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 …

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.

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.

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 …

The No. 2 official at the F.B.I. is departing.  —  The deputy director of the F.B.I. announced to the bureau's staff on Thursday that he was retiring, departing the bureau as the Biden administration takes over.  —  The exit of the official, David L. Bowdich, comes as the White House offered assurances …

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 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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Instacart is firing every employee who voted to unionize  —  The layoffs are hitting 10 unionized workers in Skokie, Illinois, in addition to other Instacart employees  —  Instacart is laying off every employee who voted to unionize, Motherboard reports.  The news comes as the company shuts …

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.

Biden's Inaugural Address Draws Millions More Viewers Than Trump's  —  Biden's inaugural address was watched by nearly 2 million more television viewers than tuned in for Donald Trump in 2017.  —  New York Times media reporter John Koblin tweeted the numbers: … Advertisements

‘We feel incredibly betrayed’: Thousands of Guardsmen forced to vacate Capitol  —  Thousands of National Guardsmen were forced to vacate congressional grounds on Thursday and are now taking their rest breaks outside and in nearby parking garages, after two weeks of sleepless nights protecting …