(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation jumped at its fastest pace in nearly 40 years last month, a 7% spike from a year earlier that is increasing household expenses, eating into wage gains and heaping pressure on President Joe Biden and the Federal Reserve to address what has become the biggest threat to the U.S. economy.
Centrist Democrats urge progressives to tamp down rhetoric
Centrists are warning progressives to back off with their favored rhetoric as the Democratic Party enters a challenging midterm year where it is in deep danger of losing the House and Senate majori…
thehill.com
IRS is in crisis, Taxpayer Advocate warns
The agency's top watchdog called last year's tax filing season the most challenging ever experienced and warned this year could be worse.
www.cbsnews.com
Black Democrats hammer Manchin for backing filibuster on voting rights
Black House Democrats on Wednesday teed off on Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) for his refusal to back a change in Senate rules for the sake of strengthening federal voting protections.Behind President …
thehill.com
McConnell blasts Biden's voting rights speech as 'rage and false hysteria'
Sen. Mitch McConnell blasted President Joe Biden from the Senate floor Wednesday over his speech one day earlier calling for filibuster changes to pass election reforms.
Ohio Supreme Court rejects GOP's newly drawn district maps, orders fix in 10 days
The order, issued by GOP Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, was a victory for Democrats who challenged the lines as unconstitutionally gerrymandered.
www.nbcnews.com
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds pushes GOP to get ‘louder’ on false Trump claims
Rounds says he checked out Donald Trump's election fraud allegations and they all came up empty, unable to counter the truth that Trump lost.
www.usatoday.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
Army ups bonuses for recruits to $50K, as COVID takes toll
The U.S. Army, for the first time, is offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits who sign up for six years.
apnews.com
House to vote on consolidated election bill Thursday, Pelosi says
The House plans to take up and advance a consolidated election and voting rights bill on Thursday in order to allow the Senate to give it “urgent consideration,” Speaker Nancy…
thehill.com
Possibility of eventually succeeding McConnell as Senate GOP leader ‘factor’ in Thune’s reelection decision
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota says the eventual possibility of succeeding longtime Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell weighed on his 2022 reelection decision
McCarthy rejects Jan. 6 committee request for testimony about talks with Trump
The House minority leader, who helped scuttle an attempt to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the insurrection, has spent months thrashing the select committee.
www.politico.com
Obama supports Biden’s call to modify Senate filibuster rules to pass voting reform - Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden got a big boost from his former boss in his pitch for the Senate to change filibuster rules to facilitate the passage of voting reform legislation opposed by Republicans resistant to federal laws that govern how states and localities run their elections."The filibuster has no...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
House January 6 select committee hears from former Trump White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany
McEnany served as press secretary when supporters of the former president stormed the Capitol last year on January 6.
www.cbsnews.com
U.S. sanctions 8 people and entities following North Korean missile launches
The Biden administration sanctioned eight people and entities for their work in developing weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile-related programs.
House Jan. 6 Committee debunks Capitol riot conspiracy theory around obscure rallygoer
The House committee probing the Jan. 6 Capitol riot shot down a conspiracy theory centered around an obscure Arizona man after GOP senators' questions.
www.usatoday.com
Senate Democrats on brink of defeat on voting legislation despite frantic push | CNN Politics
Senate Democrats are desperately searching for a way to pass voting legislation amid pressure from President Joe Biden, but the path ahead looks increasingly grim with influential moderates Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema unlikely to support a rules change necessary to get the bills over the...
www.cnn.comMitt Romney Says Joe Biden Is 'Casting Doubt' On Elections, Just Like Donald Trump
The White House said there was a “night and day” difference between Biden’s speech and Trump’s election lies.
Biden says inflation report shows progress in slowing down runaway prices
President Joe Biden on Wednesday touted the latest consumer inflation report as evidence that price jumps have started to slow.
Trump calls politicians who refuse to say they received Covid boosters 'gutless'
His remarks appeared partly aimed at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, who has so far refused to directly answer questions about whether he has had a booster shot.
