Former President Donald Trump. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Trump: ‘Under no circumstances’ should Republicans cut Social Security or Medicare
Former President Trump on Friday urged Republicans in Congress not to cut “a single penny” from Medicare or Social Security, a notable warning as some GOP lawmakers prepare to use the debt ceiling debate as leverage to try to secure spending cuts
McCarthy tries to get out of his box on debt ceiling
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is pressing for Democrats to come to the bargaining table and begin negotiations to address the nation’s debt limit, as he faces pressures within his&nb…
thehill.com
Defense chiefs fail to resolve dispute on tanks for Ukraine
Western defense leaders meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany have failed to resolve divisions over possibly providing battle tanks and other military aid to Ukraine. The tank debate roiling the coalition was not resolved in a long meeting Friday, but Germany’s new defense minister suggested...
apnews.com
DeSantis sparks outrage with rejection of African American studies class
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is facing criticism after his administration rejected an Advanced Placement African American Studies course from being taught in Florida schools, the latest …
thehill.com
McCarthy says he looks forward to meeting with Biden, as debt ceiling debate continues
The White House has said it won't negotiate with Republicans on raising the debt ceiling. The U.S. reached its borrowing limit a day ago, according to the treasury secretary.
www.cbsnews.com
March for Life eyes Congress for post-Roe abortion limits
A half century after Roe v. Wade, March for Life supporters are celebrating the dismantling of that constitutional right to abortion and heralding the political struggle set loose by the Supreme Court's decision.
apnews.com
DOJ stiff-arms House Republicans in first response to House Judiciary Committee requests
The Justice Department, in its first response to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, failed to deliver any information on Jordan's outstanding requests.
Rally for tech stocks helps soften Wall Street's rough week
A rally for tech stocks applied some salve on Wall Street’s rough week, one dominated by worries about a weakening economy.
apnews.com
Ukraine war: Germany yet to make decision on sending tanks
Berlin denies it is preventing countries from donating Leopard 2s, but Poland criticises its "hesitation".
www.bbc.com
‘We need action’: Time runs out for Ukraine as allied countries debate sending tanks
Kyiv says it needs more armor as it prepares for major offensives this spring.
www.politico.com
Google axes 12,000 jobs as layoffs spread across tech sector
Google is laying off 12,000 workers, becoming the latest tech company to trim staff as the economic boom that the industry rode during the COVID-19 pandemic ebbs.
apnews.com
Boebert moves to defund Planned Parenthood in her first bill of 2023
Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado is introducing the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2023 as her first piece of legislation for the year, cosigned with 29 other members of the House.
Suicide drones attack US base in Syria
Three suicide drones on Friday morning attacked a U.S. base in Syria, leaving two Syrian fighters injured. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a release that forces at the al-Tanf Garrison shot …
thehill.com
Donald Trump withdraws lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James
Former President Donald Trump withdrew his lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday.
Could the Biden document probe affect his potential reelection bid? America weighs in
Americans in the nation's capital are divided on whether the investigation into how President Biden handled classified documents will impact a 2024 White House run.
Treasury to designate Wagner transnational criminal group
The U.S. Treasury Department will impose additional sanctions on the Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, that has been aiding Russia’s military in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
apnews.com
Trump struggles with the new politics of abortion as a triumphant March for Life arrives in Washington | CNN Politics
The anti-abortion "March for Life" for decades demonstrated to Republicans that they could not reach the Oval Office without the support of the anti-abortion movement.
www.cnn.com
Santos leans on group with white nationalist ties
The congressman has built a relationship with the New York Young Republican Club over the years. But now a top member says they won’t back him again.
www.politico.com
History on the Hill: Powerful spending committees now led by women for the first time
Ascending to lead the House and Senate Appropriations committees is a feat for these four lawmakers who arrived in Washington when few other women served in Congress.
www.nbcnews.com
Noem blocks South Dakota business with certain companies owned or controlled by 'evil foreign governments'
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed an executive order Friday that prevents the state from doing business with particular telecommunications companies.
3 active-duty Marines charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Three active-duty Marines have been charged in the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Court records show that Micah Coomer, Joshua Abate and Dodge Dale Hellonen were arrested this week on misdemeanor charges after fellow Marines helped investigators identify them in footage among the pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6,
apnews.com
A timeline of Rep. George Santos' fabrications and controversy
The freshman Republican was arrested Wednesday. He faces calls for his resignation and multiple investigations after he admitted to substantially embellishing his résumé.
www.nbcnews.com
Next few months crucial for Ukraine's spring counteroffensive, top Pentagon officials say
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley suggested Ukrainians could reclaim some Russian-occupied territory, depending on the training and equipment they receive in the next few months.
www.cbsnews.com
White House calls Florida rejection of AP African American studies course ‘incomprehensible’
The White House on Friday called it “incomprehensible” for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to block a new Advanced Placement (AP) course for high school students on African American studi…
thehill.com
Justice Department tells Jim Jordan it won't share information about ongoing investigations | CNN Politics
The Justice Department signaled Friday it's unlikely to share information about ongoing criminal investigations with the new GOP-controlled House, in a move that's certain to frustrate Republicans in the chamber.
The U.K.’s health system breaks down
www.politico.com
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia to seek reelection
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia says there's “a whole lot more” he wants to do and he's seeking reelection next year.
apnews.com
Jacinda Ardern, like George Washington, knew when to quit | CNN
"Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it," William Shakespeare writes of an executed rebel in "Macbeth." Today's leaders, however, often struggle to embrace an equivalent vision of a dignified exit from political life when their time comes.
www.cnn.com
Santos getting icy reception from House GOP
Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is getting an icy reception from colleagues in the House GOP even as he receives committee assignments and continues to serve his constituents on Long Island. Rep. James…
thehill.comRepublicans said they chose Trump's DC hotel out of convenience. They've spent almost nothing there since he sold it.
