Biden to unveil long-awaited executive action on guns  —  President Joe Biden will unveil a package of executive actions to curb gun violence on Thursday—a step that is likely to be cheered by increasingly impatient advocates despite being relatively modest in scope.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill admits affair, won't run for U.S. Senate: 'There's no excuse'  —  After initially denying reports of an affair, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill on Wednesday afternoon told AL.com that he had “an inappropriate relationship” with a 44-year-old woman …

A Tiny Particle's Wobble Could Upend the Known Laws of Physics  —  It's not the next Higgs boson — yet.  But the best explanation, physicists say, involves forms of matter and energy not currently known to science.  —  Evidence is mounting that a tiny subatomic particle seems to be disobeying …

Why Not Fewer Voters?  —  The fact is that voters got us into this mess.  Maybe the answer isn't more voters.  —  Much of the discussion about proposed changes to voting laws backed by many Republicans and generally opposed by Democrats begs the question and simply asserts that having more people vote is …

EXCLUSIVE: Pence returns to MAGA world with Trump-backed political group  —  Former Vice President Mike Pence will take a step back into public life and a possible 2024 run with the launch Wednesday of the Advancing American Freedom advocacy group, designed to merge traditional conservative thinking with Trumpism.

A Medical Student Questioned Microaggressions.  UVA Branded Him a Threat and Banished Him from Campus.  —  Kieran Bhattacharya is a student at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine.  On October 25, 2018, he attended a panel discussion on the subject of microaggressions.

Matt Gaetz trip to Bahamas is part of federal probe into sex trafficking, sources say  —  Federal investigators are looking into a Bahamas trip Matt Gaetz allegedly took in late 2018 or early 2019 as part of an inquiry into whether the Florida representative violated sex trafficking laws, multiple sources told CBS News.

An Interview With the Man Who Keeps Uploading My Feet to WikiFeet  —  Back in the fall, I received an unexpected text from a man I had just started seeing.  “Are u on wikifeet?”  —  Assuming he was joking, I laughed and said no. Then he sent me a link to my wikiFeet page.

Joe Manchin: I will not vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster  —  Joe Manchin III, a Democrat, represents West Virginia in the Senate.  —  When Americans vote to send their two senators to Washington, they trust that they will work to represent the interests of their state on equal footing with 98 other senators.

MTG's eye-popping fundraising haul  —  With Nicholas Wu.  —  GREENE RAKES IN THE GREEN: We have a scoop for you this morning: Freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), the controversial MAGA firebrand, raised over $3.2 million in the first three months of this year, according to a source close to her campaign.

In her own words: Woman describes Cuomo's alleged groping at mansion  —  Woman says governor's ‘sexually aggressive’ behavior increased over time  —  ALBANY — The call came on a weekday in late November.  The governor inexplicably had a technical issue with his mobile phone and needed assistance at the Executive Mansion.

Capitol riot defendant flips to help prosecutors against Proud Boys  —  (CNN)At least one of the Capitol riot defendants has flipped against the Proud Boys, agreeing to provide information that could allow the Justice Department to bring a more severe charge against the group's leadership, according to an attorney involved in the case.

“Everyone Just Knows He's an Absolute Monster”: Scott Rudin's Ex-Staffers Speak Out on Abusive Behavior  —  Even as other Hollywood bullies are being sidelined, the uber-producer behind ‘The Social Network’ and Broadway's ‘To  Kill a Mockingbird’ has been given a pass for his volcanic temper.

Corporate America isn't welcoming former Trump Cabinet officials with open arms, headhunters say  —  The toxicity of the former president's brand is choking off traditional money-making opportunities for members of his inner circle.  —  Before she joined the Trump administration as transportation secretary …

Trump Organization Hires Criminal Defense Lawyer  —  Ronald Fischetti will represent the firm in Manhattan district attorney's probe into former president's business dealings  —  The Trump Organization has hired Ronald Fischetti, an experienced New York criminal-defense attorney …

Fulton DA won't prosecute lawmaker arrested during election law signing  —  Fulton County's district attorney said Wednesday that she won't prosecute the Democratic lawmaker who was arrested last month after she knocked repeatedly on the door of Gov. Brian Kemp's state office …

Don't kid yourself: There will be no consequences for the 60 Minutes hit job on Gov. DeSantis  —  The news show 60 Minutes championed a vicious lie this weekend when it alleged that Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rewarded a grocery chain with a sweetheart deal to distribute coronavirus vaccines …

