(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
WASHINGTON (AP) — All but acknowledging defeat, President Joe Biden said Thursday he’s “not sure” his elections and voting rights legislation can pass Congress this year. He spoke at the Capitol after a key fellow Democrat, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, dramatically announced her refusal to go along with changing Senate rules to muscle past a Republican filibuster blockade.
Supreme Court halts COVID-19 vaccine rule for US businesses
The Supreme Court has stopped a major push by the Biden administration to boost the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination rate, a requirement that employees at large businesses get a vaccine or test regularly and wear a mask on the job.
apnews.com
Seditious conspiracy: 11 Oath Keepers charged in Jan. 6 riot
Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group, has been arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S.
apnews.com
Jan. 6 committee pushes back against McCarthy, GOP 'legitimacy' complaints
The committee's lawyers said Republicans' standards have changed now that they're not in control of the House.
www.nbcnews.com
Sinema, Manchin reject Biden push to change filibuster for voting rights
President Joe Biden headed to Capitol Hill Wednesday to persuade Democratic lawmakers to back a major change to Senate rules in order to pass voting rights reform.
RNC threatens to boycott commission's presidential debates
The Republican National Committee says it is planning a rules change that would force presidential candidates seeking the party’s nomination to sign a pledge saying they will not participate in any debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
apnews.com
Dems switch strategy on voting bill as Biden pushes action
Senate Democrats are trying to force a public showdown over their sweeping elections legislation. They're aiming to launch debate on a key party priority even though there’s no assurance the bill will come to a vote.
apnews.com
Biden says he's "not sure" about voting bills' future after Sinema reiterates opposition to rule change
Biden met with Senate Democrats on Thursday.
www.cbsnews.com
Democratic House member asks Capitol Police to investigate Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ‘dangerous threats in my workplace’ - Washington Examiner
Rep. Haley Stevens took to social media to ask Capitol Police to investigate Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene after the Georgia Republican did an interview suggesting the use of "Second Amendment rights" against Democrats. “I am concerned about the mental health of my colleague from Georgia,” the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Kyrsten Sinema not backing down on the filibuster in fatal blow to Democrats’ voting rights fight | CNN Politics
Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona reiterated from the Senate floor Thursday that she is not backing off her position to uphold the filibuster, less than an hour before President Joe Biden arrived on Capitol Hill to pitch Democrats on eradicating it.
www.cnn.com
U.S. officials prepare for escalation as NATO-Russia talks end with no resolution on Ukraine tension
U.S. representatives and NATO members wrapped a week of high-stakes discussions in Europe with top Russian officials with no resolution on Ukraine.
Jan. 6 panel subpoenas Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and YouTube
The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol subpoenaed some of the country’s largest social media and tech companies on Thursday, arguing they had not been forthcoming…
thehill.com
Trump is eyeing the White House and wants a more compliant Senate for when he gets there
The former president still is angry that key agenda items got stymied in the chamber. He doesn’t want that to happen again.
www.politico.com
Russia says NATO talks ‘unsuccessful’ as Poland warns of war
Week of diplomacy aimed at easing Russia-Ukraine tensions looks set to fail as fears of escalation rise.
RNC moves to require presidential candidates to skip traditional commission debates
The Republican National Committee (RNC) alerted the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) on Thursday that it plans to require GOP presidential nominees not to attend debates run by the commissi…
thehill.com
It's the pandemic, stupid!
Fed staff see annual inflation falling to 2.1 percent by the end of 2022.
www.politico.com
MyPillow CEO's legal advisor has ties to GOP super PACs and has pushed false claims about Kamala Harris, Covid
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's legal advisor has ties to Republican super PACs and has also pushed false claims about Vice President Kamala Harris and Covid-19.
Gallego calls out fellow Arizona Democrat Sinema for her support of filibuster - Washington Examiner
Rep. Ruben Gallego delivered remarks on the House floor Thursday to criticize his fellow Arizona Democratic Sen. Krysten Sinema’s speech in defense of the upper chamber’s filibuster, calling her out by name. Democracy is under attack, and Congress must respond. pic.twitter.com/0gLtja6srL— Ruben...
www.washingtonexaminer.comCruz's Nord Stream 2 sanctions bill fails in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate on Thursday failed to pass a bill to slap sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a day after Democrats unveiled their own legislation. The tally was 55 in favor and 44 against the bill that needed...
Democrats’ agenda plunges into uncertainty following Biden visit - Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden left a meeting with Senate Democrats on Thursday with a bleak outlook on the passage of two partisan election overhaul bills that party lawmakers believe are essential to preserving their majority in Congress. “I hope we can get this done,” Biden told reporters gathered...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Psaki: Why is GOP afraid of presidential debates?
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday suggested the Republican National Committee (RNC) was afraid of participating in presidential debates after the group issued a letter discouraging …
thehill.com
US Embassy in Baghdad says it was attacked
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said Thursday that it was attacked by terrorist groups, the latest amid a series of attacks targeting U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. “The U.S. Embassy compound w…
thehill.com
Congress launches funding talks ahead of February shutdown cliff
The Hill's top four spending leaders met amicably for the first time in months, a sign that they could move beyond the funding stalemates.
www.politico.com
Manchin says he won’t vote to ‘eliminate or weaken the filibuster’
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) vowed on Thursday that he will not “vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster,” the latest blow to Democratic hopes of changing the Senate rules to pass voting rights le…
thehill.com
Abortion grows as priority issue for Democrats: AP-NORC poll
A new poll finds Democrats increasingly view protecting abortion rights as a high priority for the government as Roe v. Wade faces its strongest threat in decades.
apnews.comTennessee Republicans Move To Gerrymander Nashville Into ‘Political Oblivion’
The GOP wants to split Nashville into three congressional districts, which would dilute the power of Black voters and end a century of Democratic representation.
