Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia accused the West on Monday of “whipping up tensions” over Ukraine and said the U.S. had brought “pure Nazis” to power in Kyiv as the U.N. Security Council held a stormy and bellicose debate on Moscow’s troop buildup near its southern neighbor.
Florida voting law put under the microscope in federal court
Florida is one of 19 states that enacted new voting restrictions last year that critics allege will amount to voter suppression.
www.nbcnews.com
Asia shares gain, trading closed in Korea, China for holiday
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares gained Tuesday, mirroring broad overnight gains on Wall Street, while trading in China and most other regional markets was closed for Lunar New Year holidays. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up 0.5% in morning trading to 27,139.89.
apnews.com
Georgia DA investigating Trump asks FBI for security help
ATLANTA (AP) — The prosecutor who's investigating whether Donald Trump and others broke the law by trying to pressure Georgia officials to overturn Joe Biden's presidential election victory is asking the FBI for security help after the former president railed against prosecutors investigating...
apnews.com
Biden admin developed 'specific sanctions packages' for Russian elites and their families, White House says
The Biden administration has developed “specific sanctions packages” for Russian elites and their family members if Moscow invades Ukraine, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.
Companies, executives donated nearly $300,000 to Manchin's campaign after he rejected Biden's Build Back Better bill
Sen. Joe Manchin's campaign raised nearly $300,000 from corporations and executives after he publicly opposed President Biden's spending package.
Rogan responds to Spotify protest, COVID advisories
NEW YORK (AP) — Spotify is pledging to combat the spread of COVID-19 misinformation as part of a damage-control campaign sparked by musician Neil Young , who called out the streaming service’s top podcaster for amplifying vaccine skepticism.
apnews.com
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted Sen. Lindsey Graham after he called it 'inappropriate' for Trump to float pardons for Capitol rioters
Greene said Graham "pretends to be a friend to President Trump," adding "aren't we all sick and tired of those kind of 'friends.'"
Psaki: Trump raising Jan. 6 pardons, overturning election a reminder he’s unfit
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday said former President Trump’s comments over the weekend in which he floated pardons for Capitol rioters and complained that the 2020 election w…
thehill.com
Ted Cruz still wants to be president. Can he win over the Trump faithful?
His 2016 bid went badly. But if Trump stays out in 2024, Cruz is sure to make another try.
www.nbcnews.com
Still waiting on BBB, but the states are moving
At some point, Democrats are going to have to speed the process along on President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda — or, perhaps, get to figuring out what parts of that measure are salvageable.
www.politico.com
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Is Pushing Republicans Across the Country to the Extreme Right
Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/GettyEverything is bigger in Texas, including a radicalized, weaponized, and emboldened GOP’s audacious abuse of power to fuel their culture wars and subvert democracy.If you want to see a sneak preview of the GOP’s national project to...
Trump's Grip on GOP Faces New Strains
About halfway into his Texas rally Saturday evening, Donald Trump pivoted toward the teleprompter and away from a meandering set of grievances to rattle off a tightly prepared list of President Joe Biden’s failings and his own achievements. “Let’s simply compare the records,” Trump said, as...
Some Republicans warn Trump's latest Jan. 6 speech shows he would 'do it all again'
A handful of Republicans pushed back against former President Donald Trump's weekend offer to consider pardoning people convicted of joining the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, saying it showed he would "do it all again" if he regains the White House in 2024.
www.reuters.com
Cruz calls Biden's promise to nominate first Black woman to Supreme Court 'offensive' and 'insulting'
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called President Joe Biden's commitment to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court "offensive" and said that by doing so the President is telling other Americans "you are ineligible."
www.cnn.com
Cheney, Kinzinger call out Trump over Pence comments
Republican Reps. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) called out former President Trump after he suggested that former Vice President Mike Pence should have overturned the results of th…
thehill.com
Trump Shouts Out Jason Ravnsborg, the State AG Who Ran Over and Killed a Man
Brandon BellSouth Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, who ran over and killed a man in 2020 and could be impeached soon, still has one high-profile fan.Former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening gave Ravnsborg a shout-out during a political rally in Conroe, Texas.“South Dakota...
