Biden White House Sandbags Staffers, Sidelines Dozens for Pot Use  —  In some cases, staffers were informally told by transition officials some past marijuana use would be overlooked, only to be told later that they were being asked to resign. … Dozens of young White House staffers have been suspended …

The Science of Making Americans Hurt Their Own Country  —  The National Intelligence Council has released an unclassified repor t assessing, retrospectively, foreign threats to the 2020 election.  It has a few twists and turns: The Iranian government attempted to run some kind of online influence campaign …

Kevin McCarthy, Fetch  —  Some dog lovers believe that what makes their canine companions wonderful is their ability to “live in the moment”—meaning that, although they can be trained and obedient, and can learn to recognize and remember things they love and things they fear …

Ex-wife of Trump Org executive has spoken to investigators ‘multiple times’ … The ex-wife of a Trump Organization executive has spoken “multiple times” with investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, she told NBC News, as the probe into Donald Trump's financial dealings intensifies.

Cuomo's First Accuser Raises New Claims of Harassment and Retaliation  —  In her first extensive interview, Lindsey Boylan sheds new light on a toxic workplace, as insiders detail the campaign to discredit her.  —  On the morning of December 13, 2020, Lindsey Boylan sat in the passenger seat …

Yes, Capitol Rioters Were Armed.  Here Are The Weapons Prosecutors Say They Used  —  In the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, a popular narrative has emerged: that because rioters did not fire guns that day, they were not really “armed.”  —  But a review of the federal charges …

Son of Atlanta Shooting Victim Calls ‘Bullshit’ on Sex Addiction Claim  —  Police have not ID'ed her, but 23-year-old Randy Park says his mother was killed—and he's not buying the suspect's line on why six Asian women are dead. … ATLANTA—Randy Park said he learned of his mother's murder …

Sparks fly in the 1st direct, high-level U.S.-China talks of the Biden era  —  Beijing — The top diplomats from the U.S. and China opened a new chapter in bilateral ties on Thursday in what proved to be one of the most undiplomatic episodes in recent memory.

Stephen Brown, editor in chief of POLITICO Europe, is dead at 57  —  Stephen Brown, the editor in chief of POLITICO Europe and a former news correspondent who reported widely from Europe and South America for Reuters for more than a quarter-century, died Thursday in Brussels.  He was 57.

POLITICO Playbook: Don't call it a crisis  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  Whenever people in power start to police how the press describes an issue of major public concern — one those in power are charged with fixing — we should be at our most skeptical.  —  For the Biden administration …

Racist anti-Asian hashtags spiked after Trump first tweeted ‘Chinese virus,’ study finds  —  As the coronavirus spread across the globe last February, the World Health Organization urged people to avoid terms like the “Wuhan virus” or the “Chinese virus,” fearing it could spike a backlash against Asians.

The Democrats' border crisis is decades in the making  —  Former President Donald Trump brought some order to the border — not with his much-vaunted wall, but with diplomacy.  President Biden has already scrapped that diplomacy, in the process demolishing the border peace and triggering a humanitarian crisis.

Judge refuses to delay, move trial of ex-cop in Floyd death  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge on Friday denied a defense request to delay or move the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd's death after a $27 million settlement for Floyd's family raised concern about a tainted jury.

Xiaojie Tan dreamed of traveling the world and celebrating her 50th birthday with her daughter.  Then the Atlanta shooter ended her life  —  Trevor Hughes Romina Ruiz-Goiriena Cara KellyUSA TODAY  —  ATLANTA — On her 50th birthday, Xiaojie Tan would have gathered with her only child …

Did Michigan cover up nursing home COVID deaths like New York?  —  Michigan Governor Whitmer may be in the same trouble that New York Governor Cuomo is dealing with after covering up COVID deaths.  —  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo may not be the only governor who covered up the deaths of vulnerable senior citizens during the pandemic.

What Will Turnout Look Like Without Trump?  —  Trying to model the make-up of a midterm electorate is always a challenge.  Figuring out which voters will be engaged, which ones will ‘drop-off’, and which ones will be newly added is critical to effective campaigning.

Scoop: Biden has ambassadors list in hand  —  President Biden is reviewing a list of finalists as he prepares to nominate a series of ambassadors to key embassy postings, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.  —  Why it matters: The new president has promised to restore alliances …

For Political Cartoonists, the Irony Was That Facebook Didn't Recognize Irony  —  As Facebook has become more active at moderating political speech, it has had trouble dealing with satire.  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Since 2013, Matt Bors has made a living as a left-leaning cartoonist on the internet.

