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 Businesses See Sharp Revenue Decline at Key Properties  —  Pandemic-related financial challenges facing former president could intensify as clients seek to cut ties  —  Former President Donald Trump saw sharp revenue declines across his family businesses last year as the Covid-19 pandemic took …

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

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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. …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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” …

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 …

Trump's greatest legacy: The GOP now represents America's workers  —  Joe Biden is now president, and Democrats are in charge.  Here's big news: This is not your grandfather's Democratic Party.  —  The most important and least acknowledged part of President Trump's legacy is that he has presided …

Fed-Up Executives Plot a Faster Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout  —  Honeywell CEO and other leaders say their operational know-how can help jump-start America's vaccine administration  —  Executives from an industrial conglomerate, a health system and a professional sports ownership group met …

Is Mask-Slipping the New Manspreading?  —  Something about some men just makes it difficult to keep that mask where it should be.  —  When I saw Bill Clinton's mask slip below his nose during the inaugural festivities, I figured, well, it could happen to any of us.

Biden's targeting of racist extremism is being portrayed as an attack on the right itself  —  President Biden's words during his inaugural address were straightforward in their targets.  —  “The cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear,” he said.

Twin suicide bombings rock central Baghdad, at least 32 dead  —  BAGHDAD (AP) — Twin suicide bombings ripped through a busy market in the Iraqi capital Thursday, killing at least 32 people and wounding dozens, officials said.  —  The rare suicide bombing hit the Bab al-Sharqi commercial area …

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 …