White House: Trump ‘unfit’ for office after suggesting possible pardons for Jan. 6 defendants
Former President Donald Trump suggested Saturday he might pardon supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 if he returned to office.
www.usatoday.com
Trump promises to ban transgender women from sports if re-elected
The former president also specifically targeted Lia Thomas, a trans University of Pennsylvania swimmer.
www.nbcnews.com
La. GOP leader weighs action over gov's 'gross misconduct'
Louisiana’s top GOP lawmaker weighed taking legislative action Monday against Gov. John Bel Edwards for “gross misconduct and the highest level of deceit” in his response to the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene.
apnews.com
Biden to host senators Durbin, Grassley on Supreme Court opening
President Joe Biden and his White House team will start consultations this week on whom to pick as his nominee for the Supreme Court after Justice Stephen Breyer announced plans to step down in June, the White House said.
www.reuters.com
Job growth could turn negative for first time under Biden due to Omicron
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graphic: Axios Visuals Job growth numbers may be about to turn negative for the first time since President Biden took office, and the White House is seeking to get ahead of potential negative headlines.The big picture: Vast numbers of Americans missed work this...
Bill Cosby asks Supreme Court to deny appeal in sexual assault case
Lawyers for Bill Cosby asked the Supreme Court on Monday to turn away an appeal brought by a Pennsylvania prosecutor after the state’s top court overturned the comedian’s sexual assault conviction.…
thehill.com
Adams names top housing aides
The mayor appointed Jessica Katz as the city’s chief housing officer and Adolfo Carrión Jr. as commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
www.politico.com
W.Va. Democrats propose bill to repeal abortion restrictions
Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill to repeal all abortion restrictions in West Virginia, a move that comes amid efforts in the Republican-led legislature to further restrict access to the procedure. During a news conference at the state Capitol on Monday, the bill's co-sponsor Del...
Trump-aligned Texas candidates shun conservative Latino group on immigration
The LIBRE Initiative's political arm withdrew its endorsements after the Republican candidates claimed the group supports immigration "amnesty."
www.nbcnews.com
Boris Johnson says sorry after report slams lockdown parties
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a “serious failure” to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic
apnews.com
What Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants in the next Supreme Court nominee
In a new interview with Influencers with Andy Serwer, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described identity as "just the starting step when we are discussing a Supreme Court justice.”
Russia, US exchange harsh words over Ukraine at UN
Moscow tried to block the Security Council meeting and lost that effort. Russia's ambassador accused Washington of "whipping up tensions."
www.usatoday.com
Multiple HBCUs temporarily cancel classes following threats
Police and schools said no bombs or weapons have been found.
Bracing for cyber-spying at the Olympics
Also: The House’s latest China competition bill has plenty of new and old cyber goodies.
www.politico.com
George Soros warns China is facing an economic crisis
China is facing an economic crisis after a real estate boom ended with a bang last year, according to investor George Soros.
www.cnn.com
Whoopi Goldberg: Holocaust ‘not about race’
Whoopi Goldberg argued on ABC’s The View Monday the Holocaust was “not about race,” prompting pushback from co-hosts on the show. “If you’re going to do this, the…
thehill.com
Historically Black U.S. colleges and universities given all clear after threats
Several historically Black colleges and universities in the United States gave students and staff an all clear on Monday after bomb threats earlier in the day forced schools to issue shelter-in-place orders and cancel classes.
www.reuters.com
Leondra Kruger, potential Biden Supreme Court nominee, stunned justices with position on religious liberty
Leondra Kruger, who is on President Biden's Supreme Court shortlist, argued on behalf of the Obama administration in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC
Campaigning to Oversee Elections, While Denying the Last One
PHOENIX — Nearly two dozen Republicans who have publicly questioned or disputed the results of the 2020 election are running for secretary of state across the country, in some cases after being directly encouraged by allies of former President Donald Trump. Their candidacies are alarming...
Quiet part loud: Trump says Pence ‘could have overturned the election’
In statement protesting against reform of Electoral Count Act, ex-president appears to admit Joe Biden won Donald Trump in Conroe, Texas on Saturday. Photograph: Brian Cahn/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock Donald Trump was accused of “saying the quiet part loud” on Sunday night, when he...