Relief, satisfaction at conviction of Syrian former colonel
Survivor Musallam al-Quwatli says conviction of Anwar Raslan for his role in crimes against humanity was a ‘first step’.
Democrats OK with fines, prison, and mandates for vaccine deniers: Poll - Washington Examiner
Nearly two years after former President Donald Trump tossed politics into the nation’s battle against the coronavirus, the partisan divide appears to have grown, with Republicans fighting mandates and Democrats calling for harsh punishments for those who refuse to get vaccinated.In an expanded...
www.washingtonexaminer.comPOLITICO Playbook PM: Sinema stuns White House with floor speech
And the FBI arrests Stewart Rhodes.
www.politico.com
Atlanta opening new police precinct amid secession push
Atlanta’s recently elected mayor has unveiled a new police precinct in the city’s large Buckhead district as he tries to head off an effort to make it a separate city.
apnews.com
Soaring used car prices are pushing inflation higher, and there's not much the U.S. can do about it
The potential upside for President Biden is that inflation is expected to moderate organically and as the Fed looks to raise interest rates this year.
Biden acknowledges election overhaul bills may fail in the Senate
President Biden said Thursday that he is “not sure” whether Democrats will be successful in the passage of legislation to federally takeover elections.
Rocket hits Green Zone, US Embassy in Iraq: 'We're still assessing the damage'
The U.S. Embassy and other parts of the Green Zone in Baghdad were attacked by "terrorist groups" Thursday.
PA GOP Senate Battle: David McCormick returns fire, calls on Dr. Oz to ‘renounce’ Turkish citizenship
Former hedge fund executive David McCormick returns fire at Dr. Oz as he jumps into the GOP Senate primary in Pennsylvania
Clay registers as a foreign agent
The Missouri Democrat will work on the firm’s account for the Corporate Association of the Gaesong Industrial Complex.
www.politico.com
Several rockets hit Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, including US embassy, and wound two civilians | CNN Politics
A woman and a child were wounded when several rockets hit Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, including the US embassy, on Thursday, the embassy and Iraqi military said in statements.
www.cnn.com
Israeli forces violently suppress Palestinian protest in Naqab
Dozens of Bedouin Palestinians wounded by Israeli forces who fired rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and stun grenades.
House Republicans' campaign arm raised $140 million in 2021
The House Republicans' campaign arm raised $140 million in 2021, and $17.9 million in December alone, setting a new record for the committee's off-year fundraising, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The hefty cash infusion into the National Republican Campaign Committee comes as House Republican...
House passes voting rights package, setting up Senate filibuster showdown
The House passed voting rights legislation on Thursday in a way that is intended to set up a battle in the Senate over that issue as well as the filibuster.The measure passed in a 220-203 party-lin…
thehill.com
Opinion | Why Is Joe Biden the ‘Unifier’ Ignoring Bipartisan Election Reform?
A group of Republicans and Democrats is coalescing around fixing the Electoral Count Act, while the president clings to likely-to-fail voting legislation.
www.politico.com
If Russia attacks Ukraine, here’s how it might unfold
With troops massed on Ukraine’s border, Russia has many options for an attack, experts say, including steps short of full-scale invasion and occupation.
www.nbcnews.com
Capitol riot: Oath Keepers leader charged with seditious conspiracy
This is first time Capitol riot defendants have been accused of seeking to "overthrow" the government.
www.bbc.com
Top Trump nemesis might join GOP Senate primary
There’s growing speculation in Arizona that Republican Gov. Doug Ducey will jump into the high-profile Senate race.
www.politico.com
READ: Seditious conspiracy indictment related to US Capitol attack | CNN Politics
The Justice Department has charged the leader of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, and 10 others with seditious conspiracy related to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.
cnn.it
Opinion | Why Voting Rights Isn’t (Usually) Bipartisan
History shows that more often than not, the party that wants to protect voting rights has to do it over the objections of the other.
www.politico.comBlue Nashville to be split into three red congressional districts
Nashville will be split between three conservative congressional districts, according to a map released Wednesday by Republican lawmakers.Why it matters: The map sets the stage for a new political reality in the state capital, which has had Democratic representation in Congress for decades.Get...
Nasdaq 100 sinks more than 2.5 percent as technology rout deepens
The tech-heavy Nasdaq led losses on Wall Street amid growing fear that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.
Republicans push State Dept. on loans to refugees, warn resettlement orgs have 'vested financial interest'
FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans, led by Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, are pushing for more information from the State Department about a program to issue travel loans to refugees via the United Nations -- with the lawmakers expressing concern that it gives resettlement organizations a "vested...
