U.S. Intel Walks Back Claim Russians Put Bounties on American Troops  —  It was a huge election-time story that prompted cries of treason.  But according to a newly disclosed assessment, Donald Trump might have been right to call it a “hoax.”  —  It was a blockbuster story about Russia's return …

Video Shows A 13-Year-Old Boy Had His Hands Up When A Police Officer Fatally Shot Him  —  A 13-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Chicago by a police officer had his hands up when the cop fired his weapon, new videos show.  —  The city's Civilian Office of Police Accountability posted …

Pfizer CEO says third Covid vaccine dose likely needed within 12 months  — Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said people will “likely” need a booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of getting fully vaccinated.  — He also said it's possible people will need to get vaccinated against the virus annually.

Defense Department confirms leaked video of unidentified aerial phenomena is real  —  Pentagon confirms UFO video is real, taken by Navy pilot  —  (CNN)The Defense Department has confirmed that leaked photos and video of “unidentified aerial phenomena” taken in 2019 are indeed legitimate images of unexplained objects.

Biden administration asks Supreme Court not to hear challenge to all-male military draft  —  The Biden administration has asked the Supreme Court not to take up a lawsuit that calls the all-male military draft unconstitutional.  —  Because Congress is considering whether women should also be required …

Reuters puts its website behind a paywall.  —  Reuters will begin charging for access to its website as it tries to capture a slice of the digital subscription business.  —  The company, one of the largest news organizations in the world, announced the new paywall on Thursday …

Louisville cop writing a book to reveal the ‘truth’ behind the Breonna Taylor shooting  —  LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One of the Louisville Metro Police officers who fired shots during the attempted search warrant execution that left Breonna Taylor dead in her apartment last year is writing a book about the case.

Yang under fire for appearance in video suggesting violence toward women  —  Andrew Yang faced an onslaught of criticism Thursday after a video circulated of the leading mayoral candidate laughing when asked if he “choked b—  es.  In the video, someone asks the mayoral front-runner whether a man, “while he's f—ing b—

Jim Jordan Told to ‘Shut Your Mouth’ After Ranting Endlessly at Fauci  —  SPARE US  —  During a meeting of the House Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee on Thursday, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) had to intervene in a shouting match between Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Dr. Anthony Fauci by telling Jordan to “shut your mouth.”

Scoop: Biden close to picking Nick Burns as China ambassador  —  Nicholas Burns, a career diplomat, is in the final stages of vetting to serve as President Biden's ambassador to China, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.  —  Why it matters: Across the administration …

Introducing the 2021 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index  —  The Cook Political Report is pleased to introduce the post-2020 edition of the Partisan Voter Index (PVI) for all 50 states and 435 congressional districts.  Although these district boundaries won't be in place …

Ocasio-Cortez Criticizes SALT Cap Repeal Effort: Stimulus Update  — Check here for updates on Biden's $2.25 trillion plan  — White House package spans infrastructure to elderly care  —  Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized calls by a group of House members to repeal …

How the Justice Department came to investigate Rep. Matt Gaetz  —  The missive arrived at an Orlando-area preparatory school in October 2019, outlining a damaging allegation against a music teacher there.  —  The teacher, in the letter's telling, had had an inappropriate sexual relationship …

Washington Post's Josh Rogin Calls Out Media for Ignoring Potential Connection Between Fauci's Research and Covid Outbreak  —  Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin lamented the media's refusal to discuss aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic, including Dr. Anthony Fauci's role in it, in an interview with Megyn Kelly.

A New ‘Denim Cycle’?  After a Decade, Jeans Move From Skinny to Loose  —  American shoppers are flocking to high-waisted, loosefitting jeans in droves and companies believe they may become a hallmark of the post-pandemic world.  —  The obituary for skinny jeans has been written …

Biden starts off presidency with positive approval marks, CNBC survey shows  — President Joe Biden has a 47% public approval rating, according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey.  — He has a disapproval rating of 41%, getting him above water in the public's view.

Republicans and the Great Replacement  —  The idea that they're being “replaced” is now part of the core GOP ideology  —  In August of 2017, far-right demonstrators marched through Charlottesville, Virginia, chanting “You will not replace us!”. … That rally's organizers called it the Unite the Right rally.

Tucker Carlson villainizes journalists on his top-rated show.  Then the threats pour in.  —  As the Fox host's popularity grows, he has found fodder in lesser-known media figures whom he presents as symbols of liberalism-run-amok.  —  Brandy Zadrozny, a reporter for NBC News who covers online extremism …

Lawmakers blast North Platte Sen. Groene for ‘racist’ comments during debate  —  A handful of state lawmakers criticized Sen. Mike Groene on Thursday for what they said was an offensive comment made by the North Platte senator on Wednesday.  —  During floor debate, Groene inadvertently called …

Canadian lawmaker caught naked during video conference  —  OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — A Canadian Parliament member was caught stark naked in a virtual meeting of the House of Commons.  —  William Amos, who has represented the Quebec district of Pontiac since 2015, appeared on the screens …

Biden promised to stop seizing border wall land.  His DOJ is still doing it.  —  The administration is past a self imposed 60-day deadline to review resources for the wall.  And it's still taking land for it.  —  Nearly three months into office, Joe Biden's administration is seizing land near …

Kellyanne Conway takes sides in Ohio Senate primary  —  Kellyanne Conway, who served as campaign manager and counselor to former President Donald Trump, has been named a senior adviser to Ohio Senate hopeful Bernie Moreno, taking sides in a race that has become a fight over which GOP candidate is closest to the former president.

Sinema And Manchin Headlining Event For Anti-Union Group Fighting $15 Wage  —  The pair will discuss “finding bipartisan solutions” at the conference of the major lobby group fighting Dems' minimum wage and labor legislation.  —  Weeks after voting to kill a $15 minimum wage …

Decision to pause Johnson & Johnson vaccine causes public confidence in vaccine to sink  —  Economist/YouGov Poll Politics & current affairs  —  Fieldwork for the latest Economist/YouGov poll on vaccine safety perceptions was in the midst of being conducted when the Centers for Disease Control …

Introducing Substack Local, for a new generation of local news  —  Today, we're announcing Substack Local, a US$1,000,000 initiative to foster and develop the local news ecosystem by helping independent writers build local news publications based on the subscription model.

Florida Senate passes ‘anti-riot’ bill, sends it to DeSantis to sign into law  —  TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate on Thursday approved an “anti-riot” bill championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, sending it to him for signature into law over the objections of Democrats and civil rights groups …