10 denies Boris Johnson has lost control after raft of resignations
The pressure on Boris Johnson continues as another MP submits a letter of no confidence in the PM.
www.bbc.com
Latinas are well represented in the labor force. In Congress, not so much
Latinas comprise about 3 percent of members of Congress.
www.nbcnews.com
After review, U.S. maintains border policy of expelling migrants, citing Omicron
The CDC order allows U.S. border officials to expel migrants to Mexico or their home countries without allowing them to request asylum.
www.cbsnews.com
McCaul campaign ad calls out China's human rights abuses as Winter Olympics 2022 kick off
FIRST ON FOX: Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul is set to launch a campaign ad Friday that targets China’s human rights abuses, coinciding with the start of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
Biden's history on Senate Judiciary Committee could come back to haunt him
When President Joe Biden selects a nominee for the Supreme Court, he'll be returning to a process he grew deeply familiar with during a nearly two-decade run leading Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
News Corp. says Wall Street Journal, New York Post were targeted by hackers
Mandiant, a cybersecurity company, said it had reason to believe that the breach was an example of China’s vast and ongoing cyberespionage operation.
www.nbcnews.com
News Corp. hacked, reporters targeted; believed China-linked
WASHINGTON (AP) — News Corp., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, said Friday that it had been hacked and had data stolen from journalists and other employees, and a cybersecurity firm investigating the intrusion said Chinese intelligence-gathering was believed behind the operation.
apnews.com
Meta moves to tackle creepy behaviour in virtual reality
Women describe their experiences but what can firms behind virtual-reality platforms do about it?
www.bbc.com
Biden admin eases Trump-era solar tariffs but doesn't end them
(Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden extended Trump-era tariffs on imported solar energy equipment by four years on Friday, but in a major concession to installers he also eased the terms to exclude a panel technology dominant among big U.S. projects. The decision represented a balancing act by...
CDC: More vaccinated adults hospitalized with omicron, but fewer admitted to ICU
A higher proportion of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 during the period of omicron dominance were fully vaccinated compared to the period of delta dominance, according to a new analysis, but tho…
thehill.com
New York governor approves aggressive redistricting plan that could wipe out several GOP seats
New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law a redistricting plan that dramatically shifts the state’s political alignment in favor of Democrats and could have a significant ripple effect in the upcoming midterm elections.
Competitive, chaotic Ohio GOP Senate primary is just three months away
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
Trump helps narrow field in crowded Ohio Republican Senate primary
Former President Donald Trump helps narrow the field in Ohio's crowded, competitive, and combustible GOP Senate primary
Josh Mandel foreshadowed Trump’s rise. His Ohio Senate bid is a test of what’s next.
Trump reflected and reinforced the brand that Mandel had been building for years. But Mandel can’t shake the criticism that he’s an opportunistic shape-shifter.
www.nbcnews.com
Police: Gunman kills 2 Virginia college officers, arrested
BRIDGEWATER, Va. (AP) — A gunman shot and killed two campus officers at a private college Tuesday, prompting a protracted campus lockdown and search before the suspect was apprehended, state police and school officials said.
apnews.com
RNC approves measure to censure Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger
During the voice vote, the "ayes" were overwhelming.
www.cbsnews.com
Arbery’s shooter withdraws guilty plea on hate crime charge
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — The man convicted of murder for shooting Ahmaud Arbery withdrew his guilty plea on a federal hate crime charge Friday, electing to stand trial for a second time in the 2020 killing of a Black man that became part of a larger national reckoning over racial injustice.
apnews.com
Watchdog says 100s of boys missing from Kurdish Syria prison
Hundreds of boys are missing from a Syrian Kurdish prison that held members of the Islamic State group and their families, after the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces fought IS militants for 10 days to retake the facility, an international human rights group said Friday. The report by Human Rights...
Wyden still undecided on FDA pick, presses for plans on accelerated drug approvals
President Biden’s pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pledged to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) that he would crack down on companies that take advantage of the agency’s accele…
thehill.com
POLITICO PRO Q&A: Kim Hunter Reed, higher education commissioner for Louisiana
In an interview with POLITICO Pro, Hunter Reed discussed her vision for that funding, her thoughts on free community college and her ascent from a small town in Louisiana to the halls of power.
www.politico.com
White-hot jobs report shows workers are returning — and that worries Wall Street
A bleak job market would suggest to Wall Street that the Fed might tap the brakes on plans to tighten policy.
www.nbcnews.com
POLITICO Playbook PM: Is the White House turning the tide?
