(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Trump impeachment leader Schiff joins California Senate race
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who rose to national prominence as the lead prosecutor in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial, said Thursday he is running for the Senate seat held by long-serving Democrat Dianne Feinstein.Biden says GOP 'threatening to destroy' economy; Elon Musk meets with lawmakers: Recap
Elon Musk tweeted that he met with Kevin McCarthy to talk about Twitter. California’s state bar is seeking to disbar Trump lawyer John Eastman
www.usatoday.com
Israel, Gaza fighters trade fire after deadly West Bank raid
Gaza militants fired rockets and Israel carried out airstrikes as tensions soared following an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.
apnews.com
McCarthy: ‘We won’t touch Medicare or Social Security’
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on Thursday that House Republicans will not target Medicare or Social Security in their negotiations over the debt ceiling. “We won’t touch Medicare or Social…
thehill.com
US expands sanctions on Russia's 'brutal' Wagner Group
The Biden administration is expanding sanctions against Russia's Wagner Group and related companies and individuals for their role in the war in Ukraine and mercenary activities, including human rights abuses, in Africa.
apnews.com
Ukraine war: Fighting heats up in east and north after tank pledges
Ukraine on Friday battled Russian troops trying to pierce its lines in the east and northeast, and artillery bombardments intensified after Western allies promised the Kyiv government it would send them tanks to repel the invaders.
www.reuters.com
SEAL Team Six kills key ISIS facilitator Bilal al-Sudani, 10 operatives in counterterrorism mission in Somalia
U.S. military killed key ISIS facilitator Bilal al-Sudani and about 10 ISIS operatives in a counterterrorism mission that saw no casualties among American service members or civilians, senior administration officials said Thursday.
www.foxnews.com
Selfies, karaoke and Chick-fil-A: Rep. George Santos is reveling in the spotlight despite investigations
The New York congressman who acknowledged lying about key parts of his résumé and faces multiple investigations is dodging questions and taking selfies.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden touts job growth and slowing inflation rates in speech on economy
Biden spent much of the second half of 2022 asking Americans to bear with him through historically high gas prices and inflation.
www.cnbc.com
Trump adviser Eastman faces California disciplinary charges
Conservative attorney John Eastman — a lead architect of some of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election — is facing disciplinary charges in California that could lead to his disbarment.
apnews.com
DeSantis proposes making child rapists eligible for execution, allowing death penalty without unanimous jury
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed making child rapists eligible for the death penalty and reducing the number of jurors required to dole out capital punishment.
www.foxnews.com
FBI dismantles ransomware gang Hive's website; $130 million in ransom payments averted
The FBI late Wednesday seized a cache of computer servers in Los Angeles supporting the group known as Hive, known to extort millions from victims.
www.usatoday.com
DeSantis may just have made the Republican National Committee chair race a lot more competitive
The GOP Florida governor gave Ronna McDaniel's challenger, Harmeet Dhillon a boost during an interview with "The Charlie Kirk Show."
www.cbsnews.com
Republicans’ House rule change opens door for Democrats to score political points - Washington Examiner
The House is allowing open amendments on a bill for the first time in nearly seven years on Thursday, finally giving rank-and-file Republicans more of a chance to mold the end product of legislation that moves through the lower chamber. But the process, a concession Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) made to...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Zelenskyy defiant as Russia unleashes 'massive' missile strike; U.S. sanctions Russian mercenary group
After the U.S. and Germany's historic decision to supply battle tanks to Ukraine, talk has already turned to the possible supply of other firepower.
www.cnbc.com
Lawmakers submit more than 140 amendments as House opens process for first time in seven years
The House opened up its amendment process for the first time in seven years on Thursday, and began debating on the floor more than 140 proposed changes to an oil-related bill. House Republicans bro…
thehill.com
Blinken headed to Mideast as US alarm over violence grows
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank this weekend amid a sharp spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence that has alarmed the Biden administration.
apnews.com
Why would senators not be given access to the Biden and Trump classified documents?
The administration isn't sharing documents with senators due to concerns about potential for interference with the investigations, a Justice Department official said
abcnews.go.com
Major US cities brace for possible violence after Atlanta riots ahead of Tyre Nichols video
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency in anticipation of more unrest following violent riots in Atlanta last weekend.
www.foxnews.com
US infiltrates big ransomware gang: 'We hacked the hackers'
Attorney General Merrick Garland and other U.S. officials say the FBI and international partners have at least temporarily disrupted the network of a prolific ransomware gang they infiltrated last year.
apnews.com
Russian propaganda outlet employees return to DC studio for new company: Report - Washington Examiner
Former employees of the Russian state-funded propaganda outlet, RT America, are making a comeback at the outlet's previous studio in Washington, D.C., according to Axios. The downtown office is now occupied by previous RT America employee Georgy Zalevskiy's new company, GlobalTek LLC, per a...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Trump’s typical social posts could push up against Meta’s rules
Former President Trump will need to adjust his social media style if he wants to keep his newly restored Facebook and Instagram accounts. A number of the 2024 presidential candidate’s posts o…
thehill.com
House passes Strategic Production Response Act in GOP effort to limit oil reserve withdrawal
The House is voting on legislation that would limit President Joe Biden's authority to withdraw oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
www.usatoday.com
New barrage of Russian strikes in Ukraine kills at least 11
Ukrainian authorities say Russia has fired more missiles and self-exploding drones at nearly a dozen Ukrainian provinces, causing the first war-related death in Kyiv this year and killing at least 11 people overall.
