(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection subpoenaed former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Wednesday, seeking to question an ally of former President Donald Trump who promoted false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Pence rebuked Trump -- and received an outpouring of GOP support in response
Mike Pence did not initially intend to admonish former President Donald Trump during a long-planned speech last week. But a pair of statements from Trump criticizing Pence's actions on January 6, 2021, were the final straw, said two people close to the former vice president. He had to say something.
www.cnn.com
NATO and Russia hold war games amid negotiations to reverse the escalating crisis on Ukraine's borders
The U.S. and its NATO partners are still negotiating with Russia amid military buildups by both sides, but military preparations are not based on best-case scenarios.
www.cbsnews.com
Democratic, GOP bargainers reach budget deal, 4 months late
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats and Republicans finally agreed on a framework for overall defense and domestic spending for this year, top lawmakers said Wednesday, opening the door to work on bills detailing how the government will spend well above $1 trillion on everything from Army tanks to...
apnews.com
Ukraine-Russia crisis: What to know about the fears of war
BRUSSELS (AP) — High-stakes diplomacy and military maneuvering continued Wednesday as Britain launched its own diplomatic effort to help avert a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. No breakthrough in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is in sight so far, and Russian President Vladimir...
apnews.com
Capitol Police denies baseless claim its officers spy on GOP
WASHINGTON (AP) — A year after the Jan. 6 insurrection, U.S. Capitol Police officers are facing increasingly heated and baseless allegations from House Republicans that the department’s officers are operating as politically driven spies.
apnews.com
Kinzinger: McCarthy a "feckless, weak" man doing Marjorie Taylor Greene's "bidding"
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said this week that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) looks like a "feckless, weak, tired man" after Kinzinger and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) were blacklisted from the Republican Party. Why it matters: His comments on "The Bulwark Podcast" come after the...
Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy
A lab in Oxfordshire takes a big step towards harnessing the energy source of the stars.
www.bbc.com
Louisiana Senate candidate Gary Chambers burns Confederate flag in latest viral ad
The Baton Rouge native, who recently drew attention for smoking marijuana in his first campaign ad, is back with another provocative spot.
Pelosi rips McCarthy for walking away, declining to comment on RNC censure resolution
Republicans "seem to have reached rock bottom with their statement that what happened on Jan. 6 was normal political discourse," Pelosi said.
www.nbcnews.com
For Black women, hopes and dreams rest on Biden court choice
NEW YORK (AP) — When the pressure gets intense, law student Jasmine Marchbanks-Owens likes to wander the hallways of Howard University, examining the faded, framed photos of prominent Black graduates of decades past.
apnews.com
Some Trump allies want him to pull his endorsement of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ahead of GOP primary
Donald Trump's team has heard from allies who are trying to encourage the former president to withdraw his support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other aides asked GOP prosecutor to give them Michigan county voting machines after 2020 election, report says
Giuliani was scheduled to sit this week for a deposition as part of the House select committee's investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot by a pro-Trump mob.
Trump responds to McConnell criticism of RNC censure resolution
Former President Trump slammed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday after the top Senate Republican criticized the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) censure of Reps.…
thehill.com
Three words that sparked GOP firestorm were not part of early draft of Cheney-Kinzinger resolution | CNN Politics
The three words about the US Capitol attack that have sparked a firestorm inside the Republican Party -- "legitimate political discourse" -- were not included in early drafts of the resolution to censure Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, a person involved in the process tells CNN, but were...
Homeland Security cites 'misleading narratives' as one reason for heightened terrorism alert
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday issued a bulletin warning of a heightened terrorism alert in part because of “the proliferation of false or misleading narratives, which sow discord or undermine public trust in U.S. government institutions.”
Florida man connected to Gaetz probe formally enters guilty plea
Joe Ellicott, known as “Big Joe,” pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit fraud and drug charges.
www.politico.com
A sign of ransomware growth: Gangs now arbitrate disputes
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Cyber criminal gangs are getting increasingly adept at hacking and becoming more professional, even setting up an arbitration system to resolve payment disputes among themselves, according to a new report by the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom that paints a...
apnews.com
Political cracks emerge as lawmakers look to implement bipartisan infrastructure act
Nearly three months since President Biden signed the bipartisan $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), political cracks have surfaced as policymakers look to implement the massive investment.
Senators call for gas tax suspension to blunt rising prices
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Democratic senators on Wednesday called for suspending the federal gas tax for the remainder of the year to help consumers struggling with rising fuel prices .
apnews.com
Outgoing Tennessee Democrat congressman says party 'facing extinction' in his state, relying on 'blind hope'
Outgoing Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee sat down for an interview with a local newspaper on Tuesday to give his thoughts on upcoming elections and the future of the Democratic Party in his state.
Trump: 'Mitch McConnell does not speak for the Republican Party'
The former president lashed out at McConnell a day after the Senate minority leader issued a strong rebuke to the Republican National Committee for its attempt to reframe the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as "legitimate political discourse."
Iran 'weeks' from having enough material for nuclear bomb
www.politico.com
Jayapal says GOP lawmaker’s behavior toward CBC chair was assault
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) accused Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) of assaulting her colleague, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who shared a public account of a tense interaction that occurred while the tw…
thehill.com
‘Targeted harassment’: Muslim girls in India denounce hijab ban
Visuals of Muslim girls being shut outside college gates in Karnataka state for wearing the hijab have led to outrage.