Trump made millions from Republican spending at his DC hotel while president. Now that it's just the Waldorf Astoria, the spending has dried up.
Judge says DeSantis violated 1st Amendment, but upholds suspension of 'woke' prosecutor
A federal judge has ruled that Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis did not overstep his authority when he suspended a state prosecutor whom DeSantis viewed as "woke."
Biden, Hunter make presidential history as first father-son duo under separate investigations
President Biden and his son Hunter have made presidential history as the first father-son duo to be separately – but simultaneously – under federal investigation while in office.
Trump is heavy favorite in GOP 2024 primary: poll
Former President Trump is the clear favorite to win the 2024 Republican presidential nod, despite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) swelling national profile, according to a new Harvard CAPS-Harris P…
thehill.com
No Leopard tanks for Ukraine as NATO allies fail to agree
Failure to provide German battle tanks at meeting may signal growing divisions within NATO over supplying such weapons.
McCarthy accepts White House meeting with Biden, takes shot at 'irresponsible' spending
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has agreed to sit down with President Joe Biden after the White House said it would soon host the House speaker for a meeting.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Prosecutors seek justice in Baldwin case, regardless of fame
Prosecutors vow to file two manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin and a weapons supervisor in the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
apnews.com
Anti-abortion advocates hold annual March for Life rally since Roe reversal for first time
This weekend also marks 50 years since the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.
www.nbcnews.com
Kremlin tells 'deluded' West that tanks for Ukraine will change nothing
The Kremlin said on Friday that Western countries supplying additional tanks to Ukraine would not change the course of the conflict and the West would regret its "delusion" that Ukraine could win on the battlefield.
Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine, rehearsed in Chechnya
Moscow’s invasion has echoes of the tactics it employed in conflicts in the North Caucasus, experts and survivors say.
Supreme Court justices were interviewed and not implicated in leak: Marshal
Supreme Court Marshal Gail A. Curley, tasked to investigate the draft opinion leak signaling the overturning of Roe v. Wade, released a statement on Friday saying the justices were interviewed as part of the investigation but were not implicated in the leak.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Judge rules DeSantis' ouster of prosecutor was unconstitutional but upholds suspension
The issue now could go before the Florida Senate, which is responsible for removing from office officials who have been suspended by the governor.
www.politico.com
US targets Russian private military group Wagner for sanctions for fighting in Ukraine
The Biden administration on Friday announced new sanctions against the private Russian military group Wagner, which is fighting on the battlefield in Ukraine, and called out tensions between Moscow…
thehill.com
House Oversight Republicans seek answers from DHS over claims Biden border visit was ‘sanitized’
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer is questioning the administration about conditions related to President Biden's recent visit to the southern border.
Musk to jury: Just because I tweet something, doesn't mean people believe it
Elon Musk, Tesla Inc's chief executive, testified on Friday that investors do not always react to his Twitter messages as he expects, defending himself in a fraud trial over his 2018 tweet that he had funding to take the electric carmaker private.
Supreme Court: Justices interviewed as part of leak probe
Eight months, 126 formal interviews and a 23-page report later, the Supreme Court has failed to discover who leaked a draft of the court’s opinion overturning abortion rights.
apnews.com
Top Republican Patrick McHenry calls FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried a "world-class sociopath"
The new chairman of the House Financial Services Committee said on "The Takeout" this week that Bankman-Fried has "proven himself to be untrustworthy by his actions," and "no word he utters should be believed."
www.cbsnews.com
Mapping the battle for Ukraine’s Bakhmut
Al Jazeera charts six months of assaults on Bakhmut as fighting against Russian forces intensifies.
Judge fines Trump, lawyer for 'frivolous' Clinton lawsuit
A Florida judge has sanctioned former President Donald Trump and one of his attorneys, ordering them to pay nearly $1 million for filing a bogus lawsuit against Trump’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton.
apnews.com
Russia claims progress in eastern Ukraine; Kyiv craves tanks
Russia claims its forces have captured a village in an intense and monthslong push toward the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut.
apnews.com
DOJ tells Jim Jordan that information about ongoing investigations is off limits
Jordan, who now leads the House Judiciary Committee, had asked the Justice Department for information about a number of topics, some of which are active cases.
www.nbcnews.com
White House insists Biden takes classified documents 'seriously' after he says 'no regrets'
The White House on Friday refused to address President Biden's statement that he has "no regrets" over his handling of classified documents amid a special counsel investigation.
Michigan school board member faces backlash over 'whiteness is so evil' tweet
A school board member in Jackson County, Michigan, faced backlash in her community over tweets that attacked "whiteness," claiming it was even more dangerous than animals.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Allies offer more weapons to Ukraine, but no decisions made on tanks
Ukraine has hoped for a rapid shipment of battle tanks to boost its firepower for a spring offensive against Russian forces, but the U.S. urged Kyiv to hold off from mounting such an operation.
‘Multiple threats’: Macron raises France’s military budget 40%
French leader says planned 2024-2030 budget will change the military for the possibility of high-intensity conflicts.
Hundreds evacuated as blaze erupts in slum next to Seoul's posh Gangnam district
Fire swept through part of a shanty town in the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Friday, destroying 60 homes, many constructed from cardboard and wood, and forcing the evacuation of around 500 people.