apnews.com
A group of Republicans are pushing a so-called Fair Tax Act – here's how it works
The GOP plan would set a national sales tax of 30% and eliminate the IRS.
www.cbsnews.com
Trump's return to Facebook could be major fundraising boost
Meta's decision to soon reinstate Donald Trump’s Facebook account comes at a critical moment as the former president tries to gain momentum in what has been widely derided as a lackluster start to his third bid for the White House.
apnews.com
Musk huddles with McCarthy, speaks briefly with Jeffries in quick Capitol visit
Twitter CEO Elon Musk met with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the Capitol on Thursday, a meeting that focused on the explosive topic of ensuring that Twitter is even-handed in its approach to…
thehill.com
What we know about Atlanta's "Cop City" and the standoff between police and protesters
The killing of Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, a "forest defender" who went by the name Tortuguita, has generated many questions.
www.cbsnews.com
Russia: NATO war involvement ‘growing’ with arms to Ukraine
War experts are divided on how effective Germany’s Leopard 2 and US Abrams tanks will be against Russian forces.
www.aljazeera.com
Latest Santos chaos: 'Hiring' treasurer who turned down job
U.S. Rep. George Santos’ campaign committee has told federal regulators it hired a new treasurer amid lingering questions about the source of his wealth and irregularities in the committee’s financial reports.
apnews.com
How the Biden administration decided to reverse course and give tanks to Ukraine
Biden warmed to a path suggested by Blinken and Sullivan and a plan proposed by Milley and Austin.
www.nbcnews.com
DeSantis rejects 'woke' cash bail reform: 'An ideological agenda'
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said his administration would continue to reject the "ideological agenda" of eliminating cash bail.
www.foxnews.com
US military kills senior Islamic State official in Somalia
U.S. special operations forces have killed a senior Islamic State group official and 10 other terrorist operatives in remote northern Somalia.
apnews.com
Biden attacks Republicans over 'mind-boggling' debt ceiling threat
President Joe Biden cast Republicans as representing the party of "chaos and catastrophe" on Thursday and sharply criticized their refusal to approve an increase in the U.S. debt ceiling unless they get a deal on spending cuts.
www.reuters.com
National Archives official will sit for inquisition by Oversight Republicans on Biden docs drama
A top official at the National Archives and Records Administration will sit down with the House Oversight Committee Tuesday to discuss the Biden classified documents case.
www.foxnews.com
Stocks, dollar gain on allure of Fed soft landing
World stocks rallied and the dollar edged up from eight-month lows on Friday as slowing inflation data raised hopes the Federal Reserve can engineer an economic soft landing and reduce its pace of aggressive monetary tightening next week.
www.reuters.com
Justice Kavanaugh: Supreme Court's slow start a coincidence
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh says the public shouldn’t read anything into the high court’s historically slow start to releasing opinions.
apnews.com
Convicted ISIS supporter allegedly met with ‘American Taliban’ John Lindh in violation of release conditions | CNN Politics
Ali Shukri Amin, a Virginia man who pleaded guilty in 2015 to providing support to ISIS, is accused of violating his release conditions after allegedly meeting multiple times with John Walker Lindh, the so-called “American Taliban” who served 17 years in prison for supplying services to the group.
www.cnn.com
"That just cannot stand": Warner and Rubio united in demanding access to Trump, Biden documents
"Our job is to make sure there's not an intelligence compromise," the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman told "Face the Nation."
www.cbsnews.com
Five ex-Memphis police officers charged with murder in death of Tyre Nichols
Officials are expected to release police body-worn camera video of the incident.
www.reuters.com
Biden's promise to send tanks delayed by lack of inventory: reports
President Biden's promise to deliver tanks to Ukraine could be delayed for months because the Pentagon reportedly does not have the 31 tanks in stock.
www.foxnews.com
DA: 5 Memphis cops 'all responsible' for Tyre Nichols' death
Five fired Memphis police officers have been charged with murder and other crimes in the killing of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist who died three days after a confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop.
apnews.com
Judge allows Capitol Police officers’ civil lawsuit against Trump and January 6 rioters to proceed | CNN Politics
A federal judge has allowed another civil lawsuit against former President Donald Trump for the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol to proceed.
www.cnn.com
Sinema passed over for Appropriations after Democratic Party defection - Washington Examiner
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) did not end up on the powerful Appropriations Committee despite angling for a seat after she left the Democratic Party to become an independent late last year. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released a list of Democratic committee assignments on Thursday...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Democratic House leader Jeffries says Trump running 'low-energy' campaign for president
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said presidential candidate Donald Trump is running a "low-energy campaign" after announcing his third bid for the White House in November.
www.foxnews.com
House Democrats want to deny George Santos access to classified information
New York Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York and Joe Morelle told McCarthy that they have "serious concerns" about Santos.
www.cbsnews.com
Georgia Gov. Kemp declares state of emergency after protests, mobilizes National Guard
Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard in response to protests in Atlanta.
abcnews.go.com
A US state asked for evidence to ban TikTok. The FBI offered none
Emails show officials in the state of Connecticut opted not to ban the Chinese-owned app after consulting with the FBI.