White House weighing former Obama adviser for senior Treasury job
Jay Shambaugh, a member of Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, is under consideration to be under secretary for international affairs.
www.politico.com
Deal reached on Violence Against Women Act after controversial provision is scrapped | CNN Politics
A bipartisan group of senators announced Wednesday they reached a deal to renew the Violence Against Women Act, marking a years-long effort to modernize the landmark legislation that expired in 2018.
Pelosi blasts RNC for attempt to reframe Jan. 6 as 'legitimate political discourse'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday condemned the Republican National Committee for its attempt to reframe the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as "legitimate political discourse."
Sharpton assails NYC’s crime spike: 'They’re locking up my toothpaste'
With recent, high-profile incidents of both nonviolent and violent crime in New York, Sharpton noted the “challenge” facing Adams between mitigating crime and supporting policing reforms.
www.politico.com
Ukraine tensions: Russia sees room for diplomacy
Speaking to the BBC, Russia's EU ambassador says conflict can still be avoided through diplomacy.
www.bbc.com
U.N. postpones space diplomacy talks after Russia asks for more time
The Biden administration has high hopes for the discussions that were slated get underway in Geneva next week.
www.politico.com
ID.me says users can delete selfies following IRS backlash
The tax agency reversed a plan to use face recognition after lawmaker and taxpayers raised concerns about breaches.
www.cbsnews.com
Where's Liz Cheney? The Wyoming Republican's Exile From Wyoming Republicans
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — The women arrived in red formal gowns, the men in suits and tuxedos. They posed in a photo booth with a cardboard cutout of former President Donald Trump and bid on auction items including a Glock pistol in a gift basket. Saturday was the biggest night of the year for...
Pelosi Deflects on Stock Trading and Punts Reform to Members
Win McNameeWith growing calls for Congress to ban its members from trading stocks, Speaker Nancy Pelosi—expected to announce support for new reforms—came before reporters on Wednesday and instead largely deflected questions about what, exactly, she is prepared to endorse.The word from Punchbowl...
VP Kamala Harris to rally US allies at Munich security conference
Harris will seek to unify NATO allies in face of potential Russian aggression as US troops begin to arrive in Europe.
Carville promotes new super PAC for Conor Lamb
The Pennsylvania congressman has so far been outraised by Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the progressive frontrunner in the Democratic Senate primary.
www.politico.com
Here's where the 1619 Project is gaining traction and facing challenges in the US
The 1619 Project has earned plenty of accolades and partners across the U.S. but has also encountered resistance from politicians at the state and federal level.
‘Nothing is sticking’: White House fights for Fed noms
The administration lined up statements of support from the left and right ahead of the announcements.
www.politico.com
Pentagon nominates Michael Bloomberg to lead Defense Innovation Board | CNN Politics
Michael Bloomberg, former New York City mayor and Democratic presidential candidate, has been nominated to serve as the chair of the Defense Innovation Board, a Defense Department spokesperson announced.
Arkansas map challenge heads to judge next
Testimony in a federal suit challenging Arkansas' redrawn legislative districts concluded Monday, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.The suit was filed in the Eastern District of Arkansas. Closing arguments were made Tuesday. Then, both sides will have to wait on U.S. District Judge Lee...
Postal Service reform bill heads to Senate after strong bipartisan House vote
"It is my intention for the Senate to quickly take up and pass this bipartisan, bicameral postal reform bill," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden administration firms up plans to get Americans out of Ukraine if Russia invades
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division could be called in to support Americans fleeing the country.
www.nbcnews.com
McConnell slows nomination of Biden pick for Minnesota US attorney over arsonist's 'unusually soft sentence'
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is slowing the confirmation process for a President Biden U.S. attorney nominee, saying he needs “assurances” that “jaw-dropping” practice of sentencing leniency will end.
Biden to meet with Senate Judiciary Democrats on Supreme Court vacancy
President Biden plans to host Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the White House on Thursday to discuss the impending Supreme Court vacancy, a White House official confirmed.Bi…
thehill.com
Slovakia approves defense military treaty with US
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s parliament and president on Wednesday approved a defense military treaty with the United States. The Defense Cooperation Agreement passed 79-60 in the 150-seat legislature in a vote split between lawmakers from the four-party ruling coalition and the...
apnews.com
Austin Police turn to artificial intelligence to help with 311 call backlog after defunding
Staffing shortages within the Austin Police Department continues to cause long wait times for customers calling for emergency help prompting the department to turn to artificial intelligence for help at call centers.
Canadian truckers protesting in Ottawa appear set to stay
Protesters have paralysed the centre of the Canadian capital for more than a week, frustrating residents and businesses.
RNC chair: ‘Disagreement in our party is welcome’ but GOP lawmakers on Jan. 6 panel ‘step too far’
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel doubled down on her defense of the committee’s censure against Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), saying that “disa…
thehill.com
Capitol attack inquiry narrows on Trump as panel subpoenas top aide
Move to pursue Peter Navarro suggests the select committee is edging ever closer to examining potential culpability for Trump Peter Navarro with Donald Trump in Washington in March 2020. ‘Navarro appears to have information directly relevant to [our] investigation,’ Bennie Thompson said...