Trump allies’ fake Electoral College certificates offer fresh insights about plot to overturn Biden’s victory | CNN Politics
In the weeks after the 2020 election, then-President Donald Trump’s allies sent fake certificates to the National Archives declaring that Trump won seven states that he actually lost. The documents had no impact on the outcome of the election, but they are yet another example of how Team Trump...
www.cnn.com
McEnany sits down with Jan. 6 investigators
Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sat down Wednesday with investigators from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, a source familiar confirmed…
thehill.com
Romney warns against getting rid of filibuster, citing possible Trump win in 2024
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Tuesday issued a warning to Democrats about the potential consequences of getting rid of the filibuster and accused President Biden of going down “the s…
thehill.com
POLITICO Playbook: Our exclusive new poll on voting rights
And the latest state of play on ECA reform.
www.politico.com
House votes to expand GI benefits for National Guard, Reserve troops
The House passed legislation on Wednesday that would expand eligibility for GI Bill education benefits for National Guard and Reserve troops.Lawmakers passed the bill on a bipartisan basis, 287-135…
thehill.com
Durbin says Biden may have gone ‘a little too far’ in Georgia speech
Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said Wednesday that President Biden may have gone “a little too far” with his rhetoric during a speech in Georgia the previous d…
thehill.com
Mother and daughter plead guilty to Jan. 6-related charges
A Connecticut woman and her adult daughter pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from when they entered the U.S.
apnews.com
NATO and Russia fail to resolve "significant differences" but may continue talks
"There are significant differences between NATO allies and Russia on these issues," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
www.cbsnews.comBiden judicial nominee grilled amid objections by GOP home state senators
Senate Republicans on Wednesday criticized the White House for failing to sufficiently consult two Tennessee GOP senators about President Joe Biden's nomination of a lawyer from their state to sit on a federal appellate court over their objections. Andre Mathis, a Memphis lawyer at the law firm...
Biden team weighs killing Trump’s new nuclear weapons
Officials are considering canceling weapons that were backed by the last administration.
www.politico.com
As candidates refuse to disavow McConnell, Trump comes to terms with his grip on GOP | CNN Politics
Donald Trump is facing weak support among Republicans for his calls to depose Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and aides and allies say it’s forcing the former President to confront new limitations on his influence over the party.
www.cnn.com
US hits NKorean officials with sanctions after missile test
The Biden administration says it's seeking new U.N. sanctions against North Korea in response to Pyongyang’s latest ballistic missile test.
apnews.com
There's a growing push in Congress to limit lawmakers' ability to trade stocks
Congress often talks tough about reining in Wall Street. But now there's growing pressure on Capitol Hill to curb lawmakers' own trading.
Putin is Threatening a War. Are Russians Willing to Fight It?
Russians largely believe Putin is right about Ukraine and NATO. But it’s not clear whether they are willing to go to war.
www.politico.comOffshore wind leases on the horizon
The Biden administration is slated to soon announce its first auction for offshore wind leases in federal waters.
www.politico.com
Psaki pushes back on criticism of Biden’s voting rights speech
The White House on Wednesday pushed back on rebukes of President Biden’s speech in Georgia, calling criticism from some Republican lawmakers “hilarious.”“I know there has been a lo…
thehill.comTop Senate Republican blasts Biden's 'rant' on voter rights, vows to oppose bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top U.S. Senate Republican Mitch McConnell on Wednesday blasted President Joe Biden's push for a voting-rights bill, underscoring the difficulty Biden's Democrats face in trying to steer legislation through a Congress they narrowly control. Biden has called for Democrats...
Quinnipiac poll shows Biden with 33 percent approval rating
Just one-third of Americans approve of the job President Biden is doing, a new low for the president, in a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.
thehill.com
McConnell calls Biden's voting rights speech 'profoundly unpresidential'
Biden called for an end to the Senate filibuster Tuesday to allow voting rights bills to pass.
www.nbcnews.com
Democrats push rival bill sanctioning Russia over Ukraine
Senate Democrats are proposing new sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine. Wednesday's legislation is aimed at derailing a Republican proposal that the White House fears could undermine unity with European allies.
apnews.com
January 6 committee weighs options to get members of Congress to comply with their investigation | CNN Politics
Members of the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol Hill insurrection are weighing what options they have to compel their fellow members of Congress to cooperate with their probe.
www.cnn.com
Trump lost these states. Republican candidates for governor are emulating him anyway.
