Rudy Giuliani Sued by Dominion Voting Systems Over False Election Claims  —  The suit against Mr. Giuliani, a lawyer for former President Donald Trump who pushed to overturn the election results, accuses him of carrying out “a viral disinformation campaign.”

Ohio's U.S. Sen. Rob Portman won't run for re-election; Republican cites ‘partisan gridlock’  —  Republican Rob Portman will not seek a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2022, he told The Enquirer - a move that will unsettle politics in both Greater Cincinnati and Washington D.C.

Some Trump aides stuck with him till the end.  Now they're screwed.  —  Four days into his post-presidency life, Donald Trump has insulated himself from the outside world.  —  Unseen by the public and unusually quiet as key parts of his policy legacy are dismantled by the new administration …

CDC director says federal government does not know how much Covid vaccine the U.S. has  — The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Sunday that the federal government doesn't know how much coronavirus vaccine the nation has.  — “I can't tell you how much vaccine …

Meet Trump's Pro-Insurrection “Intellectuals”  —  We should have known January 6 was coming, because Trumpism's “intellectual” wing called for it, for weeks.  —  Last December, Ross Douthat suggested that “there are two Republican Parties.”  One of them governs dutifully, “certifying elections …

It's time to stand up against the muzzling of America  —  Have you checked your social credit score lately?  You might want to.  Mine seems to have taken a nosedive this month.  You might want to see how yours is doing.  —  Everyone knows what a credit score is.  But social credit scores are new.

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Retains Neutralizing Activity Against Emerging Variants First Identified in the U.K. and the Republic of South Africa  —  Out of an abundance of caution, Moderna launches clinical program to boost immunity to emerging variants  —  Manuscript posted to preprint server …

Jim Acosta: I've never seen Trump this alone  —  New York (CNN Business)Donald Trump spent his last moments as President sad and alone, according to Jim Acosta, who led CNN's coverage of Trump during his presidency.  —  In his farewell to Washington on Wednesday morning …

Supreme Court dismisses Trump emoluments lawsuits as moot  —  The Supreme Court on Monday ordered lower courts to dismiss two cases that alleged former President Donald Trump unlawfully profited from his businesses while in office, in violation of the Constitution's emoluments clauses.

Members are quitting ‘sad’ Mar-a-Lago after Trump loses  —  New York (CNN Business)Many once-loyal members of Mar-a-Lago are leaving because they no longer want to have any connection to former President Donald Trump, according to the author of the definitive book about the resort.

MAGA media looks to turn White House briefing room into a battlefield  —  Eric Bolling, the conservative host of Sinclair Broadcast Group's “America This Week,” would travel regularly to Donald Trump's White House, interviewing the former president seven times and occasionally attending press briefings.

Undercounting of Covid-19 deaths is greatest in pro-Trump areas, analysis shows  —  Tens of thousands of Covid-19 deaths are going unreported in the U.S., with far more missed in counties that strongly supported former President Trump, according to new research.

U.S. sends carrier into South China Sea as Chinese bombers fly near Taiwan … The U.S. sent an aircraft carrier strike group into the disputed South China Sea the same day China dispatched a fleet of 13 warplanes — including nuclear-capable bombers — into the southwestern corner of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Merck Scraps Covid-19 Vaccine Candidates  —  The two shots generated comparatively weak immune responses in early-stage studies  —  Merck & Co. said Monday that it is halting development of its two experimental Covid-19 vaccines, after early clinical-trial data showed the shots generated …

Oregon Bill Would Enable People to Vote from Prison  —  The reform would be a historic step for national efforts to end felony disenfranchisement.  Prison is not about “the loss of citizenship,” said one incarcerated advocate.  —  Lawmakers in Oregon introduced legislation this month that would enable people in prison to vote.

Liz Cheney Should Step Away From Leadership For The Sake Of GOP Voters  —  There is no reason to leave Cheney in her leadership position.  In fact, it's negligence for Republican leaders to keep her there.  —  Liz Cheney's problems are piling up, according to Politico.

Evidence Piles Up for Trump's Impeachment Trial  —  Each day seems to bring another egregious example of the former president's attempt to subvert the truth and democracy.  —  One of the courtroom highlights of the recent Netflix film “The Trial of the Chicago 7” involves …

Newsom expected to cancel California's coronavirus stay-at-home orders  —  Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected on Monday to lift regional coronavirus stay-at-home orders across California, a change that could allow restaurants and gyms in many counties to reopen outdoor dining and services.

Biden Is Vowing to Reopen Schools Quickly.  It Won't Be Easy.  —  The slow vaccine rollout, and local fights between districts and unions, could make it hard for the president to fulfill his promise.  —  In his first 48 hours in office, President Biden sought to project an optimistic message …

McCarthy takes heat from every direction as House Republicans feud following the Capitol siege  —  Kevin McCarthy is learning you can get torched when you try to make everyone happy, especially after an insurrection.  —  Why it matters: The House Republican leader had been hoping to use …

Wall Street Returns to Riyadh  —  Is there a statute of limitations on attending “Davos in the Desert”?  —  ‘Davos in the Desert’ is back  —  It's been more than two years since bankers kept their name badges obscured behind ties at a high-profile investment conference in Riyadh …

The Jolt: Gov. Brian Kemp's 2022 plans take shape  —  By Patricia Murphy - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Greg Bluestein - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tia Mitchell - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  —  Hank Aaron ties, voting laws, and Collins-Loeffler leftovers lead the day

POLITICO Playbook: Republicans feel the squeeze on impeachment  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  REPUBLICANS ARE UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE to acquit DONALD TRUMP — whether they think he committed an impeachable offense or not.  At this point, it's all about self-preservation.

Scoop: David Jolly eyes independent run for Florida governor  —  Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly is “strongly considering” a run for Florida governor in 2022 as an independent, a source close to him tells Axios.  —  Why it matters: Jolly, who repped Florida's 13th district as a Republican …

Zuckerberg's ‘Safe Election’ Con  —  Sometimes tyranny comes through the front door carrying guns.  And sometimes it slips in through the back door under the guise of civic charities promising to “work to ensure safe elections.”  —  Another day and even more purging and censoring by Facebook …