Neanderthal extinction not caused by brutal wipe out
New fossils challenge ideas that modern humans wiped out Neanderthals after arriving from Africa.
www.bbc.com
National Archives asks Justice Department to probe Trump's handling of White House records
The National Archives said this week that Trump had to return 15 boxes of documents that were improperly taken from the White House.
www.nbcnews.com
SpaceX satellites falling out of orbit after solar storm
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX’s newest fleet of satellites is tumbling out of orbit after being struck by a solar storm. Up to 40 of the 49 small satellites launched last week have either reentered the atmosphere and burned up, or are on the verge of doing so, the company said in an online...
apnews.com
Florida advances "Don't Say Gay" bill that would bar LGBTQ discussions in schools
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he doesn't support "injecting these concepts about choosing your gender" at schools.
www.cbsnews.com
Disney earnings top estimates as Disney+ subscriptions surge
Disney+, the company’s two-year-old streaming service, kept profits afloat when the pandemic disrupted business.
Salah Abdeslam: Paris attacks defendant denies killing anyone
Salah Abdeslam claims he chose at the last moment not to blow himself up during the Paris attacks.
www.bbc.com
Congress moves to ban members from trading stocks as Pelosi drops opposition
After months of resistance, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has greenlighted a plan to ban members of Congress from trading stocks, CNBC confirmed Wednesday.
Successful experiment brings fusion energy ‘huge’ step closer to reality
Scientists at the Joint European Torus Laboratory in the U.K. were able produce a record-breaking 59 megajoules of heat in their recent experiment.
thehill.com
Super Bowl LVI is a 'potentially attractive target' for terrorism but there is no sign of any specific, credible threat, officials say | CNN Politics
Law enforcement is on high alert ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl and remains concerned about the sustained interest that international and domestic terrorists, as well as lone offenders have in targeting mass gatherings, according to a joint threat assessment obtained by CNN.
FDA's agenda in limbo as Biden's nominee stalls in Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration has stalled in the narrowly divided Senate, an unexpected setback that could delay decisions on electronic cigarettes and a raft of other high-profile health issues pending at the agency.
apnews.com
In dueling crime messages, House Democrats call for police funding, GOP senators blame Biden
Republicans are trying to make the nation's crime rates an issue in the midterm elections.
www.nbcnews.com
No money for drug pipes: Feds douse social media firestorm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dousing a social media firestorm, the Biden administration said Wednesday that a grant program to counter harm from illicit drugs will not pay for safer pipes to smoke crack or meth.
apnews.com
Demings dismisses fellow Dem's 'defund police' push, says lawmakers need to 'stay focused'
U.S. Rep Val Demings, D-Fla., on Wednesday rejected fellow Democrats’ push to "defund police," saying lawmakers need to "stay focused" on addressing violent crime.
Georgia Gov. Kemp gets GOP group's support as he faces Trump-backed primary challenge
The Republican Governors Association goes up with an ad backing Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who's facing a primary challenge from a candidate backed by former President Trump
NFL says it will take over the Washington Commanders' investigation into team owner Daniel Snyder
The results of an earlier investigation into rampant sexual harassment by executives of Washington's football team was not released publicly.
www.cbsnews.com
Obama to address House Democratic caucus
Former President Obama is expected to virtually address the House Democratic caucus during their private meeting. NBC's Leigh Ann Caldwell has details on the meeting and what it could mean for the party ahead of the midterm elections.
www.nbcnews.com
A running list of who the January 6 committee has subpoenaed or requested to appear
The committee investigating the deadly Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021, has issued scores of subpoenas to individuals and organizations as part of its probe into circumstances and coordination leading up to the storming of the US Capitol.
www.cnn.com
Biden admin pressed on legal authority for releasing migrants into US after DHS reveals numbers
Rep. Andy Biggs on Wednesday pushed DHS about its legal basis for releasing migrants into the U.S. interior – after DHS revealed the number of migrants released without a notice to check in with a local ICE office.
Negotiators reach ‘breakthrough’ in government funding talks
Sen. Richard Shelby (Ala.), the senior Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Wednesday that negotiators have reached a “breakthrough” agreement on the framework for an …
thehill.com
EXPLAINER: How to get up to $3,600 per child in tax credit
WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans who have never filed a tax return will need to do so this year in order to claim what's coming to them under the enhanced child tax credit. Previously, only people who earned enough money to owe income taxes could qualify for the full credit.
apnews.com
India college's ban on Muslim headscarf sparks protests, condemnation from Malala Yousafzai
A state-run college in Karnataka state barred a group of Muslim students from class, sparking a wave of protests and rekindling India's deep-rooted religious tension.
www.cbsnews.com
Heathrow arrest after woman says she was raped on flight
A man was arrested after the United Airlines flight from Newark Airport landed at Heathrow.
www.bbc.com
Democrats accuse GOP of ‘race-baiting’ with court pick attacks
Democrats are up in arms over GOP critics blasting President Biden’s vow to pick a Black woman for the Supreme Court, saying the notion that Biden’s strategy represents affirmative action is merely…
thehill.com
Senate Democrats shift strategy after progressive agenda falters
Senate Democratic moderates are urging their leadership to tack to the center by moving bills to the floor that can pass with strong Republican support, but it’s creating tension with liberals who …
thehill.com
Analysis: Trump sets off yet another GOP civil war, risking party's midterm strategy
Mitch McConnell doesn't say anything by accident. The Senate minority leader's every move is in the service of his long game dedicated to securing power.
www.cnn.com
GOP tensions flare over Jan. 6 attack
Republicans are struggling to break out of a cycle of Jan. 6 controversies, reigniting tensions within the party heading into the 2022 midterm elections.The fallout from the Republican National Com…
thehill.com
Navigating Ukraine, Biden offers frank assessments of unfamiliar allies in private
Biden has riffed about some of his counterparts involved in coordinating a response to Russian aggression, according to people who have heard him use the descriptions.
www.nbcnews.com
Analysis: In U.S. battle over redistricting, competition is the biggest loser
Lawmakers are drawing political maps that will likely deepen polarization and encourage more extreme candidates by eliminating competitive congressional seats, Reuters analysis shows.
www.reuters.com
RNC chair defends censure of Cheney and Kinzinger after GOP backlash
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel defended the RNC's decision to censure Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) in an op-ed in Townhall Tuesday and called media coverage of the action "patently false."Why it matters: The censure of Cheney and Kinzinger earlier...
