A GOP senator reveals just how deranged many in his party have become  —  Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, has done something truly extraordinary.  He has now stated in unequivocal terms that it's unacceptable for his fellow Republicans to try to subvert the will of American voters …

Facebook Accused of Breaking Antitrust Laws  —  Regulators are accusing the company of buying up rising rivals to cement its dominance over social media.  —  WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission and 48 states accused Facebook on Wednesday of becoming a social media monopoly …

The China Hack and How to Reverse It  —  What will it require to take China seriously as an economic challenge?  —  In the 1990s, satellite communications were taking off.  Demand for space launches was high, but supply of vehicles was low.  The U.S. satellite industry was on the prowl for cheap rocket rides into space.

Melania Trump ‘just wants to go home’  —  (CNN)In mid-November, as President Donald Trump railed against the election results, his wife, first lady Melania Trump publicly agreed with his sentiments.  But privately, a handful of days after the final state tally, the first lady tasked an emissary …

‘God be with us’  —  Covid-19 becomes personal in a South Dakota town as neighbors die and the town debates a mask mandate  —  MITCHELL, S.D. — A cold wind whipped through the prairie as they laid Buck Timmins to rest.  —  Timmins, a longtime coach and referee, was not the first person in Mitchell …

Biden eyeing Buttigieg for China ambassador  —  Letting him deepen his foreign policy chops could boost Buttigieg's future.

Democrats probe Kushners' billion-dollar rescue deal for family-owned skyscraper  —  Investigation examines presidential son-in-law's role in influencing US policy on Qatar  —  Democrats in the US Congress have launched an investigation into whether Jared Kushner's desire to secure …

Michigan House Republicans take Democrat's committee posts after ‘warning’ to ‘Trumpers’  —  Lansing —The Michigan House's Republican leaders have taken away the committee assignments of Democratic Rep. Cynthia Johnson after the Detroit lawmaker issued a “warning” to “you Trumpers” in a Tuesday night Facebook post.

The marketplace for fantasy is reshaping conservative media, just like it reshaped conservative politics  —  With the clarity of retrospect, one can see how Fox News got into its current predicament.  For the duration of President Trump's time in office — and, of course, well before that …

‘Corruption In Real Time’: Rep. Katie Porter Shreds McConnell For Stymying Stimulus Bill  —  “This must be exposed,” the California Democrat wrote as Congress tries to negotiate a COVID-19 stimulus deal.  —  Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) lambasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell …

An Idaho official left a meeting in tears as anti-maskers swarmed her home  —  Minutes into a public health district's virtual meeting to vote on a local mask mandate in Idaho on Tuesday evening, Ada County Commissioner Diana Lachiondo tearfully excused herself after getting a phone call …

Report: Suspected Chinese spy targeted Bay Area politicians, then disappeared  —  The Cal State East Bay student and Chinese national hobnobbed with some of the Bay Area's leading politicians, even fundraising for some.  She attended student events, fundraisers, campaign rallies …

Johns Hopkins, benefactor of namesake hospital and university, was an enslaver  —  Johns Hopkins, the 19th-century businessman who bequested a fortune to found the hospital and university in Baltimore that bear his name, enslaved at least four Black people before the Civil War, school officials disclosed Wednesday.

The Danger of Assuming That Family Time Is Dispensable  —  Pandemic shaming, a national pastime since the spring, intensified in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.  Thousands waited in line, some for many hours, for a preholiday coronavirus test, only to be rebuked as careless, selfish violators of public-health rules.

George Conway: This is the most insane thing yet  —  Attorney George Conway reacts to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to block election results by asking the Supreme Court to take up a lawsuit against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin arguing that the battleground states exploited …

Trump Is Winning  —  Just not the fight you're watching.  —  1 hr ago  —  Before we start, two quick notes: the un-official Discord and subreddit are both kind of blowing up.  It's awesome.  You should go stop by.  —  The Discord is here.  —  The subreddit—r/thebulwark— is here.

