FBI facing allegation that its 2018 background check of Brett Kavanaugh was ‘fake’  —  A Democratic senator has asked attorney general Merrick Garland to facilitate ‘proper oversight’ into concerns on the investigation  —  The FBI is facing new scrutiny for its 2018 background check of Brett Kavanaugh …

The latest GOP attack on Biden has a huge hole in it  —  Republicans are convinced that attacking President Biden's border policies will win them the midterms.  House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has gleefully labeled the situation there “Biden's border crisis.”

Democrats loved Katie Porter when she bashed Trump.  Now she is making them squirm  —  Democrats loved watching Orange County Rep. Katie Porter skewer Trump administration appointees and corporate executives in congressional hearings.  —  But it felt different when Porter's progressive passion …

Army initially pushed to deny District's request for National Guard before Jan. 6  —  The Army initially pushed to reject the D.C. government's request for a modest National Guard presence ahead of the Jan. 6 rally that led to the Capitol riot, underscoring the deep reluctance of some higher-ups …

McConnell warns of GOP retribution if Democrats eliminate filibuster  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) again warned Democrats on Tuesday that eliminating the legislative filibuster would “break the Senate” and turn the chamber into a “100-car pileup” where chaos reigns.

Politics threaten to cloud EU countries' pause of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine  —  As most trusted medicines regulators, joined by the World Health Organization, continue to insist that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and that its benefits far outweigh the risks, its suspension across …

Ron Johnson Complains His Delusional Riot Claims Are Being ‘Silenced’  —  The cognitive dissonance of the January 6 Capitol riot has been gnawing away at Senator Ron Johnson for weeks.  Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican whose enthusiasm for Donald Trump has blossomed to potentially self-destructive dimensions …

Elliot Page Is Ready for This Moment  —  Elliot Page doesn't remember exactly how long he had been asking.  —  But he does remember the acute feeling of triumph when, around age 9, he was finally allowed to cut his hair short.  “I felt like a boy,” Page says.  “I wanted to be a boy.

N Korea warns US not to ‘cause a stink’ before Seoul meeting  —  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In North Korea's first comments directed at the Biden administration, Kim Jong Un's powerful sister on Tuesday warned the United States to “refrain from causing a stink” if it wants to “sleep in peace” for the next four years.

High-schooler and her mother hacked school records to steal homecoming queen election, police say  —  In a sparkling silver dress, the homecoming queen at J.M. Tate High School in Cantonment, Fla., stood on the football field on a brisk evening in late October to accept her crown.

Democrats, Pushing Stimulus, Admit to Regrets on Obama's 2009 Response  —  In pitching President Biden's relief package, Democrats have said their 2009 stimulus efforts under Barack Obama were insufficient.  Those close to Mr. Obama have noticed.  —  As Democrats pushed this month to pass …

Capitol Police officer suspended after antisemitic document found at checkpoint  —  U.S. Capitol Police suspended an officer Monday after a copy of an infamous antisemitic tract was found near a Capitol Hill security post Sunday, alarming a congressional aide who viewed the document in plain sight at the checkpoint.

Former Old Dominion University Student Sentenced for Swatting Conspiracy  —  ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Vienna man was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy that involved multiple swatting attacks targeting journalists, a Virginia university, a historic Virginia church …

Judge: Arizona GOP must pay $18K in groundless election suit  —  PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Republican Party and its lawyers must pay $18,000 in attorneys' fees that taxpayers were forced to pick up late last year to defend government officials against one of the party's failed lawsuits …

Trump Tower Vaccinated Staff At Luxury Hotel, Saying It Was Part Of Program Meant To Help Hard-Hit South And West Sides  —  The health department is “looking into” the vaccination event at Trump Tower, saying staff aren't yet eligible to be vaccinated and it wasn't aware of any Protect Chicago Plus events at the Downtown hotel.