'Stand up and tell them to pound sand': Ron DeSantis backs Joe Rogan, telling him not 'kow to the mob'
Echoing former President Donald Trump. DeSantis said Rogan "shouldn't have apologized" for uttering the N-word on his show.
Working conditions for Border Patrol getting more attention
WASHINGTON (AP) — A strained Border Patrol is getting increased attention from the Biden administration after tense meetings between senior officials and the rank and file while the agency deals with one of the largest spikes in migration along the U.S.-Mexico border in decades.
apnews.com
McConnell laughs off Trump’s ‘Old Crow’ nickname: ‘It’s my favorite bourbon’
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday waved off former President Trump’s preferred nickname for the Kentucky Republican — “Old Crow” — saying, “It’s my favorite bourbon.”“Ar…
thehill.com
Ukrainians not panicking as West ramps up invasion rhetoric
AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — In the trenches of eastern Ukraine , across the tense contact lines with Russia-backed separatists, a soldier's calm verges on numbness after a sniper's bullet recently killed one of the 50 or so men under his command.
apnews.com
Russian war games in Belarus designed to ‘send Ukraine a message’
Experts raise alarm over imminent drills which NATO says mark the biggest deployment to Belarus since the Cold War.
Still dead: Biden keeps pushing Build Back Better despite lack of bill
No matter how many times Sen. Joe Manchin kills it, President Joe Biden refuses to give up on Build Back Better.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden: Florida bill addressing sex, gender conversations in classrooms is 'hateful attack' on gay children
President Biden criticized a controversial bill making its way through the Florida legislature that addresses conversations teachers have with their students about gender and sexual orientation.
Biden administration believes it has until end of month to salvage Iran nuclear deal | CNN Politics
The Biden administration believes it has until the end of February to salvage the Iran nuclear agreement, otherwise the US will have to change tack and launch aggressive efforts to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, according to three administration officials.
Truck driver rams cars in Germany, 31 vehicles damaged
German police say an intoxicated truck driver rammed his vehicle into parked cars after ignoring a red light in southern Germany
Unionization efforts gain momentum on Capitol Hill
A new resolution marks the first step in what could be a lengthy process for staffers.
www.cbsnews.com
Senate's McConnell pushes back against Republican Party censure of Trump critics
Top U.S. Senate Republican Mitch McConnell on Tuesday criticized his party's censure of two prominent Republican critics of Donald Trump, joining an intra-party battle that could upend his efforts to project an image of party moderation in this year's midterm elections.
www.reuters.com
Gun-waving St. Louis couple placed on probation as lawyers
Mark and Patricia McCloskey gained national attention during protests last year.
www.politico.com
FDA's agenda in limbo as Biden's nominee stalls in Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration has stalled in the narrowly divided Senate, an unexpected setback that could delay decisions on electronic cigarettes and a raft of other high-profile health issues pending at the agency.
apnews.com
Canadian trucker protests shuts down major trading bridge to U.S.
New developments in the trucker protest against vaccine mandates in Ottawa as those protests are now causing shutdowns to the Ambassador Bridge, a trading link between Canada and the U.S. NBC News’ Ellison Barber has more on the story from Ottawa.
www.nbcnews.com
The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – War worries, funding follies, bomb scare
Presented by Facebook Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. It is We…
thehill.com
Missouri Republican to forgo Senate bid in hopes of securing Ways and Means gavel
Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., said he’s running for re-election in the House, where he will join a three-way race for the top GOP seat on the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.
www.nbcnews.com
North Korea expert Sue Mi Terry on the future of the Kim Jong Un regime - "Intelligence Matters"
The former senior CIA analyst joined "Intelligence Matters" host Michael Morell to discuss Pyongyang's spate of missile tests this year.
www.cbsnews.com
Syrian soldier killed in Israeli missile attack near Damascus
Surface-to-surface missile attacks came ‘from the direction of the occupied Golan’, Syrian state media says.
DeSantis encounters some resistance
www.politico.com
Dust-up over ex-science adviser shows Biden's promise-keeping problem
President Joe Biden's problems keeping his so-called Build Back Better agenda promises have been well-documented. But he is simultaneously struggling with the lofty good governance pledges he made as his stated ideals crash into the realities of his second year in office.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Glaciers are shrinking fast. Scientists are rushing to figure out how fast
Billions of people rely on glaciers for drinking water, hydropower and irrigation. A raft of new research suggests there is less ice left than previously thought.
www.npr.org
Spielberg, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo among Senate Dems’ big donors for 2022
Hollywood’s famous faces are pouring money into key 2022 Senate races, aiming to give a star-studded boost to Democrats fighting to hold on to their razor-thin majority in the midterm elections. &n…
thehill.com
Cori Bush won't drop 'defund the police' slogan even though Dems fear it's poison at the polls
Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., is refusing to back down from the 'defund the police' slogan, despite facing pushback from members of her own party.
