The New York Times is readying a big newsletter push as Substack tries to poach its top writers with advances worth hundreds of thousands  — The New York Times is readying a newsletter push as Substack comes after top journalists.  — Substack offered opinion writer Liz Bruenig a $200,000 advance, double her Times salary.

U.S. lifts pause on Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine  —  The CDC and FDA on Friday lifted the recommended pause on use of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine, saying the benefits of the shot outweigh the risk of a rare blood clot disorder.  —  Why it matters: The move clears …

Scoop: Caitlyn Jenner makes it official for California governor  —  Former Olympic decathlete and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner has filed her initial paperwork to run for governor of California and will officially announce her bid later today, her campaign tells Axios.

After Chauvin's conviction for Floyd murder, DOJ weighs charging him for 2017 incident involving Black teen: Source  —  The judge in Chauvin's murder trial didn't let lawyers bring up the incident.  —  DOJ reportedly looking into 2017 incident between Chauvin and Black teen

I love Disney World, but wokeness is ruining the experience |  Commentary  —  My family and I have been loyal Disney customers for decades.  We vacation at Disney World every year.  We take a Disney cruise every year or two.  Consequently, we spend way too much money in Orlando.

GOP Sen. Ron Jonhson Criticizes ‘Big Push’ To Get Everyone Vaccinated  —  Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) on Thursday questioned the “big push” to ensure everyone is vaccinated against coronavirus, putting him at odds with many of his Senate Republican colleagues who have attempted to close the partisan gap in vaccination rates.

GOP-backed recount of Maricopa County ballots appears on track to move forward after initial pause ordered by Arizona judge  —  An extensive effort to recount ballots from the November election moved forward in Phoenix on Friday as a private vendor hired by Republicans in the Arizona Senate …

Gaetz probe includes scrutiny of potential public corruption tied to medical marijuana industry  —  Women detail late-night parties with Gaetz  —  (CNN)Federal authorities are looking into whether a 2018 trip to the Bahamas involving Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz and several young women …

Donald Trump plots temporary move from Mar-a-Lago north to New Jersey  — The Trump National Golf Club Bedminster will serve as the former president's summer base.  — Expect New Jersey to become the new center of Republican politics for a few months.  — Trump will gain easy access …

MIT researchers say you're no safer from Covid indoors at 6 feet or 60 feet in new study challenging social distancing policies  — An MIT study showed that people who maintain 60 feet of distance from others indoors are no more protected than if they socially distanced by just 6 feet.

Oath Keeper's Chilling Exchange About Nancy Pelosi Keeps Him Behind Bars in Capitol Siege Case  —  An Oath Keepers leader's chilling correspondence with another person who allegedly fantasized about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's “head rolling down the front steps” persuaded a federal judge …

‘This Is Hell.’ Prime Minister Modi's Failure to Lead Is Deepening India's COVID-19 Crisis  —  Ayyub is an Indian journalist and the author of Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover Up  —  Dr. Jalil Parkar, one of India's leading pulmonologists, wears his exhaustion on his face.

Youth Poll  —  A national poll of America's 18-to-29 year olds released today by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School shows that despite the state of our politics, hope for America among young people is rising dramatically, especially among people of color.

Biden will unveil eye-popping new tax rates for wealthiest Americans  —  Officials haven't made clear whether the rate would apply in 2021 or 2022.

Tim Scott often talks about his grandfather and cotton.  There's more to that tale.  —  My grandfather “suffered the indignity of being forced out of school as a third-grader to pick cotton, and never learned to read or write. ...  Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime.”

Florida Family Indicted for Selling Toxic Bleach as Fake “Miracle” Cure for Covid-19 and Other Serious Diseases, and for Violating Court Orders  —  Defendants Accused of Attempting to Avoid Government Regulation by Selling Products Through a Company They Deceptively Named “Genesis II Church of Health and Healing”

Ted Cruz maintains ties to right-wing group despite its extremist messaging  —  On Aug. 4, 2019, the day after a gunman who had posted a hateful diatribe against Hispanics fatally shot 23 people at an El Paso Walmart, a leader of a tea party group in Texas said on Facebook …

Businesswoman image key to Marjorie Taylor Greene's rise  —  Marjorie Taylor Greene relentlessly repeated her central argument: Democrats were destroying the country, and she was ready to fight them.In stump speeches and on social media posts, in television ads and on campaign signs …

U.K. Far Right, Lifted by Trump, Now Turns to Russia  —  The anti-Islam agitator Tommy Robinson struck gold in America.  Keeping it might require help from Moscow, where other British far-right activists are also finding friends.  —  LONDON — Two days after supporters …

The Newest Status Symbol for High-Net Worth Homeowners: Trophy Trees  —  In search of the perfect garden, the super rich are paying upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring in huge old trees by helicopter, barge and flatbed truck  —  For decades, Walter Acree operated …

Rich Americans Face Biden Tax Hike With Anger, Denial and Grief  — Investors irked by plan for capital gains tax of up to 43.4%  — The proposal strikes at the heart of widening U.S. wealth gap  —  Charles Myers was sitting in a first-class seat on a flight from New York to Dallas when his phone started blowing up Thursday.

President Biden Announces Key Administration Nominations in National Security … WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve in key national security positions in his Administration.  — Brenda Sue Fulton …

Europe must admit Russia is waging war  —  The persistent lack of response from the EU, NATO, or individual countries only convinces Russia it is free to carry out attacks across Europe with impunity.  —  EXPERT COMMENT  —  The bad news from Russia continues to come thick and fast …

Dozens hurt, arrested in Old City clash as extremist Jews chant ‘Death to Arabs’  —  Arab counter-protesters also skirmish with police trying to keep groups apart; 105 Palestinians, 20 officers injured as cops use water cannons, stun grenades against rock throwers  — 1,840 shares

Low-Skill Workers Aren't a Problem to Be Fixed  —  Recently, I was mesmerized by a prep cook.  At a strip-mall Korean restaurant, I caught a glimpse of the kitchen and stood dumbfounded for a few minutes, watching a guy slicing garnishes, expending half the energy I would if I were doing the same at home and at twice the speed.

Democrat Joe Manchin says there's one GOP senator he'd endorse ‘in a heartbeat’  —  Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin bucked his own party's political operation in 2020 by endorsing a Republican.  Now, he's doing it again.  —  The West Virginia senator is backing Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski's reelection bid …