Hackers prey on public schools, adding stress amid pandemic
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — For teachers at a middle school in New Mexico's largest city, the first inkling of a widespread tech problem came during an early morning staff call.
apnews.com
Biden weighing more than a dozen candidates for Supreme Court vacancy
The president said he intends to announce his nominee before the end of February.
www.cbsnews.com
23 House Democrats call for Biden to keep full climate funds in Build Back Better
Correction: This story was updated to note that Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) was the lawmaker who led the letter in the House.Twenty-three Democratic members of Congress on Monday called on President…
thehill.com
Citing Trump's rhetoric, Atlanta-area DA seeks FBI assistance with security amid probe
The DA said her request was prompted by Trump's Saturday appearance in Conroe, Texas, where he referred to 'radical, vicious, racist prosecutors'
www.usatoday.com
DNC chair Jaime Harrison strikes back at 'unnamed' critics
The Democratic Party’s top official bristled at an NBC News article detailing tension between him and White House officials.
www.nbcnews.com
A Supreme Court confirmation battle adds to busy stretch for Congress
Lawmakers return this week with a long to-do list, including Ukraine briefings, a government funding deadline and hopes to revive the Build Back Better Act.
www.nbcnews.com
California moves to dismantle nation's largest death row
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who three years ago placed a moratorium on executions, now is moving to dismantle the United States' largest death row by moving all condemned inmates to other prisons within two years.
apnews.com
US begins quietly flying Venezuelan migrants to Colombia under controversial border policy | CNN Politics
The Biden administration, unable to return an increasing number of Venezuelans arrested at the US-Mexico border to their home country, is now sending those migrants to Colombia if they previously resided there, according to two Homeland Security officials.
Biden’s FDA pick makes major ethics pledges to win over Elizabeth Warren
The Massachusetts Democrat is agreeing to back Biden’s FDA pick after he put restrictions on the work he’d do and employment he’d seek.
www.politico.com
Hogan says ‘stakes are too high’ for another Trump presidency
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is warning Republicans against supporting former President Trump if he decides to run for president again. “With America on the wrong path, the stakes…
thehill.com
Biden meets with Qatari emir amid European energy concerns
The E.U. depends on Russia for around 40 percent of its gas supplies via pipelines, including some that run through Ukraine.
www.nbcnews.com
Companies founded by Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli will pay up to $28M in class-action settlement over Daraprim price hike
Martin Shkreli raised the price of the prescription drug Daraprim by more than 4,000. He recently was banned for life from the pharmaceutical industry.
Biden says admin trying to 'figure out' why illegal immigrants leave their countries
President Biden said during a meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) on Monday that his administration is combating the border crisis by working to understand why migrants leave their home countries for the U.S. "in the first place."
Ukraine crisis updates: What to know amid the fears of war
Talks to stave off the threat of war in Eastern Europe are moving to the United Nations Security Council on Monday. The diplomatic push at the U.N. comes with 100,000 Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s border and the Biden administration worrying that Russian President Vladimir Putin will...
Exclusive: U.S. diabetes deaths top 100,000 for second straight year
More than 100,000 Americans died from diabetes in 2021, marking the second consecutive year for that grim milestone and spurring a call for a federal mobilization similar to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
www.reuters.com
Manchin ‘anxious’ to confirm Breyer’s Supreme Court successor
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) indicated on Monday that he supports moving quickly to confirm a successor for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who is expected to retire over the summer.  …
thehill.com
White House tries to tamp down Democratic jitters about midterm messaging
A top Biden aide recently told donors of plans for the president to spend more time outside D.C. promoting accomplishments and less time bogged down in legislative negotiations.
www.nbcnews.com
George Soros donates another $120K to PAC focused on local prosecutor races
Liberal billionaire George Soros has added $120,000 to the amount he's donated to the Justice & Safety PAC, which is focused on local district attorney races.
