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 …

GOP Rep. Andy Harris Tries To Bring Gun Into House Chamber  —  Republicans keep complaining about the new metal detectors outside the House chamber.  Now we know why.  —  WASHINGTON ― New security measures outside the U.S. House chamber prevented a Republican lawmaker from bringing a gun onto the House floor Thursday.

Democratic presidents have traditionally hurt their parties.  Joe Biden may be different.  —  Will he invest in building up a strong Democratic Party?  —  Today, Jaime Harrison will be elected chair of the Democratic National Committee.  Harrison is an institution builder.

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 …

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.

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 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.

‘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 …

Biden picks Jessica Rosenworcel as acting FCC chief  —  President Joe Biden has picked Jessica Rosenworcel to run the Federal Communications Commission in an interim position.  That makes Rosenworcel, the 49-year old lawyer, current FCC commissioner and podcast host from West Hartford …

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 …

Biden will use the Defense Production Act in his anti-coronavirus effort  —  The goal is to help Biden make enough vaccines for at least 100 million people in his first 100 days.  —  President Joe Biden will use the Defense Production Act to boost production of vaccines, testing …

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.

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.

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 …

Legal Liability Looms For Orgs Behind Rally That Incited Insurrection  —  Last week, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), ranking member and soon-to-be chair of the Senate Finance Committee, called on IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to investigate tax-exempt groups that helped organize a January 6th rally …

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.

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 …