White House blasts Trump for calling to jail journalists who broke draft abortion decision
The White House on Friday said that former President Trump calling for the jailing of the journalists who published a leaked draft opinion showing the Supreme Court was poised to overturn Roe v. Wa…
thehill.comDOJ reserves right to not cooperate with certain House GOP requests
It’s an early marker of how the Justice Department plans to navigate a Republican majority intent on aggressive oversight over the Biden administration.
www.politico.com
Biden’s approval underwater: poll
President Biden’s approval rating remains underwater as the president prepares for an anticipated reelection bid, according to a new Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll survey released Friday exclusively to T…
thehill.com
France's Macron proposes big rise in defence budget
France's president details plans for a seven-year budget of €413bn to transform its armed forces.
www.bbc.com
Drone attack hits US-led coalition base in southern Syria
The attack on al-Tanf, where US troops are based, injures two allied Syrian opposition fighters, the coalition says.
George Santos' college education is a myth. Is he the only one lying? We checked
George Santos said he went to Baruch College. He didn't. Are others lying? A USA TODAY investigation found few are vetting Congress members' degrees
www.usatoday.com
George Santos appears to admit drag queen past in Wiki post
A user with the name Anthony Devolder wrote in 2011 that they won several drag pageants. Anthony Devolder is a Santos alias.
www.politico.comAfter Roe, Republicans Wrestle With What It Means to Be 'Pro-Life'
For decades, opposition to abortion was a crucial but relatively clear-cut litmus test for Republican candidates: support overturning a constitutional right to an abortion, back anti-abortion judges and vote against taxpayer funding for the procedure. But now, six months after the Supreme Court...
Chris Hipkins to be New Zealand's next prime minister
New Zealand's Education Minister is set to become the island nation's next prime minister after the surprise resignation of Jacinda Ardern. Chris Hipkins was the only candidate to enter the race Saturday.
apnews.com
‘Unplanned’ actress: Pro-lifers care for babies before and after birth
Actress Ashley Bratcher, who starred in the movie 'Unplanned,' said there is a "false narrative" that the pro-life movement only supports babies before they are born.
Fact-checking Biden's economic victory lap
President Joe Biden boasted about his record on the economy on Friday, but many of his claimed victories come with caveats and further context.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
U.S. asks judge to hold Shkreli in contempt for allegedly flouting pharma industry ban
A judge had imposed a lifetime ban on Martin Shkreli working in the drug industry last year.
Treasury study shows stark racial differences in tax breaks, credits
The new report is part of a push by the agency to examine how race intersects with the tax system.
www.politico.com
Macron to hike military funds amid Ukraine war, new threats
French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed to boost military spending by more than a third by 2030 to face evolving threats.
apnews.com
Democrat-led cities are already moving forward with gas stove bans that will affect millions
Democrat-led cities with millions of residents are already enacting sweeping natural gas bans restricting future usage of stoves and other appliances.
Italy forcibly returning asylum seekers to Greece: Investigation
Expose finds evidence of aslyum seekers being detained on commercial ferries to facilitate illegal pushbacks.
How an Investor Lost $625,000 and His Faith in George Santos
A month after the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit in 2021 accusing a Florida-based company of operating a Ponzi scheme, one of the firm’s account managers assured an anxious client that his money was safe. The client, a wealthy investor named Andrew Intrater, had been lured by...
Church of England apologises to LGBTQI+ people for 'shameful' treatment
Church of England bishops apologised to LGBTQI+ people on Friday for the rejection and hostility they have faced, with the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledging that the religious body was still "very divided" on the subject.
Operative jumps from Haley team to Pence amid 2024 jostling
The executive director of former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley’s issues advocacy group is leaving to help run similar efforts for former Vice President Mike Pence.
apnews.com
Congressman Greg Steube moved out of ICU after 25-foot fall
Rep. Greg Steube suffered serious injuries while cutting tree limbs at his home in Sarasota, Fla.
www.cbsnews.com68 Days of Silence: Why the White House Stayed Mum on Classified Documents
WASHINGTON — The decision by President Joe Biden and his top advisers to keep the discovery of classified documents secret from the public and even most of the White House staff for 68 days was driven by what turned out to be a futile hope that the incident could be quietly disposed of without...
March for Life draws huge crowds on Roe v. Wade anniversary despite enthusiasm concerns
Thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators descended upon the nation’s capital for the annual March for Life Friday, the first such event since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
U.S. designates Russia paramilitary firm Wagner as 'criminal' group; Russia says relations with U.S. are at an all-time low
Berlin can single-handedly veto the tank decision, since the Leopard tanks — even if sent by other European armies that use them — are a German re-export.
Nikki Haley hints at presidential run; Tim Kaine seeking another term: recap
Abortion opponents hold march in Washington, D.C.; President Joe Biden dismisses the documents controversy; and Tim Kaine is seeking another term.
www.usatoday.com
How Biden and his staff marked two years in office
President Biden and his team on Friday marked two years since he was sworn into office, highlighting economic gains and bipartisan achievements that will likely form the backbone of a potential ree…
thehill.comAir Travel Debacles Put a Star of Biden's Cabinet in the Hot Seat
WASHINGTON — Appearing on late-night television in September, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed confidence that airlines would improve their performance after a dismal summer of flight delays and cancellations. “I think it’s going to get better by the holidays,” Buttigieg told...