With Breyer’s exit, all SCOTUS progressives will be women
For the embattled conservative majority, a steady drumbeat of exclusively female dissents in politically charged cases will not look good.
thehill.com
'Disgusted with our government': Families frustrated after child tax credit expires
The expiration of the child tax credit and Congress’s inability to pass its extension has left many parents in the U.S. overwhelmed. What future does the policy have?
Upstate DA declines to pursue case against Andrew Cuomo
An upstate New York district attorney says he will not bring criminal charges against Andrew Cuomo after a woman accused him of running his fingers across the chest of her shirt at a public event
The IRS suspends its overdue notice to tax payers. Why experts say it's 'a prudent move.'
"In many situations, the tax return may be part of our current paper tax inventory and simply hasn’t been processed," the agency said.
www.nbcnews.com
More than 50 Starbucks stores now petitioning to unionize
Employees at more than 50 Starbucks locations have petitioned to unionize shortly after workers at a Buffalo, N.Y., store first voted to do so last month. Workers United, an affiliate of …
thehill.com
Biden has selected ambassador to Ukraine but is waiting on Ukraine's approval
President Joe Biden is close to publicly naming his ambassador to Ukraine, but his administration is still waiting on formal approval from the Ukrainian government, US and Ukrainian sources told CNN.
www.cnn.com
Ahmaud Arbery: Hate crime plea deal rejected by US judge in murder case
The deal would have allowed two of Ahmaud Arbery's killers to serve in "preferred" federal prisons
www.bbc.com
House girds for battle on China competition bill
Also: The Justice Department tells a federal judge he mishandled an antitrust case against Facebook.
www.politico.com
UK investigation into Downing Street Covid lockdown parties finds ‘failures of leadership’
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has so far resisted calls to resign despite public anger over a long and growing list of alleged lockdown breaches.
Cotton threatens to block DOJ nominees over refusal to defend US Marshals in 2020 Portland Antifa riots
Sen. Tom Cotton is threatening to put the brakes on Department of Justice nominees because the department isn't defending U.S. Marshals being sued for their 2020 defense of the Portland federal courthouse.
Latest Ukraine updates: Russia, US exchange harsh words at UN
Ukraine news from January 31: Russia accuses the West of ‘whipping up tensions’ over Ukraine.
Elderly people living near fracking sites at higher risk of early death, study says
“Although UOGD is a major industrial activity in the U.S., very little is known about its public health impacts. Our study is the first to link mortality to UOGD-related air pollutant exposures.”…
thehill.com
U.S., allies raise pressure on Russia with sanctions threats and U.N. showdown
The Russian ambassador spoke at a U.N. Security Council meeting as the U.S. and allies threaten major sanctions against Moscow to ward off a potential invasion of Ukraine.
www.nbcnews.com
Republican under fire for using ‘Voltaire’ quote actually coined by neo-Nazi
Congressman Thomas Massie quoted phrase coined by white supremacist convicted of possessing child abuse images Thomas Massie tweeted: ‘To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise’ – not, as he suggested, as quotation from Voltaire. Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP...
Liz Cheney hauls in over $7 million last year as she fends off push by Trump to oust her from Congress
Repeated attacks by former President Trump as he tries to oust her from Congress are fueling a massive fundraising haul by Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming.
POLITICO Playbook: Congress confronts a February deluge
And the Senate group trying to overhaul the Electoral Count Act adds to its mission.
www.politico.com
Attorneys for 3 cops in Floyd killing question training
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Defense attorneys at the trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights questioned a top officer Monday about the department's training on restraints and an officer's duty to intervene, as well as a culture that they...
apnews.com
U.S. braces for another storm days after Northeast walloped by snow, freezing temps
More than 30 million people are under winter alerts stretching from Colorado to Michigan.
www.nbcnews.com
Boris Johnson condemned over 'failures of leadership' in 'Partygate' report | CNN
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was fighting to save his flailing premiership on Monday after a damning investigation uncovered multiple parties, a culture of excessive drinking and a "failure of leadership" in his government while the rest of the country was living under strict Covid-19...
RNC chief of staff to leave post
Richard Walters, who has been chief of staff for four-plus years, is moving into a senior adviser role.
www.politico.com
Gabbard says Biden picked ‘disaster’ Harris due to same 'identity politics' behind Supreme Court search
President Biden said last week he will pick a Black woman to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer by the end of February.