S.D. Gov. Kristi Noem releases national ad targeting transgender student athletes
The ad promotes a bill the South Dakota governor proposed last month that would ban trans girls from playing on female school sports teams.
www.nbcnews.com
Avenatti files claim seeking $94 million for alleged mistreatment in federal custody
Avenatti is seeking $94 million from the federal government, or $1 million for each day he says he was held in solitary confinement or lockdown.
www.cbsnews.com
Russia's talk of troops in Latin America called 'bluster'
A senior Russian diplomat has refused to rule out a Russian military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela if tensions with the United States over Ukraine and NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe mount.
apnews.com
Rapper formerly known as Kanye West named main suspect in Los Angeles battery investigation
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West is the main suspect in a battery investigation, Los Angeles police confirmed to CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
Jan. 6 committee rebuts challenges to its legitimacy, citing Katrina and Benghazi probes
House Counsel Douglas Letter noted that there is precedent for a select committee operating without a contingent of members appointed by the minority party.
www.politico.comCops Suspect ‘Foul Play’ After Gay Rights ‘Hero’ Found Dead at Florida Dump
via Tallahassee Police DepartmentThe body of a prominent figure in Florida’s gay rights movement was found in a landfill last week, and authorities now believe his death was the result of “foul play.”Jorge Diaz-Johnston, 54, was found dead in a Jackson County landfill days after the Tallahassee...
Pelosi says Biden’s voting speech was ‘wonderful’ and ‘fabulous’
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday said President Biden’s speech on voting rights delivered Tuesday was “wonderful” and “fabulous,” dismissing criticism from a top Senate Democ…
thehill.com
READ: Supreme Court rulings on nationwide vaccine and testing mandate for large businesses, health care vaccine mandate | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court has blocked President Joe Biden’s vaccine or testing requirement aimed at large businesses, but allowed a vaccine mandate for certain health care workers to go into effect nationwide.
cnn.it
UKs embattled Prince Andrew loses honorary military titles
Prince Andrew has been stripped of his honorary military roles as allegations of sexual abuse against him shine unwanted attention on the House of Windsor.
apnews.com
Nevada candidate seeks Trump's favor with Florida TV spot
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — In a campaign ad, Nevada gubernatorial candidate Michele Fiore steps out of a Ford F-150 with a handgun holstered on her hip and tells viewers she was one of the first elected officials to endorse Donald Trump in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
apnews.com
UN chief warns millions of Afghans are on 'verge of death'
The United Nations chief is warning that millions of Afghans are in grave danger and on the “verge of death" because of freezing temperatures and frozen assets abroad
What's in Democrats' latest voting rights reform legislation?
NBC's Jane Timm takes a look at what Democrats plan to include in their voting rights reform packages they are trying to pass in Congress.
www.nbcnews.com
Schumer says Senate will take up voting rights Tuesday as Democrats face grim odds | CNN Politics
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday evening the Senate will delay its scheduled January recess and take up voting legislation on Tuesday despite major obstacles that appear to have closed off a path for Democrats to achieve that ambition.
www.cnn.com
The VA's new mission: improve health of pregnant military veterans
A new law will pump $15 million into maternity care at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
www.nbcnews.com
Thousands of federal inmates to be released under 2018 law
The Justice Department will begin transferring thousands of inmates out of federal prisons this week as part of a sweeping criminal justice overhaul signed by President Donald Trump more than three years ago.
apnews.comVirginia's incoming governor Glenn Youngkin is hiring lots of Trumpworld vets despite keeping Trump at arms length on the campaign trail
Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin has hired a number of former Trump administration officials as he prepares to bring Virginia government under Republican control.
Biden was forged in the Senate. Now he's burning political capital to change it.
The president faces long odds as he wades into the filibuster battle. Still, Democrats say it's better to try and fail than not try at all.
www.politico.com
NASA begins long process of focusing James Webb space telescope
NASA’s ground team will handle adjusting the Webb’s mirrors, an alignment process that’s expected to take about three months.
thehill.com
Woman with semi-automatic rifle, other guns in vehicle arrested outside U.S. Capitol Police headquarters
The arrest came less than a week after officials marked the first anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
www.cbsnews.com
Democrats urge IRS to start with lowest-income Americans in clearing tax return backlog
House Democrats are urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to begin eliminating its backlog of unaddressed returns starting with the lowest-income Americans, days after the Treasury Department w…
thehill.com
Navient agrees to $1.7 billion student loan settlement
Navient agreed to pay nearly $2 billion to settle claims by 38 states and the District of Columbia it deceived thousands of borrows into costly, long-term, forbearance.
Newsom takes aim at DeSantis: 'We'd have 40,000 more Californians dead if we took his approach'
This week, two prominent governors — California’s Gavin Newsom and Florida’s Ron DeSantis — unveiled their budget proposals for their new year. And while neither mentioned the other by name, both took the opportunity to disparage the other’s COVID-19 policies in the process.
Harris says Manchin, Sinema shouldn’t be ‘absolved’ on protecting democracy
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
NY Gov. Hochul met with Chinese official who called genocide of Uyghur Muslims 'lies'
Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul repeatedly met with a Chinese government official who claimed that the human rights violations in China were “lies” and praised the Communist Party of China (CPC) as a “great party.”