Justices participated in leak investigation, Supreme Court official confirms
A new statement clarified that the Supreme Court Marshal "spoke with" all nine justices during the probe in the leaked draft of an abortion ruling.
www.nbcnews.com
House Republican dismisses China trolling on his support for TikTok ban: ‘I will not be silenced’
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, is not backing down after a Chinese propagandist tried to troll him into bending support to TikTok.
Bills' Hamlin faces long recovery, family spokesman tells AP
A family spokesman for Damar Hamlin tells The Associated Press the Buffalo Bills safety still faces a long rehabilitation despite enjoying a remarkable recovery some three weeks after having to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati.
apnews.com
Ron DeSantis government bans new advanced African American history course
The ban has outraged some parents, who called it a "direct attack" on Black communities.
www.bbc.com
Ramstein summit fails to agree Leopard tanks deal for Ukraine
The United States and its allies failed during talks in Germany to convince Berlin to provide its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, a key demand from Kyiv as it tries to breath new momentum into its fight against Russian forces.
Pence nabs top Haley staffer
The former vice president's nonprofit has hired the former director of Haley's nonprofit.
www.politico.comFar-right Reps. Boebert, Gosar and Greene are on committees probing Biden. What does that mean?
Ultra-conservative Republicans are serving on two influential House committees that will spearhead investigations into the Biden administration.
There’s Only One Thing to Call Biden’s New Scandal: Political Malpractice
And that’s assuming things don’t get worse.
Kristi Noem calls for investigation into leak of Social Security numbers by Jan. 6 panel
Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is calling on the federal government to investigate the leak of more than 2,000 Social Security numbers belonging to Trump officials and allies that were inadvertently included in documents released by the Jan. 6 committee earlier this month.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Anti-abortion activists gather in DC for March for Life, first since overturn of Roe v. Wade
Anti-abortion activists have marched each year since 1973, when Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision granting a right to abortion, was established.
www.usatoday.com
Tech layoffs 2023: Companies that have made cuts
Companies across the tech industry, including Vox Media, Amazon, Microsoft and Google, have made major cuts in 2023.
Over 50 injured in Peru as protests cause 'nationwide chaos'
Dozens of Peruvians were injured after tensions flared again on Friday night as police clashed with protesters in anti-government demonstrations that are spreading across the country.
Jury deliberates in Oath Keepers seditious conspiracy trial
Prosecutors allege that the far-right group took part in a violent plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
America in Decline? World Thinks Again.
Bolstered by a strong response in Ukraine, the U.S. is once again the talk of Davos.
www.politico.com
Republicans rate Biden's handling of the presidency two years in: 'Deserves an F'
Republicans reveal what grade they rate President Joe Biden's handling of the presidency, on the two-year anniversary of his inauguration.
Nikki Haley accuses Pompeo of ‘lies and gossip to sell book’ after vice-president plot claim
Former UN ambassador hits back at former secretary of state as jockeying for Republican presidential primary hots up
Zelensky secretly met with CIA Director Burns in Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky secretly met with CIA Director William Burns in Kyiv last week, several outlets reported on Thursday. The two reportedly discussed the level of support that U…
thehill.com
Alan Komissaroff, Fox News SVP of News and Politics, Dies Following Heart Attack
Alan Komissaroff, a Fox News senior vice president who supervised the cable-news outlet’s political-news coverage, has died following a heart attack. He was 47 years old. “This is an ex…
variety.com
Picture of boxes and documents in Joe Biden's garage lays bare his Delaware security
Resurfaced campaign video from then-2020 presidential contender Joe Biden appears to illustrate the state of his garage's security near where classified documents were recently unearthed.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Rare attack in Alaska renews interest in polar bear patrols
A polar bear attack that killed a mother and her 1-year-old son in far western Alaska this week underscores the risks of living alongside the world's largest land carnivores and has renewed interest in prevention programs known as bear patrols.
apnews.com
NC Republicans ask high court to reconsider redistricting, voter ID decisions
Republicans in the North Carolina legislature are requesting the state Supreme Court reevaluate cases relating to voter ID laws and the state's congressional map
‘A f--king idiot’: Man who breached Pelosi suite says he’s guilty of bluster, not crime
The Jan. 6 defendant famously propped his feet on a desk in then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Capitol suite.
www.politico.com
Davos 2023: Key takeaways from the World Economic Forum
Global leaders and business executives departed a freezing World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting on Friday after a frank exchange of views over how the world will tackle its biggest issues in 2023.
Ron DeSantis just notched a win in court. But the judge says he still violated a prosecutor’s free speech rights.
State Attorney Andrew Warren, a Democrat, showed DeSantis punished him for political speech, but a judge said the governor's suspension was still permissible.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden meets with mayors amid calls for federal help on migrant crisis, urges comprehensive reform
The migrant crisis at the southern border was a top focus for the bipartisan group of mayors who met with President Biden at the White House.
www.usatoday.com
What are the charges Alec Baldwin will face over 'Rust' shooting?
ABC News' Dan Abrams spoke with "Start Here" about Alec Baldwin's pending criminal charges in the 2021 fatal shooting.
Executive producer leaves new CNN morning show: Report
The executive producer behind CNN's morning news program has left just two months since its launch.
www.washingtonexaminer.comUS heads for debt-ceiling standoff as House Republicans refuse to budge
Hard-right Republicans say no to ‘clean’ debt ceiling increase, raising dire possibility of US defaulting on financial obligations
Migrant shot, injured by Texas National Guard soldier: report
A migrant was shot and injured by a member of the Texas National Guard on Sunday morning near the U.S.-Mexico border, Military Times and The Texas Tribune reported. The migrant was repor…
thehill.com
U.S. home sales slump to 12-year low; glimmers of hope emerging
U.S. existing home sales plunged to a 12-year low in December, but declining mortgage rates raised cautious optimism that the embattled housing market could be close to finding a floor.