www.aljazeera.com
Progressive group bashes Schiff’s handling of Trump impeachment ahead of Senate bid - Washington Examiner
The 2024 California Senate race is heating up as a group backing Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) bashes Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) as not being sufficiently progressive. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which supports progressive candidates, claims Schiff hasn't done enough to oppose former...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Santos loans deepen questions around campaign finances
A set of updated campaign finance reports are deepening the mystery surrounding the source of high-dollar loans that Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) made to his campaign last year. Santos’s campa…
thehill.com
Schiff uses TikTok app that Biden banned to complain about getting kicked off House Intelligence Committee
Rep. Adam Schiff posted a video on the Chinese-owned app TikTok after being kicked out of the Intelligence Committee by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
www.foxnews.com
Ex-Wagner commander witnessed comrades shot for fleeing, says his Norwegian lawyer
A former commander of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who fled to Norway has spoken about how he witnessed some of his comrades being shot as they were trying to flee from the frontline in Ukraine, his Norwegian lawyer told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
Eastman faces disbarment push in California
The chief trial counsel for the State Bar of California contends the lawyer violated rules of professional conduct as he pushed fringe legal theories aimed at keeping Donald Trump in power.
www.politico.com
EU wants to send more migrants away as irregular arrivals grow
Ministers sought ways to curb irregular immigration, reviving controversial ideas for border fences and asylum centres.
www.reuters.com
Past US presidents, VPs asked to recheck for classified docs
The National Archives has asked former presidents and vice presidents to recheck their personal records for any classified documents following the news that President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence had documents in the possession after they left office.
apnews.com
Elon Musk meets with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Hakeem Jeffries | CNN Politics
Twitter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries at the US Capitol in Washington on Thursday evening.
www.cnn.com
All DC police personnel activated ahead of possible demonstrations: Report - Washington Examiner
The Metropolitan Police Department called up all of its personnel Thursday in preparation for First Amendment activities after five former Memphis, Tennessee, police officers were charged with second-degree murder. Body camera footage of the fatal interaction between the officers and 29-year-old...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
FDA advisers vote to simplify COVID vaccines, retire original "monovalent" shots
Unvaccinated Americans would be able to effectively skip to the updated "bivalent" booster doses.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden’s next 2 years: A brutal war and a rough campaign
A war with no end in sight threatens to loom over Biden and his expected reelection bid.
www.politico.com
Fighting on two fronts: Zelenskyy battles corruption and Russia
Ukraine restarts the war on graft, and Western nations promise battle tanks. Could the two events be linked?
www.aljazeera.com
Farm where 4 were killed had separate shooting last summer
The shooting that left four dead at a California mushroom farm on Monday was at least the second time an employee tried to kill a coworker on the property.
apnews.com
Sen. Kennedy stumps Biden judicial nominee with basic questions about Constitution
The president nominated Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren to be a U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Washington.
www.nbcnews.com
GOP leaders slam Biden Treasury for ‘stonewalling’ oversight probe into Hunter Biden’s business dealings
Several Republicans accused President Biden's Treasury Department of "stonewalling" the House Oversight Committee's probe into Hunter Biden's business dealings.
www.foxnews.com
Former Detroit Lions linebacker Jessie Lemonier dies at 25 - Washington Examiner
Former linebacker for the Detroit Lions Jessie Lemonier died at age 25, according to a Thursday statement released by the team. "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of former Detroit Lion Jessie Lemonier," the statement read. POLICE OFFICER RESIGNS AFTER SUPERIORS SUSPEND HIM FOR...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden pays tribute to victims of California shootings
President Joe Biden says the nation's prayers are with two California cities where 18 people were killed in separate mass shootings over the last week.
apnews.com
Over 100 Harvard students leave class of professor accused of sexual harassment - Washington Examiner
More than 100 students walked out of a class at Harvard University Tuesday. Their exit was a united protest of the course's professor, who was previously put on unpaid administrative leave following multiple sexual harassment claims. In the first few minutes of professor John Comaroff's course...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Michigan court throttles planned minimum wage hike
The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled a 2018 move by Republicans in the state legislature to stem a nearly $3 minimum wage hike to be constituional.
www.foxnews.com
Cotton vows to block nominees until Congress sees documents seized at Biden, Trump residences
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he and other Republicans will hold up President Biden’s nominees until the administration shares with Congress the clas…
thehill.com
NYC bike path killer convicted, could face the death penalty
An Islamic extremist who killed eight people with a speeding truck in a 2017 rampage on a popular New York City bike path has been convicted of federal charges and could face the death penalty.
apnews.com
Connecticut Gov. Lamont calls for more gun bans, higher buying age
Democratic Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont proposed a ban on sales of more types of firearms, as well as an increase in the buying age from 18 to 21
www.foxnews.com
Gang task force disbanded as MS-13 strikes again outside Washington - Washington Examiner
A gang task force group in northern Virginia that targeted MS-13, the largest gang in the area, was shuttered at the start of the year, leaving a potentially dangerous void in its absence.The Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force’s most recent executive director, Jay Lanham, told the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Israel air attacks hit Gaza, escalation fears after Jenin raid
Witnesses reported Israeli drones fired missiles at targets in Gaza followed by fighter jets attacking locations.
www.aljazeera.com
Judgment Day: Scientists create humanoid robot with ability to liquefy and reform - Washington Examiner
A team of Chinese and American scientists created a humanoid robot with the ability to liquefy and reform, eerily similar to the T-1000 terminator in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The new “magnetoactive solid-liquid phase transitional machine,” as described by the researchers, can be seen in a...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
DeSantis rolls out sweeping criminal justice package
The proposals include eliminating unanimous jury rulings in death penalty decisions.