Mortgage rates jump to pre-pandemic levels, threatening house demand - Washington Examiner
Mortgage rates have jumped to their highest level in nearly two years, threatening the country’s red-hot housing market. Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has risen to 3.45%. It's the highest rate since the pandemic struck in March of 2020 and comes as the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
US warns Russia is sounding ‘drumbeats of war’ against Ukraine as crisis talks end with no breakthrough | CNN Politics
A senior US official warned Thursday that the “drumbeat of war is sounding loud” following a week’s worth of diplomacy between the West and Russia that wrapped up Thursday.
www.cnn.com
Down but not out: Dems plot course for Child Tax Credit as payments end
Though lawmakers have now shifted their attention to voting rights, they say they’ll return to the child credit.
www.politico.com
Energy Department will recruit 1,000 additional staffers for new corps to tackle the climate crisis | CNN Politics
The DOE is launching a Clean Energy Corps to help develop clean-energy solutions to the climate crisis, the agency announced Thursday.
www.cnn.com
Russian troops begin leaving Kazakhstan after government restores control
Russian troops sent to Kazakhstan to help quell unrest have begun leaving, Russia's military says.
Critics call to end three-month celibacy requirement for gay, bisexual men amid blood shortage
Twenty-two U.S. senators urged the Health Department and the FDA to lift the restrictions in an open letter on Thursday.
www.nbcnews.com
Man charged with storming Capitol made rap videos about riot
Federal authorities say a South Dakota man charged this week with storming the U.S. Capitol last year performed rap songs about the riot in videos posted on his YouTube channel.
apnews.com
US jobless claims rise by 23,000 to 230,000
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since mid-November
How a nice-guy South Dakota senator fell into a Trump storm
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a lawmaker who doesn’t often make news, found himself in the midst of a political firestorm this week after he told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that President Biden…
thehill.com
More than 400,000 student loan borrowers will get debt relief from Navient | CNN Politics
More than 400,000 student loan borrowers will get some debt relief from Navient, according to a $1.85 billion settlement agreement announced Thursday.
www.cnn.com
Illinois judge under fire after reversing conviction in teen sex assault case, saying man's 148 days in jail was "plenty"
The prosecutor in the case said she had never in her 40-year career seen anything like Judge Robert Adrian's ruling.
www.cbsnews.com
MI5 warning over 'Chinese agent' in Parliament
The rare alert sent to MPs comes after a long-running investigation into Christine Ching Kui Lee.
www.bbc.com
41 Republicans demand Miguel Cardona resign over links to NSBA letter that targeted protesting parents
Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., led the letter to President Biden exclusively obtained by Fox News demanding he “immediately fire” Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona over the National School Board Association's letter comparing protesting parents to violent criminals.
Ohio governor facing primary: No pandemic response regrets
GOP Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says he has no regrets about his response to the coronavirus pandemic, even if Republican voters who thought he went too far are angry enough to vote him out in the upcoming May primary.
apnews.com
'Havana syndrome': US baffled after new cases in Europe
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says investigations continue after more diplomats fall ill.
www.bbc.com
North Korea stole a record $400 million in cryptocurrency last year, researchers say
North Korea’s hackers successfully breached at least seven cryptocurrency exchanges and laundered the money, according to a report released Thursday.
www.nbcnews.com
Georgia takes center stage as Biden’s visit kicks off year of political battles | CNN Politics
Georgia has become the center of the political landscape – and it’s likely to stay there for the remainder of 2022.
www.cnn.com
Melania Trump’s hat auction has even those who know her scratching their heads | CNN Politics
Melania Trump’s announcement last week that she was autographing and auctioning a hat for personal profit with two other items – for an opening bid of $250,000 – has left even those who know the former first lady well puzzling over her decision.
www.cnn.com
Republican rep who voted to impeach Trump running for reelection
Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump last year, announced on Wednesday that he would be running in California’s newly dra…
thehill.com
Lia Thomas controversy leads women's sports advocates to speak out against NCAA: 'It's about fairness'
Women’s sports advocates are speaking out against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its rules on transgender student athlete participation, but the organization has so far remained silent while transgender swimmer Lia Thomas shatters records on the women's team.
Australia equals hottest day on record at 50.7C
Onslow in Western Australia recorded 50.7C on Thursday, equalling a record set in 1962.
www.bbc.com
Stanford scientists complete fastest DNA sequencing technique in the world
“It was just one of those amazing moments where the right people suddenly came together to achieve something amazing. It really felt like we were approaching a new frontier,” said Euan Ashley, prof…
thehill.com
Plaintiff in historic same-sex marriage lawsuit found dead
Police are investigating the death of Jorge Diaz-Johnston, a plaintiff in a 2014 same sex marriage lawsuit, as a homicide.
