Scoop: Gina Haspel threatened to resign over plan to install Kash Patel as CIA deputy  —  CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign in early December after President Trump cooked up a hasty plan to install loyalist Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), as her deputy …

Atlanta Prosecutor Appears to Move Closer to Trump Inquiry  —  The Fulton County district attorney is weighing an inquiry into possible election interference and is said to be considering hiring an outside counsel.  —  ATLANTA — Prosecutors in Georgia appear increasingly likely to open …

Senate Republicans adrift ahead of Trump trial  —  GOP senators are largely without leadership guidance over how to judge Donald Trump during the second impeachment trial.  —  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell leaves the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  J. Scott Applewhite-Pool/Getty Images

John Weaver, former McCain aide, acknowledges “inappropriate” messages  —  John Weaver, a veteran Republican operative who co-founded the Lincoln Project, declared in a statement to Axios on Friday that he sent “inappropriate,” sexually charged messages to multiple men.

Alex Azar resigns as Health and Human Services Secretary, citing Capitol mob  —  Alex Azar, the Health and Human Services Secretary, resigned earlier this week, citing the violent Capitol riot inflamed by President Donald Trump in his resignation letter obtained by NBC News.

Biden fills out State Department team with Obama veterans  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden is filling out his State Department team with a group of former career diplomats and veterans of the Obama administration, signaling his desire to return to a more traditional foreign policy …

Capitol Police intelligence report warned three days before attack that ‘Congress itself’ could be targeted  —  Three days before thousands of rioters converged on the U.S. Capitol, an internal Capitol Police intelligence report warned of a violent scenario in which “Congress itself” …

Kudlow Criticizes Trump for Handling of Riot, Treatment of Pence  —  President's top economic adviser faulted his boss for recent actions, praised administration policy legacy on taxes and trade  —  WASHINGTON—President Trump's top economic adviser criticized his boss's handling of the riot …

‘Destroy Trump’: Breitbart Staffers Seethe After Capitol Riot  —  “This is banana republic shit,” wrote one editor at the staunchly pro-Trump outlet, in response to colleagues downplaying or excusing the violence during last week's MAGA mob. … Editors and reporters at the staunchly pro …

“After Me, Baby, You're Gonna Be Ruined for Anyone Else”: Donald Trump Refused to Take ‘No’ From Women—And Then From America Itself  —  Donald Trump is leaving office with a reputation marred by two impeachments, multiple scandals, and a violent assault on the U.S. Capitol.

A former president Trump won't ‘need to know.’ Cut off his intelligence.  —  Susan M. Gordon was the principal deputy director of national intelligence from 2017 to 2019.  —  Every former president in the modern era has benefited from a unique national security perk after leaving the White House …

Leading QC says Scottish ministers can seek ‘McMafia’ order into Donald Trump's finances  —  One of Scotland's leading QCs has directly contradicted First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's claims that the Scottish Government is not responsible for the decision on whether to seek an Unexplained Wealth Order …

James Murdoch blasts US media for unleashing ‘insidious forces’  —  Comments from Rupert's son are his strongest rebuke of industry practices since leaving the family business  —  James Murdoch has castigated the US media for the “toxic politics” threatening American democracy …

Conspiracy theories and a call for patriots entice veterans at the Capitol  —  The day President Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol, Jeremy Michael Brown, a retired Special Forces soldier with multiple combat tours, was in Washington, D.C., dressed for battle in body armor, boots and a Kevlar helmet.

Trump Is on the Verge of Losing Everything  —  President Trump's second impeachment, like the other repudiations he has suffered, feels provisional.  He is never quite banished.  He is impeached, but Senate Republicans refuse to convict or even allow evidence into his trial.

Trump weighing a pardon for Steve Bannon  —  President Donald Trump is considering granting a pardon to Steve Bannon, his former White House chief strategist and top campaign aide, who was charged with swindling donors to a private crowdsourcing effort to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border …

North Texan Jenna Ryan Tells CBS 11 She Deserves Pardon After Arrest For Alleged Role In Capitol Riot  —  CARROLLTON, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - North Texas realtor Jenna Ryan, who was seen in photos and video at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, arrived home Friday, Jan. 15 after turning herself in to authorities earlier in the day.

The Bobbsey Twins, The CIA, and Me  —  In first and second grade, I was OBSESSED with Bobbsey Twins books.  It was not enough to read every book in the series.  I wanted to BE a Bobbsey Twin.  (It wasn't just the Bobbsey Twins.  I did the same with Little House on the Prairie).

Trump administration carries out 13th and final execution  —  TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — The Trump administration early Saturday carried out its 13th federal execution since July, an unprecedented run that concluded just five days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden — an opponent of the federal death penalty.

Covid-19 Vaccine Leaders Waited Months to Approve Distribution Plans  —  Holdup left states with little time to develop mass-vaccination plan; U.S. says it needed time for interagency clearance  —  Operation Warp Speed leaders waited more than two months to approve a plan to distribute …

Online far-right movements fracture in wake of Capitol riot  —  Online far-right movements are splintering in the wake of last week's Capitol riot, as some radical anti-government movements show signs of disillusionment with the relatively hands-off approach of some QAnon conspiracy theorists amid warnings of future violence.

Mexico clears general, publishes US evidence against him  —  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has accused the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration of fabricating drug trafficking charges against the country's former defense secretary …

Inside Twitter's Decision to Cut Off Trump  —  Jack Dorsey, the chief executive, had reservations about locking the president's account.  But the calls for violence that his tweets provoked were too overwhelming.  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Jack Dorsey, Twitter's chief executive …

‘I cannot wait to leave this job’ — Acting Defense Secretary Miller has zero f-ks left … Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller has apparently dropped his proverbial pack after expending the last f-k he has left.  —  “I mean, I cannot wait to leave this job, believe me,” …

Biden to deploy FEMA, National Guard to set up Covid vaccine clinics across the U.S.  — President-elect Joe Biden plans to use FEMA and the National Guard to build coronavirus vaccine clinics across the United States, according to new details of his Covid-19 vaccination plan.

Fellow Army veteran Parnell defends Rep. Mast after ‘gross’ smear by CNN's Tapper: ‘Below the belt’  —  ‘What Jake Tapper did is further entrench the trauma...that veterans feel when they come home from war,’ Parnell said  —  Rep. Brian Mast responds to smear from CNN anchor Jake Tapper

Liz Cheney suffers impeachment vote blowback at home: 'Couldn't win a primary today for dog catcher'  —  Rep. Liz Cheney's vote to impeach President Trump put her political future in jeopardy back home in Wyoming, revealed a state GOP official.  —  Doubts quickly surfaced about her viability …

The Good, the Bad, and the Odd in Biden's Stimulus Plan  —  Joe Biden won't take office for another five days, but he's already told Congress to start warming up the money printer.  —  On Thursday night, the president-elect unveiled his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue package.