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.

The F.D.A. ended its recommended pause on the J.&J. vaccine, clearing the way for states to use it again.  —  The Food and Drug Administration ended its recommended pause on the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine on Friday and will add a warning to its label to note the potential risk of rare blood clots.

Capitol rioter arrested after being turned in by match on online dating app Bumble  —  (CNN)The Justice Department has charged a Capitol rioter who was turned in by someone he matched with on the dating app Bumble, after he bragged about his exploits on January 6.

Dems won't post $1M bond, so election audit won't be paused  —  A brief weekend pause in the Arizona Senate's election audit that a judge ordered on Friday won't happen because the Arizona Democratic Party declined to put up a $1 million bond that the judge requested to cover any expenses …

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

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.

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.

Virginia GOP won't let Orthodox Jews vote absentee in Sabbath-day convention  —  RICHMOND — Republican Party leaders have rejected a plea to let Orthodox Jews and others with religious obligations on Saturdays vote absentee in the GOP's May 8 nominating convention, in which the party will choose …

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 …

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 …

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.

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”

DHS Announces Rescission of Civil Penalties for Failure-to-Depart  —  WASHINGTON - Today, at the direction of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescinded two delegation orders related to the collection of civil financial penalties …

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.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw ‘hopeful and confident’ of recovery following emergency eye surgery  —  Rep. Dan Crenshaw said Friday that his emergency eye surgery “went very well,” although he still had “a while to go” before he was fully recovered.  —  “I can lift my head up again and no longer …

‘Excess Deaths’ in 2020 Surpassed Those of 1918 Flu Pandemic  —  Death rate above and below normal in the U.S.  —15% -10% -5% +5% +10% +15% 1910 1918 1933 1950 2000 2020  —  Data before 1933 do not include all states.  —  1918 flu pandemic  —  A surge in deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic created …

After Testing the World's Limits, Putin Steps Back From the Brink  —  The Russian president pulled back troops from Ukraine's border and relented on medical treatment for his nemesis Aleksei A. Navalny, after a performance blending fear and force to affirm his power.

‘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.

Iran talks: ‘We are not going to pay anything upfront,’ senior administration official tells Jewish leaders  —  In a call with Jewish American leaders on Friday, a senior Biden administration official assured that the U.S. will not provide Iran any sanctions relief until an agreement …

California Guard members feared fighter jet would be ordered to frighten protesters  —  In March of last year, California National Guard members awaited orders from Sacramento headquarters to make preparations for any civil unrest that might arise from the outbreak of the coronavirus.

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.

Myanmar: Military chief set to make first foreign trip since coup  —  The head of the Myanmar military is set to meet international leaders, in what will be his first known foreign trip since the army took power in a coup.  —  General Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to attend an Asean regional summit …

Why Aren't We Celebrating Operation Warp Speed?  —  Partisanship shouldn't prevent us from recognizing our own achievements.  —  5 hr ago  —  About half of all U.S. adults have now received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot.  While the pandemic is far from over, our rapid pace of vaccination …

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 …

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 …

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 …