Army falsely denied Flynn's brother was involved in key part of military response to Capitol riot  —  The Army falsely denied for days that Lt. Gen. Charles A. Flynn, the brother of disgraced former national security adviser Michael Flynn, was involved in a key meeting during …

Biden is inheriting a nonexistent Covid-19 vaccine plan from Trump administration, 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, posing a significant challenge for the new White House.

Biden Has Already Fired Three of Trump's Worst Appointees  —  Many of Donald Trump's most notorious appointees, including his cabinet secretaries, resigned shortly before Joe Biden took office.  But myriad officials whom Trump installed in the executive branch remained in spite of their antagonism toward the new president's agenda.

Harris to delay move into vice-presidential residence  —  Vice President Harris and her husband Doug Emoff will not immediately be moving into the Naval Observatory while work is done on the 128-year-old home, according to two people familiar with the arrangement.

Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States … BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  —  The United States was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance, a principle enshrined in the United States Constitution.

Democrats poised to 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.

GOP senators warn McConnell could face backlash if he votes to convict Trump  —  Mitch McConnell: Capitol rioters were fed lies  —  (CNN)A faction of Senate Republicans has a warning for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: Stick with former President Donald Trump during his impeachment trial.

Bidens quickly fire White House chief usher installed by Trump  —  (CNN)The Bidens moved quickly on Wednesday to fire White House chief usher Timothy Harleth, who was installed by the Trumps, two sources with knowledge have confirmed to CNN.  —  Harleth was hired by Melania Trump in 2017 to fill the important role of chief usher.

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 …

Former GOP operative Michael Ellis placed on administrative leave from NSA top lawyer job  —  The director of the National Security Agency, who was ordered over the weekend to install a former GOP political operative as the agency's top lawyer, on Wednesday placed that individual on administrative leave …

The media can be glad for the Biden White House's return to normalcy.  But let's not be lulled.  —  White House press secretary Jen Psaki was prepared.  She was professional.  She was noncombative.  —  And she didn't peddle a whopper of a lie, the way Sean Spicer did on Day One four years ago with his …

Words of Division  —  Cloaked in an appeal to unity, President Biden's inaugural speech hit all the expected themes of racial resentment and blame.  —  Politics and law  —  The Social Order  —  It's an odd way to seek national unity: call a significant portion of the American public white supremacists, racists, and nativists.

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.

A look inside Biden's Oval Office  —  President Biden has filled the Oval Office with images of American leaders and icons, focusing the room around massive portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt that hangs across from the Resolute Desk.  It is a clear nod to a president who helped …

No, You Can't Try an Impeached Former President  —  The Senate erroneously asserted jurisdiction once, but dissenting members forced an acquittal.  —  Now that Donald Trump is a private citizen, the Senate should dismiss the article of impeachment against him for lack of jurisdiction.

Obama, Bush and Clinton to Biden: “Your success is our country's success”  —  Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton wished President Biden well in a video released Wednesday.  —  What they're saying: “Your success is our country's success,” Bush said.

Biden looks to give a big boost to homebuyers and builders  — Biden is proposing a $15,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, which could be accessed immediately by the buyer, thereby serving as down payment assistance.  — The FHA could also reduce its monthly insurance premiums under the new leadership.

Rep. Andy Biggs' brothers: ‘Andy spread election fraud lies’  —  Rep. Andy Biggs' two brothers have publicly castigated him for sowing doubt about President Joe Biden's election win and called for his removal from office.  —  In a letter to the editor at The Arizona Republic …

Some QAnon followers lose hope after Inauguration  —  Some QAnon conspiracy theorists, in public and private internet forums and chat rooms, were despondent Wednesday as their prophecy of an Inauguration Day coup to keep Donald Trump in power failed again as President Joe Biden was sworn into office.

Witless Ape Rides Helicopter  —  Goodbye to Donald J. Trump, the man who wanted to be Conrad Hilton but turned out to be Paris Hilton.  —  W  —  ell, that sucked.  —  Memo to MAGA and all its myriad fellow-travelers: Maybe Death of a Salesman as presented by Leni Riefenstahl …

U.S. Unemployment Claims Remained Elevated Last Week  —  About 900,000 workers filed for jobless benefits as a Covid-19 surge slows economic recovery  —  About 900,000 workers filed for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market struggles to recover this winter.

‘A Total Failure’: The Proud Boys Now Mock Trump  —  Members of the far-right group, who were among Donald Trump's staunchest fans, are calling him “weak,” in a sign of fraying support.  —  After the presidential election last year, the Proud Boys, a far-right group, declared its undying loyalty to President Trump.

House to vote on waiver for Biden defense secretary pick Lloyd Austin  —  Biden nominates Gen. Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense  —  (CNN)The House is expected to vote Thursday on a waiver to permit retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as secretary of defense in the Biden administration.

The Case Against the Iran Deal  —  Proponents of the Iran nuclear agreement are sounding the alarm.  In 2018, the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and since then, Iran has increased the quality and quantity of its uranium enrichment well beyond what the deal allows.