Sen. Rick Scott after viewing brutal new videos: ‘This is a complete waste of time’  —  Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told reporters after viewing the explicit videos of the attack on the Capitol the Senate trial is a “complete waste of time.”  —  “I'm disgusted that, you know …

Exclusive: Dozens of former Republican officials in talks to form anti-Trump third party  —  (Reuters) - Dozens of former Republican officials, who view the party as unwilling to stand up to former President Donald Trump and his attempts to undermine U.S. democracy, are in talks to form …

Springsteen blew 0.02 - quarter of legal limit, source says  —  Kathleen Hopkins Ken SerranoAsbury Park Press  —  New Jersey rock icon Bruce Springsteen's blood-alcohol content was .02 - just a quarter of New Jersey's legal limit - when he was arrested on Sandy Hook in November and charged …

The Mandalorian Actress Gina Carano Fired by Lucasfilm  —  The actress' recent comments sparked backlash on social media.  —  Actress Gina Carano, known for playing former Rebel Alliance soldier Cara Dune on Disney's the Mandalorian, has been fired from the show, according to io9.

Houston Doctor Fired for Giving Away Doses of Covid Vaccine  —  Ten doses of the Covid-19 vaccine would expire within hours, so a Houston doctor gave it to people with medical conditions, including his wife.  What followed was “the lowest moment in my life,” Dr. Hasan Gokal said.

Cruz: Actually, It Is Constitutional to Impeach and Convict a Former President  —  On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate voted on the constitutional question of whether an impeachment trial may be held for Donald Trump now that he is out of office.  Six Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in answering that question in the affirmative.

Former Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel claims 2020 election was ‘stolen from President Trump’  —  In announcing bid for U.S. Senate, Mandel also criticized Gov. Mike DeWine's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.  —  CLEVELAND — Former two-term Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel become the first Republican …

Trump Justice Department Sought to Block Search of Giuliani Records  —  Manhattan prosecutors had been prepared to seek a search warrant for electronic records related to powerful Ukrainians who had helped Rudolph Giuliani dig for dirt on the Biden family.  —  In the final months …

There Is No Defense—Only Complicity  —  Republican senators are shrinking before the eyes of the whole country.  —  Staff writer at The Atlantic  —  To understand what was at issue in the impeachment proceedings today, it helps to look at a video released yesterday by Senator Marco Rubio.

Sen. Cassidy's impeachment trial vote shows he might want to be a bipartisan dealmaker  —  Sen. Bill Cassidy has been signaling for a few months that he wants to be a more independent force.  After the November elections, in which the Louisiana Republican easily won a second term …

Larry Flynt, Who Built a Porn Empire With Hustler, Dies at 78  —  As the publisher of a notorious sexually explicit magazine, he found himself at the nexus of a cultural and legal war and became an unlikely free-speech hero.  —  Larry Flynt, a ninth-grade dropout who built a $400 million empire …

RIP @neeratanden  —  Welcome to POLITICO's 2021 Transition Playbook, your guide to the first 100 days of the Biden administration  —  It's the end of an era.  —  Since the 2016 Democratic primary, NEERA TANDEN, JOE BIDEN's pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget …

Biden confronts China's Xi in first call  —  President Joe Biden held his first official phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday night, marking an end to weeks of conspicuous silence between the leaders.  —  During the call, Biden confronted Xi about China's …

Masks should fit better, or be doubled up to protect against coronavirus variants, CDC says  —  Making the seals tighter to prevent leakage can reduce people's exposure by more than 95 percent in laboratory tests.  —  PLEASE NOTE  —  The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free.

Trump Sneers at Searing Videos of MAGA Mob: ‘Massive Drop-Off in Quality’  —  JUST GREAT  —  As former President Donald Trump watched his Senate trial on TV from afar in Florida, he was, predictably, unmoved by the Senate impeachment trial's display of previously unreleased security footage of the Jan. 6 MAGA riot.

Possible Early Covid-19 Cases in China Emerge During WHO Mission  —  WHO team scrutinizing cases of 90 patients with coronavirus-like symptoms in October 2019, two months before Beijing acknowledged first infections  —  BEIJING—About 90 people were hospitalized with Covid-19-like symptoms …

Georgia Prosecutors Open Criminal Inquiry Into Trump's Efforts to Subvert Election  —  State officials are being instructed to preserve documents related to “attempts to influence” the Georgia election, just weeks after former President Donald J. Trump asked an official to “find” votes.

Trump will survive impeachment, again — then what?  —  Recuperating in Florida and off Twitter (a relief to 62 percent of the country), Trump is avoiding the limelight until his impeachment trial ends.  But he certainly will not quietly go away.  Once he's out of this latest jam …

Scoop: Biden considering Lisa Cook for open Fed seat  —  President Biden is considering nominating Lisa Cook, an economist at Michigan State University, to fill an open seat on the Federal Reserve Board, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.  —  Why it matters: The appointment would be historic …

Mike Shirkey caught in hot mic moment, says he stands by points on Capitol attack ‘hoax’  —  LANSING — Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, opened the floor session of the Michigan Senate on Wednesday morning with a prayer.  He spoke of seeking unity, working together and looking to God when people “get off track.”

The Killing of George Floyd Tore Minneapolis Apart.  Now Comes the Trial.  —  As attorney general, William P. Barr rejected a plea deal days after Mr. Floyd died, worried protesters would view it as lenient.  Derek Chauvin had agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder.

New video helping investigators in search for suspects in US Capitol police officer's death  —  ‘Nothing more traumatic’: Former cop on Capitol police officer's death  —  (CNN)Federal authorities have narrowed to a handful the number of suspects in the death of US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick …

Can't Find an N95 Mask?  This Company Has 30 Million That It Can't Sell.  —  Health workers are still being forced to ration protective masks, but small U.S. manufacturers can't find buyers, and some are in a danger of going under.  —  A year into the pandemic, the disposable …