Judge rejects plea deal for man who killed Ahmaud Arbery
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A federal judge rejected a plea agreement Monday that would have averted a hate crimes trial for the white man convicted of murder for fatally shooting Ahmaud Arbery, whose parents angrily objected to the deal as unfair and unjust.
apnews.com
Analysis: Why 'states' rights' are having a Republican revival
The approaching legal and political showdown over abortion will reprise the key dynamics that shaped last week's bitter Senate struggle over voting rights -- and further inflame disputes between the parties over the filibuster and the role of "states' rights" in limiting federal guarantees of...
www.cnn.com
Crypto advocates score win as Himes revises ransomware safeguard
The section at issue would expand the Treasury Department's authority to monitor and freeze accounts at financial institutions.
www.politico.com
US Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota to seek 3rd term
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota announced Monday he is seeking reelection to a third term. The 45-year-old Republican announced his run for the state's lone House seat in a statement that touted his conservative record and effectiveness on agriculture policy. “I’ve kept my promises...
Biden administration proposes restoration of power plant rules undermined by Trump
The Biden administration on Monday proposed restoring the legal underpinnings of power plant pollution regulations following a Trump administration rollback. In 2020, the Trump administration …
thehill.com
Analysis-Inflation fears, Biden antitrust efforts could doom Sanderson, Wayne chicken deal
A plan hatched by Cargill Inc and Continental Grain Co to combine two big chicken processors - Sanderson Farms and Wayne Farms - flies in the face of the Biden administration's efforts to fight not just consolidation in the sector, but inflation. The deal is being considered even as the U.S...
Georgia prosecutor asks FBI for security help after Trump rally comments
"Security concerns were escalated this weekend by the rhetoric of former President Trump," wrote Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
www.cbsnews.com
POLITICO Q&A: DGA Chair Roy Cooper talks protecting incumbents and being ‘the last line of defense’
Cooper says he is confident that Democrats are going to defy conventional wisdom in the midterms.
www.politico.com
N. Korea confirms test of missile capable of striking Guam
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea confirmed Monday it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam, the North’s most significant weapon launch in years, as Washington plans steps to show its commitment to its Asian allies.
apnews.com
In eastern Ukraine, war-weary soldiers and civilians await Russia's next move
On Ukraine's eastern front lines, in the deep winter cold, soldiers and civilians await Russia's next move.
www.bbc.com
Texas Democrat tied to Azerbaijan inquiry faces tough primary election contest
An FBI raid could give Henry Cuellar’s progressive challenger a primary boost – but a Cuellar loss could open the door for Republicans Henry Cuellar, one of Texas’s most fascinating elected officials. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA Few people outside of south Texas, and even fewer outside the state...
Biden warns Russia of 'swift and severe consequences' if they 'walk away' from diplomacy and attack Ukraine
President Biden threatened Russia with “swift and severe consequences” should Moscow choose to “walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine,” maintaining that the United States and allies are continuing “to prepare for every scenario.”
Midwest braces for major snowfall, ice on roads: Forecast
The Midwest is bracing for a storm that could bring major snowfall and leave dangerous ice on roadways.
Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna lays out progressives' next steps
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) talks about how progressives view President Biden's presidency one year in.
Exclusive: Kamala Harris drove within several yards of pipe bomb at DNC headquarters during Capitol riot
Then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris drove within several yards of a pipe bomb lying next to a bench outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters on January 6, 2021, and remained inside the DNC for nearly two hours before the bomb was discovered, according to multiple law...
www.cnn.com
Lawmakers urge U.S. Olympic officials to defend outspoken athletes
Lawmakers on Monday urged U.S. Olympic officials to prepare to defend American athletes from possible Chinese government retaliation should they choose to speak out about China's rights abuses during next month's Beijing Winter Olympics.
www.reuters.com
A death row inmate's case is getting a fresh look after more than three decades. But evidence is missing and some witnesses are dead.
