Democrats rebuff McConnell's filibuster demands  —  Senate Democrats are signaling they will reject an effort by Mitch McConnell to protect the legislative filibuster as part of a deal to run a 50-50 Senate, saying they have little interest in bowing to his demands just hours into their new Senate majority.

Biden inheriting nonexistent coronavirus vaccine distribution plan and must start ‘from scratch,’ sources say  —  (CNN)Newly sworn in President Joe Biden and his advisers are inheriting no coronavirus vaccine distribution plan to speak of from the Trump administration, sources tell CNN …

Trump Tax Law Firm Ends Work for Ex-President  —  Morgan Lewis has battled New York attorney general's office over its probe of Trump Organization  —  The law firm that handled the tax affairs of Donald Trump and his company during his presidency said it would stop representing him and his business.

Strange bedfellows!  MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell had secret romance with Jane Krakowski, wooing 30 Rock actress with flowers and champagne in relationship that baffled her friends  — MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell had a secret nine month romance with 30 Rock star Jane Krakowski, DailyMail.com can reveal

Biden cleans house at VOA after revolt over Trump changes  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has moved quickly to remove a number of senior officials aligned with former President Donald Trump from the Voice of America and the agency that oversees all U.S.-funded international broadcasting.

Columbia lawyer to represent Trump at 2nd impeachment trial: report  —  COLUMBIA — A Columbia lawyer with a long history of representing Republican politicians and interests has become Donald Trump's attorney for the former president's second impeachment trial attorney, according to a published report.

Oversight Board accepts case on former US President Trump's indefinite suspension from Facebook and Instagram  —  Today the Oversight Board accepted a case referral from Facebook to examine their decision to indefinitely suspend former US President Donald Trump's access to post content on Facebook and Instagram.

Biden selects Slaughter as acting chair of Federal Trade Commission, Rosenworcel as acting chair of Federal Communications Commission  —  President Biden on Thursday appointed Rebecca Kelly Slaughter as acting chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, a move that positions the Washington watchdog agency …

Tale of two briefings: Jen Psaki treated much differently by press than Sean Spicer  —  Biden press secretary faces mostly friendly questions from mainstream press  —  Biden WH press secretary takes mostly softball questions in first briefing  —  CNN pundit-turned-White House press secretary Jen Psaki held …

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Remarks at the World Health Organization Executive Board Meeting  —  “Director-General Dr. Tedros, distinguished representatives, friends and colleagues:  —  It is an honor for me to be here, representing the United States of America, on behalf of the newly inaugurated …

POLITICO Playbook: Democrats caught flat-footed by total control of Washington  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  The Democratic takeover of the White House and Congress is complete.  But the truth is that the party was caught flat-footed by it: Almost no one expected JON OSSOFF and RAPHAEL WARNOCK …

Biden Inauguration Captures Bigger Audience Than Donald Trump's … Approximately 39.87 million people watched the half-hour swearing-in ceremony over the nation's six major TV-news outlets, according to Nielsen, compared with 38.35 million viewers for the 2017 event.

Baghdad bombing could be the Biden administration's first challenge  —  The bombing was only four kilometers from the US embassy compound and occurred in an area where there have been protests over the last year and a half.  —  A twin suicide bombing in Baghdad's Tayaran square …

You Can't Move On From This Without An Accounting  —  We were promised a storm and a kraken and all we got was Rudy's hair dye running down his sweaty face.  —  6 hr ago  —  I'm sorry.  Everyone keeps telling me I need to move on.  But I don't think we can.

Judge Refuses To Reinstate Parler After Amazon Shut It Down  —  A federal judge is refusing to restore the social media site Parler after Amazon kicked the company off of its web-hosting services over content seen as inciting violence.  —  The decision is a blow to Parler …

Biden rolls out ‘full-scale, wartime’ coronavirus strategy, including requiring masks on some planes, trains and buses.  —  President Biden, pledging a “full-scale wartime effort” to combat the coronavirus pandemic, signed a string of executive orders and presidential directives on Thursday aimed …

SCOOP: Trump taps his former chief of staff and impeachment lawyers as the gatekeepers to his papers during his post-presidency … - Trump picked seven former aides to represent him in requests for his presidential records.  — Among them are his former chief of staff and lawyers who defended him in his first impeachment trial.

Biden administration to seek five-year extension on key nuclear arms treaty in first foray with Russia  —  President Biden is seeking a five-year extension with Russia on the only remaining treaty limiting the world's two largest nuclear arsenals just days before it expires, said two senior U.S. officials.

An alleged Saudi troll campaign is targeting a movie about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi  —  ‘The Dissident’ had received favorable audience scores on the Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb rating sites — until last week  —  Bryan Fogel made the investigative documentary “The Dissident” …

Hours After Biden Inauguration, Federal Agents Use Tear Gas in Portland  —  Protesters who spent months in the streets over racial injustice and inequality said they don't expect immediate change from President Biden, who they declared “will not save us.”  —  PORTLAND, Ore. …

Media trust hits new low  —  Trust in traditional media has declined to an all-time low, and many news professionals are determined to do something about it.  —  Why it matters: Faith in society's central institutions, especially in government and the media, is the glue that holds society together.

From Commander in Chief to Interloper in Palm Beach  —  If former President Donald J. Trump intends to live in South Florida full time, he is likely to encounter some friction.  (Though his fans are thrilled.)  —  PALM BEACH, Fla. — On Wednesday, Donald J. Trump did what many older New Yorkers do: He retired to Florida.

Top D.C. lobbying firm quietly hires controversial Trump advisor  —  Forbes Tate is one of the top ten lobbying firms in D.C., bringing in over $14 million in publicly reported lobbying fees last year.  Each month, the firm collects tens of thousands of dollars from A-list clients including Bayer …

The Apprentice  —  Josh Hawley made a cynical bet about the Republican Party's future.  He might not be wrong.  —  March+April 2021 Issue  —  Let our journalists help you make sense of the noise: Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily newsletter and get a recap of news that matters.

Biden unveils “wartime” COVID strategy  —  President Biden on Thursday signed a slew of executive orders to address the coronavirus pandemic, including an interstate face mask mandate and an order to renew supplies of PPE, testing materials and vaccines through the Defense Production Act.

Judge refuses to dismiss New York AG's lawsuit against NRA  —  NEW YORK — State Attorney General Tish James' lawsuit seeking to dissolve the National Rifle Association can move forward, a state judge ruled Thursday.  —  Judge Joel Cohen denied the NRA's motions to dismiss the case, pause it or transfer it to a different court.

Congress grants waiver for retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to lead Pentagon  —  Both chambers of Congress on Thursday voted to grant retired Gen. Lloyd Austin a waiver to lead the Pentagon, clearing the path to confirmation for President Biden's nominee for defense secretary.