Activists and Ex-Spy Said to Have Plotted to Discredit Trump ‘Enemies’ in Government  —  The campaign included planned operations against President Trump's national security adviser at the time, H.R. McMaster, and F.B.I. employees, according to documents and interviews.

Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the C.D.C. said.  —  In a sharp turnabout from previous recommendations, federal health officials on Thursday advised that Americans who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus may stop wearing masks or maintaining social distance …

Israel begins firing artillery and tank shells into Gaza  —  GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has begun firing artillery and tank shells into Gaza, and scores of families are fleeing their homes, Palestinian witnesses in the Gaza Strip said Thursday.  —  The use of artillery fire marks …

Active Duty U.S. Marine Corps Officer Arrested for Assault on Federal Law Enforcement Officer During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach  —  Defendant, Stationed in Virginia, Defied, Pushed and Resisted Capitol Police to Help Other Rioters Break into the U.S. Capitol  —  Note: A full copy of the charging documents can be viewed here.

Colonial Pipeline Paid Hackers Nearly $5 Million in Ransom  — Payment came shortly after attack got underway last week  — FBI discourages organizations from paying ransom to hackers  —  Colonial Pipeline Co. paid nearly $5 million to Eastern European hackers on Friday …

Roy to challenge Stefanik for Cheney's old position  —  Share to Facebook Share to Twitter  —  Conservative Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) will launch a last-minute, long-shot bid for GOP Conference chair, sources said, challenging Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) who has the endorsement of former President Trump and top House GOP leaders.

POLITICO Playbook: How Palm Beach is preparing for a possible Trump indictment  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  SCOOP: PALM BEACH MAKES CONTINGENCY PLANS IN CASE TRUMP IS INDICTED — Law enforcement officials in Palm Beach County, Fla., have actively prepared for the possibility …

The GOP has lost its way.  Fellow Americans, join our new alliance. … The Republican Party made a grievous error this week in ousting Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) from the House leadership for telling the truth about Donald Trump's “big lie,” which has wreaked havoc in our democratic republic by casting doubt over the 2020 election.

Leaked Video: Dark Money Group Brags About Writing GOP Voter Suppression Bills Across the Country  —  In a private meeting last month with big-money donors, the head of a top conservative group boasted that her outfit had crafted the new voter suppression law in Georgia and was doing the same …

Manchin Compromise Idea For Voting Rights Gets A Shot Across the Bow From Cornyn  —  It didn't take long for a supposedly bipartisan compromise on voting rights legislation that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is floating to get dumped on by a key Republican.  —  At a Thursday Senate Judiciary Committee meeting …

Gaetz associate signals he will plead guilty in federal case, a worrisome development for the congressman  —  A Florida politician who is central to the investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz for possible sex trafficking of a minor signaled Thursday that he will plead guilty in his own federal case …

Rebekah Jones, the COVID Whistleblower Who Wasn't  —  The former dashboard manager alleges a vast data conspiracy in Florida; not a word of it is true.  —  This is a story about Rebekah Jones, a former dashboard manager at the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), who has single-handedly managed …

Former Staffer Sues US Congressman Alleging ‘Reckless’ Approach to COVID-19  —  A former staffer is suing U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), accusing the congressman of taking a “reckless” approach to COVID-19, exposing his staff and himself to the virus.  —  The suit alleges …

Prosecutors Seek Cooperation of Trump Confidante, Subpoena Manhattan Private School  —  Officials examine tuition payments for the grandchildren of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg  —  New York prosecutors have subpoenaed a Manhattan private school as they seek the cooperation …

Be Worried  —  New polling suggests it's growing likely Republicans will retake the House in 2022.  —  Scott Rasmussen—the real Scott Rasmussen, whom you can follow here, not the people who run his old firm, Rasmussen Reports—has a new poll.  On the generic ballot, 41 percent …

President of Key Teachers' Union Shares Plea: ‘Schools Must Be Open’ in Fall  —  About half the nation's schools are not fully open despite rising vaccination levels, and teachers' unions are getting much of the blame.  Randi Weingarten hopes to carve a path forward.

Company: Ex-Trump lawyer raiding nonprofit for personal use  —  Former Trump attorney and self-proclaimed “Kraken releaser” Sidney Powell has told prospective donors that her group, Defending the Republic, is a legal defense fund to protect the integrity of U.S. elections.

Is Brett Kavanaugh Out for Revenge?  —  The suburban gentry of Chevy Chase, Maryland, had some difficulty making sense of Brett Kavanaugh's descent into villainy that fall.  He had always seemed so nice and nonthreatening to his neighbors, so normal—the khaki-clad carpool dad who coached …