The former president's influence in key battleground states could be on the rise in 2022.
www.politico.com
House Republicans urge administration to nix Iran nuke talks
More than 100 House Republicans are calling on the Biden administration to withdraw from ongoing negotiations in Vienna to return to the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal.In a letter dated Tuesday, rough…
thehill.com
Hawley demands Zuckerberg answer for 'horrifying' report about Instagram and underage drug use
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday demanding answers regarding a recent report that found Instagram allows underage users to search for illegal drugs and that its algorithms help connect them with drug dealers.
Messy job reports and unreliable labor forecasts take a toll on Biden's first year
In 2021, the Labor Department's initial monthly jobs report and Wall Street's estimates were less reliable — and President Biden paid a political price for it.
Dems worry they’ll be boxed out without changes to filibuster, voting rules
Democrats are warning that they could box themselves out of winning Senate races in key states unless they change the legislative filibuster and pass voting rights and election reform legislation.&…
thehill.com‘CalCare’ begins its long crawl to passage
Nearly a year after Assemblymember Ash Kalra introduced it, Assembly Bill 1400 got its first vote.
www.politico.com
U.S. states restricting voting rights would disappoint Martin Luther King, daughter says
Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter says she believes the slain civil-rights leader would have been disappointed with efforts playing out in some parts of the United States to restrict voting rights.
Store shelves are empty again across the country. Here's why.
The Covid omicron variant's rapid spread among workers and a bad stretch of winter weather have made a challenging supply chain situation worse.
www.nbcnews.com
Tennessee senators say Biden judicial nominee 'believes himself to be above the law'
Republican senators from Tennessee said President Biden's nominee to serve as the U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals "believes himself to be above the law."
McConnell calls Biden’s speech ‘beneath his office’ | CNN Politics
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted President Joe Biden’s speech pushing for the Senate to change its filibuster rules to pass voting and elections legislation, saying it was a “rant,” “incoherent,” “incorrect,” “beneath his office” and “unbecoming of a President of the United States.”
www.cnn.comPowell's path to maximum employment? Price stability
The argument has been a relatively standard one for Fed officials over the years.
www.politico.com
White House climate and environment adviser scrutinized for possible ethics violations
Fox News exclusively obtained letters sent by the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) founder Tom Jones to the White House and National Academies of Science (NAS) regarding Office of Science and Technology Policy climate and environment deputy director Jane Lubchenco.
Biden DOJ says families separated at border don't deserve compensation, despite his call for it
President Biden’s Justice Department has argued in court that families separated at the border during the Trump years are not entitled to compensation, a stark contrast to Biden’s position over the past several months.
Labor talks begin Thursday on national U.S. refinery workers contract
Negotiators for the United Steelworkers union and Marathon Petroleum Corp , which is representing oil refiners and chemical makers, are scheduled to begin talks on Thursday on a new contract for 30,000 workers across the United States.
Consumer prices climb 7% in the past year, highest jump since 1982
Jerome Powell on Tuesday said the Fed is prepared to raise rates if needed.
Giuffre's Prince Andrew suit goes ahead despite Epstein deal
A judge has — for now — refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Britain’s Prince Andrew by Virginia Giuffre, who says he sexually abused her when she was 17.
apnews.com
New winter storm headed toward Midwest, moving into Northeast by early next week
A winter storm is expected to bring up to 8 inches of snow across the Midwest.
Key anti-gun goal in Harris border crisis fix in limbo - Washington Examiner
A key goal in Vice President Kamala Harris’s bid to reduce illegal border crossings by improving life in crime-ravaged Central American countries is stuck in neutral, according to a new report.Instead of jumping on orders to help end gun trafficking to Central American gangs, State Department...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
U.S. posts smallest budget deficit in two years as employment rebounds
The U.S. government posted a $21 billion budget deficit for December 2021, the smallest monthly gap in two years as individual income tax receipts surged with increased employment, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday.
White House claims Iran 'rapidly accelerating' due to Trump's removal of US from Iran nuclear deal
White House press secretary Jen Psaki shifted blame Wednesday for the “aggressive actions” being taken by Iran, claiming the country is “rapidly accelerating” due to former President Trump's decision to pull the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal.