Why Child Care Staff Had to Show Up While Teachers Worked Remotely  —  The pandemic has spotlighted disparities in working conditions between child care workers and teachers.  —  Last summer, when New York City abruptly delayed the start of in-person classes, the Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation …

Supreme Court conservatives want to topple abortion rights — but can't seem to agree on how  —  (CNN)Conservative Supreme Court justices have demonstrated a desire to reverse prior decisions on abortion rights.  The question, with Chief Justice John Roberts no longer the undisputed swing vote on abortion …

Beware of Books!  —  A new moralism is gripping the literary world, treating grownups like children  —  Literature used to be a place for transgressive ideas, a place to question taboos, and seek naked insights into humanity.  It no longer is.  —  Critics, writers and publishers …

How Cuomo put a political loyalist in charge of New York's vaccine rollout  —  Around midnight on March 4, county officials across New York received a startling email threat from Larry Schwartz, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's volunteer vaccine czar.  —  Their counties had kept more than 250 doses …

12 Republicans vote against honoring Capitol police for protecting Congress  —  House voted 413-12 to award congressional gold medals to all members of Capitol force for their efforts on 6 January  —  A dozen Republicans voted against a resolution honoring US Capitol police for their efforts …

Meghan Markle Didn't Do the Work  —  Looks like Prince Harry married a girl just like the one who married dear old Dad.  We recognized all of it: the desperate unhappiness, the adoration of the masses, the beautiful clothes worn beautifully—but especially the easy and immediate way of reaching …

Who Can and Can't Get Vaccinated Right Now  —  Some countries have stockpiles.  Others have nothing.  Getting a vaccine means living in the right place — or knowing the right people.  —  A 16-year-old in Israel can get a vaccine.  —  So can a 16-year-old in Mississippi.  —  And an 18-year-old in Shanghai.

Biden to meet with Stacey Abrams on trip to Georgia  —  During his visit to Atlanta on Friday, President Joe Biden will meet with former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who has been widely credited with helping flip the former Republican stronghold blue.

Russian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Introduce Malware into a U.S. Company's Computer Network  —  Defendant's attempt to recruit employee to transmit malware to exfiltrate data and extort company thwarted by FBI  —  A Russian national pleaded guilty in federal court today …

Texas Wax Museum Removes Trump Figure Because People Keep Punching It  —  LOL.  I love Texas, everything about it.  Especially this.  Turns out Louis Tussaud's Waxworks on Alamo Plaza, located in San Antonio, decided to put away a wax figure of former President Donald Trump after visitors took out …

U.S. to Send Millions of Vaccine Doses to Mexico and Canada  —  The announcement came at a time when the Biden administration has been quietly pressing Mexico to ramp up its efforts to limit the flow of migrants.  —  The United States plans to send millions of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine …

‘Here we go again with the theater’: Fauci pushes back on Rand Paul's amateur epidemiology — again  —  From the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has positioned himself as the Senate's foremost skeptic of coronavirus expert Anthony S. Fauci.  The two have tussled repeatedly.

White House says Biden is ‘quite busy’ after Putin invites president for ‘live’ chat  —  Biden had also agreed during an interview that Putin was a killer  —  Russian envoy to US recalled after Biden calls Putin a ‘killer’  —  The White House seemingly turned down an invitation for a …

Armie Hammer Being Investigated by LAPD After Woman Comes Forward With Violent Rape Allegation … The anonymous woman who first posted allegations against Armie Hammer on social media has publicly come forward.  —  “I thought that he was going to kill me,” the woman, named Effie …

Georgia voting limits bill may preserve Sunday and no-excuse absentee  —  Leading Georgia lawmakers said Thursday that they plan to maintain Sunday voting and no-excuse absentee voting but pursue strict controls on other areas of voter access and ballot counting.

Teen Vogue Editor Resigns After Fury Over Racist Tweets  —  The hiring of Alexi McCammond, who was supposed to start at the Condé Nast publication next week, drew complaints because of racist and homophobic tweets she had posted a decade ago.  —  Alexi McCammond, who made her name …

Former Florida state senator charged in spoiler candidate scheme  —  (CNN)A former Florida state senator who resigned in disgrace four years ago was charged Thursday with campaign finance violations related to a hotly contested state Senate race in the 2020 election, authorities said.