And a pair of GOP senators give backup to Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
www.politico.com
The independent investigators tracking Russia's military buildup
The civilian analysts tracking Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders.
Judge awards millions to lawyers in Flint water settlement
DETROIT (AP) — A judge awarded about $40 million Friday to the lead attorneys in a $626 million settlement for Flint residents and property owners whose water was contaminated with lead, but millions in additional legal fees will also be carved out as claimants get paid.
apnews.com
Pentagon finds US service members were killed by blast in Afghan airport attack
The Pentagon revealed the findings of its investigation into the ISIS-K suicide bomber who killed more than 180 people, including 13 U.S. service members, in Afghanistan.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Northeast grapples with icy roads as storm blows out to sea
Northeast residents were urged to stay off the roads with temperatures beginning to drop Friday evening as a major winter storm turned already slippery roads and sidewalks into ice-covered hazards.
apnews.com
Pennsylvania Senate Republican race between Oz and McCormick turns ugly early | CNN Politics
In the Pennsylvania Senate race, one candidate is accusing a rival of having "dual loyalties" to the US and a foreign country. In turn, that rival is charging his opponent with being too cozy with China.
USDA announces stricter standards for school nutrition
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday it is making changes to its school nutrition standards for the 2022-2023 school year, seeking to reinstate health goals that were rolled back throughout the Trump administration. The Biden administration will make schools and child-care...
Flight attendants outraged at Southwest's decision to resume alcohol sales
Flight attendants outraged at Southwest's decision to resume alcohol sales Southwest had postponed serving alcohol due to the spike in unruly passengers.
Durbin: GOP censure ‘badge of honor’ for Kinzinger
Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said Republicans would view the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) censure of his Illinois colleague Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R) as a “badge …
thehill.com
Appeals court: Inmates don't have a right to pornography
A federal appeals court has ruled that Connecticut prison inmates do not have a right to possess or view pornography in prison. The ruling Thursday from a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2012 policy from the state Department of Correction banning porn from...
apnews.com
Pelosi fears 'for the physical safety' of US Olympic athletes who speak out against China
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doubled down Friday on her warning to U.S. Olympic athletes to not speak out against the Chinese communist government while competing in the Beijing Olympics.
Congressional staffers announce effort to unionize on Capitol Hill
The Congressional Workers Union announced their plan a day after Pelosi said she would offer "full support" if staffers decided to unionize.
www.nbcnews.com
'All-American girl' turned jihadist denied bail
Allison Fluke-Ekren, who allegedly led an Islamic State squadron, was once a doe-eyed Kansas schoolgirl.
www.bbc.com
Fauci might as well be running for office
Anthony Fauci has been a GOP target for nearly two years.
www.politico.com
Georgia GOP gubernatorial clash: Kemp uses Trump's past words to target Perdue
An outside group aligned with Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia is using Donald Trump's own words in a new TV ad to take aim at former Sen. David Perdue, who's backed by the former president.
New York City mayor apologizes for calling white cops ‘crackers’
Adams served in the NYPD for 22 years and retired as a captain in 2006.
www.politico.com
Thousands of Puerto Rico teachers protest for higher wages
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Thousands of teachers across Puerto Rico left their classrooms and took to the streets on Friday to demand higher wages, improved working conditions and better pensions amid an economic crisis.
apnews.com
Mount Everest: Mountain's highest glacier melting rapidly, new study shows
The melting is endangering both climbers and locals who rely on the glaciers for drinking water.
www.bbc.com
Amazon Prime annual fee hikes to $180, not $139, for many members
That’s because more than half of Prime members pay a monthly fee that’s rising to $14.99 from $12.99.
Carl Bernstein on the political climate in Washington - "The Takeout"
On "The Takeout" podcast this week, Carl Bernstein talks about his new memoir with host Major Garrett.
www.cbsnews.com
Smithsonian names founding director for National Museum of the American Latino
Jorge Zamanillo, executive director and CEO of HistoryMiami Museum, will step into the new role in the spring for the highly anticipated national museum.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden calls out Republicans for not supporting China competition bill
President Biden on Friday called out House Republicans for not supporting the China competition bill, which passed the House largely along party lines with just one Republican voting for it.“If Hou…
thehill.com
Democrat running against Gov. Noem says he represents South Dakotans while Noem goes national
Democratic South Dakota State Rep. Jamie Smith said South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is busy 'cozying up to big out-of-state donors,' arguing he can win this year's governor's elections election because voters are "dissatisfied" with the GOP governor's politics
Biden inches back toward Michelle Obama’s school nutrition standards
The overall goal is to help schools stabilize their nutrition programs, many of which have been losing money as food and staffing costs have soared.