Manchin skeptical of congressional staff union
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Tuesday appeared skeptical of congressional staffers unionizing, an idea that has gained support from top Democrats.Manchin, who said he hadn’t heard of the…
thehill.com
Joe Rogan takedown bid seen as coordinated attack
The effort to take down podcast king Joe Rogan is increasingly being seen as a coordinated campaign to silence an influential figure with a massive audience and an independent streak.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Christian revival at school prompts student walkout in W.Va.
Students in a West Virginia city have staged a walkout to protest a Christian assembly they were forced to attend during school hours
North Carolina elections board says it has power to disqualify Rep. Cawthorn from running over January 6
The North Carolina State Board of Elections said on Monday that it has the power to block GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn from running for reelection over his role in the January 6 insurrection -- an open legal question at the center of liberal-backed efforts to disqualify him from future office.
www.cnn.com
Left splits over Supreme Court pick pushed by top Biden ally
Rep. Jim Clyburn is stumping for judge Michelle Childs to get the president's nod. While labor interests are skeptical, not every progressive senator is.
www.politico.com
Libyan parliament set to name new PM amid signs of power struggle
Interim PM says he will not hand over power, a position that could lead to flare-up of conflicts between rival factions.
The Memo: Biden caught between CDC and Democratic governors on COVID-19
President Biden is being put in a difficult spot on COVID-19 — and this time he can thank Democratic-led states for the conundrum. Four states, all of which have Democratic governors, have ann…
thehill.com
Bosnia shivers as ghost of nationalism returns
Why Bosnian Serbs have a new strongman unafraid to stir the horrors of the past.
www.bbc.com
Rep. Nancy Mace draws GOP primary challenge from 2018 candidate Katie Arrington
Former state Rep. Katie Arrington launched a primary bid Tuesday against fellow Republican Rep. Nancy Mace in South Carolina’s 1st District.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
How Republicans came to revel hating Joe Biden
Republicans are reveling in their hatred of Joe Biden. And GOP politicians have helped them get there.
thehill.com
Poll: 1 in 5 Canadian Conservatives not concerned ‘at all’ about climate change
Count on renewed debate over Canada's carbon tax in 2022.
www.politico.com
EXPLAINER: How to get up to $3,600 per child in tax credit
WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans who have never filed a tax return will need to do so this year in order to claim what's coming to them under the enhanced child tax credit. Previously, only people who earned enough money to owe income taxes could qualify for the full credit.
apnews.com
Biden tells LGBTQ children 'you are loved and accepted just as you are' after Florida advances 'Don't Say Gay' bill | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden on Tuesday took the rare step of weighing in on a controversial Florida bill that would ban certain discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom, telling LGBTQ kids that he has their back.
Va. Republicans block gay marriage, voting rights proposals
Republicans in the Virginia House have defeated a measure that would have let voters decide whether to strip legally outdated language prohibiting gay marriage from the state Constitution
Honda's sales, profit drop amid rising costs, chip shortages
Honda has reported its profit dropped 32% in the last quarter as rising material costs and a shortage of computer chips hurt the Japanese automaker
Israel warns of UAE crisis over Dubai aviation security dispute
Three Israeli carriers to stop flying to Dubai if arrangements at its airport did not change, security service said.
Analysis: U.S. Supreme Court's Alabama ruling signals new threat to voting rights law
When three federal judges last month blocked Alabama's new Republican-backed map of U.S. congressional districts as likely discriminatory against Black voters, they said they were applying "settled law" and that the outcome was not even close.
www.reuters.com
Biden officials moved too slowly to prep Kabul evacuation, officers say
U.S. military officers painted a grim picture of the final days of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan in interviews for an investigative report by the Army.
www.nbcnews.com
Warning over border delays when new checks kick in
A cross-party committee of MPs warns of further disruption later this year as new import controls start.
www.bbc.com
FEMA rolls out text feature to help people find shelter in emergencies
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is rolling out a new texting feature to allow people to find shelter in weather-related emergencies.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
D.C. sniper's case for reconsidering his sentences is heard by Maryland Supreme Court
Lee Boyd Malvo's attorneys argue that his six life sentences should be reconsidered because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred mandatory life sentences for juveniles.
www.npr.org
Blinken in Australia for Quad talks as Ukraine tensions simmer
US’s top diplomat expected to discuss growing China-Russia ties at Quad meeting of foreign ministers in Melbourne.
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown co-sponsors anti-hazing legislation
Various states have passed anti-hazing legislation including the recently approved “Adam’s Law” in Virginia that would require colleges to provide a hazing prevention curriculum. NBC News’ Joshua Johnson is joined by Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown to discuss two bills he is co-sponsoring to prevent...
www.nbcnews.com
Little groundwork laid for Adams' first Albany test. Here are the challenges he faces.
Adams has seemingly shunned conventional steps to ingratiate himself to powers that be in Albany.
www.politico.com
House passes bill to reform Postal Service operations
The House on Tuesday passed bipartisan legislation that would make long-sought financial and operational reforms to the U.S. Postal Service, which has struggled with pandemic-induced mail delivery …
thehill.com
World to China: Time to step up on climate
Global poll shows strong consensus that Beijing needs to stop acting like a developing nation.
www.politico.com
GOP Rep. Hal Rogers apologizes to Black Caucus chair for telling her to 'kiss my a--' during mask dispute
Republican Rep. Hal Rogers has apologized to Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty after an altercation while two boarded the subway system at the U.S. Capitol.