The heat stays on: Earth hits 6th warmest year on record
Two U.S. science agencies say 2021 was the sixth hottest year on record globally, part of a long-term warming trend.
apnews.com
After wave of cancellations, Delta sees recovery in 2022
Delta Air Lines is reporting a $408 million loss for the final quarter of 2021, dragged down by a COVID-19 surge that rocked the airline in December
Marines grant two religious exemptions, marking first across military branches - Washington Examiner
The Marines have granted two religious exemptions for the coronavirus vaccine, making it the first service branch to do so despite more than 13,000 requests across the military.The service branch announced the two approved exemptions on Thursday in its weekly update, in which it also upped the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
McCarthy says he won't cooperate with request to speak to January 6 committee
Chair Bennie Thompson had requested McCarthy speak to them voluntarily.
www.cbsnews.com
New study says air knocks down COVID-19 infection rate by 90 percent
Researchers in the U.K. studied the infectivity rate of COVID-19 over the course of 20 minutes and found a decrease almost immediately after the virus became airborne.
thehill.com
Ahead of 'frustrating' tax season, here’s the fastest way to get your refund
Treasury Department officials said that after a decade of cost-cutting measures, the IRS workforce is the same size it was in the 1970s.
www.nbcnews.com
Theranos' Holmes to be sentenced in September for fraud conviction
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is slated to be sentenced on Sept. 26 on her convictions for defrauding investors in the blood-testing startup, according to a court filing on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com
‘Abuse of power’: Kevin McCarthy refuses to cooperate with Jan. 6 committee - Washington Examiner
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he will not voluntarily cooperate with the Jan. 6 select committee's inquiry into the Capitol riot. “As a representative and the leader of the minority party, it is with neither regret nor satisfaction that I have concluded to not participate with this...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Carl Bernstein says Jan. 6 committee ‘has the goods’ on Trump: ‘In excess of anything we saw in Watergate’ - Washington Examiner
Watergate sleuth Carl Bernstein says the House committee investigating the Capitol riot "has the goods" on former President Donald Trump and his allies.The journalist made the comment during an appearance Wednesday on CNN, reacting to news the Jan. 6 panel asked House Minority Leader Kevin...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Schumer eyes final reckoning over voting rights and filibuster in high-stakes vote
Key votes are expected on the Senate floor in the next few days.
www.nbcnews.com
Column: Another Civil War? Sounds far-fetched, until it isn’t
What’s going on? I’ve been hearing so much lately about our national political divide that it brings a novelty song from my 1950s childhood back to mind: “Save Your Confederate Mo…
www.chicagotribune.com
Tennessee GOP release new US House map; Dems promise to sue
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Republicans on Wednesday released their plan to split fast-growing Nashville into multiple congressional seats, sparking alarm among Democratic leaders who warned that the new map
Gov. Greg Abbott says critics are 'playing politics' over Texas National Guard suicides
Abbott said the suicides are being investigated and thinks it will come out that not all “actually occurred during Operation Lone Star.”
www.keranews.org
Imagine another American Civil War, but this time in every state
If America has another civil war, it is more likely to be a war within the states than between them. Citizens of any state of any size, red or blue, may not have to go far to find a fight.
www.npr.org
Ukraine tensions: US says Russia faces stark choice
Russia is told to decide between de-escalation and diplomacy, or confrontation and consequences.
www.bbc.com
Swing State Trumpers Forged Electoral Letters in Harebrained Scheme to Overturn Biden's Win
Pro-Trump groups in at least five states sent forged elector certificates of ascertainment to the government.
www.rollingstone.com
Fauci exposes Rand Paul’s true motivations | CNN
Paul Begala writes that the heated exchange between Dr. Anthony Fauci and Sen. Rand Paul was an opportunity for the GOP to, in a moment echoing one of the McCarthy era’s most notorious hearings, denounce the unwarranted attacks on Fauci. But, sadly, not even Sen. Mitt Romney was willing to call...
www.cnn.com
Latino lawmaker: Jan. 6 investigation is about defending democracy at home
Rep. Pete Aguilar says it's “deeply troubling” that lawmakers who call out government repression and tyranny in Cuba and Venezuela “came back after the insurrection and voted to decertify the election.”
www.nbcnews.com
Obama backs Biden's call to change filibuster rules and pass voting rights legislation
In his first op-ed since leaving office, the former president wrote about the work that must go into protecting democracy.
www.politico.com
New York mayor reassigns brother to head his security detail -NY Times
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has reassigned his younger brother to a job overseeing his physical security, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, days after naming him deputy police commissioner of the largest U.S. police department.
www.reuters.com
Darrell Brooks faces 71 new charges in Waukesha parade massacre - Washington Examiner
The man charged in the deadly vehicle attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Nov. 21 has been dealt a bevy of new counts that deal mainly with the dozens of people who were injured. Darrell Brooks, 39, already facing six counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the Christmas parade attack, is...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Teenager who committed infamous Loudoun high school sexual assaults sentenced - Washington Examiner
The male high school student at the center of the high-profile sexual assault cases at two Virginia high schools was sentenced Wednesday to a “locked residential program” and must register as a sex offender. The student’s assaults gained national media attention after it was revealed the Loudoun...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Feds offer no plea deals to 3 former cops charged with violating George Floyd's rights
No last-minute plea deals are in the works for three former police officers charged with civil rights violations in the death of George Floyd, a prosecutor said.