'They underestimated this virus.' Omicron cuts through U.S. defenses despite Biden's efforts
President Biden plans to speak about the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday as he faces rising criticism during the Omicron wave.
Deadly Bronx fire puts focus on space heaters as 'symbols of inequity'
A high-rise blaze in New York City that claimed 17 lives is being blamed on a space heater. The building was the subject of several complaints from tenants, including lack of heat.
www.nbcnews.com
Western Carolina students face death threats, faculty mockery for speaking out against 'woke' training
Students who spoke out against mandatory racial and gender training at Western Carolina University were mocked online by faculty who boasted about being “proud” to be “woke” and subjected to death threats and calls to be fired.
NATO-Russia talks at impasse amid ‘real risk’ of Ukraine war
NATO warns Russia it will not compromise on the alliance’s principles, but invites Moscow to more talks over Ukraine.
Ahead of Iran deal decision, White House to "focus the fire on Trump"
With the Iran nuclear talks reaching a critical moment, the White House plans to focus much of its public messaging in the coming weeks on attacking former President Donald Trump for leaving the 2015 deal, two sources briefed on the White House plans told me.Why it matters: The Biden...
Two of Sen. Sinema's former aides have recently lobbied for corporate giants looking to influence Biden's agenda
Two of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's former aides have acted as key aides for corporate giants looking to affect President Joe Biden's agenda.
Trump calls Mitch McConnell 'a loser' and blames him for GOP senators who won't back 2020 election lies
Trump blamed McConnell over GOP senators who won't embrace his false claims about the 2020 election.
NIH unearths more grant violations by Wuhan lab collaborator EcoHealth Alliance - Washington Examiner
The U.S. taxpayer-funded nonprofit group that collaborated with a Chinese laboratory on risky bat virus research just before the initial COVID-19 outbreak has earned another slap on the wrist from authorities. EcoHealth Alliance, which the government has already said broke rules with bat...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend testifies before grand jury investigating the Florida congressman | CNN Politics
An ex-girlfriend of Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is seen as a key witness in the investigation into alleged sex trafficking by the Florida Republican, testified on Wednesday before a grand jury investigating the congressman.
www.cnn.com
U.S. awards $105 mln to remove hazards from low-income homes
The Biden administration on Wednesday awarded $105 million in grants to nonprofit groups and state and local governments in 29 states to protect children and families from home health hazards such as lead-based paint, mold and carbon monoxide.
McCarthy, Foxx demand Biden education secretary turn over correspondence with teachers unions
Additionally, the lawmakers noted that December department data showed only 4% of American Rescue Plan funds for school districts had been touched.
Fact-checking Jim Jordan’s letter to the Jan. 6 committee | CNN Politics
In a letter sent Sunday responding to a request to meet with the House select committee investigating January 6, Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio accused the investigation of spreading misinformation “to paint a false and misleading narrative.”
www.cnn.com
Energy monitor blames Russia for worsening Europe gas crisis
The head of the International Energy Agency has blamed Russia for worsening Europe’s natural gas crisis
Boris Johnson: Senior Tories urge PM to quit after party apology
Cabinet members are rallying round Boris Johnson - but other top Tories say he has to stand down.
www.bbc.com
NEA urged social media giants to fight anti-CRT 'propaganda' stoking 'violent' 'radicalized' parents
Shortly after the National School Boards Association (NSBA) sent an infamous letter to the White House comparing concerned parents to domestic terrorists and inspiring a Department of Justice memo, the National Education Association (NEA) sent a similar letter to social media companies, urging...
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
Lawyers for Trump and niece Mary Trump spar over lawsuit alleging she was defrauded in family settlement | CNN Politics
Lawyers for former President Donald Trump and his niece Mary Trump sparred in court Tuesday over whether her lawsuit alleging she was defrauded of millions of dollars in a 2001 family settlement could move forward.
www.cnn.com
Fewer US remote workers feel comfortable returning to office
Survey sees sharp spike in the share of workers who feel uneasy about returning to office as Omicron infections spread.