Democrats press postmaster to go with electric vehicles
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and climate hawk Democrats in Congress are pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to backtrack on the purchase of thousands of gasoline-powered U.S. Posta…
thehill.com
Tech advocates criticize FCC nomination delays
President Biden’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) nominee Gigi Sohn will face questions from a Senate panel once again on Wednesday amid ongoing delays to her confirmation.Progressive tech …
thehill.com
Right-wing conspiracies have a new target: a tool that fights actual voter fraud
The bipartisan program — called ERIC — allows states to improve voting access and election security at the same time. But it's currently under attack from the far right.
www.npr.org
Minneapolis protesters demand end to 'no-knock' warrants
Demonstrators call for reform after the killing of a 22-year-old man in a police raid.
www.bbc.com
Stacey Abrams apologizes for maskless photos with schoolchildren | CNN Politics
Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Stacey Abrams apologized Tuesday for not wearing a mask when she posed for photos with masked schoolchildren last week, after she received intense backlash from political opponents.
US postal service under fire for plan to spend $11.3bn on gas-powered fleet
Critics say this move will upend the Biden administration’s goal to get to net zero emissions by 2050 as a means to tackle climate crisis The US postal service has outlined plans to spend $111.3bn on as many as 165,000 new delivery trucks. Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA The US postal service...
Republicans urge Biden to take cognitive test, say his 'mental decline' has 'become more apparent'
Nearly 40 Republican lawmakers are calling on President Biden to take a cognitive test like his predecessor did.
Working Families Party endorses primary challenger to New York Gov. Hochul
The New York Working Families Party announced on Tuesday that they would be endorsing New York gubernatorial candidate Jumaane Williams, who is challenging incumbent New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in t…
thehill.com
Peloton co-founder steps down after rough ride
Peloton is replacing its CEO, cutting jobs and reining in ambitious expansion plans after badly misjudging the staying power of the exercise-at-home trend that propelled its sales early in the pandemic.
apnews.com
ICJ to rule on DRC’s $11bn war reparations claim against Uganda
Top UN court is set to deliver a verdict at 14:00 GMT on DR Congo’s claim over Uganda’s role in conflicts in Ituri.
Marital rape is still legal in India. A court decision could change that
Women's groups have petitioned the Delhi High Court to close a legal loophole and criminalize marital rape. A decision is expected soon. Men who oppose the petitions have gone on a "marriage strike."
www.npr.org
Australia’s apology for sexual abuse in Parliament is not enough, Brittany Higgins says
Brittany Higgins, who says she was raped in a ministerial office by a fellow political staffer, said she wanted to see action more than words.
www.nbcnews.com
D.C. sniper seeks new sentence based on 2012 Supreme Court decision
The Supreme Court ruling barred life sentences for juveniles except in cases where the crimes "reflect permanent incorrigibility.”
www.nbcnews.com
Capitol Police chief pushes back against claims by GOP lawmaker that his office was illegally investigated
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger pushed back against allegations made by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) that his office last November was illegally probed by Capitol Police.On Tuesday, Nehls alleged that…
thehill.com
China opens investigation into woman found chained by neck
Authorities in eastern China are investigating the case of a woman found chained by the neck in a hut in freezing weather, images of which sparked outrage online
31M Americans to bet on Super Bowl, gambling group estimates
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A record 31.5 million Americans plan to bet on this year's Super Bowl, according to estimates released Tuesday by the gambling industry's national trade group. The American Gaming Association forecasts that over $7.6 billion will be wagered on pro football's...
apnews.com
Several factors contribute to NBC's lower Olympic ratings
NBC’s Mike Tirico began Friday’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony by saying, “just over six months ago in Tokyo, we said we were about to embark on an Olympics unlike any other. Now we’re about to top that.”
apnews.com
Colorado Springs to pay nearly $3 mln to family of Black man shot dead by police
A Colorado city has agreed to pay $2.9 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of a 19-year-old Black man who was fatally shot in the back by police in 2019, both sides in the litigation said on Tuesday.
www.reuters.com
The Pentagon said no one was shot. A CNN investigation raises questions
The grim story of what unfolded during the Kabul airport bombing
www.cnn.com
Canadian capital on edge as trucker protest rolls on
Some Ottawa residents are fed up with the disruption, but truckers vow they're in it for the long haul.
www.bbc.com
DHS limits power of controversial Border Patrol teams
U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is limiting the responsibilities of controversial quick response teams within the Border Patrol that immigration advocates say helped cover up incidents of a…
thehill.com
New York City's only shelter for LGBTQ adults is 'a nightmare,' ex-residents say
“Justice needs to be served for what they were doing at Marsha’s House,” one former resident of the Bronx shelter told NBC News.
www.nbcnews.com
Breonna Taylor case resumes with 1st questioning of jurors
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jury selection resumed Tuesday with the first questioning of potential jurors for the trial of a former Kentucky police officer involved in the deadly raid that killed Breonna Taylor.
apnews.com
How to Lose a Supreme Court Nominee in 24 Days
As Biden weighs his own appointment, Harriet Miers’ sherpa recalls her doomed bid for the court.
www.politico.com
Arkansas super PAC spends $900K on ads supporting GOP Senate candidate Jake Bequette
The super PAC aligned with Arkansas Republican Senate candidate Jake Bequette purchased nearly $900,000 in broadcast and cable ads in the state in support of the former NFL player and U.S. Army veteran's campaign, Fox News has learned.