Time has already taken its toll on the information available for investigators to sift through.
www.cbsnews.com
US hitting Myanmar with new sanctions one year after coup
The U.S. government is imposing a new round of sanctions against Myanmar military officials, judges and businessmen on the one-year anniversary of the military coup that overthrew the cou…
thehill.com
Burkina Faso restores constitution, names coup leader president
Military restores constitution suspended after takeover and appoints Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim leader.
Russia responds in writing to US ahead of Blinken-Lavrov call on Ukraine crisis
The United States has received a written response from Moscow after it sent its own written answers following face-to-face meetings on the ongoing Ukraine crisis, the latest development in the ongoing diplomatic campaign aimed at deterring a potential Russian invasion of the country.
www.cnn.com
2022 money race: RNC edges DNC last year in fundraising fight
The RNC slightly outperformed the rival DNC in fundraising last year, according to the latest figures released by the two national party organizations.
Prosecution completes case at Michael Avenatti fraud trial
The government has rested its case at a trial where jurors heard allegations that California lawyer Michael Avenatti stole nearly $300,000 in book proceeds from porn star Stormy Daniels
Youngkin hustles to push swing state Virginia to the right
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has used his first two weeks in office to push Virginia firmly to the right, attempting a dramatic political shift in a state once considered reliably Democratic that's being closely watched by others in the GOP. In his opening days, the new governor issued...
Ballot drive seeks to expand voting in battleground Michigan
A Michigan ballot drive that was launched Monday would make it easier to vote, creating more than a week of early voting, letting all voters request an absentee ballot for future elections and requiring prepaid postage on return envelopes. The proposed constitutional amendment also would...
Dozens of N.D. school districts face milk shortage over lack of delivery drivers
State officials have notified the districts, many in the eastern part of the state, that there may not be enough milk cartons for daily school lunch programs.
www.nbcnews.com
The 3 Supreme Court justices to watch after Breyer retires
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor would gain new power, Justice Elena Kagan will likely recalibrate her negotiating style and Chief Justice John Roberts may have less chance for compromise.
www.cnn.com
Trump-backed Cheney primary challenger Hageman hauls in $1 million since launching congressional bid
Harriet Hageman, who's endorsed by former President Trump as she primary challenges Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, reports $1 million in fundraising.
Harris-to-Supreme-Court chatter opens window into Dems’ deepest fears
The vice president isn’t going be nominated to the high court. But some Dems can’t stop talking about it.
www.politico.com
Why did the Houthis attack the UAE? Everything you need to know
Why are Yemen’s Houthis launching attacks on the UAE and is this a new front in the war? We answer the key questions.
Biden delivered a booming economy. Now he needs the Fed to deal with the fallout.
The inflationary concerns that have dogged the president’s domestic agenda are likely to linger at least into the second half of the year.
www.politico.com
Biden, Congress stare down daunting month as Russia-Ukraine conflict, Supreme Court pick, China bill loom
A long to-do list with limited opportunities for political wins is threatening to pour even more chaos on President Biden's administration.
Dems miscount votes in Pa. Senate endorsement meeting
Party officials say a handful of votes were not tabulated, but it had no material effect on the outcome.
www.politico.com
University in Michigan accidentally tells 5,500 students they received nearly full scholarships
Central Michigan University also wrongly informed undergrads they were getting money — but then honored the mistaken scholarships.
www.nbcnews.com
African Union suspends Burkina Faso after coup last week
The African Union has announced in a tweet that it has suspended Burkina Faso until constitutional order is restored in the West African country
Another New York prosecutor decides not to charge Andrew Cuomo following sexual harassment probe
Oswego County district attorney is the fourth county prosecutor to investigate but decline to charge Cuomo over sexual misconduct allegations.
www.cbsnews.com
The 3 Republicans to watch as Biden picks his SCOTUS nominee
This trio has backed the president's judicial picks so far at a comparable rate to the centrist Democrats who most often backed Donald Trump's picks.
www.politico.com
Biden says he will designate Qatar as major non-NATO ally
President Biden on Monday said he would designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally as he highlighted the relationship between the U.S. and the Gulf state as central to relocating Afghans, stabilizing…
thehill.com
Olympians worry as 'Winter' disappears from Winter Games
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Ski racers settling into the start gate for Alpine World Cup events in the Rocky Mountains in early December squinted through sunshine that carried the temperature toward 50 degrees and glanced down at a course covered with pristine — and manufactured — snow.
apnews.com
Boston digs out from record-tying snowfall
With 23.6 inches falling on Saturday, Boston tied its record for most snow in one day in January.