www.politico.com
NY boosts medical marijuana access as legal pot market looms
New York’s much-anticipated legal pot shops could be a year away from opening
Delta Air Lines wants unruly passengers put on federal 'no fly' list
Such action would ensure that "individuals who have endangered the safety and security of our people do not go on to do so on another carrier," CEO Ed Bastian said.
www.nbcnews.com
Kemp invokes Trump in ad after former president slams him in ad for Perdue
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is responding to an ad from his chief primary rival that heavily features Donald Trump with a spot of his own invoking the former president.The 30-second spot comes just…
thehill.com
California gas utility fined $10M for ratepayer money misuse
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A major California gas utility must pay the state nearly $10 million and reimburse customers money it improperly spent on work related to the development of energy efficient building codes.
apnews.com
Tennessee gov, GOP push more scrutiny of school libraries
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Less than a week after a local Tennessee school board attracted national attention for banning a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust, Gov.
apnews.com
US couple sue clinic after DNA kit reveals fertility mix-up
A US couple is suing after discovering that their daughter is not biologically related to her father.
www.bbc.com
Jon Stewart calls ‘overreaction’ to Joe Rogan, Spotify ‘a mistake’
Jon Stewart called the controversy currently surrounding popular podcaster Joe Rogan an “overreaction” and defended him in the latest episode of his podcast, “The Proble…
thehill.com
Obamas' production company may leave Spotify: Report
Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle and their production company, Higher Ground, reportedly may be considering leaving Spotify, according to industry sources.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
‘Almost there’: Rescuers 1 metre away from trapped Moroccan boy
The plight of the five-year-old boy who fell into a well in the northern hill town of Bab Berred has gripped Morocco.
Biden details U.S. raid that took out "horrible terrorist" ISIS leader in Syria
"Thanks to the bravery of our troops, this horrible terrorist leader is no more," Mr. Biden said in remarks at the White House.
www.cbsnews.com
Ladapo fires back at former UCLA supervisor who refused recommendation
Ladapo said in a phone interview that good science requires respect for all perspectives.
www.politico.com
Minnesota school shooting suspects charged with murder as police describe witness accounts
The two suspects are being held on $1 million bail and could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
www.cbsnews.com
1 killed, 3 injured in Alabama tornado
A tornado in Hale County left one woman dead and several injured.
U.S. lawmaker calls Chinese takeover of Canadian lithium firm ‘very alarming’
Michael Waltz: “Was the Biden administration notified and, if it was, why did it green-light this acquisition?”
www.politico.com
A New Zealand parrot stole a GoPro and filmed its getaway
A New Zealand family got an unexpected bird's eye view of a trail they had just hiked in Fiordland National Park, South Island, after a mischievous parrot stole their GoPro and took flight.
www.cnn.com
These are the faces of the new generation of police officers in America | CNN
Jaslyn Koger, Joshawua Mayfield and Charles Wesley are just three of the young faces of America's new generation of police officers who have been undeterred by the staffing shortages in many departments, the spate of killings of law enforcement officers and recent high-profile incidents of...
Biden’s team squandered media goodwill on war matters
www.politico.com
'President Trump is wrong': Pence rejects claim he could have 'overturned the election'
Pence gave a spirited response to his former boss's attacks, saying, "The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone.”
www.nbcnews.com
Google to work with Ford on Detroit research hub
DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. announced Friday that Google is joining the automaker's effort to transform a once-dilapidated Detroit train station into a research hub focused on electric and self-driving vehicles.
apnews.com
TRUTH Social release delayed despite Trump hype
The release date for former President Donald Trump's social network has been delayed despite his fervent desire to position the platform as a rival to existing Big Tech platforms.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Explainer: What you need to know about Beijing Olympics
Beijing becomes the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Games.
NGOs petition Biden administration to stop buying single-use plastics
Almost 200 environmental and community groups demanded that the Biden administration stop purchasing plastic bags and other single-use plastics products, in a formal petition filed on Thu…
thehill.com
11-year-old Texas boy shot and killed while walking to mother's car
The boy suffered at least one gunshot wound to the chest.
US stocks power higher on bullish sentiment from Amazon earnings
The retail giant surged 14 percent on Friday on a price increase for its Prime memberships.