Prosecutors say Three Percenter's children will testify against him in Capitol riot trial
Two children of a Texas member of the Three Percenter militia group are expected to testify against their father this month in a Capitol riot trial, according to a witness list from the Justice Department.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
California conservationists and farmers unite to protect salmon
In an experiment a decade in the making, biologists are releasing hatchery salmon onto flooded Northern California rice fields, seeking to replenish endangered fish species while simultaneously benefiting the farmers' business model.
www.reuters.com
An unexpected item is blocking cities' climate change prep: obsolete rainfall records
Cities are experiencing heavier storms and flooding as the climate gets hotter. But due to outdated rainfall records, many are still building infrastructure for the climate of the past.
www.npr.org
Journalist who spoke to Peng Shuai says doubts remain
BEIJING (AP) — One of the journalists who conducted the first sit-down interview with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai said Tuesday that the carefully controlled conversation did not answer questions about whether she can speak her mind or move freely.
apnews.com
Is that a nuclear plant? The story behind those towers at the Winter Olympics big air | CNN
The old steel mill next to the big air jump moved its operations more than 15 years ago -- before the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
After a half-century of federal oversight, segregated neighborhoods are still pervasive: ABC News analysis
Despite 50 years of federal oversight, an exclusive ABC News analysis of mortgage-lending data shows that housing segregation persists in America's largest cities.
Trump endorses Kristi Noem for re-election in South Dakota
Former President Trump endorsed South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s re-election bid on Tuesday, calling the first-term governor a “fighter.”
Money for nothing: Cities' crypto push draws fans, critics
NEW YORK (AP) — A small group of cryptocurrency enthusiasts has an offer that they’re hoping U.S. cities can’t refuse. The group City Coins is asking Miami and New York to accept the equivalent of millions of dollars in a new cryptocurrency, and at least some of the money is real: Last week...
apnews.com
Why Uganda is investing in oil despite pressures to go green
As people eye the benefits there are questions over the environmental cost and the timing.
www.bbc.com
Five athletes disqualified from mixed team ski jumping event over suits
Athletes from Japan, Germany, Austria and Norway were disqualified following the Olympic mixed team ski jumping event.
www.nbcnews.com
U.S. wins its first Beijing Olympics gold as Lindsey Jacobellis takes snowboardcross honors
Lindsey Jacobellis took snowboardcross honors 16 years after blowing a huge lead in the same event. This time, she provided a lift for a Team USA that's been mostly underwhelming so far.
www.cbsnews.com
Retired pope asks pardon for abuse, but admits no wrongdoing
ROME (AP) — Retired Pope Benedict XVI asked forgiveness Tuesday for any “grievous faults" in his handling of clergy sex abuse cases, but denied any personal or specific wrongdoing after an independent report criticized his actions in four cases while he was archbishop of Munich, Germany.
apnews.com
Michigan judge weighs charges for parents who bought high-school shooter his gun
A Michigan judge held a preliminary hearing on Tuesday to decide whether prosecutors had enough evidence to bring involuntary manslaughter chargesagainst the parents of a teenager accused of killing four high school students.
www.reuters.com
California GOP state lawmaker says he'll take on Newsom
A little-known Republican legislator from rural, northern California announced an improbable campaign Tuesday to oust Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Red flags trailed ex-UCLA lecturer across elite universities
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A trail of red flags about his behavior toward women followed Matthew Harris on an academic journey that took him to three of the nation’s most prestigious universities — Duke, Cornell and then the University of California, Los Angeles.
apnews.com
Shiffrin shaken by 'letdown' of 2 exits in 2 Olympic races
BEIJING (AP) — The first question posed to Mikaela Shiffrin as she met with reporters after her second consecutive quick exit from an Alpine skiing race at the Beijing Games was short, simple and to the point: What happened?
apnews.com
Ice skater, 72, dies after group of 6 plunges into frozen California reservoir
Local officials urged people to stay off the ice after the death of William Smallfield.
www.nbcnews.com
Super Bowl's return provides boost to hard-hit LA businesses
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The return of the Super Bowl to the L.A. area after a nearly 30-,year absence is already a big victory for local small business owners like Kyndra McCrary. Her catering company got hired to provide food for performers working the Super Bowl, and for an NFL business networking...
apnews.com
Under pressure to ease up, Biden weighs new virus response
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing growing pressure to ease up on pandemic restrictions, the White House insisted Wednesday it is making plans for a less-disruptive phase of the national virus response. But impatient states, including Democratic New York , made clear they aren’t waiting for Washington as...
apnews.com
COVID-19 truck blockade in Canada shuts down Ford plant
TORONTO (AP) — A blockade of the bridge between Canada and Detroit by protesters demanding an end to Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions forced the shutdown Wednesday of a Ford plant and began to have broader implications for the North American auto industry.
apnews.com
White House not ready to ease COVID-19 restrictions despite blue states' rollbacks
The White House is not ready to roll back COVID-19 restrictions, despite recent actions taken by governors in blue states like New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and more to scrap portions of their statewide mask mandates.
Here are the states that are lifting their indoor mask mandates
As COVID-19 case numbers continue to decrease throughout the United States, a number of states — many with Democratic governors — are preparing to lift statewide indoor mask man…
thehill.com
New York ends mask mandate for businesses, but not schools — yet
The governor, who announced the policy update at a Manhattan briefing, said the school mandate will be revisited in early March.
www.politico.com
Uber’s revenue jumps as riders venture out after Omicron surge
The ride-sharing app’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed along with COVID-19 infection rates and restrictions.