GOP lawyer resigns over treatment of Florida data analyst  —  Ron Filipkowski, a lifelong Republican who was appointed to the 12th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission by DeSantis, resigned Tuesday morning after reviewing the search warrant affidavit the state used to seize computers and phones from Rebekah Jones.

Republicans plot their first and last Trump rebellion  —  Sen. Jim Inhofe is among Donald Trump's most loyal supporters.  But with Inhofe and legions of other Republicans preparing to defy the president on a major defense bill, Trump decided to make one last push.

Trump's Challenges to Election Results Face End of the Legal Road  —  Courts across the U.S. have rejected the president and his supporters, citing lack of proof and other shortcomings  —  A sweeping multistate legal effort by President Trump and his supporters to override President-elect Joe Biden's victory …

No to Becerra  —  ow that the campaign is over, what is the people's will?  What is our mandate?  “ Joe Biden asked in his November 7 victory speech. ”  Americans have called on us to marshal the forces of decency and the forces of fairness.  To marshal the forces of science and the forces of hope in the great battles of our time.

Trumpism Triumphant  —  Even in defeat, the GOP surrenders to the nutcases.  —  Off and on, for 25 years, I participated in National Review cruises as a speaker.  I met lots of wonderful people who were intelligent, curious, and great company—but there were always cranks and conspiracy theorists too.

Intensive Care Beds Are Nearing Capacity Across the Country, New Data Shows  —  Source: New York Times analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data.  ·Note: Shows 7-day average patient count by hospital service area.  —  In El Paso, hospitals reported that just 13 …

Supporting the 2020 U.S. election … Over the past weeks and months, we've seen people coming to YouTube to learn more about where and how to vote or learning more about a candidate or an issue.  We've seen news organizations grow their audience.  And we've seen people turn to YouTube …

Federal campaign finance watchdog has full slate for first time in years  —  The Senate voted to confirm three commissioners to the Federal Elections Commission on Wednesday, restoring a quorum to the embattled agency and giving the government's top campaign finance watchdog its first full slate of commissioners in years.

How Biden Should Investigate Trump  —  I. A Crimes Commission?  —  As he prepares to occupy the White House, President-elect Joe Biden faces a decision rare in American history: what to do about the man who has just left office, whose personal corruption, disdain for the Constitution …

Ossoff Campaign Staffer Donated to Bail Out Minneapolis Rioters  —  A member of Jon Ossoff's communications team donated money to a Minneapolis group that bailed out violent criminals and championed the “Defund the Police” movement.  —  Ossoff campaign deputy press secretary Rhyan Lake …

Member of Neo-Nazi Group Sentenced for Plot to Target Journalists and Advocates  —  Johnny Roman Garza, 21, a member of the Neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, was sentenced today to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a plot to threaten and intimidate journalists …

SPAC with ties to Biden Cabinet picks sees surge in support from Wall Street after offering ‘access’  — Pine Island's team includes Tony Blinken, Biden's choice to be secretary of State, and retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, nominated to be secretary of Defense.  — Since the initial pitch, the SPAC has raised over $218 million.

Russian Media Wants Moscow to Grant Asylum to Trump  —  Russian media and lawmakers are concerned about the future of the Kremlin's favorite U.S. president.  —  BEAST INSIDE  —  Russian state media—a reliable barometer of the mood at the Kremlin—remains fixated on election-related events in America.

Trump Wants To Sell A Dictator $23 Billion In Weapons.  Here's Where They Could Go.  —  U.S. intelligence shows how the United Arab Emirates is fueling the horrifying civil wars in Libya and Yemen — and proves its role in at least one potential war crime.  —  On the night of Jan. 4 …

Why Does Corporate Media Amplify John Brennan's Neverending Lies?  —  The only inadvertent benefit of Brennan's airtime is that it exposes how unmoored our ruling class is from the public it is supposed to serve.  —  Former Obama administration Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan lies.

A Political Obituary for Donald Trump  —  The effects of his reign will linger.  But democracy survived.  —  To assess the legacy of Donald Trump's presidency, start by quantifying it.  Since last February, more than a quarter of a million Americans have died from COVID-19 …