Trump to GOP: Don’t touch Medicare or Social Security in debt ceiling fight
The ex-president has long viewed entitlement reform as a political loser. But his timing, now, is notable.
www.politico.com
Biden and Republicans seem set for debt ceiling fight, reviving fraught political battles of years past
Another debt ceiling and spending fight looms between the White House and Congress, reviving similar stalemates in 2011 and 2013 under President Barack Obama
Ex-SEAL dies in Ukraine; 6th known American killed in war
A former U.S. Navy SEAL was killed Wednesday in Ukraine. That's according to American officials who say he was not fighting in an official capacity. Daniel W.
apnews.com
College dad sentenced to 60 years for sexually manipulating daughter's classmates
Lawrence Ray, who sexually, psychologically and emotionally manipulated his daughter's classmates at Sarah Lawrence College, was sentenced Friday to 60 years in prison.
Recreational cannabis laws linked with reduced demand for prescription codeine: study
Story at a glance Through 2019, nearly a dozen states legalized recreational cannabis use. New research indicates these laws were associated with decreased demand for prescription codeine. Codeine …
thehill.com
Katie Porter faces complaint over reaping benefits of university ‘subsidized affordable housing’
Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., is facing an FEC complaint from an anti-Biden PAC alleging she is continuing “to reap the benefits” of university staff affordable housing policies.
Philip Esformes, whose prison sentence Trump commuted, loses appeal and faces retrial on health-care fraud charges
Donald Trump, while president, commuted the sentence of Florida nursing home operator Philip Esformes. The DOJ plans to retry him on deadlocked fraud counts.
Historic Black churches receive $4M in preservation grants
Administrators of a trust fund established to preserve historic Black churches in the United States have revealed the first 35 houses of worship that will receive financial grants totaling $4 million.
apnews.com
Judge criticizes DeSantis' firing of Democratic prosecutor but declines to reinstate Andrew Warren | CNN Politics
A federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit brought by a former state attorney in Florida who sued Gov. Ron DeSantis for suspending him last year.
www.cnn.com
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel says she can stop Trump from forming third party: Report
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is promoting herself to lead the committee for the next two years, arguing she is best positioned to stop former President Donald Trump from creating a third party should he lose the GOP primary election and split the party's electorate.
www.washingtonexaminer.comSweden braces for anti-Turkey demos amid NATO accession bid
Sweden is bracing for demonstrations that could complicate its efforts to persuade Turkey to approve its NATO accession.
apnews.comScientists Welcome 'Astronaut,' 'Nobel Winner' George Santos To House Science Committee
Rep. Bill Foster joked that the New York Republican's "groundbreaking work with imaginary numbers" will be an asset to the group.
Border crisis: Texas sheriff requests aide from other departments: 'Constantly under threat'
Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe of Texas is requesting material support from law enforcement in surrounding areas in order to combat an ongoing surge of illegal immigration
US to designate Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organisation
The Wagner Group is believed to be receiving shipments of missiles and rockets from North Korea.
www.bbc.com
California Politics: The unlikely friendship between Republican Kevin McCarthy and Democrat Karen Bass
Republican Kevin McCarthy and Democrat Karen Bass have remained friends across two decades, two coasts and a huge political divide.
www.latimes.com
Hedge fund industry lost $125 bln worth of assets in 2022 - HFR
Almost $125 billion worth of assets, from performance losses left the hedge fund industry in 2022, Hedge Fund Research (HFR) data showed on Friday in the latest sign of the havoc that volatility wreaked on the industry last year.
Russia-Ukraine war in maps and charts: Live Tracker
The Russian offensive enters its 110th week, we track where battles are taking place and the human cost of war.
After Senate flex on Hochul judge pick, a budget battle looms
The governor’s refusal to pull back her choice of Hector LaSalle despite public and private opposition was an experiment in trying to force her will on the Legislature. It failed.
www.politico.com
Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego expected to announce a bid for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's seat in 2024
Sinema announced in December that she was leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent. She has not yet said whether she plans to run for re-election.
www.nbcnews.com
First Native American woman in space steps out on spacewalk
The first Native American woman in space has ventured out on her first spacewalk. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann was joined Friday by Japan's Koichi Wakata, another first-time spacewalker.
apnews.com
Big tech job cuts keep coming; Dell latest to trim headcount
The tech industry started the year with a wave of job cuts, around 50,000 in January alone, and there doesn’t appear to be any let up this month
New anti-Kavanaugh documentary to be screened tonight at Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival announced Thursday it has added a documentary about allegations made against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to its lineup.
www.washingtonexaminer.comCNN Anchor Rips Republican's Reasoning For Not Calling On George Santos To Resign
"I don’t think that that’s the job of another member of Congress to say or call for," said Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) of fellow Rep. George Santos.
One Republican governor. One Democratic. Two very different inaugural speeches.