New York's indoor mask mandate for businesses will be lifted Thursday
"New Yorkers did the right thing to get through the winter surge," said Governor Kathy Hochul.
www.cbsnews.com
Health care workers say they're facing verbal and physical abuse amid spread of COVID misinformation
A hospital near Atlanta said its health care workers have been threatened by patients and families who want treatments that have not proven to be effective against COVID.
www.cbsnews.com
Governors who championed Covid restrictions are moving on
“We’re not going to manage Covid to zero,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.
www.politico.com
Sens. Braun, Lankford demand White House, HHS recognize natural immunity from COVID
GOP senators are calling on the Biden administration to publicize data on the effectiveness of natural immunity in preventing additional cases of COVID-19, arguing the White House is too concerned with mandates to recognize that millions of Americans have already built up natural antibodies from...
COVID-19 vaccine production quietly suspended at Johnson & Johnson: report
Johnson & Johnson temporarily halted production of its COVID-19 vaccine in the Netherlands, the only manufacturing hub making usable doses for the pharmaceutical company, according to a New Yor…
thehill.com
Hospitals begin to limp out of the latest COVID-19 surge
As omicron numbers drop at Denver Health, Dr. Anuj Mehta is reminded of the scene in the 1980 comedy “The Blues Brothers" when John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd pile out of a battered car after a police chase.
apnews.com
New COVID surge batters Afghanistan's crumbling health care
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Only five hospitals in Afghanistan still offer COVID-19 treatment, with 33 others having been forced to close in recent months for lack of doctors, medicines and even heat.
apnews.com
Violent crime to labor shortages: Mayors say Covid's toll on cities is far-reaching
Mayors across the country sounded off in a new POLITICO survey about the challenges brought on by Covid-19.
www.politico.com
Florida's top doctor refuses to say if he's vaccinated
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo declined to disclose whether he has received a coronavirus vaccine during a contentious confirmation hearing where Democrats pressed the state’s top doctor to promote the shots
Orthodox Jews and Catholic businessman join to sue NYC mayor over vaccine mandate
A Roman Catholic businessman and five Orthodox Jews, including a rabbi, are among 18 plaintiffs who are suing New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his commissioner of health over their “Key to NYC” vaccine passport program.
Pressure builds for Biden, Democrats to move past COVID
With the midterms nine months away, Democrats are joining a chorus of Republicans who say the nation must learn to “live with the virus."
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona warns easing mask mandates too early can cause disruption in schools
A growing number of states are lifting mask mandates in schools.
Can you get long COVID after an infection with omicron?
Can you get long COVID after an infection with omicron? It’s too early to know for sure, but many doctors believe it’s possible to have long-term effects from the omicron variant of the virus.
apnews.com
Pfizer reports nearly $37 billion in COVID-19 vaccine sales in 2021
Pfizer reported a total of $36.78 billion in global direct sales and alliance revenue from its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 and intends to top that incredible amount of revenue this year.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Fauci says 'full-blown pandemic phase' of COVID-19 coming to end
Dr. Anthony Fauci has some good news: The United States is on its way to exiting the "full-blown" pandemic phase of COVID-19.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Omicron found in NYC deer raises questions about COVID transmission from animals to humans
The discovery of deer in New York City infected with the omicron variant is raising questions about whether or not animals could potentially transmit COVID-19 to humans.
COVID-19 updates: US cases at lowest point since Christmas
As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.8 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 919,000 Americans.
New Zealand capital hit with Canadian-style trucker convoy protesters
It seems Canada may have started something.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
New York state set to drop indoor mask mandate
New York Governor Kathy Hochul willon Wednesday announce the end of her state's mask mandate for most indoor public places, The New York Times reported, joining several states due to lift face-covering rules as the latest COVID-19 surge eases.
www.reuters.com
Hong Kong reports first COVID death since September
A 73-year-old man died shortly after being admitted to hospital, as Hong Kong reports a surge in Omicron cases.
China locks down southern city as omicron variant surges
BEIJING (AP) — China has ordered inhabitants of the southern city of Baise to stay home and suspended transportation links amid a surge in COVID-19 cases at least partly linked to the omicron variant.
apnews.com
Musk helping restore Tongan internet; virus outbreak growing
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Entrepreneur Elon Musk is helping reconnect Tonga to the internet after a volcanic eruption and tsunami cut off the South Pacific nation more than three weeks ago, according to officials, while repairs on an undersea cable are proving more difficult than first...
apnews.com
New COVID surge batters Afghanistan's crumbling health care
All but five of the 38 COVID-19 treatment hospitals that once operated in Afghanistan have been forced to close in recent months for lack of doctors, medicines, even heating
Hogan announces COVID-19 booster lottery
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced on Tuesday that the state would be conducting a COVID-19 booster lottery with cash prizes totaling $2 million as an incentive to get Marylanders to rece…
thehill.com
Sweden ends COVID-19 testing as pandemic restrictions lifted
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden has halted wide-scale testing for COVID-19 even among people showing symptoms of an infection, putting an end to the mobile city-square tent sites, drive-in swab centers and home-delivered tests that became ubiquitous during the pandemic and provided essential data for...
apnews.com
BEIJING DIARY: Testing positive at the no-COVID Olympics
BEIJING (AP) — The phone call comes in the early afternoon, six hours or so after the mandatory morning test. The number is immediately recognizable because it's so strange: a U.S. dialing code when the Chinese health official on the line is, in fact, calling from Beijing and bearing bad news.
apnews.com