www.politico.com
Ohio House Speaker tries to assert control over fractured caucus
Republican Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens maintains that he controls his caucus, despite rampant infighting and rivals within his party asserting otherwise.
www.foxnews.com
How classified documents became a schoolgirl's show-and-tell
Dramas over the mishandling of classified documents at a high level of the U.S. government aren't all new.
apnews.com
Rep. Matt Gaetz introduces 'PENCIL' resolution barring Adam Schiff from accessing classified information
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced a resolution on Thursday that would bar California Rep. Adam Schiff from accessing classified information.
www.foxnews.com
Kavanaugh says he’s ‘optimistic’ about the Supreme Court and trashes US News law school rankings | CNN Politics
Speaking at Notre Dame, Kavanaugh launched into a lengthy criticism of US News & World Report’s ranking of law schools
www.cnn.com
Indiana lawmaker targets furries in schools. Schools say there's no problem
A bill in the Indiana Senate would reiterate that schools are allowed to enforce dress codes to prevent students from dressing as furries.
www.usatoday.com
Five Chinese citizens killed in California shooting - consulate
Five Chinese citizens were among the victims in a shooting in the California town of Half Moon Bay, the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco said.
www.reuters.com
U.S. EPA administrator contemplating stepping down -sources
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan is considering stepping down, according to four sources familiar with the matter.
www.reuters.com
FDA declines to regulate CBD; calls on Congress for fix
The Food and Drug Administration says there are too many unknowns about CBD products to regulate them as foods or supplements.
apnews.com
Arizona’s GOP legislators vote to shield themselves from public records laws
The new rules adopted by both GOP-led chambers of the state Legislature effectively make investigations into any potential wrongdoing far more difficult.
www.nbcnews.com
Israel, Gaza fighters trade fire after deadly West Bank raid
Gaza militants fired rockets and Israel carried out airstrikes as tensions soared following an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.
apnews.com
Illinois Gov. Pritzker hits DeSantis, warns of Florida's 'racist and homophobic laws' amid AP controversy
J.B. Pritzker is criticizing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after his administration blocked the College Board's African American Studies AP from being taught in the state.
www.foxnews.com
South Korea’s unions cry ‘red scare’ amid North Korea spy claims
South Korea’s spy agency has accused members of the country’s largest union of illegally contacting North Korean agents.
www.aljazeera.com
Asteroid 2023 BU: Space rock passes closer than some satellites
About the size of a bus, the space rock whipped over the southern tip of South America.
www.bbc.com
Sen. Rick Scott announces run for reelection, not for president: Report - Washington Examiner
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) has reportedly announced that he is running for reelection, but not to be president. "I’m running for the U.S. Senate," Scott said, NBC News reported. The outlet was told that Scott plans to push his controversial tax plan, "Rescue America," which President Joe Biden...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden: I won’t let GOP use debt ceiling as ‘bargaining chip’
President Biden on Thursday called the prospect of the federal government defaulting on its debt “mind-boggling” but pushed back against Republican lawmakers seeking to leverage negotiations over r…
thehill.com
Biden administration proposes to let people choose Hispanic or Latino as a race
The administration's suggested update for race and ethnicity definitions would no longer classify people of Middle Eastern or North African descent as "white."
www.nbcnews.com
Judge blocks sale of machine gun converters after U.S. sues
The U.S. Department of Justice said it has obtained a court order blocking two firearms companies from imperiling public safety by illegally selling devices to convert AR-15 style rifles into machine guns.
www.reuters.com
U.S. says it 'hacked the hackers' to bring down ransomware gang, helping 300 victims
The FBI revealed it had disrupted a prolific ransomware gang called Hive, a maneuver that allowed the bureau to thwart the group from collecting more than $130 million in demands.
www.reuters.com
Biden extends deportation protection for Hong Kong residents
President Joe Biden has signed off on a two-year extension of a program that protects Hong Kong residents in the U.S. from deportation.
apnews.com
OnPolitics: Why VP Harris engaging Black men voters matters
An interview with reporter Mabinty Quarshie on an exclusive story that the Biden administration is reaching out to Black voters.
www.usatoday.com
Pelosi says it would be 'very hard' to watch body camera video of husband's brutal attack
Police video and Paul Pelosi's 911 call are expected to be released Friday.
www.nbcnews.com
DeSantis wades into RNC race: ‘I like what Harmeet Dhillon has said’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is praising California attorney and former Trump campaign adviser Harmeet Dhillon amid in her bid to take the Republican National Committee chairmanship away from Ronn…
thehill.com
Myanmar military announces strict new election law ahead of polls
New rules, published in state media, appear designed to ensure there is no meaningful opposition to the military.
www.aljazeera.com
Colorado baker loses appeal over transgender birthday cake
The Colorado baker who won a partial U.S. Supreme Court victory after refusing to make a gay couple’s wedding cake because of his Christian faith has lost an appeal in his latest legal fight.
apnews.com
Attorney General Merrick Garland faces a difficult choice: whether to appoint a Pence special counsel | CNN Politics
The Pence documents are now the subject of a preliminary review by the Justice Department’s national security division and the FBI.