Boehner Blasts Trump, Saying He ‘Incited That Bloody Insurrection’  —  In his new book, John Boehner, the Republican former House speaker, sharply rebukes the former president for his role in the “mob violence” at the Capitol on Jan. 6.  —  John Boehner, the Republican former House speaker …

Sen. McConnell Backs Off Warning to Corporate America on Politics  —  Republican leader has criticized companies for speaking out against Georgia voting law  —  WASHINGTON—Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday backed off his warning that businesses should stay away from politics …

Goodbye to Gate 35X, cursed portal to the rest of America  —  Let's get right to it: It was a bus station.  A bus station in an airport.  It was two places you'd rather not be, melded into one place.  —  There was no flourish to its badness.  Gate 35X at Reagan National Airport …

Exclusive: Andrew Giuliani targets Cuomo, plans 2022 gubernatorial bid  —  Andrew Giuliani, a former top Trump aide and son of “America's Mayor,” is “heavily considering” a bid for governor of New York in 2022, potentially setting up an epic clash between the two biggest political families in recent New York history.

A Lifetime of Reading Taught Min Jin Lee How to Write About Her Immigrant World  —  This past year, I've spent most of my time in my drafty office in Harlem, where the water leak from the lintel above the south-facing window has reappeared after some bad weather.  The elementary school across the street has been closed.

Twitter Held Discussions for $4 Billion Takeover of Clubhouse  — Talks no longer active between Twitter, social media startup  — Clubhouse is seeking to raise funding at a similar valuation  —  Twitter Inc. held talks in recent months to acquire Clubhouse, the buzzy audio-based social network …

Twitter won't let National Archives revive @realDonaldTrump  —  Twitter will not allow the National Archives to make former President Donald Trump's past tweets from his @realDonaldTrump account available on the social media platform, the company told POLITICO on Wednesday …

The 2022 Senate race no one is talking about  —  Joe Biden comfortably carried Sen. Maggie Hassan's New Hampshire.  But Democrats quietly believe she's one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents.  —  The Senate race that's shaping up to be the biggest political bellwether in 2022 isn't on the list of the biggest toss-up races.

The United States Restores Assistance for the Palestinians  —  The United States is pleased to announce that, working with Congress, we plan to restart U.S. economic, development, and humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people.  This includes $75 million in economic and development assistance …

MINNEAPOLIS VS. THE EVIDENCE  —  Apparently, no one is watching the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer on trial for the murder of George Floyd.  Otherwise, the media couldn't get away with their spectacular lying to the public about how the prosecution is killing it.

The Social Construction of Racism in the United States  —  Foreword  —  In the 1980s, people all around America became convinced that day care centers were secretly practicing demonic ritual sex abuse on children.  These allegations stayed in the national news for the better part of a decade.

Can Blood from Young People Slow Aging?  Silicon Valley Has Bet Billions It Will  —  The Spanish firm Grifols set off a kerfuffle last year when it nearly doubled the going price for blood donations for a COVID-19 treatment trial.  Brigham Young University in Idaho had to threaten …

Red Bull, Elon Musk, and Matt Gaetz  —  Politics and the attention economy.  —  1. Red Bull and Elon Musk  —  What is “Red Bull”?  —  “Red Bull” is a carbonated energy drink.  It is packaged in metal cans.  These cans and the liquid inside them are manufactured by Rauch …

Arkansas Governor's Trans-Bill Veto Raises Questions about Corporate Pressure  —  During an appearance with Fox News' Tucker Carlson on Tuesday night, Arkansans Republican governor Asa Hutchinson vociferously denied that he had been in contact with corporate interests in his state about the …

Why I'm *not* leaving Substack  —  In response to reader inquiries.  —  3 hr ago … Today's read: 9 minutes.  —  If you've spent any time on Twitter recently, you've probably seen an article pop up with a title that looks something like this: “Why I'm leaving Substack...”

CBS shake-up: Two TV station executives exit following L.A. Times investigation  —  CBS has ousted two powerful TV station executives following allegations of racist and abusive behavior.  —  Peter Dunn, who served as president of the TV Stations group since 2009, and David Friend …

Why Kentucky Just Became the Only Red State to Expand Voting Rights  —  At a time when states with Republican-led legislatures are rushing to restrict ballot access, Kentucky proved the exception to the rule.  The reasons are both political and logistical.  —  Jennifer Decker has solid conservative credentials.

Fifth Circuit Decision in ICWA Case Hands Major Victory to Indian Children  —  In a long (300+ pages!) and divided opinion, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals late Tuesday upheld a federal district court ruling that found the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) unconstitutional on a variety of legal grounds.