Matt Gaetz's ex-girlfriend testifies to grand jury in sex trafficking probe
The development suggests the Department of Justice may be moving closer to indicting the Florida Republican.
www.nbcnews.com
Abrams noticeably absent from Biden's voting rights push
There was a prominent Atlanta resident missing Tuesday when President Joe Biden swung through the city to press for voting rights protections: Stacey Abrams.
apnews.com
‘Profoundly unpresidential’: McConnell blasts Biden’s speech calling for filibuster changes - Washington Examiner
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a blistering critique Wednesday on the Senate floor of President Joe Biden's speech calling for changes to the upper chamber’s filibuster rule, calling the president’s remarks "profoundly unpresidential." “Look, I have known, liked, and personally...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
How killing of Syrian refugee marks an alarming trend in Turkey
Refugee rights activists are denouncing an alarming trend of violence against refugees in the country.
Biden says administration ‘making progress’ slowing rate of price increases
President Biden said Wednesday the newest data on inflation shows his administration is “making progress in slowing the rate of price increases” but acknowledged more work is needed to lower costs …
thehill.com
Biden administration approves five more Gitmo detainees for transfer - Washington Examiner
A U.S. government review board has approved the transfer of five more Guantanamo Bay detainees, bringing the new total to eighteen.The five men, three of whom are Yemeni while another is Kenyan and the fifth is Somali, were approved for transfer on Tuesday, the New York Times reported Tuesday...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Trump abruptly ends NPR interview after reporter grills him on election falsehoods
The ex-president continued to falsely claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen before cutting the interview short.
www.cbsnews.com
Reporter's Notebook: The Electoral Count Act, and how Congress may transform it
There’s an old saw about a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil – and consequentially spawning a tornado in Texas.
South Africa's 'King Khoisan' arrested over cannabis plants at president's office
Protesters planted the cannabis in a vegetable garden near the South African president's workplace.
www.bbc.com
Biden pays silent tribute as Reid lies in state at Capitol
The late Sen. Harry Reid has been remembered at the U.S. Capitol as a “legendary leader.” And President Joe Biden has paid silent tribute as Reid lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda.
apnews.com
Pressed on false fraud claims, Trump cuts short interview
In the interview with NPR, Trump continued to make baseless claims he lost the 2020 election based on fraud.
Majority of voters support keeping filibuster; support has grown since June: Poll - Washington Examiner
EXCLUSIVE — A majority of voters support keeping the Senate filibuster intact even as President Joe Biden and Democratic leaders push to do away with the Senate rule to pass election legislation, according to a poll commissioned by the conservative Senate Opportunity Fund 501(c)4 advocacy...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Prince Andrew's request to have alleged Epstein victim lawsuit dismissed is denied
Prince Andrew's request to dismiss alleged Epstein victim lawsuit denied
Prince Andrew to face civil sex assault case after US ruling
Virginia Giuffre's claims against the Duke of York can continue to be heard, a US court says.
www.bbc.com
Analysis: Biden puts it all on the line in voting rights battle | CNN Politics
It took a year for Joe Biden to make an irrevocable bet that puts the credibility of his presidency on the line. If his bid now to change Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation fails, he’ll lose more than just the bills he sees as vital to saving democracy. His drained political capital...
www.cnn.com
Senate Democrats unveil bill sanctioning Russia over Ukraine
Senate Democrats on Wednesday unveiled legislation aimed at imposing sanctions on Russia should it invade Ukraine as U.S. and European allies seek to prevent the move.The Defending Ukraine Sovereig…
thehill.com
Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather sued by investors over alleged crypto scam
The lawsuit claims that investors who purchased EthereumMax tokens between May 14, 2021, and June 17, 2021, suffered losses as a result of the celebrities’ conduct.
www.nbcnews.com
Big bucks flow into state races for election officials
In Michigan, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has raised five times more than she did in the previous election cycle.
www.nbcnews.com
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona under fire for soliciting parents-as-terrorists letter - Washington Examiner
A conservative education activist is calling for Miguel Cardona's job after emails revealed the education secretary solicited the infamous letter from the National School Boards Association calling parents protesting at school board meetings domestic terrorists. Ian Prior, the executive director...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Boston makes final push to clear out homeless encampment
Workers have started removing the last tents from a homeless encampment at a Boston intersection known as Mass and Cass.