Lawsuit alleges Ethan Crumbley brought severed bird head to school before deadly shooting
A civil lawsuit filed against the school district accuses administrators of putting students in danger by allegedly downplaying the accused gunman's actions.
www.cbsnews.com
5G rollout expected to continue after two-week delay
Two wireless carriers were set to expand their new 5G service Jan. 5, but airlines pushed back and requested government intervention.
www.nbcnews.com
DOJ and FBI national security officials downplay role in carrying out Garland’s school board memo - Washington Examiner
National security leaders at the Department of Justice and FBI downplayed their role in carrying out Attorney General Merrick Garland’s divisive school board memo, which followed a since-withdrawn letter referring to parent protesters as domestic terrorists. Matthew Olsen, the assistant attorney...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
The Memo: Biden’s overpromising problem
President Biden’s troubles are coalescing into one major problem — the perception that he promised more than he has delivered.The days when left-wingers like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) predicted B…
thehill.comNew York mayor reassigns brother to head his security detail -NY Times
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has reassigned his younger brother to a job overseeing his physical security, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, days after naming him deputy police commissioner of the largest U.S. police department.
www.reuters.com
‘Tenants have no choice’: Racism in urban planning fuels high rate of Black fire deaths
The deadly fires in the Bronx, New York and Philadelphia follow a historical pattern that sees Black people dying in accidents at alarming rates.
www.nbcnews.com
Astronomers witness the explosive death of a giant star for first time
Supernovas are usually detected only after they explode, but this time the star was spotted 130 days before its end.
www.nbcnews.comChallenge to Cawthorn's eligibility likely first of many across country
11 NC voters filed a candidacy challenge against Cawthorn.
spectrumlocalnews.comLawyer: Too late for Georgia to change maps for the midterms
ATLANTA (AP) — It's essentially already too late to make any changes sought by lawsuits challenging Georgia's new congressional and legislative maps ahead of this year's midterm elections, a lawyer
New York mayor reassigns brother to head his security detail -NY Times
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has reassigned his younger brother to a job overseeing his physical security, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, days after naming him deputy police commissioner of the largest U.S. police department.
www.reuters.com
Evictions ramp up in states as pandemic moratoriums come to an end
Housing advocates in New York City say they're already seeing a wave of tenants, often foreign-born people in low-income neighborhoods, being forced from their homes.
www.nbcnews.com
GOP Leader McCarthy rejects Jan. 6 panel demand for an interview
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says he will not voluntarily with the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 protests on Capitol Hill.
GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy says he won't cooperate with Jan. 6 committee
In a major development, the House Jan. 6 select committee on Wednesday asked GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy to voluntarily cooperate with its probe.
Baton Rouge activist says he'll challenge Kennedy for Senate
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Baton Rouge community activist Gary Chambers says he’ll enter this year’s Senate race in Louisiana against first-term incumbent John Kennedy, becoming the second Democrat to
Is the US really heading for a second civil war?
With the country polarised and Republicans embracing authoritarianism, some experts fear a Northern Ireland-style insurgency but others say armed conflict remains improbable
Arizona lawmakers urge Ducey to use war power at border
PHOENIX (AP) — A group of Republican state lawmakers and two former Trump administration officials called Wednesday on Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to use war powers to repel what they
Republican concedes special election in Virginia House
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A Republican candidate running for Virginia's House of Delegates conceded the race late Tuesday after unofficial results from a special election showed his Democrat opponent leading.
Worst inflation since 1982 puts Democrats in political jeopardy
Prices have risen 7% over the last year, the fastest pace in nearly 40 years.
www.cbsnews.com
Democrats’ danger: Failing to adapt to the new pandemic politics
There is a growing recognition that there are financial and mental health costs to endless waves of shutdowns
Hoda Muthana: Alabama IS bride loses appeal for return to US
US-born Hoda Muthana is a citizen and should be allowed to return with her son, the lawsuit argued.
www.bbc.com‘Political Correctness Has Killed Comedy’: Steve Harvey Denounces Cancel Culture and Says It’s the Reason He Won’t Do Another Comedy Special
Steve Harvey doesn’t approve of cancel culture. The “Family Feud” host recently spoke out about the concept during a press tour for the Television Critics […]
Process debates are turning Democrats against one another
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
Political scientist says US civil war unlikely
As the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol prepares for televised hearings later this month, public attitudes toward the attack are divided sharply along partisan lines.
Sens. Josh Hawley and Jon Ossoff offer competing bills to end stock trading by members of Congress
"Members of Congress should not be playing the stock market while we make federal policy," said Sen. Ossoff.
Michigan state police disproportionately stop Black drivers
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The leader of the Michigan State Police pledged changes Wednesday as the agency released an independent report finding that troopers disproportionately pulled over Black drivers in
Georgia county's first Black elections chief resigns
MACON, Ga. (AP) — A central Georgia county is scrambling to find a new elections supervisor with only months to go before voting for governor and other state and congressional
Indiana GOP Rep. Hollingsworth won’t seek reelection | Federal News Network
Republican Rep. Trey Hollingsworth says he won't seek reelection to the southern Indiana congressional seat that he first won in 2016 despite criticism that the wealthy Tennessee transplant had little…
federalnewsnetwork.com
Teacher pay raise plan moves forward at Mississippi Capitol
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi House acted quickly Wednesday to approve a bill that would increase teacher pay, nudging ahead of senators who are working on a separate plan.
Twitter agrees to Nigeria's demands to end seven-month ban
Following a seven-month ban, the micro-blogging site will register in Nigeria and pay tax locally.
www.bbc.comEx-Alaska official claims firing was politically motivated
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The former head of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. claims her firing was “political retribution” by board members appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Political expert: Money doesn’t always determine election winners
Wisconsin's gubernatorial election is shaping up to be a battle in the Badger State, even when it comes to the numbers in the candidates' bank accounts.