Drugs, weapons 'smuggled to prisoners by drone'
As many as 20 people in South Carolina have been arrested over contraband deliveries to prisoners.
www.bbc.com
Jayapal's early leadership maneuvers raise House Dem eyebrows
Most in the caucus view open jostling over an undefined future spot as counterproductive with the majority at stake.
www.politico.com
Nashville rises, Pittsburgh crashes out in 2024 GOP convention search
The red-state politics of Tennessee and Utah make Nashville and Salt Lake City particularly attractive sites for the party.
www.politico.com
Did ABC miss a learning opportunity by suspending Whoopi?
ABC’s decision to suspend Whoopi Goldberg from “The View” for two weeks for her remarks about the Holocaust has opened the network up to criticism that its response derailed a teachable moment for the nation about a sensitive topic often misunderstood and seldom discussed on air.
apnews.com
Mom sues social media giants for allegedly driving her 11-year-old daughter to suicide
A Connecticut mother filed a lawsuit last month against Meta and Snap for allegedly causing the death of her 11-year-old daughter.
US starts Olympic preparation in Beijing without 3 players
The U.S. men's hockey team is trying to get up to speed quickly at the Olympics despite missing three important players
Seeing red: Mosquito vision tailored to our skin, researchers find
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are a public health scourge. Understanding how they home in on us could help develop traps and give people new tools to prevent being bitten.
www.nbcnews.com
US bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, in isolation, still training and caring for son ahead of Olympics
She tested positive for COVID-19 and is being forced to isolate.
US death toll from COVID-19 hits 900,000, sped by omicron
Propelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 hit 900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000. The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or...
apnews.com
US reports more than 900,000 total Covid-19 deaths | CNN
As of Friday, more than 900,000 people in the United States have died of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
School lunch rules updated to help ease pandemic disruptions
Low-fat chocolate milk instead of only non-fat. Fewer whole-grain offerings. Less severe salt limits. The Biden administration issued transitional standards for school lunches Friday that are meant to ease the path for cafeterias to get back on a more healthful course as they recover from...
apnews.com
4 states to end school mask mandates as debate over kids and masks heightens
Researchers are now studying the potential effects of prolonged masking for kids.
CDC recommends FDA-approved Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for adults | CNN
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed a recommendation from the CDC's vaccine advisers Friday for use of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for adults.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin Confronted For Not Wearing Mask In Grocery Store
“We’re all making choices today,” the Republican said when he was called out.
White House casts COVID-19 lockdowns as a Trump-era relic
When asked about a new study suggesting that the negative effects of lockdowns far outweigh any positives, White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded that most of America's lockdowns occurred during the Trump administration.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
CDC launches COVID-19 wastewater surveillance dashboard
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a new dashboard Friday that tracks COVID-19 in wastewater samples across the country.
CDC extends controversial Trump-era border policy despite opposition from Biden allies | CNN Politics
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ruled this week that a public health authority order allowing for the expulsion of migrants encountered at the US-Mexico border should remain in effect despite widespread opposition from Biden administration allies.
Vaccine Politics Upend Republican Orthodoxy On Unemployment Benefits
Lawmakers in more than a dozen GOP-led states say workers who refuse vaccines should be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Republican officials say study on lockdown ineffectiveness validates COVID-19 approach
A new study out of Johns Hopkins University indicates that lockdown measures during the coronavirus pandemic "have had little to no effect on COVID-19 mortality," and Republican leaders are pointing to it as justification for their approach.
Key senators push 9/11-style commission to investigate Covid and U.S. response
A task force proposed by Senate HELP committee Chair Patty Murray, a Democrat, and ranking member Richard Burr, a Republican, would have subpoena power.
www.nbcnews.com
CDC study: N95, KN95 masks best reduce odds of COVID-19 infection
People who said they always wore some type of face mask indoors were less likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to those who did not, though high-quality N95 respirators and KN95 were bette…
thehill.com
MSNBC broadcasts COVID-19 misinformation about children and omicron
While washed-up musicians, D-list celebrities, and the White House try to force Spotify to dump Joe Rogan over COVID-19 “misinformation,” MSNBC is broadcasting it without so much as batting an eye.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Record number of Americans missed work due to illness in January
A record number of people, totaling more than 3.6 million, were unable to work due to illness during the week that officials gathered data for the benchmark U.S. monthly employment report, which coincided with the peak in infections from COVID-19.
Biden administration tells Congress that key coronavirus funds are dwindling
WASHINGTON - Nearly all of the money in a key federal program to boost coronavirus testing, therapeutics and vaccines appears to have been committed or already shelled out, raising the potential that the Biden administration may have to ask Congress to approve additional aid. The dwindling funds...