Biden should thank Trump, not blame him, for what he left  —  Poor Joe Biden.  It was his misfortune to inherit one of the technological marvels of our time.  —  Before President Biden took office, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines had been authorized for use (with another …

Some long-haul covid-19 patients say their symptoms are subsiding after getting vaccines  —  Arianna Eisenberg endured long-haul covid-19 for eight months, a recurring nightmare of soaking sweats, crushing fatigue, insomnia, brain fog and muscle pain.  —  But Eisenberg's tale has a happy ending …

Senate centrists weigh brokering deals on immigration, minimum wage  —  A bipartisan group of senators who successfully pushed for a second coronavirus aid bill last year will meet on Wednesday as they weigh whether to wade into another thorny topic, such as immigration or the minimum wage.

Coca-Cola, Home Depot come out in opposition to Georgia voting restrictions  —  Civil liberties groups are ratcheting up pressure on major corporations based in Georgia — including Coca-Cola, Aflac, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot and UPS — to oppose a Republican-led effort to make it harder to vote in the Peach State.

Moderna Announces First Participants Dosed in Phase 2/3 Study of COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate in Pediatric Population  —  Phase 2/3 study expected to enroll 6,750 healthy pediatric participants less than 12 years of age  —  Study will enroll in the U.S. and Canada

Judge Releases Two Videos Showing Jacob ‘QAnon Shaman’ Chansley ‘Blatantly Lied’ to 60 Minutes+  —  When deciding to keep Jacob Chansley behind bars pending trial, a federal judge wrote that the rioter who became known as the “QAnon Shaman” had “blatantly lied” in his 60 Minutes+ interview …

H.R. 1 can't pass the Senate.  But here are some voting reforms that could.  —  A smaller, more targeted bill might attract enough support to get past — or change — the filibuster  —  Richard L. Hasen is the chancellor's professor of law and political science at the University of California …

How Yang charmed the right on his road to political stardom  —  Andrew Yang's road to fame was paved with right-wing podcasts.  —  Before he joined the New York City mayor's race in January or even appeared on a presidential debate stage during the Democratic primary, Yang reached an audience …

Scoop: Facebook explores paid deals for new publishing platform  —  Facebook will soon begin testing partnerships with a small group of independent writers for its new publishing platform, sources tell Axios.  —  Driving the news: The platform, which includes tools for journalists to build actual websites …

Columbia University hosting 6 separate graduation ceremonies based on income level, race, ethnicities  —  New York-based university also hosting what appears to be a more general commencement ceremony  —  Fox News Flash top headlines for March 15  —  Columbia University is planning …

Senators who voted to decertify the election—even after the Capitol attack—are facing the most heat.  —  For the eight Senate Republicans who voted against certifying the election on Jan. 6, it's been nearly impossible to find a Democrat willing to sign onto their legislation.

Ohio expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to 40+, cancer, obesity; all over age 16 eligible March 29  —  Craig Webb Emily MillsAkron Beacon Journal  —  Ohio expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to 40 and over, some others  —  Ohio's eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines will be expanded …

MAGA voters discovered a new home online.  But it isn't what it seems.  —  As former President Donald Trump's supporters have flocked to alternative social media networks, many are turning to SafeChat, a fast-growing platform known for its tolerance of high-octane MAGA content.

Did the Trump White House Create a Batshit Report on Dominion Voting?  —  WHODUNIT  —  Team Trump was once happy to tout a dodgy dossier on Dominion.  But getting to the bottom of its authorship has Trump legal team vets pointing fingers now that lawsuits are flying.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he's ‘worried’ about recall effort  —  He said he believes organizers have the signatures to get it on the ballot.  —  Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.  —  California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday on ABC's “The View” that he was worried about the potential for a recall.

Just Reopen the Schools Now  —  It is entirely possible that when we look back at the coronavirus pandemic decades from now, we may see the gravest catastrophe as a generation of schoolchildren whose formative years were irrevocably stunted.  Even if the year and counting of public-school rollback …