A video comparison of speeches by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker at their inaugurations.
www.politico.com
States see lithium rush for EVs as environmentalists urge caution
Nevada and other states are poised to rake in huge benefits from a boom in lithium mining for batteries pushed by federal incentives as U.S. demand surges for electric vehicles (EVs). Environmental…
thehill.com
Man claiming he's a messenger from God convicted of threatening to kill congressman
Chase Neill, who represented himself in court, testified that he was passing along a message from God threatening Rep. Jake LaTurner for ignoring concerns about sorcery, wizards and extraterrestrials.
www.cbsnews.com
Lewinsky scandal continues to influence politics, after 25 years
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
Twinkle, twinkle fading stars: Hiding in our brighter skies
A new study found that the night sky is growing brighter every year, and the stars are looking dimmer.
apnews.com
White House accuses House GOP of ‘empowering China’ for insisting on spending cuts before raising debt ceiling
EXCLUSIVE: The White House is accusing Republicans in the House of Representatives of “selling out the middle class” and “empowering China” by insisting on significant spending cuts before agreeing to raise the government’s debt ceiling limit.
Jen Shah's scam victims speak out: 'You get to the point where there's no way out'
Several victims of Jen Shah's telemarketing scheme are speaking out for the first time publicly and among them is a 75-year-old retiree who lost $47,000 to the scam.
D.C. Mayor to Biden: Your Teleworking Employees Are Killing My City
Washington has the highest work-from-home rate of any major city. With an empty downtown, the city faces a real risk of economic peril.
www.politico.com
New Uvalde school will have enhanced security measures
Robb Elementary, the site of a deadly shooting last year, will be razed and a new school built nearby.
www.bbc.com
An Alabama 'election denier' is leading efforts in the state to withdraw from a national organization that combats voter fraud
Critics say the decision by Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a pro-Trump Republican, will make it easier to commit voter fraud.
Larry Summers warns of 1970s economic crisis if banks back down on interest rates
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers warned on Friday that backing down on interest rates as a means of controlling inflation could precipitate a 1970s-style economic crisis. “I think to suppose…
thehill.com
As Baldwin faces charges, gun safety on sets 'gets louder'
As actor Alec Baldwin faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a cinematographer on a New Mexico, gun safety on sets remains at the forefront of many in Hollywood.
apnews.com
Western defense leaders fail to resolve divisions over tanks for Ukraine
“This is a crucial moment. Russia is regrouping, recruiting and trying to re-equip,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned as the meeting opened.
www.nbcnews.com
AWOL Navy SEAL Daniel Swift killed in Ukraine, official says
Daniel W. Swift was killed in Ukraine on Jan. 18, an official told CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden to meet with McCarthy over avoiding debt ceiling ‘calamity’
“We’re going to have a little discussion on that,” Biden said.
www.politico.com
Supreme Court marshal says justices were part of investigation, but didn't sign sworn affidavits
Supreme Court Marshal Gail Curley said in a statement that justices were part of the investigation into who leaked the draft opinion for Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
Say cheese! Galactic photo shoot captures 3 billion stars
A galactic photo shoot has captured more than 3 billion stars and galaxies in one of the biggest sky surveys ever.
apnews.com
Political analysts weigh in on Mayor Cantrell recall efforts with 5 weeks to go
Organizers of the recall effort for Mayor LaToya Cantrell have a little over a month left to collect 20-thousand signatures.
wgno.com
What Colombia’s First Black VP Really Wants from the United States
After a career as a social activist for Afro-Colombians and climate justice, Francia Márquez Mina decided to run for the vice presidency — and won. Her next goal: getting global superpowers to pay reparations.
www.politico.com
Allies of RNC incumbent Ronna McDaniel accused of 'religious bigotry' against Dhillon
Allies of RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel are engaging in "religious bigotry" by targeting challenger Harmeet Dhillon's religious faith, sources told Fox News Digital.
Lauren Boebert Reveals Details Of Bathroom Spat With Marjorie Taylor Greene
The Colorado Republican confirmed reporting she had told her Georgia colleague: "Don't be ugly."
Mexican authorities find bullet-riddled car that missing Ohio man was traveling in and bodies buried nearby
Jose Gutierrez went missing on Christmas day in Mexico after having dinner with his fiancé and two of her family members, according to NBC affiliate WLWT.
www.nbcnews.com
Lawsuit claims woman's death stemmed from Disneyland fall
A lawsuit claims Disneyland employees snickered at a disabled woman struggling to get off a Jungle Cruise boat before she fell and broke a leg, leading to her death months later.
apnews.com
As hate crimes surge, most are going uncounted
In the spring of 2020, someone defaced two synagogues in Huntsville, Alabama, with antisemitic graffiti on consecutive days. Police and federal agents swooped in to investigate. Even the mayor got …
thehill.com
Western envoys visit Kosovo, Serbia to defuse tensions
Western envoys have visited Kosovo and Serbia as part of their ongoing efforts to defuse tensions and help secure a reconciliation agreement between the two.
apnews.com
House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry says U.S. won't default this year - "The Takeout"
The North Carolina Republican wants to separate the debt ceiling debate from the issue of fiscal solvency, which is out of step with the right flank of his party.
www.cbsnews.com
Croatian president blasts EU penalties against Hungary
Croatia's president says that efforts by the European Union to uphold democratic standards in member countries are threatening to tear the bloc apart.
apnews.com
South Dakota House committee rejects proposal to limit ballot measures
South Dakota lawmakers rejected a proposal for a constitutional amendment banning ballot measures from reconsideration if they failed in the previous election cycle.
U.S. FAA says 'unintentionally deleted files' prompted computer outage
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday a preliminary review found that contract personnel "unintentionally deleted files" disrupting a key computer system and prompting a nationwide groundstop on Jan. 11 that disrupted more than 11,000 flights.
Abortion opponents call for stricter bans at first post-Roe Washington march
Thousands of abortion opponents rallied in Washington on Friday for the 50th annual "March for Life," marking a new chapter for a movement that has organized for decades around overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that recognized a women's right to an abortion.
