POLITICO Playbook: Takeaways from a head-spinning night in Republican politics  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  If you're trying to figure out the direction of the Republican Party after Wednesday's circus of a five-hour (!) House GOP Conference meeting, good luck.

Mitt Romney unveils plan to provide $3,000 per child, giving bipartisan support to President Biden's effort  —  The 2012 GOP presidential nominee is proposing the United States give as much as $4,200 for children up to age 6  —  Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Thursday will propose providing …

Smartmatic files $2.7 billion defamation suit against Fox News over election-fraud claims  —  Fox News Media hosts Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro were named, along with lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell.  —  Smartmatic, an election technology company …

AP-NORC Poll: Americans open to Biden's approach to crises  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Two weeks into a new administration, a majority of Americans say they have at least some confidence in President Joe Biden and his ability to manage the myriad crises facing the nation, including the raging coronavirus pandemic.

Militia alliance in Georgia signals new phase for extremist paramilitaries  —  ‘We are going to see a lot of this coalition building with some pretty nasty actors,’ says one expert.  —  The leader of a private paramilitary group that provided security for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene …

Movie at the Ellipse: A Study in Fascist Propaganda  —  On January 6, Trump supporters gathered at a rally at Washington DC's Ellipse Park, regaled by various figures from Trump world, including Donald Trump Jr. and Rudy Giuliani.  Directly following Giuliani's speech, the organizers played a video.

Pence reveals his post-White House plans  —  Former Vice President Mike Pence is joining the Heritage Foundation as a distinguished visiting fellow, the conservative think tank announced on Thursday.  —  He will advise the organization's experts on issues as well as give a number …

Hunter Biden's memoir ‘Beautiful Things’ out in April  —  Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden and an ongoing target for conservatives, has a memoir coming out April 6.  —  The book is called “Beautiful Things” and will center on the younger Biden's well publicized struggles with substance abuse …

‘Alexandria Ocasio Smollett’ Trends As Critics Punch Holes In Her Dramatic Cap Hill Story  — “Alexandria Ocasio Smollett” and “AOC Lied” trended on Twitter amidst backlash over Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's tale of her experiences during the Capitol Riot.

Trump impeachment defense will display images of Capitol siege at trial  —  Former President Donald Trump's impeachment defense team will display photos and graphics during his Senate trial as evidence, attempting to prove he did not incite the insurrection during the Capitol siege on Jan. 6, according to a spokesman.

Jeff Zucker Announces Plans to Step Down  —  The executive shaped the look and feel of CNN since coming aboard in 2013.  The network hit record ratings in recent months, during which Mr. Zucker had tensions with his newly installed boss.  —  Jeffrey A. Zucker, the president of CNN who reshaped …

Biden administration weighs plan to directly send masks to all Americans  —  WASHINGTON — The Biden White House is considering sending masks directly to American households, according to three people familiar with the discussions, an action the Trump administration explored but scrapped.

U.S. Satisfaction Sinks With Many Aspects of Public Life  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans' satisfaction with seven broad aspects of the way the country functions is collectively at its lowest in two decades of Gallup measurement.  This includes satisfaction with the overall quality of life in the U.S. …

Trump appointee suing Biden admin over allegedly illegal termination threat  —  “Because I am not one to be bullied ... I will not resign,” said Roger Severino  —  Fox News Flash top headlines for February 3  —  One of former President Trump's more controversial appointees, Roger Severino …

His polls are sinking.  Democrats are mobilizing.  The Newsom recall just got real.  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom doesn't want to talk about the recall.  But his allies can't ignore it.  —  The campaign to oust Newsom went from unlikely to unavoidable this week …

Biden holds all the cards in coronavirus relief talks — and he knows it  —  President Biden told Republican senators in the Oval Office this week that he has “an open door and an open mind” on his $1.9 billion coronavirus rescue bill.  But he has the votes on the Hill and overwhelming support …

Young and Ambitious?  Move to New York, Not Austin  —  Big cities and office-settings may be most appealing to early-career professionals who need the networking.  Cheap rents offer a golden opportunity.  —  The pandemic accomplished in 10 months what internet technologies have been promising for decades …

The New York Times Tops 7.5 Million Subscriptions as Ads Decline  —  In its fourth-quarter earnings report, The New York Times Company said 2020 was its biggest year for adding subscribers.  —  The New York Times set a record for its subscription business in 2020, a year when a pandemic …

The March Of The American Kooks  —  Steve Carlton won 27 games and the National League Cy Young Award in 1972, lost 20 games and gave up more earned runs than any pitcher in the league in 1973, and then stopped speaking to the media entirely over the next few seasons.

We spoke with the Marine from this viral Inauguration Day photo with Lady Gaga  —  Marine Corps Capt. Evan Campbell was simply in the right place at the right time.  —  The 30-year-old Marine from San Antonio, Texas, was one of a dozen Marines and soldiers working in the area …

Biden Ousts All 10 of Trump's Union Busters From Powerful Labor Panel  —  On Tuesday, Joe Biden demanded the resignations of all 10 of Donald Trump's appointees to the Federal Service Impasses Panel, a powerful labor relations board, in a major victory for federal unions.

Virginia poised to abolish death penalty in historic step  —  Virginia legislators appear poised to abolish the death penalty in the coming days, a step that would make it the first Southern state to end the practice of capital punishment.  —  A bill to end capital punishment passed the state Senate on Wednesday by a 21-17 margin.

Amy Acton confirms she's considering a run for Senate, will step down from Columbus Foundation  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton confirmed Thursday that she is considering running for U.S. Senate and will leave her job at the nonprofit Columbus foundation as she mulls a bid.

DOJ Moves Towards Parallel Conspiracy Prosecutions of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys  —  As noted, on January 27, DOJ indicted three Oath Keepers, Thomas Edward Caldwell, Donovan Ray Crowl, and Jessica Marie Watkins, in a conspiracy to hinder Congress' certification of the Electoral College vote.