Republicans fear January 6 probe could undercut 2022 midterm message  —  (CNN)Senior Republicans are making clear they have little interest in moving forward with a sweeping January 6 investigation in part because a detailed probe could become politically damaging and amount to a distraction …

PW special report: After conservative criticism, UNC backs down from offering acclaimed journalist tenured position  —  Journalism school will instead offer Nikole Hannah-Jones a fixed five-year contract  —  In her career in journalism, Nikole Hannah-Jones has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize and a MacArthur Fellowship “Genius Grant.”

NY attorney general has been looking into the taxes of Trump Organization CFO for months, sources say  —  (CNN)The New York attorney general's office has opened a criminal tax investigation into top Trump Organization officer Allen Weisselberg, increasing the legal pressure on the long-time aide …

Police Investigate Possible Jewish Hate Crime Attack At Beverly Grove Restaurant  —  LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - Authorities are investigating whether an attack on diners that occurred outside a Beverly Grove restaurant late Tuesday night was a Jewish hate crime.  —  The brawl occurred a little …

The Inside Story of the Biden-Harris Debate Blowup  —  As president, Joe Biden has made sure to elevate Vice President Kamala Harris, including her in nearly every aspect of his presidency and making her the point person on migration, a top issue.  First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff have hit it off.

More Oregon counties vote to move into Idaho, part of rural effort to ‘gain political refuge from blue states’  —  Five eastern Oregon counties voted Tuesday in favor of considering becoming part of Idaho.  Baker, Grant, Lake, Malheur and Sherman counties join Union and Jefferson …

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. to Award the Medal of Honor … On May 21, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., will award the Medal of Honor to Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr., United States Army, Retired, for conspicuous gallantry during the Korean War.  President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea will join this ceremony.

Voters Are More Likely to Sympathize With Israel Than Palestine, Though Many Feel for Both Sides  —  Amid latest conflict, 28% sympathize with the Israelis while 11% side with Palestinians  — 29% say they are equally sympathetic to both sides, and 32% are unsure of their position.

SPOTTED: Socialist AOC's Tesla Parked Illegally Outside Whole Foods in Posh DC Neighborhood  —  Like most celebrities, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) doesn't always play by the rules.  Sources inform the Washington Free Beacon that the socialist congresswoman's white Tesla …

I watched the GOP's Arizona election audit.  It was worse than you think.  —  Cyber Ninjas is hunting for bamboo fibers and cheese dust.  —  When Arizona's secretary of state asked me whether I would serve as an observer of the Arizona Senate's audit of Maricopa County's ballots, I anticipated that I would see some unusual things.

Senators reach bipartisan deal to overhaul USPS finances, tighten accountability requirements  —  An identical version of the legislation is advancing in the House, where it is said to have enough support to pass  —  A bipartisan group of senators is expected to introduce legislation Wednesday …

Peter Thiel, J.D. Vance Invest in Rumble Video Platform Popular on Political Right  —  Backing from conservative venture capitalists comes amid push for alternative social-media channels with looser rules on speech  —  Video platform Rumble said it is receiving an investment from a group …

Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theorists Are Taking Over State Republican Parties  —  Want the best of VICE News straight to your inbox?  Sign up here.  —  The Republican Party chairs of Texas and Wyoming have flirted with secession from the United States.  Oklahoma's Republican chair has called Islam a “cancer.”

Florida GOP eases path for Trump to pursue casino license  —  Deal negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis bars Seminole Tribe from opposing a casino at former president's ailing Doral resort  —  Florida legislators approved a legislative package Wednesday that will dramatically expand gambling …

Man charged in Capitol riot after allegedly showing video from mob at dentist's office  —  A New York man was charged in connection with the Capitol riot in Washington after allegedly talking about his involvement in the Jan. 6 mob at his dentist's office.  —  Daniel Warmus, of Alden …

Basically Everyone Is Mad At The CDC For Being So Confusing About Masks  —  “We spent a year trying very hard to get people to wear masks,” one expert said.  “This kind of sudden, abrupt change, without any kind of signaling that it's coming, will leave people feeling blindsided.”  —  Copy

Gov. Greg Abbott signs into law one of nation's strictest abortion measures, banning procedure as early as six weeks into a pregnancy  —  The signing of the bill opens a new frontier in the battle over abortion restrictions as first-of-its-kind legal provisions intended to make the law harder …

Mark McCloskey, lawyer facing felony charges for pointing a gun at BLM protesters, announces Senate run  —  Mark McCloskey's star rose quickly in the Republican Party after he and his wife pointed guns at racial justice protesters marching through their gated St. Louis neighborhood last summer …

Insurrectionist members have received $2.6 million from corporate interests since January 6th … In just the first few months since the insurrection, corporate and industry PACs have contributed more than $2.6 million to campaigns, leadership PACs, and party committees allied with the 147 members …

Excuse Me If I'm Not Ready to Unmask  —  In Rob Reiner's 1987 cult comedy, The Princess Bride, Fezzik asks the mysterious man in black a question as they scuffle atop the Cliffs of Insanity: “Why do you wear a mask?  Were you burned by acid or something like that?”

Video shows man trashing George Floyd ‘autonomous’ zone  —  A man in Minneapolis was seen on video over the weekend trashing a roadblock that memorialized George Floyd and chopping structures with a hatchet.  —  The individual, who has not been identified, pulled up to the display …