www.cnn.com
Myanmar opium cultivation surged 33% amid violence, UN finds
The United Nations says the production of opium in Myanmar has flourished since the military’s seizure of power.
apnews.com
After years of denials, VA urges millions of veterans exposed to burn pits to file claims
The PACT Act takes the burden of proof off veterans, automatically linking asthma, some cancers and other illnesses to burn pit exposure.
www.cbsnews.com
Dragged left: How progressives could get more power in 2024 - Washington Examiner
While the 2024 Senate map is shaping up to be a difficult terrain for the Democratic Party, some of the party's candidates are seeing an opportunity to push the caucus in a more progressive direction. The Arizona and California races specifically have the chance to move the party from more...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Capitol Police officers to attend sentencing of man who maced Sicknick on Jan. 6
Prosecutors have asked the judge to impose a 90-month sentence on Julian Khater.
www.politico.com
Anti-abortion protesters break into Walgreens AGM meeting room
Walgreens and CVS Health Corp said on Jan. 4 that they plan to offer abortion pills following the U.S. FDA's decision to allow retail pharmacies to offer the drug in the country for the first time.
www.reuters.com
Tyre Nichols: Family urges calm ahead of video release
Video of the traffic stop in Memphis that led to Mr Nichols' death is due to be released on Friday.
www.bbc.com
Rep. Matt Gaetz introduces 'PENCIL' resolution barring Adam Schiff from accessing classified information
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced a resolution on Thursday that would bar California Rep. Adam Schiff from accessing classified information.
www.foxnews.com
On The Money — How the economy defied recession fears in 2022
After all was said and done, the U.S. economy had a pretty solid year. We’ll also look at President Biden’s warning to Republicans over the debt limit and why jobless claims are falling even amid r…
thehill.com
Explainer: State of the Union 2023: When is Biden speaking and what do you need to know?
U.S. President Joe Biden will on Tuesday deliver his State of the Union address three months after Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, a speech that may mark the unofficial start of the 2024 presidential campaign season.
www.reuters.com
Rep. Adam Schiff, who led first Trump impeachment, seeking CA Senate seat held by Feinstein
Two representatives have entered a Senate race vying for a California seat held by the longest-serving woman senator, Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
www.usatoday.com
A look at California's deadly back-to-back mass shootings
In less than 48 hours, two gunmen went on shooting rampages at both ends of California that left 18 dead and 10 wounded.
apnews.com
ICC to resume investigation into Philippines’s deadly drug war
Manila had argued it was conducting its own investigation into deaths under the controversial policy.
www.aljazeera.com
Florida doctors worried DeSantis gives ‘fringe’ dermatologist a platform
DeSantis is using his opposition to Covid-19 restrictions and advocacy of medical “free speech” as a central pillar of his messaging strategy, and the issue is likely to play into a possible 2024 presidential run.
www.politico.com
German foreign office "sorry" for tweet taking a dig at Russia's African outreach with a leopard emoji
"Is the Continent of Africa, its people & wildlife just a joke to you?" demanded one African Union official over the "tone deaf" tweet.
www.cbsnews.com
Andrew Cuomo slams DA who charged Alec Baldwin: ‘Prosecutors are politicians’
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) blasted the prosecutor who charged actor Alec Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter by suggesting the charges were politically motivated. Cuomo remarked tha…
thehill.com
Justices weigh effort to balance Washington state's tax code
SEATTLE (AP) — An effort to balance what is considered the nation's most regressive state tax code came before the Washington Supreme Court on Thursday, with justices hearing arguments about whether they should overturn a prohibition on income taxes that dates to the 1930s.
apnews.com
Woman arrested for enrolling as New Jersey high school student
The 29-year-old allegedly used a fake birth certificate to attend the high school in New Jersey.
www.bbc.com
Biden administration rolls out a blueprint for a 'renters bill of rights' – Here's what it includes
The Biden administration rolled out a blueprint for a renters bill of rights, a major win for tenants, advocates say.
www.cnbc.com
Seven killed in synagogue attack as West Bank violence spirals
A Palestinian gunman killed seven people and wounded three others in a synagogue on the outskirts of Jerusalem, a day after the deadliest Israeli raid in the West Bank in years.
www.reuters.com
Virginia Democrats defeat bills limiting abortion access
A Democratic-led Virginia Senate panel has defeated several bills that would have restricted abortion access in the state.
apnews.com
Judge sentences second New York lawyer in Molotov cocktail case
A U.S. judge on Thursday sentenced disbarred lawyer Colinford Mattis to one year and one day in prison for his role in setting fire to an empty New York City police car with a Molotov cocktail during May 2020 protests over George Floyd's death, the Brooklyn U.S. attorney's office said.
www.reuters.com
Biden calls for ‘meaningful reforms’ after officers charged in Tyre Nichols case
President Biden has called for “meaningful reforms” after five officers were indicted with second-degree murder charges in the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man in Memphis, Tenn. “Pub…
thehill.com
Adam Schiff running for Senate in California, joining crowded 2024 primary
The congressman is vying for the seat held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has not announced her 2024 plans.
www.nbcnews.com
Illinois governor slams DeSantis’s decision to block AP course
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has warned the College Board that his state will reject a revised Advanced Placement African American studies course “designed to appease extremists like the Florida Gov…
thehill.com
FBI: 'American Taliban' Lindh meets with released extremist
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A northern Virginia man convicted nearly a decade ago of supporting the Islamic State group as a teenager has now been accused of violating his terms of release by meeting with convicted Taliban supporter John Walker Lindh.
apnews.com
AI wrote a bill to regulate AI. Now Rep. Ted Lieu wants Congress to pass it.
