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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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  —  Reviving the JCPOA will ensure either the emergence of a nuclear Iran or a desperate war to stop it.  —  Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem  —  Proponents of the Iran nuclear agreement are sounding the alarm.

Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation  —  By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:  —  Section 1.  Policy.

‘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.

Power Up: Unity in Washington will be harder than Biden makes it sound  —  Good Thursday morning.  Tips, comments, recipes?  You know the drill.  It's the first full day of the Biden administration and this is the Power Up newsletter.  —  At the White House  —  UNITY?

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 …

Europe's growing mask ask: Ditch the cloth ones for medical-grade coverings  —  BERLIN — Faced with new, more contagious, strains of the coronavirus and a winter surge in cases, European nations have begun to tighten mask regulations in the hope that they can slow the spread of the virus.

Still Can't Breathe: How NYPD Officers Continue to Use Chokeholds on Civilians  —  This story is co-published with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.  —  The New York Police Department patrol guide is clear about chokeholds: They are prohibited …

In Trump's Pardons, Disdain for Accountability  —  President Donald J. Trump's clemency actions underscored his animosity toward a justice system seeking to punish corruption and betrayals of public trust.  —  WASHINGTON — Randy “Duke” Cunningham maintained a “bribe menu” …