Bosnian war survivors share survival tips with Ukraine
GORAZDE, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Residents of eastern Bosnia's city of Gorazde do not need imaginations to understand the suffering of Ukraine's people.
apnews.com
South Carolina's Supreme Court is likely about to become all-male
“I believe that diversity on the bench gives the public more confidence in the system,” Justice Kaye Hearn said.
www.nbcnews.com
Social media report anti-aircraft systems placed in Moscow
Social media posts on Friday said air-defense systems have been installed in several spots in Moscow, including atop the Russian Defense Ministry headquarters.
apnews.comJoe Biden's biggest successes and failures in his second year in office
Biden faces low approval ratings over inflation and immigration, despite making progress on infrastructure and climate change.
Pelosi chokes up discussing husband’s recovery: Will take ‘a little while for him to be back to normal’
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in a new interview opens up about her husband’s recovery from the violent attack he suffered in October. “He’s doing OK,” Pelosi told CNN’s Chris Wallace in the intervi…
thehill.com
Chatbot that lets you talk to Jesus and Hitler is latest AI controversy
The Historical Figures app is available in Apple's App Store and lets you chat with notable people from history re-animated by artificial intelligence.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden tanked Jimmy Carter's nominee for CIA over mishandled classified docs
President Biden, as a senator in the 1970s, tanked then-President Jimmy Carter’s nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency over his illegal possession of classified documents.
1st small modular nuclear reactor certified for use in US
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has certified the design for what will be the United States’ first small modular nuclear reactor.
apnews.com
Diners caught off guard as a group aired footage relating to Breonna Taylor's death at a Kentucky restaurant
Patrons unaffiliated with an event held by the Republican Women’s Club of South Central Kentucky heard and saw graphic descriptions of the incident that killed Taylor.
www.nbcnews.com
China keeping 1 hour daily limit on kids' online games
HONG KONG (AP) — As the week-long Lunar New Year holidays in China draw near with promises of feasts and red envelopes stuffed with cash, children have another thing to look forward to –- one extra hour of online games each day.
apnews.com
With Roe gone, abortion opponents at March for Life take aim at next targets
Overturning Roe “was only the first phase of this battle,” House Whip Steve Scalise said.
www.politico.com
Polar bear emerged unseen from snowstorm to kill mom, son
Officials in Alaska say a mother and her 1-year-old boy were killed by a polar bear this week as she walked about 150 yards from a school to a health clinic.
apnews.com
The Fyre Festival fraudster is launching his latest thing, and it looks like a party on an island
Some of Billy McFarland’s former employees are sounding the alarms as he launches a post-prison project. McFarland says there's no rush.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden HHS Secretary Becerra visits Minnesota legislature, stumps for abortion
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra visited Minnesota, speaking in favor of abortion access before the state legislature.
Analysis: On debt ceiling, White House bets Republicans will blink under pressure
The White House is refusing to negotiate with hardline Republicans on raising the debt ceiling because it believes enough of them will eventually back off their demands, as a growing chorus of investors, business groups and moderate conservatives warn of the dangers of edging towards a default.
Ukraine, climate, economy: Takeaways from glitzy Davos event
Power brokers have wrapped up the World Economic Forum’s annual conclave in the Swiss town of Davos as worries about the war in Ukraine, a warming planet and a cooling global economy dominated discussions about the world’s ills.
apnews.com
Young Thug and co-defendant made hand-to-hand drug exchange in court, prosecutors say
An attorney for the rapper said that his client was not engaged in "wrongdoing” and that the prosecution is attempting to “make Mr. Williams responsible for someone else’s actions.”
www.nbcnews.com
Inspections of Ukrainian grain ships halved since October
Inspections of ships carrying Ukrainian grain and other food exports have slowed to half their peak rate under a U.N.-brokered wartime agreement.
apnews.com
Rashida Tlaib attacks Supreme Court as 'extremist' amid union case, calls to 'expand the court'
Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib attacked the Supreme Court on Friday, claiming a union's "right to strike" is "on trial" as the court weighs in on a union strike case.
Elon Musk takes witness stand to defend Tesla buyout tweets
Elon Musk has taken the witness stand to defend a 2018 tweet claiming he had lined up the financing to take Tesla private in a deal that never came close to happening.
apnews.com
Suspect in the 2014 abduction case of 43 Mexican college students is deported
Federal authorities said Alejandro Tenescalco was caught trying to cross the border on Dec. 20 without proper documents.
www.cbsnews.com
UK leader Rishi Sunak fined for failing to wear seat belt
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been fined by police for taking off his seat belt to film a social media video in a moving car.
apnews.com
Jared Kushner got into 'knock-down, drag-out screaming matches' with Trump over 2020 election, new book claims
In "The Fight of HIs Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House," New York Times bestselling author Chris Whipple recounts how Jared Kushner confronted his father-in-law Donald Trump over Trump's claims about the 2020 election.