The California Democrat, one of a handful of members with computer science backgrounds, wants a nonpartisan commission to recommend new regulations for artificial intelligence.
www.nbcnews.com
Tensions soar in Haiti’s capital after police officers killed
Protesters erect burning barricades in Port-au-Prince as anger bubbles over following recent killings by Haitian gangs.
www.aljazeera.com
'White' federal workers would no longer include Middle Eastern, North African heritage under new Biden plan
The Biden administration on Thursday proposed several changes to the way the federal government collects data on the race and ethnicity of federal workers.
www.foxnews.com
Ivey issues rules for responding to public record requests
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday ordered state agencies to follow new procedures for responding to public record requests, changes intended to provide structure in a state with one of the weakest open records laws in the country.
apnews.com
Maryland man who threatened to kill Sen. Ted Cruz pleads guilty | CNN Politics
A Maryland man pleaded guilty Thursday to threatening to murder a member of Congress, the Department of Justice announced in a news release.
www.cnn.com
New York seeks to test Supreme Court on gun control
A pivotal Supreme Court decision striking down New York’s concealed carry law last summer is set to be tested by a new law crafted by Democrats determined to curtail gun violence in their state. Th…
thehill.com
California massacres suggest phenomenon of 'mass shooting contagion': Experts
Following a series of mass shootings, gun violence researcher said they're concerned that a phenomenon known as "mass shooting contagion" is occurring across California.
abcnews.go.com
Lockdowns linked to tenfold rise in child abuse imagery
A charity says its data highlights how predators took advantage of the worldwide Covid-19 situation.
www.bbc.com
Exclusive: Biden to court wealthy donors as he preps 2024 campaign in coming weeks - sources
U.S. President Joe Biden will hold a number of fundraisers with wealthy Democratic donors in coming weeks as part of his expected bid to return to the White House in 2024, according to three sources familiar with the plans.
www.reuters.com
U.S. sanctions Paraguay VP, former president for corruption
The United States is sanctioning Paraguay’s former President Horacio Cartes Jara and current Vice President Hugo Velázquez Moreno. The U.S.
apnews.com
Scott pushes plan to prioritize certain payments if debt limit bill stalls
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) circulated a letter to Senate colleagues Thursday urging them to back his plan to ensure the federal government does not default on interest payments or payments to Social …
thehill.com
U.S. military operation kills ISIS facilitator Bilal al-Sudani in Somalia
A special forces raid Wednesday night in northern Somalia resulted in the death of ISIS operator and facilitator Bilal al-Sudani and about 10 of his ISIS associates.
www.cbsnews.com
UN chief: Exhibit of Nazi victims is call to fight cruelty
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday the Nazis tried to rob millions of Jews of their names before killing them during World War II — but at the inauguration of a U.N. installation with the names of 4.8 million Holocaust victims he said they failed and all those sla
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No dad jokes here: Congressional Dads Caucus to focus on working families
"Dads need to do our part, both at home and in the halls of Congress," said Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., one of the group's co-founders.
www.nbcnews.com
Tyre Nichols: Timeline of investigation into his death
The investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols continues, as five officers are charged in connection with his death.
abcnews.go.com
Turkey says it is "meaningless" to restore NATO dialogue with Sweden, Finland
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday it was "meaningless" to hold a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland to discuss their NATO bids after protests this month in Stockholm.
www.reuters.com
Why Brazil's Yanomami are being decimated by disease, mining
Severe malnutrition and disease, particularly malaria, are decimating the Yanomami population in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, and on Jan. 20 the federal government declared a public health emergency.
apnews.com
Biden admin issues 20-year mining ban as it turns to foreign supply chain amid green energy push
The Biden administration on Thursday withdrew 225,504 mineral-rich acres from being able to be leased for mining for 20 years over environmental concerns.
www.foxnews.com
US hacks back against Hive ransomware crew
The US Department of Justice says its operation against the cyber gang was a 21st Century stakeout.
www.bbc.com
Thai activist sentenced to 28 years for online posts on king
A 27-year-old activist has been sentenced to 28 years in prison by a court that found he defamed Thailand's monarchy in several Facebook posts.
apnews.com
California storms give state much-needed boost in water supply
A series of atmospheric rivers covered the parched state with an estimated 121 trillion litres of water.
www.aljazeera.com
DeSantis scrambles RNC race after praising Dhillon and urging ‘new blood’
The Florida governor weighed in on the race just 24 hours before the RNC’s 168 voting members are set to elect their next chair on Friday.
www.politico.com
Goldman Sachs says 4 cities likely to see a 2008-style housing crash: report
Goldman Sachs is predicting dark days in 2023 for some of the pandemic’s red-hot U.S. housing markets.
thehill.com
Boeing pleads not guilty in case over deadly Max crashes
Boeing has pleaded not guilty to a criminal charge in a case revolving around two crashes of Boeing 737 Max planes. A federal judge in Texas took Boeing's plea Thursday.
apnews.com
Lax oversight allows U.S. refineries to pollute waterways - report
Weak U.S. water protection rules and federal oversight has allowed dozens of U.S. oil refineries to dump toxic chemicals and metals into the nation’s waterways, the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) said in a report released on Thursday.
