Why Justice Breyer May Resist Calls for His Retirement  —  In a recent speech on “the peril of politics,” Justice Stephen G. Breyer said judges must renounce loyalty to “the political party that helped to secure their appointment.”  —  WASHINGTON — Many liberals say Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg …

Chuck Todd clashes with Dan Crenshaw over GOP fraud claims: ‘Why should anybody believe a word you say?’  —  Days after House Republicans ousted Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from her leadership position for challenging former president Donald Trump's false claims of election fraud, Rep. Dan Crenshaw …

AT&T to spin off HBO, other WarnerMedia assets in a huge deal with Discovery.  What went wrong?  —  Three years ago, AT&T Inc. marched into Hollywood with big ambitions to be a 21st century media colossus, connecting its booming cellphone business with legendary media properties — HBO …

The IRS says 88% of families will receive a bigger child tax credit.  How much will you get?  —  Eligible families will get benefits beginning July 15.  —  Last-minute tax tips to know before filing  —  Financial expert Humphrey Yang answers tax return questions and walks us through what to do if you need to file an extension.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love the Lab-Leak Theory*  —  In early spring 2020, I reported an article for The New York Times on which I put the tentative headline: “New Coronavirus Is ‘Clearly Not a Lab Leak,’ Scientists Say.”  —  It never ran.  —  For two reasons.

Biden to Send U.S.-Authorized Vaccines Abroad for First Time  —  President Joe Biden plans to send an additional 20 million doses of U.S. coronavirus vaccines abroad by the end of June — including, for the first time, shots authorized for domestic use, where supply is beginning to outstrip demand, Bloomberg News reports.

Chinese businessman with links to Steve Bannon is driving force for a sprawling disinformation network, researchers say  —  Guo Wengui, living in self-exile in New York City, is at the center of a digital web pushing election and covid falsehoods, according to Graphika research

Trump Has Blown Off Rudy Giuliani's Pleas for Help as Feds Circle  —  Giuliani appears to be in hot water, and his allies keep asking for Trump's help.  But so far, the ex-president isn't willing to ride to the rescue of his one-time lawyer.  —  In the weeks since the feds raided Rudy Giuliani's apartment …

Former Matt Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg pleads guilty to six federal charges  —  Washington (CNN)Joel Greenberg, an indicted close confidant of Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, formally pleaded guilty on Monday morning to six federal charges in a court hearing, admitting to a federal judge …

Censorship, Surveillance and Profits: A Hard Bargain for Apple in China  —  Apple built the world's most valuable business on top of China.  Now it has to answer to the Chinese government.  —  GUIYANG, China — On the outskirts of this city in a poor, mountainous province in southwestern China …

How ‘Rear Adm. Jack Meehoff’ fooled a bunch of real retired generals and admirals  —  A group of more than 100 retired generals and admirals who have accused President Joe Biden of being a communist have been pranked by a faux flag officer going by the nom de guerre “Rear Adm. Jack Meehoff.”

‘Biden is not a good bad guy’: GOP rips up midterm playbook  —  When the National Republican Senatorial Committee sought to attack four vulnerable Senate Democrats in a series of new ads this spring, President Joe Biden was nowhere to be found.  Instead, the NRSC juxtaposed photographs of the senators …

Google, Deloitte, and Citigroup quietly collaborate with GOP group pushing voter suppression  —  Several large corporations that have recently issued public statements supporting voting rights — including Google, Deloitte, and Citigroup — are also funding and collaborating …

How a Jeopardy!  Contestant's Hand Gesture Became Part of a Conspiracy  —  How hundreds of “Jeopardy!” contestants talked themselves into a baseless conspiracy theory — and won't be talked out of it.  —  It is an ironclad rule of the private Facebook group of past “Jeopardy!” …

A famed folk singer won a presidential pardon after molesting a child.  Did he prey on others?  —  No one from the government notified Barbara Winter about the pardon.  Not the White House, not the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney, not the prosecutor who handled her case.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Gunning for AOC—and There's Only 1 Reason  —  A newly discovered video of Greene harassing AOC in 2019, along with Greene's attacks on her colleague on the House floor last week, reveal a racism that is as old as it is scary.  —  Video emerged late last week …

US investigates second suspected case of mystery ‘syndrome’ near White House  —  (CNN)Two White House officials were struck by a mysterious illness late last year — including one who was passing through a gate onto the property — newly revealed details that come as investigators …

Cuomo Set to Receive $5.1 Million from Pandemic Book Deal  —  The New York governor reported earning $3.1 million last year from his leadership memoir, with additional payments coming in the next two years.  —  Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo reported earning $3.12 million last year from his memoir …

Black, Brown and extremist: Across the far-right spectrum, people of color play a more visible role  —  Brandon Rapolla is not who springs to mind as the face of the far right.  —  Rapolla's brown skin, a reflection of his multiracial ancestry, is at odds with images of White guys …

Trial of ex-police officer who fatally shot Black motorist Daunte Wright may proceed, judge rules  —  Kimberly A. Potter, the former Minnesota police officer who was charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting 20-year-old Daunte Wright, is set to stand trial at the end of the year, a Minneapolis judge ruled Monday.

My Life After COVID  —  It's been almost four months since Joe Biden's inauguration, and most of the people in my life say their minds are calmer, they sleep more soundly, their mental health has improved.  They entered the new year exhausted but optimistic that it would end better than it began.

The imminent crises facing Joe Biden  —  The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be over in the United States.  Vaccines have become widespread, and the CDC recently relaxed guidelines on masks and distancing for fully vaccinated Americans.  Many Americans likely credit the Biden administration …

Rise of a megadonor: Thiel makes a play for the Senate  —  Ohio Republican J.D. Vance didn't go it alone when he trekked to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort for a meeting with the former president earlier this spring — the soon-to-be Senate candidate was accompanied by his mentor and political benefactor Peter Thiel.

CDC's second-in-command Anne Schuchat to step down  —  Top Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official Anne Schuchat is planning to step down from her role as the agency's principal deputy director this summer, the agency confirmed to POLITICO.  —  Schuchat's retirement …