Revealed: The Billionaires Funding the Coup's Brain Trust
The DeVos, Bradley, and Scaife families gave hundreds of thousands to the Claremont Institute, a driver of Trump's election-fraud fantasies
www.rollingstone.com
2 women were strangled exactly two years apart in Utah. The suspect in their killings was just extradited to the U.S.
Juan Antonio Arreola-Murillo is accused of murdering the women on Feb. 9, 2006, and Feb. 9, 2008, authorities said.
www.nbcnews.com
Pipeline spills 300,000 gallons of diesel near New Orleans, killing fish, other animals
A 2020 inspection revealed external corrosion along a 22-foot section of pipe in the same area as the spill.
www.nbcnews.com
US acknowledges shipping Idaho radioactive waste to Nevada
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The federal government acknowledged it has been shipping mixed radioactive waste from a nuclear cleanup site in Idaho to Nevada and New Mexico for disposal.
Maine considers new protections for ballots, voting machines
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature will consider a proposal designed to protect its elections against interference with ballots and voting equipment.
Democrats and Republicans start doing the political dance in Richmond
The November election left Republicans in control the Virginia House of Delegates 52-48. Democrats still control the state Senate 21-19. How do the major issues impact the relationship between the …
www.wavy.com
Mississippi Senate OKs revisions to 4 US House districts
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Mississippi Senate on Wednesday passed a plan to redraw the state’s four congressional districts, sending it to Gov. Tate Reeves for his expected approval.
Political firestorm ignites over arsonist's plea deal given by Baltimore's top prosecutor
The political fallout continues after a man who was convicted on felony arson received a plea agreement by Baltimore’s top prosecutor that sent him home after serving less than six months in jail. Luther Trent plead guilty to one count of first-degree arson after setting the home of his...
foxbaltimore.comKemp names 2 new regents as chancellor impasse lingers
ATLANTA (AP) — Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday named two new members to seven-year terms on the Board of Regents, which governs the University System of Georgia.
Political Opponents Reject Lebanese President’s Call for Dialogue
Meanwhile, nation’s currency has plummeted further, by more than 15% of its value since the start of the year, leading to more misery for ordinary Lebanese
www.voanews.com
Candidates, political expert talk about impact of redistricting maps court ruling
North Carolina's redistricting saga continued this week with a new court ruling. A three-judge panel decided Tuesday, Jan. 11 not to throw out North Carolina's recently drawn district maps. The maps, drawn by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, have been accused by some of being...
wlos.com
'Why lie to me?' Senate race rivals attack carpetbaggery
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The title of “Pennsylvanian” may not carry quite the cachet of declarations of fighting socialists or getting tough on China, but it's increasingly the go-to weapon
Biden to double free COVID tests, add masks to fight omicron
President Joe Biden says the government plans to double to 1 billion the rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to be distributed free to Americans.
apnews.com
As omicron surges, HealthCare.gov sign-up deadline arrives
People looking for health insurance in the grip of the omicron surge have through Saturday to sign up for taxpayer-subsidized private coverage under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act.
apnews.com
COVID-19 updates: LA has highest daily death total since April
As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.5 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 849,000 Americans.
The puzzle of America's record Covid hospital rate
Europe has fewer Covid patients in hospital now. Why are the US and Canada bucking the Omicron trend?
www.bbc.com
Supreme Court hands Biden COVID vax mandate defeat, sparking fury from liberals
Liberals across the Twitter sphere reacted with anger, Republican attacks, and calls for Democrats to pack the Supreme Court following the nation’s highest court’s decision to block President Biden’s vaccine mandate on businesses with over 100 employees.
EU agency says omicron pushing COVID-19 out of pandemic phase
An official from Europe’s top medical product regulation agency said Tuesday that the COVID-19 omicron variant may be pushing the pandemic into becoming endemic.Marco Cavaleri, head of vaccin…
thehill.com
Biden calls on employers to mandate vaccines despite Supreme Court ruling
President Biden on Thursday appealed to states and companies to require people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus despite the Supreme Court blocking his vaccine-or-test mandate for larg…
thehill.com
Supreme Court blocks nationwide vaccine and testing mandate for large businesses, allows health care worker vaccine mandate to take effect | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked President Joe Biden’s vaccine and testing requirement aimed at large businesses, but it allowed a vaccine mandate for certain health care workers to go into effect nationwide.
www.cnn.com
COVID-19 pill rollout stymied by shortages as omicron rages
Two brand-new COVID-19 pills that were supposed to be an important weapon against the pandemic in the U.S. are in short supply and have played little role in the fight against the omicron wave of infections.
apnews.com
Canada: Unvaccinated father loses right to see his child
The father is not allowed to see the 12-year-old until next month - unless he gets vaccinated.
www.bbc.com
Republicans investigating COVID-19 origins slam Biden admin's 'unsatisfactory responses'
Republicans filed a letter to President Biden, demanding more active cooperation with investigations into the pandemic
Lawsuit filed against HHS seeks Fauci’s calendar entries at start of pandemic
Judicial Watch has filed a complaint demanding the calendar entries made by Fauci after a FOIA request to HHS went unacknowledged.