EU's Breton warns TikTok CEO: Comply with new digital rules
The European Union’s digital policy chief has warned TikTok’s boss that the social media app will have to fall in line with tough new rules for online platforms set to take effect later this year.
apnews.com
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes still had a one-way ticket to Mexico after she was convicted of fraud
"The hope was that the verdict would be different and Ms. Holmes would be able to make this trip to attend the wedding of close friends in Mexico," an attorney for Holmes said in a filing.
www.nbcnews.com
Bankman-Fried's lawyers say car hit barricade outside home
A car with three occupants recently drove into a barricade outside the California home owned by Sam Bankman-Fried’s parents.
apnews.com
HUD files proposed rule aimed at reducing housing segregation
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has filed a proposal for a new rule to push local communities to take steps to address housing segregation. HUD said in a release that the rul…
thehill.com
Tennessee cuts HIV program with Planned Parenthood ties
Documents show that top Tennessee health officials attempted to oust Planned Parenthood from a program designed to prevent and treat HIV before deciding to forgo federal funding for it.
apnews.com
Tech layoffs are accelerating, but industry newcomers aren’t spooked
Fearing a recession, Silicon Valley is cutting tens of thousands of jobs. But many people who launched into the field during the “Great Resignation” find their new skill sets continue to pay off even as the hot job market cools.
www.nbcnews.com
Amazon's AWS to invest $35 billion in Virginia
Amazon.com Inc's cloud services division said Friday it plans to invest another $35 billion by 2040 to expand data centers in Virginia.
New Zealand's Ardern has many possibilities for a second act
When Jacinda Ardern announced she was stepping down as New Zealand’s prime minister, speculation began almost immediately about what she might do for a second act.
apnews.com
Kansas man convicted of threatening to kill Republican congressman, could face 10 years in prison
Chase Neill, 32, was found guilty by a federal jury on Friday after representing himself in a trial on charges of threatening Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner.
Despite tear gas, Peru protesters vow to keep demonstrating
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Peru’s capital and are being met with volleys of tear gas for the second straight day, as demonstrators made clear they will keep up their mobilizations to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.
apnews.com
‘Toadzilla,’ record-breaking giant cane toad, discovered in Australia
The giant cane toad was discovered Jan. 12 by park rangers in the state of Queensland.
www.nbcnews.com
No evidence of Taco Bell employees putting rat poison in Colorado man's food, police say
Investigators with a Colorado sheriff's office have been reviewing video footage from a Denver-area Taco Bell where a man bought food and later fell ill.
www.cbsnews.com
YEAR END: Notable people who died in 2023
Photos of celebrities and trailblazers who left their mark on society and passed away in 2023.
Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 makes up nearly half of U.S. COVID cases- CDC
The fast-spreading Omicron XBB.1.5 is estimated to make up nearly half of U.S. COVID-19 cases, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed on Friday, putting it on track to become the dominant subvariant in the country.
Novartis warns U.S. plan to curb drug prices could hit key research
U.S. government plans to rein in drug prices could discourage work in some of Novartis's most promising areas of research, the Swiss drugmaker warned on Friday, urging Washington to rethink the "unintended" effects of its new rules.
How often do you need a COVID booster shot? Yearly, new data suggests.
Yale researchers have found people need annual COVID-19 booster shots to prevent or slow down outbreaks. Here's what to know.
www.usatoday.com
New USDA rule boosts "organic" food oversight, targets fraud
The Agriculture Department issued new requirements for foods labeled organic, a move aimed at cracking down on fraud and boosting oversight.
apnews.com
CBP seeing rise in attempts to bring eggs across southwest border
Amid the rising cost of eggs, CBP says it's seeing an increase in people trying to bring eggs across the southwest border.
Japan to lower COVID-19 to flu status, further easing rules
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced plans to downgrade the legal status of COVID-19 to the equivalent of seasonal influenza in the spring, a move that would further relax mask wearing and other preventive measures as the country seeks to return to normalcy.
apnews.com
‘Utterly unprepared’: Larry Summers says another Covid-scale problem is a top economic risk
The Harvard economist told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that the world is "utterly unprepared" for another Covid-scale disruption.
With growing popularity of new weight loss drugs, doctors emphasize potential risks
The growing popularity of weight loss drugs has doctors warning of potential risks.
US confirmed country's first case of Covid-19 three years ago Friday | CNN
Friday marks three years since the first Covid-19 case was confirmed in the United States.
www.cnn.com
Analysis of seemingly recovered COVID-19 patients indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection can persist significantly longer than suggested by PCR-negative tests
Scientists have described the infection dynamics and clinical features of PCR-negative patients who eventually died due to the worsening of COVID-19.
www.news-medical.net
Easing prescription rules for opioid treatment meds did not increase overdose deaths, study finds
During the coronavirus pandemic, federal agencies changed rules to allow qualified clinicians to remotely prescribe buprenorphine, even to new patients.
www.cbsnews.comNigeria confirms diphtheria outbreak; 25 dead in one state
Health authorities in Nigeria have confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria, with 25 people mostly children killed in the northcentral Kano state alone.
apnews.com
‘Concerning’ strain of gonorrhea detected in Massachusetts, officials say
The strain was found to resist five classes of antibiotics, a first in the U.S., according to the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health (DPH).
thehill.com
China plays down COVID outbreak with holiday rush at full tilt
People across China crowded into trains and buses for one of its busiest days of travel in years on Friday, feeding fears of new surges in a raging COVID-19 outbreak that officials say has hit its peak.
J&J subsidiary to pay $9.75M to resolve kickback allegations
Federal prosecutors say a subsidiary of health care company Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay nearly $10 million to settle allegations that it violated federal and state law by providing free products to a surgeon.
apnews.com
Eli Lilly Alzheimer's drug setback extends rival Biogen's lead
The U.S. health regulator's rejection of accelerated approval for Eli Lilly and Co's Alzheimer's disease drug extends the market lead for rivals Eisai and Biogen's treatment by months, analysts said.
French court halts negligence investigation into ex-health minister over COVID handling
France's top appeals court on Friday threw out a judicial investigation into alleged negligence by former health minister Agnes Buzyn in her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
