Andrew Yang, Looking for Endorsement, Offends Gay Democratic Club  —  Participants described Mr. Yang's remarks as offensive, saying that even as members of the club raised policy issues, he returned to mentioning gay bars.  —  Andrew Yang, the former presidential candidate and leading contender …

Biden Eyeing Tax Rate as High as 43.4% in Next Economic Package  — People earning $1 million would pay 39.6% plus Obamacare levy  — Total tax rates for New Yorkers, Californians could top 50%  —  President Joe Biden will propose almost doubling the capital gains tax rate …

Hawley votes against anti-Asian hate crime bill  —  Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) was the lone senator to vote against legislation on Thursday aimed at combating a surge in anti-Asian American hate crimes.  —  A spokesperson for Hawley, a potential 2024 contender, didn't immediately respond to a question about his vote.

The Failing Galaxy Brain  —  There are hundreds of us...*HUNDREDS! … Welcome to Galaxy Brain, where we're off to a very slow start. … I hate to say it but Glenn is right.  After a whole ten days of entrepreneurship I can report that I am not newsletter millionaire.

With Trump's backing, Walker freezes Senate GOP field in Georgia  —  (CNN)Former President Donald Trump's backing of football great Herschel Walker to run for the Georgia Senate seat has been enough to effectively freeze the GOP field in place — even though some Republicans privately worry …

A political group's hiring of Mark Halperin draws protests from staffers  —  A nonpartisan political organization is facing blowback from its employees after hiring journalist Mark Halperin, whose career as a prominent TV pundit hit a wall after he faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment.

Stacey Abrams just taught Senator John Kennedy a lesson on being prepared  —  Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, went viral on Wednesday for embarrassing himself during a Tuesday hearing with Stacey Abrams about Georgia's new voter suppression law.

Black Democrats urge party to shift its voting rights push  —  Democrats have spent months touting an expansive proposal that would reshape U.S. elections.  But with the bill's Senate prospects growing more dire, key members of the Congressional Black Caucus are pushing to narrow their strategy.

O.J. Simpson bashes LeBron James for Ohio cop tweet  —  O.J. Simpson has gone from jailbird to law-and-order crusader.  —  The famous ex-con took a pro-cop stance Thursday when he backed an Ohio officer who fatally shot a knife-wielding teen and ripped into NBA star LeBron James for a tweet that named and shamed the lawman.

With Few New Clotting Cases, Johnson & Johnson Pause Could Be Lifted Soon  —  Top federal health officials said in interviews this week that the number of rare blood clotting disorders in recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has remained small.  —  WASHINGTON — Federal health officials …

George W. Bush Says He Wrote-In Condoleezza Rice in 2020 Election and Clarifies ‘Nativist’ Comment  —  Bush spoke with PEOPLE about his new book of paintings, Out of Many, One, which features a selection of his portraits of American immigrants along with their stories

In Defense of Teenage Knife Fighting  —  Since when do we need the cops to intervene in the recreational stabbings of our youth?  —  Just when I thought that America couldn't possibly get any softer, people start suggesting that there's a role for the police in preventing knife murders.

Lone Arizona Republican votes ‘no,’ blocking passage of bill targeting mail voting  —  A bill that would stop some voters from getting a ballot automatically mailed to them each election failed in Arizona's state Senate Thursday after a single Republican joined Democrats in voting against the legislation.

America scrambles for restaurant workers  —  Vaccinations keep climbing, and restaurants are ready to roar back this summer.  But eateries from Miami to Martha's Vineyard to Los Angeles are facing the same problem: not enough workers.  —  The big picture: Millions of restaurants are hiring all at once and …

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly's Commitment to Keep SCOTUS at Nine Justices, Even if Roe Is Overturned  —  In the Capitol on Tuesday, I asked Arizona senator Mark Kelly about Massachusetts senator Ed Markey's bill to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court from nine to thirteen.

GOP AGs group promotes operative behind robocalls urging march to Capitol  —  Vote comes after Georgia AG Carr steps down as chairman  —  A political operative whose organization sent out robocalls urging Donald Trump supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol before the deadly Jan. 6 attack …

Investigation suppressed by Trump administration reveals obstacles to hurricane aid for Puerto Rico  —  A watchdog report uncovers bureaucratic hurdles the Trump administration erected for the struggling island to receive aid after Hurricanes Irma and Maria  —  The Trump administration put …

Behind the ‘Thin Blue Line’ flag: America's history of police violence  —  A little more than a week before the jury delivered its verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, and about 10 miles from the Hennepin County Government Center …

The Trump Administration Is Over, but the Trump Crisis Is Not  —  Many Republicans are acting like the Capitol insurrection never happened, and much of Washington is fine with it.  —  When Walter Mondale, the former Vice-President, died on Monday, C-span circulated a video clip of him on the rostrum …

California's massive UC and Cal State systems plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations this fall  —  The University of California and California State University announced Thursday that they intend to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff on campus properties …

Brett Kavanaugh's Opinion Restoring Juvenile Life Without Parole Is Dishonest and Barbaric  —  In an appalling 6-3 decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court effectively reinstated juvenile life without parole by shredding precedents that had sharply limited the sentence in every state.

Over 30 Palestinians Injured, 20 Arrested in anti-Arab Clashes in Jerusalem  —  Earlier, in Zion Square, police attempted to prevent members of the Jewish purity Lehava group and other right-wing activists from attacking Israelis who came to protest the march

As economy spikes, Republicans are still waiting for the ‘Biden depression’ that Trump predicted  —  Stock market ‘collapse’ also has yet to materialize  —  Throughout last year's campaign, President Donald Trump issued a series of increasingly dark predictions about what would happen if Joe Biden were elected.

South Dakota high school rodeo club cancels annual ‘slave auction’ fundraiser  —  Annual event sparks condemnation and debate across state  —  In the tiny South Dakotan town called Faith, the high school Rodeo Club planned to hold its annual fundraising event next Monday night at the Legion Hall …

Do We Still Need to Keep Wearing Masks Outdoors?  —  Science shows that the risk of viral transmission outside is very low.  The “two-out-of-three rule” can help you decide whether to mask up.  —  As more people get vaccinated and spring weather and sunshine beckon us outdoors …

POLITICO Influence  —  Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street.  —  By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or updates from POLITICO and you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Jake Paul Promised Them Fame.  Was It Worth the Price?  —  A look behind the scenes at life in the Team 10 house.  —  In the vast world of YouTube villains, there may be none as famous as Jake Paul.  —  The 24-year-old Vine star turned vlogger has polarized viewers with videos …

General: Afghan military will collapse without some US help  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Afghanistan's military “will certainly collapse” without some continued American support once all U.S. troops are withdrawn, the top U.S. general for the Middle East told Congress Thursday.

The Vaccination Gender Gap: Women Are Getting Shots at a Higher Rate Than Men  —  As the Biden administration seeks to get most adults vaccinated by summer, men are holding back.  —  Holly Elgison and Len Schillaci are a mixed vaxxed couple, and they are far from alone.