Scientists, medical professionals defend Fauci after heated exchanges with Republicans
Dozens of scientists and medical professionals have signed a letter defending White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci after he faced fierce criticism from Republican lawmakers during a…
thehill.com
NYC mayor considering virtual learning plan for schools
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is considering allowing the nation’s largest school district to return to some form of virtual instruction as the city weathers a wave of coronavirus cases.
apnews.com
Teachers confront half-empty classrooms as virus surges
Teachers around the U.S. are confronting classrooms where as many as half of students are absent
KN95 masks distributed to House members stamped with 'MADE IN CHINA'
Fox News received a photo of one of the distributed masks, which are now required to be worn in order for a member to access the House floor.
French teachers strike against ‘chaotic’ COVID-19 school strategy
Tens of thousands of teachers have walked out in nationwide strike to demand better protection for pupils and staff.
What to know about Biden’s plan to ship Americans 1 billion free at-home COVID tests
President Joe Biden announced 1 billion tests would be shipped for free to Americans. They'll start going out in late January.
Washington state refuses help with snow clearing from unvaccinated county workers - Washington Examiner
The Washington State Department of Transportation rejected the help of local county officials in clearing snow out of a pass that was blocked. Officials from Kittitas County said there was significant snowfall on Jan. 5 and Jan. 6 that blocked the Snoqualmie Pass for 90 hours, blocking supply...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Florida back over 70,000 daily COVID cases
Florida reported 71,742 new COVID-19 cases from Tuesday, a significant jump after two straight days when the increase was fewer than 50,000.
Wednesday Jan. 12, 2022, Covid news and the latest on the Omicron variant
The Omicron coronavirus variant is forecast to infect more than 50% of the Europe region's population in the next 6-8 weeks, the WHO said Tuesday, as countries around the world continue to record record high case numbers.
The Data Point: Child Covid vaccinations off to a slow start in the South
About 1 in 4 kids ages 5-11 have received a first dose, but vaccination rates are much lower in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
www.nbcnews.com
Partisan divide on COVID policy widens in state legislatures
Political divisions about coronavirus policies are evident as state lawmakers across the country are beginning their third year of sessions dealing with another spike in COVID-19 cases
EU agency says omicron pushing COVID-19 out of pandemic phase
An official from Europe’s top medical product regulation agency said Tuesday that the COVID-19 omicron variant may be pushing the pandemic into becoming endemic.Marco Cavaleri, head of vaccin…
thehill.com
Canada says vaccine mandates work as Quebec’s ‘unvaxxed tax’ leads to spike in first-dose appointments | CNN
One day after the Canadian province of Quebec announced it would financially penalize residents who are unvaccinated, the province’s health minister said Wednesday first-time appointments spiked in the hours following the announcement.
www.cnn.com
1 million expired COVID tests sitting in Florida warehouse OK to use after FDA grants extension
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended the shelf life of up to 1 million rapid COVID-19 tests that had expired in a Florida warehouse.
Latest COVID updates: US to add 500 million rapid tests
COVID news from January 12: Biden says gov’t will double the number of at-home testing kits to be given to Americans.
More Jacksonville children are in the hospital with COVID-19 than ever before. But there’s some good news
For the most part, those who are sick are not severe and are expected to recover.
Covid hospitalizations plateau in Illinois
It’s too soon to say the latest surge in Covid hospitalizations in Illinois has peaked; but they’ve certainly plateaued. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports 7,219 hos…
wgntv.comThe Data Point: Child Covid vaccinations off to a slow start in the South
About 1 in 4 kids ages 5-11 have received a first dose, but vaccination rates are much lower in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
www.nbcnews.com
Chicago Teachers Union narrowly votes to approve new coronavirus measures allowing in-person learning
The Chicago Teachers Union has narrowly voted Wednesday evening to approve a safety agreement between the union and the district supporting in-person classes.
Omicron disrupts transit, emergency services as workers call out sick: 'Most people are going to get Covid'
"It's hard to process what's actually happening right now, which is most people are going to get Covid," acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said.
COVID testing site center of several investigations closed
News 4 Investigates learned neither Missouri nor Illinois are keeping watch over pop-up test sites.
AP tells staff to 'avoid emphasizing' COVID case counts amid shift in covering pandemic
The newswire service told its editors and reporters to refrain from highlighting case counts in their reporting.
GOP lawmaker compares DC vaccine protocols to Nazi Germany | CNN Politics
Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio is drawing condemnation from his House colleagues for his comparison of Washington, DC’s vaccine and Covid-19 protocols to Nazi Germany.
www.cnn.com
COVID numbers fall in both counties, hospitalizations up - Shore Daily News
COVID numbers reported on Tuesday showed a slight dip in the number of test positives in both counties but a spike in hospitalizations in Accomack County. Accomack County booked 66 test positives, down from 109 on the previous report. But Accomack County reported five hospitalizations and no...
shoredailynews.com
Police arrested nurse faking injecting COVID-19 patients
This nurse in Italy faked giving COVID-19 shots to dozens, until he got caught.
www.deseret.com
Twin Cities tighten COVID rules for bars, restaurants
With the virus spreading rapidly, Minneapolis and St. Paul will soon require proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test to enter places serving food and drink. Some worry the plan will spark new confrontations with patrons.
www.mprnews.org