Why my mother won’t leave Ukraine to join me in US
Some want to flee. For others, there's a feeling it's nothing new - and there's the cat to deal with.
www.bbc.com
Second GOP governor calls for Trump-less 2024 election
Donald Trump’s presidency is one and done, according to a pair of Republican governors, who have said the 45th president is not the future of the GOP.
Faith in the metaverse: A VR quest for community, fellowship
Under quarantine for COVID-19 exposure, Garret Bernal and his family missed a recent Sunday church service. So he strapped on a virtual reality headset and explored what it would be like to worship in the metaverse.
apnews.com
4.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Oklahoma, rattling residents in 2 states | CNN
More than 200 cities and towns were affected by a "notable" 4.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the Midwest, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said Monday.
Seattle area sees record gun violence in 2021
Data from 2021 shows a spike in homicides and shootings in the Seattle area last year, with 88 fatal shootings and 372 people wounded by gunfire in the county where the Pacific North…
thehill.com
Growth slows at end of 2021 in 19 countries that use euro
Growth in the 19 countries that use the euro slowed down at the end of last year
Celebrations for Year of the Tiger are muted, but bring hope
BEIJING (AP) — People across Asia prepared Monday for muted Lunar New Year celebrations amid concerns over the coronavirus and virulent omicron variant, even as increasing vaccination rates raised hopes that the Year of the Tiger might bring life back closer to normal.
apnews.com
Inside Kazakhstan's giant crypto-mine
Kazakhstan is now the world's second biggest crypto-currency mining country, thanks partly to a vast mine in the desert.
www.bbc.com
US has identified Russian elites who will be sanctioned if Putin invades Ukraine | CNN Politics
The Biden administration has identified several elite Russian government officials and business leaders that the US intends to sanction if Russia invades Ukraine, a senior administration official told CNN.
North Korea missile tests: Photos from space released
The unusual pictures were allegedly taken from its most powerful missile launch in five years.
www.bbc.com
Analysis: Donald Trump just made it much more likely that Congress changes this election law for 2024
Congress has been talking about reforming the 1887 Electoral Count Act for a while now. Donald Trump may have (unwittingly) given elected officials the boost they needed to get something done.
www.cnn.com
Cheslie Kryst, former Miss USA and correspondent for 'Extra,' dead at 30 | CNN
Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died Sunday morning, said her family and the New York Police Department, which is investigating her death. She was 30.
'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan is asking people to stop commenting on her body
"If you have an opinion about my body please, please don’t share it with me," she wrote in an Instagram post.
www.nbcnews.com
‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’ director W. Kamau Bell braces for backlash
Bell says Black Americans are right to be suspicious about the criminal legal system. "That doesn’t change the fact that I believe that he raped or assaulted over 60 women."
www.nbcnews.com
Omicron amps up concerns about long COVID and its causes
More than a year after a bout with COVID-19, Rebekah Hogan still suffers from severe brain fog, pain and fatigue that leave her unable to do her nursing job or handle household activities. Long COVID has her questioning her worth as a wife and mother.
apnews.com
New York City will offer free, at-home delivery of COVID-19 antiviral pills
New York City has begun offering free, same day at-home delivery of COVID-19 antiviral pills to eligible residents, although supplies remain limited.
US gives full approval to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Monday granted full approval to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, a shot that's already been given to tens of millions of Americans since its emergency authorization over a year ago.
apnews.com
Trump at odds with preferred candidates on Covid vaccines | CNN Politics
Many Donald Trump-backed candidates who have blindly embraced his falsehoods about the 2020 election are showing a rare willingness to buck the former President on a most controversial question: whether or not Americans of all ages should get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Canada PM tests positive for COVID, rips anti vaccine demo
TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he has tested positive for COVID-19 but is “feeling fine” and will continue to work remotely from home. Trudeau said two of his children have COVID-19 and a test Monday revealed he has been infected as well.
apnews.com
Arkansas governor urges CDC to provide clear path to endemic status
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) on Monday urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide clear guidance that will allow states to transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic and…
thehill.com
This map is the key to when US might start easing Covid-19 restrictions | CNN
There is now more optimism that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic may be ending -- and as other nations lift certain Covid-19 restrictions, some public health experts question whether US counties and cities should consider easing their guidance on mask-wearing or social distancing, as well.