apnews.com
Israel says it took down Iranian spy ring targeting women
Israel says it has broken up an Iranian spy ring that recruited Israeli women via social media
Official watchdog proves that IRS treats taxpayers like dirt - Washington Examiner
The IRS needs more agents on its help desk, not its audit department. That’s the obvious takeaway from the annual report to Congress of the National Taxpayer Advocate, a congressionally created independent organization within the IRS. In the report released Tuesday, Advocate leader Erin Collins...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Fox’s Jeanine Pirro named co-host of ‘The Five’
Fox News pundit Jeanine Pirro is getting a permanent hosting spot on “The Five.”Pirro, a longtime conservative media personality and legal analyst, will join current hosts Jesse Wa…
thehill.com
Biden surgeon general thanks teachers union chief Randi Weingarten for 'leadership'
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy showered American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten with praise during an AFT virtual event on Tuesday.
Nearly 2 million cases of cancer likely to be diagnosed in 2022: Report
Nearly two million cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2022, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society published Wednesday.
Fed survey finds economy growing modestly despite COVID
The Federal Reserve says the economy was growing at a modest pace at the end of 2021 but was still being held back by ongoing supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages
Biden concedes he has ‘more work to do’ on fighting price hikes as inflation frustrations threaten his domestic agenda | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the latest report on inflation in the US shows there is more work to do on lowering consumer prices, which are threatening his domestic agenda and political prospects as he enters his second year in office.
www.cnn.comMarsha Blackburn Criticizes Black Judicial Nominee’s ‘Rap Sheet’ Of Speeding Tickets
Andre Mathis, Biden's appeals court pick, doesn't have a criminal record. He once got a ticket for going 5 miles over the speed limit, though.
UN says $3.9bn needed for help in Yemen as conflict escalates
UN says funds needed to help some 16 million people in the war-torn country amid rise in hostilities.
Senate passes bill to honor Emmett Till and his mother
The Senate has passed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Emmett Till, the Chicago teenager murdered by white supremacists in the 1950s, and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley.
apnews.com
Five additional states pass laws to make military retirement incomes tax-free - Washington Examiner
Five states have passed new laws that will allow those collecting military retirement checks to receive the additional benefit of collecting that money tax-free.The additions bring the total number of states that don't subject military retirement income to their state income tax to 26, while...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Alabama woman who joined Islamic State stuck in refugee camp
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Attorneys for a woman who left her Alabama home to join the Islamic State terror group plan to continue fighting for her and her young son even though the Supreme Court declined to consider her lawsuit seeking to re-enter the United States, one of the lawyers said Wednesday.
apnews.com
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy hauls in a record $72M last year
House GOP leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy brought in an off-election year record $72.4 million in fundraising in 2021.
Musk bashes California net metering proposal: ‘Bizarre anti-environment move’ - Washington Examiner
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his green energy company are coming out against a new proposal in California for what's known as "net energy metering" that is designed to shift more of the cost of maintaining the electricity grid onto residential solar customers. Musk dubbed the state Public Service...
www.washingtonexaminer.comDr. Anthony Fauci Reveals Why He Called GOP Senator A ‘Moron’ On Hot Mic
The nation’s top infectious diseases expert slammed Republican Sen. Roger Marshall’s "stunning" line of inquiry.
LAPD officer killed while house hunting with girlfriend on day off - Washington Examiner
The Los Angeles Police Department is mourning one of its own after an off-duty officer was fatally shot while house hunting with his girlfriend on Monday. Officer Fernando Uriel Arroyos, 27, was looking at homes with his girlfriend in the 1700 block of East 87th Street when they were approached...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Djokovic admits travel declaration had incorrect information
Novak Djokovic has acknowledged that his Australian travel declaration form contained incorrect information, as the government nears a decision on whether to deport the Serbian tennis star, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, on public interest grounds.
apnews.com
Covid-19: Chinese woman stuck in lockdown with blind date
A swift lockdown in China’s Zhengzhou means a woman is stuck at her date’s house.
www.bbc.com
Families prepare to lay to rest victims lost in Bronx fire
New York City police released the names and ages of all of the victims in the deadly blaze. The eight children who died in the fire range in age from 2 to 12. The oldest among the victims was a 50-year-old woman.
apnews.com
More rainy days from climate change could dampen economic growth: Study
Scientists examined 40 years of data from more than 1,500 global regions and found that more rain can slow economic growth.