www.reuters.com
U.S. to send Ukraine more advanced Abrams tanks — but no secret armor
The M1A2 version of the Abrams tank includes sophisticated optics and controls that help commanders rapidly track friendly vehicles, identify enemy positions and process artillery requests.
www.politico.com
In the wake of hurricane destruction, Biden is supporting Puerto Rico’s clean energy transition
The Biden administration has shown a clear commitment to address the energy challenges of the island.
thehill.com
Bolton says Trump's 2024 campaign is "poison" for GOP and will "continue to go downhill"
Bolton also blasted former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, claiming he is probably "unfit" to serve as president.
www.cbsnews.com
Nebraska lawmaker again pushes no-permit conceal carry
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker is taking another shot at trying to pass a bill that would not only allow people to carry concealed handguns without a permit, it would prohibit the state's cities and counties from issuing local laws to do so within their borders.
apnews.com
Disability, civil rights groups file lawsuit challenging Newsom’s CARE Courts program
Several disability and civil rights advocacy groups in California filed a lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) new court program targeting mental health concerns that he signed into law la…
thehill.com
George Santos: Drag queen claims embroil embattled congressman
A Republican who has criticised LGBT people becomes television comedy fodder as pictures from his past resurface.
www.bbc.com
Tax changes, reading instruction top Georgia Senate GOP aims
ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in the Georgia Senate on Thursday announced goals to further lower state income tax rates and improve reading instruction for young public school students, although tax changes are unlikely to occur before the 2024 legislative session and leaders could be find themselves s
apnews.com
Blackburn, Senate GOP roast Schiff for mounting Senate run after years of 'lies': 'No business serving'
Senate Republicans excoriated Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., following his announcement that he will run for U.S. Senate in California next year.
www.foxnews.com
Senate intelligence chair says ‘all things will be on the table’ to get access to Biden and Trump’s classified documents | CNN Politics
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio expressed deep disappointment Wednesday over the panel’s inability to access the classified documents that have been found in the possession of two presidents – a sign of bipartisan frustration over the issue.
www.cnn.com
More than 160 Afghans die in bitterly cold weather
More than 160 people have died from the cold in Afghanistan this month in the worst winter in more than a decade, authorities said on Thursday, as residents described being unable to afford fuel to heat homes in temperatures well below freezing.
www.reuters.com
Elon Musk meets with House leaders on Capitol Hill
The Twitter CEO said he discussed his social media platform with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
www.nbcnews.com
Baltimore police using less force amid ongoing reform effort
BALTIMORE (AP) — Since the Baltimore Police Department started overhauling its practices through a series of court-ordered reforms in 2017, officers have become significantly less likely to use force against members of the public, such as brandishing a service weapon, deploying a stun gun or strikin
apnews.com
FBI’s Wray laments frequency of classified document mishandling
FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday lamented the frequent mishandling of classified documents, following the recent discovery of classified materials at former Vice President Mike Pence’s Ind…
thehill.com
77 Democrats urge Biden to scrap new asylum limits, highlighting divide on border policy
The measures announced by President Biden earlier this month have led to a sharp drop in unlawful entries along the U.S.-Mexico border.
www.cbsnews.com
Economy grows, even as U.S. braces for recession
Fourth-quarter economic growth comes in strong, but serious danger lies ahead.
www.politico.com
Musk wishes McCarthy happy birthday, and talks Twitter too
It was apparently Musk’s first visit to the Capitol in the 118th Congress.
www.politico.com
US sweetens pot to study siting for spent nuke fuel storage
The U.S. government is offering more money to find a solution for storing or disposing of spent nuclear fuel from the nation's commercial nuclear power plants.
apnews.com
Russia-Ukraine war in maps and charts: Live Tracker
As the Russian offensive enters its 138th week, we track where battles are taking place and the human cost of the war.
www.aljazeera.com
U.S. labels Russia-backed Wagner Group as transnational criminal organization, imposes new sanctions
In a new round of sanctions, the U.S. accused the mercenary group of atrocities in Ukraine and around the world.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden slams critics who don't think U.S. can lead the world in manufacturing
President Biden slammed critics on Thursday, who do not believe America can lead the world in manufacturing, after boasting the creation of 750,000 jobs during his first two years.
www.foxnews.com
Archaeologist hails possibly 'oldest' mummy yet found in Egypt
Egyptologists have uncovered a Pharaonic tomb near the capital Cairo containing what may be the oldest and "most complete" mummy yet to be discovered in the country, the excavation team leader said on Thursday.
www.reuters.com
What to know about severance pay amid high-profile layoffs
Experts describe a typical severance package and how workers should negotiate.
abcnews.go.com
California prison inmates to get some Medicaid care
The federal government will allow Medicaid dollars to treat some people in prisons, jails or juvenile detention centers for the first time ever.
apnews.com
CNN Poll: Nearly three-quarters of Americans think House GOP leaders haven’t paid enough attention to most important problems | CNN Politics
Fewer than one-third of Americans believe that House GOP leaders are prioritizing the country’s most important issues, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS. Neither party’s congressional leadership earns majority approval, and Republicans are particularly likely to express discontent...
www.cnn.com
Less than 10% of 2022’s anti-LGBTQ state bills became law, report finds
Though state legislatures considered over 300 bills targeting LGBTQ rights last year, a new report from the Human Rights Campaign found that just 29 became law.
