Matthew McConaughey may be a viable candidate for Texas governor; poll shows actor ahead of Abbott  —  McConaughey leads Gov. Greg Abbott, 45% to 33%.  But his middle-of-the-road appeal may not open an easy path for him to November's finale, experts warned.

From MN to Philly, cops, troops flood the zone, violate our rights - and make us less safe |  Will Bunch  —  After a veteran officer — also head of their police union — shot and killed a 20-year-old unarmed Black motorist named Daunte Wright during a traffic stop over expired tags …

Most Americans want to end lifetime Supreme Court appointments  —  Susan Walsh/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo  —  A majority of Americans want to end lifetime appointments for U.S. Supreme Court justices, according to an Ipsos poll for Reuters, though less than half are in favor of other efforts to reform the judiciary.

Trump's grip on GOP looms as support falters for independent probe of Capitol riot  —  Congress's pursuit of an independent investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection is facing long odds, as bipartisan resolve to hold the perpetrators and instigators accountable erodes, and Republicans face sustained pressure …

Aleksei Navalny Should Be in Intensive Care, His Doctors Say  —  Doctors said recent blood tests indicated that the Russian opposition leader, who is nearly three weeks into a hunger strike, was at risk of heart failure and “could die at any moment.”  —  MOSCOW — The personal doctors …

One America News Network Stays True to Trump  —  A recent OAN segment said there were “serious doubts about who's actually president,” and another blamed “anti-Trump extremists” for the Capitol attack.  —  Months after the inauguration of President Biden, One America News Network …

3 people were killed and 2 others injured in a shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sheriff says  —  (CNN)Authorities are looking for whoever opened fire at a tavern in southeast Wisconsin overnight, killing three people and seriously wounding two others, the Kenosha County sheriff said.

What Is The Difference Between The Wright And Babbitt Shootings?  —  Below is column in USA Today on charging decisions in the Wright and Babbitt shootings.  The sharp contrast in the two decisions raises serious questions over the legal and political issues that rage around such cases.

‘Ripe for fraud’: Coronavirus vaccination cards support burgeoning scams  —  Officials warn that falsified cards could endanger lives and undermine efforts to end the pandemic  —  One listing offered eBay customers an “Authentic CDC Vaccination Record Card” for $10.99.  Another promised the same but for $9.49.

FedEx Gunman Bought 2 Rifles After Police Seized His Shotgun, Chief Says  —  Brandon Hole, 19, had his shotgun taken away in March 2020 after his mother raised concerns about his mental state, records show.  But he was able to legally make gun purchases just months later.

Fauci says he expects J&J vaccine to resume later this week  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will likely move to resume Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine this coming week, possibly with restrictions or broader warnings after reports of some very rare blood clot cases …

Israeli intel agencies believe Vienna talks will lead to U.S. return to Iran nuclear deal  —  Israeli military intelligence and senior officials in the Mossad briefed a meeting of the nation's security cabinet that talks in Vienna between Iran and other world powers will lead to the U.S. returning …

How ‘Papa Gaetz’ tells you everything you need to know about Matt Gaetz  —  TALLAHASSEE — Before Matt Gaetz burst onto the national political scene as the sharp-tongued, attention-grabbing defender of Donald Trump, he was best known in Florida as “Baby Gaetz.”

Senators in the dark on parliamentarian's decision  —  A parliamentarian ruling touted as a breakthrough for the Democratic agenda is putting the Senate in uncharted territory and sparking confusion.  —  More than a week after Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough signaled that Democrats …

Capitol Rioter Who Pretended to Be Antifa and Ransacked Pelosi's Office Released From Jail  —  William “Robbie” Norwood of South Carolina has been released ahead of his trial despite allegedly stealing body armor, lying to the FBI and ransacking Nancy Pelosi's office.  —  Correspondent-At-Large

George W. Bush on painting a new vision of immigrants  —  Springtime in central Texas doesn't get any better than this: The bluebonnets are in bloom across the 1,600 acres of Prairie Chapel Ranch, south of Dallas - a retreat for former President and first lady George W. and Laura Bush, where they once entertained world leaders.

More than 400 convictions involving suspected racist cop in Virginia could be overturned  —  More than 400 convictions in Virginia could be overturned after prosecutors found evidence the arresting cop was racist.  —  Jonathan Freitag, 25, is accused of making up reasons to pull people …

Most Louisiana lawmakers have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine; see who has, hasn't  —  With the Louisiana Legislature entering the second week of its 2021 session, at least 68% of the legislators say they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a survey conducted by The Advocate |  The Times-Picayune.

Nomadland!  Judas!  Minari!  Who's Getting The Oscar and Why It Still Matters  —  Despite the fact that the industry was devastated and many major releases were bumped ahead to this year, 2020 ended up serving a rich and diverse crop of Oscar nominees.  The films' prevailing topics …

I'm the Head of Planned Parenthood.  We're Done Making Excuses for Our Founder.  —  We must reckon with Margaret Sanger's association with white supremacist groups and eugenics.  —  Ms. McGill Johnson is the president and chief executive of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Misinformation Is Destroying Our Country.  Can Anything Rein It In?  —  Trump is gone, but the right-wing media is alive and well—and will further undermine our democracy if we let it.  —  On the night after the November 3 election, hundreds of supporters of Donald Trump filled the parking lot …