San Jose mass shooting: Ex-girlfriend of suspect Samuel Cassidy alleged rape and violent, alcohol-fueled ‘mood swings’  —  The Valley Transportation Authority employee suspected of fatally shooting eight coworkers Wednesday morning before turning the gun on himself had been accused of raping …

Associated Press tells staff it made mistakes in firing of Emily Wilder  —  The news service is facing criticism and internal dissent for terminating a junior staffer based on her social media activity.  —  Senior managers at the Associated Press admitted fault on Wednesday in the firing …

Statement by President Joe Biden on the Investigation into the Origins of COVID-19 … Back in early 2020, when COVID-19 emerged, I called for the CDC to get access to China to learn about the virus so we could fight it more effectively.  The failure to get our inspectors on the ground …

Biden is said to be planning to nominate Burns and Garcetti for ambassadorships.  —  President Biden plans to announce that he has selected R. Nicholas Burns, a veteran Foreign Service officer and a former ambassador to NATO, as his ambassador to China, and Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles …

U.S. Faces Outbreak of Anti-Semitic Threats and Violence  —  In the wake of clashes in Israel and Gaza, synagogues have been vandalized and Jews have been threatened and attacked.  —  A brick shattering a window of a kosher pizzeria on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Top Wisconsin Republican Robin Vos hires former cops to investigate November election  —  MADISON - Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is hiring retired police officers to investigate aspects of the November election, joining with Republicans from around the country who have questioned President Joe Biden's victory.

Despite Biden's strong start, Democrats are worried  —  Joe Biden is off to a better first four months than most of his predecessors, winning a huge legislative measure, presiding over an administration of competence that has avoided any embarrassments and an economy about to take off.

White House tells Trump complainers: get over it  —  The White House has a simple message for Trump appointees venting to the media about losing their jobs since President Biden took office: get over it.  —  Why it matters: The White House has been methodically clearing house …

Pa. GOP lawmaker Doug Mastriano says he left the Capitol area before the riot.  New videos say otherwise.  —  Ever since photos showed State Sen. Doug Mastriano at the Jan. 6 rally in Washington that devolved into the deadly Capitol riot, the Franklin County Republican has said he did not cross police lines …

Hunter Biden brought VP Joe to dinner with shady business partners  —  Joe Biden met with Ukrainian, Russian and Kazakhstani business associates of his son's at a dinner in Washington, DC, while he was vice president, records on Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop show.

Amy Cooper Sues Former Employer for Racial Discrimination  —  Ms. Cooper, who made the call after a man asked her to leash her dog in Central Park, says that she was discriminated against because of her race.  —  Amy Cooper, a white woman who last year became an international symbol …

85% Of Republicans Want Candidates To Agree With Trump, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Americans Support Early Cut To Federal Jobless Benefit  — mail_outline  —  As candidates begin to enter races for the 2022 mid-term elections, more than 8 in 10 Republicans (85 percent) …

Juan Williams Is Suddenly Out at Fox News' ‘The Five’—And Insiders Are Blaming Co-Host Greg Gutfeld  —  Multiple sources familiar with the matter said Gutfeld said a major driver behind Williams' departure was Gutfeld's desire for “The Five” to return to the studio.

Karine Jean-Pierre becomes second Black woman behind White House briefing podium  —  Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday sought to downplay the historic nature of her leading the White House's daily press briefing, saying the Biden administration has embarked on a broad effort to ensure representation.

Donald Trump Says He ‘Usually Did the Opposite’ Of What Anthony Fauci Advised on COVID  —  Republican former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night said he “usually did the opposite” of what infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci advised during his presidency.

Prosecutors investigating Trump tell witness to prepare for grand jury testimony  —  (CNN)Manhattan prosecutors pursuing a criminal case against former President Donald Trump, his company and its executives have told at least one witness to prepare for grand jury testimony …

Son, ghostwriter of late senator say Trump intervened to stop probe of Patriots' Spygate scandal  —  IN THE SPRING of 2008, the NFL was in crisis.  A hard-charging United States senator from Pennsylvania named Arlen Specter had launched an investigation into the Spygate scandal.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter announces resignation  —  Attorney General Mike Hunter announced his resignation on Wednesday, less than a week after filing for divorce from his wife, Cheryl.  —  The Oklahoman submitted questions to Hunter on Tuesday night about an extramarital affair …

A Culture of Fear at the Firm That Manages Bill Gates's Fortune  —  At least four employees at the firm, Cascade Investment, complained to Mr. Gates about Michael Larson, his longtime money manager.  —  For 27 years, Bill Gates has entrusted the management of his enormous wealth and the endowment …

Why QAnon is disappearing from online view  —  Specific language about the QAnon conspiracy theory has all but disappeared from mainstream public social media platforms, new research concludes.  —  Driving the news: Researchers from the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensics Lab found …

Immunity to the Coronavirus May Persist for Years, Scientists Find  —  Important immune cells survive in the bone marrow of people who were infected with the virus or were inoculated against it, new research suggests.  —  Immunity to the coronavirus lasts at least a year, possibly a lifetime …

An Elementary School Teacher's Secret Life As A White Nationalist Writer  —  Benjamin Welton uses pen names to write racist articles.  He's also a teacher, PhD student, and freelance writer for major media outlets.  Now he's been exposed.  —  In 2017, a writer named Sinclair Jenkins published …

On the Ground … The Woke-Industrial Complex  —  Lockheed, the nation's largest defense contractor, sends key executives on a mission to deconstruct their “white male privilege.”  —  The Social Order  —  Last year, Lockheed Martin Corporation, the nation's largest defense contractor …

The Texas Winter Storm And Power Outages Killed Hundreds More People Than The State Says  —  The true number of people killed by the disastrous winter storm and power outages that devastated Texas in February is likely four or five times what the state has acknowledged so far.

Howard University renames College of Fine Arts after alum, actor Chadwick Boseman  —  Howard University is renaming its College of Fine Arts after one of its most acclaimed alums: actor Chadwick Boseman.  —  On Wednesday, Howard renamed its performing and visual arts school after the …

AZ GOPers Target Dem SoS Hobbs—And Hobbs Only—In Mad Dash To Rewrite Election Rules  —  Arizona Republicans are looking to put an end to the state's top election official's ability to defend election laws in court.  Recently added language to the state's budget package …

CDC approves first revenue cruise from Florida, but governor may stand in the way  —  Federal health officials have approved the first passenger cruise from the U.S. from Fort Lauderdale in June — but Florida's governor insists he will block company plans to require passengers be vaccinated.

Ohio's Vaccine Lottery Is Working, Writes Gov. Mike DeWine  —  Mr. DeWine is the governor of Ohio.  He recently created a lottery for vaccinated Ohioans.  —  At the pandemic's start, all governors faced a question: How do you make decisions without a road map?

Capital One Arena just knocked down the final wall between gambling and U.S. pro sports  —  Having waited three years for the first-of-its-kind occasion, Ted Leonsis has just one regret about this week's opening of a 20,000-square-foot sportsbook inside Capital One Arena.  He wishes it were bigger.

US Planning to Evacuate Afghan Interpreters, Top US General Says  —  “There are plans being developed very, very rapidly here,” said Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.  —  ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT — The Pentagon and State Department are developing plans to evacuate Afghans whose work …

Lukashenko's Crazy-Stupid Hamas Headfake  —  An exclusively obtained email shows that the Ryanair ‘Hamas bomb’ warning—which the Belarusian president said prompted the jet landing—came after the crew was told of a threat  —  Michael Weiss is a senior editor at Newlines