McConnell says Taylor Greene's embrace of conspiracy theories a ‘cancer’ to GOP, country  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday blasted Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's embrace of “loony lies and conspiracy theories” as a “cancer for the Republican Party.”

Scoop: Fees — not just strategy — blew up Trump's legal team  —  Disagreements over legal strategy weren't the only reason Donald Trump's defense team collapsed just days before his second impeachment trial, Axios has learned.  —  What we're hearing: The notoriously stingy former president …

Bonus episode: Inside the craziest meeting of the Trump presidency  —  Last month, Axios published “Off the rails,” a series taking you inside the end of Donald Trump's presidency, from his election loss to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection that triggered his second impeachment — and a Senate trial set to begin next week.

Dolly Parton turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice  —  Besides being East Tennessee's songbird, country superstar Dolly Parton has always had a philanthropic side and it turns out even presidents have noticed!  —  The queen of country, 75, told TODAY in an interview …

Progressive PAC kick-starts search for challengers to Manchin, Sinema  —  A trio of progressives who helped launch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 upset campaign are now setting their sights on Senate Democrats.  —  The co-founders of No Excuses PAC — Saikat Chakrabarti, Corbin Trent and Zack Exley …

Are acronyms a symptom of ‘white supremacy culture?’  SFUSD makes another disputable decision  —  SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — First the San Francisco School Board decided to rename 44 schools because they are named after people with ties to racism or slavery.  Now the Arts Department has taken …

Trump pollster's campaign autopsy paints damning picture of defeat  —  Former President Donald Trump has blamed the election results on unfounded claims of fraud and malfeasance.  But at the top levels of his campaign, a detailed autopsy report that circulated among his political aides paints …

Trump's Sleight of Hand: Shouting Fraud, Pocketing Donors' Cash for Future  —  With breathless, often misleading appeals, the former president promised small donors that he was using the money to fight the election results, but in fact stored much of it for future use.

White House Reporters: Biden Team Wanted Our Questions in Advance  —  “It pissed off enough reporters for people to flag it” for the White House Correspondents' Association, one of The Daily Beast's sources said. … If you're a reporter with a tough question for the White House press secretary …

D.C. Claims Eminent Domain To Seize Infamous NoMa Wendy's Site  —  D.C. is using eminent domain to seize the Wendy's property in NoMa as part of a plan to transform the notorious “Dave Thomas Circle” intersection.  —  The District government filed an eminent domain case in D.C. Superior Court …

The Brazil Variant Is Exposing the World's Vulnerability  —  Editor's Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers.  Find the collection here.  —  Even in a year of horrendous suffering, what is unfolding in Brazil stands out.

Russian Covid-19 Vaccine Was Highly Effective in Trial, Study Finds, Boosting Moscow's Rollout Ambitions  —  Sputnik V shot achieved 91.6% efficacy against coronavirus symptoms, says paper in U.K.'s Lancet  —  MOSCOW—Russia's homegrown Sputnik V vaccine showed high levels of efficacy …

Biden to create task force to reunite families separated at border, sign order to review asylum program  —  President Joe Biden will continue to review and roll back several of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies Tuesday, including introducing a task force to reunify families …

A Pennsylvania Mother's Path to Insurrection  —  How claims from Rudy Giuliani and Alex Jones spurred a parent of eight to become one of the Capitol riot's biggest mysteries and a fugitive from the F.B.I.  —  Before the pandemic, Rachel Powell, a forty-year-old resident of a small town …

The Robinhood Non-Conspiracy  —  A margin call is not a Wall Street plot to fleece Reddit traders.  —  By The Editorial Board  —  So much for the “rigged” market, the supposed conspiracy to fleece Reddit traders, and other nonsense spouted about last week's stock market ructions involving GameStop and other companies.

Democrats will expand their Senate majority in 2022  —  With the announcement last week that Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) will forgo seeking a third term representing the Buckeye State, Democrats are increasingly bullish about expanding their slim majority in the midterm elections.

Biden's About to Steamroll the GOP.  Here's Why That's Wrong.  —  HIGH STAKES … Every president this century except for Trump promised to unite the country, and every one including Trump ended up dividing it.  Joe could still take a different approach.  —  It feels like 2009 all over again.

Capitol Rioter Asks Court to Let Her Vacation in Mexico  —  THE AUDACITY  —  One of the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 is asking a federal court to let her leave the country so she can make the most of a Mexican vacation she booked prior to the insurrection.

Officer Who Shot Capitol Rioter Ashli Babbitt Shouldn't Be Charged, Investigators Advise  —  Ms. Babbitt died after being shot by Capitol Police officer on Jan. 6  —  WASHINGTON—Investigators have made a preliminary determination that the police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during …

Democrats risk unintended Medicare cuts if they pass partisan Covid relief … WASHINGTON — Democrats considering a maneuver to forgo bipartisan support to pass Covid-19 relief are confronting an unintended consequence: doing so could automatically cut Medicare.

Biden administration eyes Rahm Emanuel for ambassadorship  —  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is considering former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for a high-profile ambassadorship, potentially to China, three people with knowledge of the discussions said.  —  Becoming the U.S. ambassador …