'It pays to vote': Behind the Venezuelan opposition's victory in Chavismo's cradle
For the first time in over 20 years, the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez’s home state will be ruled by the opposition. Experts explain the why behind the votes.
www.nbcnews.com
Ronnie Spector, '60s icon who sang ‘Be My Baby,’ dies at 78
Ronnie Spector, the cat-eyed, bee-hived rock ‘n’ roll siren who sang such 1960s hits as “Be My Baby” and “Baby I Love You" as the leader of the girl group The Ronettes, has died. She was 78.
apnews.com
Trump slams politicians who won't say they got booster shots
Former President Donald Trump says politicians who refuse to say whether they’ve received COVID-19 booster shots are “gutless.”
apnews.com
Kids' low COVID-19 vaccination rates called a 'gut punch'
Just over 17% of U.S. children between the ages of 5 and 11 are fully vaccinated, more than two months after shots for the age group became available.
apnews.com
Maryland school district requests National Guard to fill in for sick bus drivers
One school district is seeking help from the National Guard as its school bus service has been crippled by COVID-19.
As Covid deaths rise, many still caused by delta variant, CDC says
The omicron variant appears to cause less severe disease and shorter hospital stays than previous strains, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said Wednesday.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden sending medical teams to 6 states to help hospitals overwhelmed by COVID-19
The federal government is sending teams to New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Michigan and New Mexico to help hospitals overwhelmed by COVID.
www.usatoday.com
Omicron is inherently far milder, massive CDC-backed study finds - Washington Examiner
The omicron variant of the coronavirus is inherently far milder than delta, with deaths 90% less common among infected people, according to a major new study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new analysis, heralded Wednesday by CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, is good...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
New study investigates early claims of COVID-19 ‘infodemic’
“When you compare it to what was going on before the pandemic, you start to see that health misinformation was already widespread.”
thehill.com
'We're all hurting': Hospital workers plead for vaccination and help amid omicron surge
More than 18,000 virus-positive Americans are being admitted to the hospital each day.
Trump takes thinly veiled shot at ‘gutless’ DeSantis over Covid booster | CNN Politics
Former President Donald Trump appeared to take a shot at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over his refusal to disclose whether he’s received a Covid-19 booster shot in a new interview with the far-right channel One America News.
www.cnn.com
Army has relieved six active-duty commanders for refusing COVID-19 vaccine
The Army has not yet initiated separations for soldiers refusing the vaccine but expects further guidance later this month.
www.cbsnews.com
Study finds COVID-19 may increase risk of diabetes in kids: 3 things for parents to know
More than 500,000 kids tested positive for COVID in the last week.
Americans can once again get free COVID-19 tests — here's how
The Biden administration announced that all US households would be able to order 4 free at-home tests through COVIDTests.gov.
GOP Rep. Davidson compares vaccine mandates to the Holocaust
Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio is among several Republican elected officials who have publicly compared Covid mandates to the Holocaust.
www.nbcnews.comA top Democrat says lawmakers who ignore mask mandate should sit in 'isolation boxes' in House chamber
As the omicron variant threatens the halls of Congress and some GOP lawmakers continue entering the House chamber maskless, despite racking up tens of thousands of dollars in fines, Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark, D-Mass., suggested a more tangible solution to thwart the...
U.S. COVID deaths rising but likely due to Delta, not Omicron, says CDC chief
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States have increased by about 33% and deaths are up by about 40% from a week earlier, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday.
Sanders, 50 Democrats unveil bill to send N95 masks to all Americans
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and more than 50 Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday introduced legislation to send high-quality masks to every American amid a push to get the public to wear better …
thehill.comGOP Hopeful Herschel Walker Pushed Snake Oil Body Spray for COVID
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/GettyPro football star turned Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker will not say whether he has been vaccinated. But in Walker’s mind, he may not need the shot.That’s because, months before the vaccine was available, Walker was swearing...