www.nbcnews.com
60 stolen guns missing after 13 people arrested for string of firearm burglaries
Federal and local law enforcement in Pennsylvania is struggling to locate the bulk of firearms stolen in a recent string of burglaries of licensed firearm dealers.
abcnews.go.com
Man sentenced to death in Mali for UN peacekeeper killings
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A Mali court sentenced a man to death for the killings of three United Nations peacekeepers almost four years ago, the U.N. mission in Mali said Thursday.
apnews.com
Kavanaugh touts 'great relations' among justices on divided Supreme Court
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative, praised his liberal colleagues in remarks at Notre Dame Law School.
www.nbcnews.com
FBI seizes website used by notorious ransomware gang | CNN Politics
The FBI has seized the computer infrastructure used by a notorious ransomware gang which has extorted more than $100 million from hospitals, schools and other victims around the world, US officials announced Thursday.
www.cnn.com
Justice Department charges 7 in multi-state paycheck scheme
BOSTON (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department says seven people have been arrested in connection with a $7.5 million fraudulent scheme to obtain millions of dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program, designed to help businesses keep workers employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
apnews.com
FBI seizes website of Hive ransomware gang, Justice Dept. announces
The ransomware group demanded over $130 million from over 1,500 victims in 80 countries.
www.cbsnews.com
In fight against rats, Adams commits to citywide curbside compost
No longer just for the West Coast, New York joins other East Coast cities in rolling out curbside compost programs.
www.politico.com
Analysis: India's rapid take-up of electric vehicles prompts rethink about long-term fuel needs
The rapid take-up of electric vehicles in India's fledgling market has prompted a major rethink about the country's long-term fuel needs as refiners in Asia's third-largest economy hasten their shift away from oil production.
www.reuters.com
Biden says Tyre Nichols death a 'painful reminder' of 'disparately impacted' minorities in justice system
President Biden said in a statement on Thursday that Tyre Nichols death is a "painful reminder" of criminal justice work that needs to take place.
www.foxnews.com
Jury rejects lawsuit filed by family of teen killed by cop
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal jury has found that a white Ohio police officer did not violate a Black teenager's civil rights when he shot and killed the boy while responding to a reported armed robbery.
apnews.com
Emhoff to visit Auschwitz to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day | CNN Politics
Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff is traveling this week to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, visiting key sites in Poland and Germany to honor those lost in the Holocaust and renew a pledge to “Never Forget.”
www.cnn.com
New US race, ethnicity standards proposed; first since '97
A Middle Eastern and North African category would be added to U.S. federal surveys and censuses, and changes would be made to how Hispanics are able to self-identify.
apnews.com
FDA's advisers back plan to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations
The U.S. is poised to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like a yearly flu shot. The Food and Drug Administration's scientific advisers are helping to decide if most Americans may need once-a-year boosters — and how and when to periodically update the shots’ recipe.
apnews.com
Record number of deaths in US from cardiovascular disease early in pandemic: Report shows
New data from the American Heart Association highlights the major impact COVID-19 had on cardiovascular health and death rates during the first year of the pandemic.
abcnews.go.com
South Korea extends restrictions on travelers from China
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says it will continue to restrict the entry of short-term travelers from China through the end of February over concerns that the spread of COVID-19 in that country may worsen following the Lunar New Year’s holidays.
apnews.com
Biden growls at the high costs of insulin for people not on Medicare
President Biden became angered at the high cost of insulin, suggesting parents oftentimes have to choose between purchasing the drug over necessities for children.
www.foxnews.com
Support grows for a new approach to COVID vaccine schedule, as proposed by FDA
The FDA outlined an approach to yearly COVID vaccines, like the flu shot.
abcnews.go.com
S. Dakota Senate suspends lawmaker after vaccine exchange
The South Dakota Senate has suspended a Republican state senator in a rare move that stripped her of legislative power while keeping the allegations against her a secret.
apnews.com
Change to Covid vaccine formulation signals start of FDA pivot in immunization strategy
The expert panel voted on Thursday to recommend replacing the primary Covid-19 vaccine series with the BA.4/5 bivalent shot.
www.politico.com
FDA vaccine panel recommends ‘harmonizing’ primary COVID doses and boosters
The vaccine advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday voted to recommend matching the composition of primary COVID-19 vaccines doses and booster doses, which would make …
thehill.com
Only about half of US adults are meeting physical activity guidelines: CDC
A new report from the CDC shows only half of U.S. adults are meeting physical activity guidelines and those living in the West the most likely to follow recommendations.
abcnews.go.com
U.S. CDC still looking at potential stroke risk from Pfizer bivalent COVID shot
New data from one U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) database shows a possible stroke risk link for older adults who received an updated Pfizer /BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot, but the signal is weaker than what the agency had flagged earlier in January, health officials said...
www.reuters.com
FDA says new process is needed for regulating CBD products due to risks
The FDA said a new framework is needed for regulating CBD products due to safety concerns, especially from long-term use.
abcnews.go.com
Japan tightens Russia sanctions after deadly missile strikes in Ukraine
Japan tightened sanctions against Russia on Friday following its latest wave of missile attacks in Ukraine, adding goods to an export ban list and freezing the assets of Russian officials and entities.
www.reuters.com
FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters
Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday unanimously voted in favor of targeting the same coronavirus strain for initial COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters going forward, but some expressed skepticism about whether all Americans need to receive the shots annually.
www.reuters.com