U.S. CDC warns against travel to Mexico, Brazil, Singapore over COVID-19
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday advised against travel to a dozen countries because of high rates of coronavirus infection, including Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Ecuador, Kosovo, Philippines and Paraguay.
www.reuters.com
Newsom defends maskless photo at NFL playoff game
The California governor faces a barrage of criticism after posing for a maskless photo with Magic Johnson.
www.politico.com
Governors look to move beyond COVID restrictions and return to ‘a great state of normality’
“We need to move away from the pandemic,” Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Monday outside the West Wing, shortly after the group he heads, the National Governors Association, met with President Biden at the White House.
Republicans challenge CDC coronavirus mask, school guidelines for children
Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., led a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky Monday urging her to roll back guidelines for children for the sake of their mental, physical and emotional health.
Minnesota House, Senate diverge on COVID policies
The Minnesota House and Senate are again taking different approaches to governing amid the pandemic.State of play: The GOP-majority Senate will meet in-person, though members have the option to vote remotely. Committee meetings will take a similar format, with people participating both via Zoom...
Experts say the COVID-19 emergency could end this year. What would it look like?
Public health experts say many societal changes are needed for when COVID-19 becomes an endemic disease.
Novavax asks FDA to authorize its Covid shot
The company is aiming to produce at least 2 billion doses of its vaccine in 2022, of which the U.S. has ordered 100 million.
www.politico.com
At a California hospital, Omicron leaves staff exhausted in body, and sometimes spirit
Alexandria Scott rests her head in her hand at the emergency room reception and hopes the worst is over after the COVID-19 Omicron variant swept into her Orange County, California, hospital.
www.reuters.com
Trump World adjusts to the growing influence of vaccine skeptics within its ranks
The former president was set to lean into booster shots and his stewardship of Operation Warp Speed. That’s changed.
www.politico.com
Employees quit over ‘catch the virus’ promotion at Washington state bar
Employees at a Washington state bar quit over their former employers’ “catch the virus” COVID-19 promotion. Vessel Taphouse owner Steve Hartley told The Daily Herald that four employees quit t…
thehill.com
Hamsters and mail: China, Hong Kong identify new Covid threats despite doubts
Faced with outbreaks that threatened to overshadow next month’s Winter Olympics, officials turned to new measures that have drawn dismay from residents and experts.
www.nbcnews.com
Freedom Convoy: Trudeau calls trucker protest an 'insult to truth'
Police warned of "traffic, noise and safety issues" in Ottawa as a vaccine mandate protest continues.
www.bbc.com
S Africa scraps isolation for asymptomatic COVID positive people
South Africa cuts isolation for symptomatic patients to 7 days and says those with no symptoms not required to isolate.
A tale of two cases: Covid infections lay bare Beijing’s wealth disparity
“The man and woman seem to live in the same place, but [their activity logs] suggest that they live in two separate worlds,” one Weibo user commented.
www.nbcnews.com
Governors say they told Biden US needs to 'move away from the pandemic' at White House meeting
A bipartisan group of governors told President Joe Biden that the country needs to "move away from the pandemic," Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said at the White House Monday.
www.cnn.com
Police investigate 'illegal' acts at Canadian anti-vaccine mandate rallies
Former President Donald Trump commended the Freedom Convoy protesters Saturday for “resisting bravely these lawless mandates."
www.nbcnews.com
First patients vaccinated in clinical trial of HIV experimental vaccine that uses Moderna's mRNA technology | CNN
The first participants have been vaccinated in a Phase 1 clinical trial of an experimental HIV vaccine that utilizes Moderna's mRNA technology, the company announced last week.