Fauci: Omicron will infect ‘just about everybody’
Infectious disease expert and White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that “just about everybody” will eventually be infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus. …
thehill.com
Omicron detected in nearly every country in Americas: PAHO
The virus spread rapidly across the region during the holiday season and is challenging already strained health systems.
US blasts China over cancelled flights due to COVID cases
COVID news from January 12: Biden administration warns it could act in response to China’s cancellations of US flights.
COVID-19 test providers reap profits as consumers pay through the nose
Makers of rapid tests notch billions in sales as the fast-spreading Omicron variant drives demand for quick results.
www.cbsnews.comChick-fil-A operator calls Biden's vaccine mandate a 'trap' perpetrated by 'Democrat overlords' in leaked memo
A Texas Chick-fil-A operator said in a memo that the Biden administration is requiring businesses "to do their dirty work" or suffer penalties.
GOP congressman under fire for comparing COVID restrictions to Nazi policies
Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, became the latest Republican to draw scrutiny for comparing COVID-19 mitigation efforts to policies of Germany's Nazi regime in a series of tweets Wednesday.
Soaring COVID-19 cases renew US debate over mask mandates
Officials across the U.S. are again weighing how and whether to impose mask mandates as COVID-19 infections soar and the American public grows weary of pandemic-related restrictions.
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CDC to weigh in soon on whether Americans should upgrade their masks
After weeks of health experts urging Americans to upgrade their masks to protect agains omicron, the CDC says it's planning to update its mask guidance to Americans.
Walensky says CDC mask recommendation will not change
Rochelle Walensky, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said Wednesday that it does not plan to change its mask guidance to advise Americans to wear high…
thehill.com
Covid hospitalizations: See the latest trend and current count
The weight of the pandemic can be measured in the count of hospital beds filled with Covid-positive patients.
www.nbcnews.comExpert urges new national strategy to "coexist with COVID"
Dr. Céline Gounder joined "CBS Mornings" to explain why she's urging the Biden administration to update its national strategy for a "new normal" of life with COVID-19.
Mild-to-moderate Covid-19 associated with worsening mobility in middle-aged and older adults, Canadian study finds
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.
House Jan. 6 Committee debunks Capitol riot conspiracy theory around obscure rallygoer
The House committee probing the Jan. 6 Capitol riot shot down a conspiracy theory centered around an obscure Arizona man after GOP senators' questions.
Migrants fleeing Lebanon by sea accuse Greece of abuse
Dozens of Lebanese and Syrian people attempted to sail to Italy in October, but they never reached their destination.
US ordering 500K more courses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 antibody cocktail
White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients announced Wednesday that the administration plans to order 500,000 more doses of the AstraZeneca antibody cocktail to protect immunoc…
thehill.com
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice "extremely unwell" after testing positive for COVID-19
"I'm thankful to the Lord above that I've been vaccinated, I've been boosted," the 70-year-old governor said.
www.cbsnews.com
Chicago Teachers Union votes to continue in-person learning with Covid-19 measures | CNN
The roughly 25,000 rank-and-file members of the Chicago Teachers Union narrowly voted in favor of the safety agreement struck between the union and the district to return to class in person, a union official confirmed to CNN on Wednesday evening.
www.cnn.com
Democrats try to stamp out school closures as omicron surges
When Chicago teachers voted to work remotely last week to protest COVID-19 safety protections in the nation’s third-largest school district, Democratic Party officials leapt into action
apnews.com
West Virginia Gov. Justice, a vaccine advocate, feels 'extremely unwell' amid COVID-19 battle
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice tested positive for COVID-19 and is enduring a high fever and skyrocketing blood pressure and heart rate.
Biden redoubling focus on testing amid shortages, confusion
The Biden administration is increasing federal support for COVID-19 testing for schools in a bid to keep them open amid the omicron surge.
apnews.com
DeSantis: Freedom is good, COVID mandates, lockdowns are bad
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made clear in his State of the State speech that he likes teachers, first responders and freedom and he doesn’t like Dr.
apnews.com
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