Barr distances himself from Trump-era subpoenas of Democratic lawmakers  —  Former Attorney General William Barr on Friday distanced himself from reports that the Trump Justice Department seized communications records belonging to two prominent Democratic lawmakers who were spearheading investigations into then-President Donald Trump.

‘I was completely inside’: Lobster diver swallowed by humpback whale off Provincetown  —  PROVINCETOWN — At a little before 8 a.m., Friday, veteran lobster diver Michael Packard entered the water for his second dive of the day.  —  His vessel, “the J 'an J,” was right off Herring Cove Beach …

Here are the winners of the 2021 Pulitzer Prizes  —  The Pulitzers, regarded as one of the highest honors in journalism, were announced later than usual this year due to the pandemic.  —  The Pulitzer Prizes, usually announced at a ceremony at Columbia University, were announced remotely again …

Trump-inspired death threats are terrorizing election workers  —  Election officials and their families are living with threats of hanging, firing squads, torture and bomb blasts, interviews and documents reveal.  The campaign of fear, sparked by Trump's voter-fraud falsehoods, threatens the U.S. electoral system.

In NBC interview, Putin calls Trump ‘colorful’ but says he can work with Biden  —  Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an exclusive interview Friday with NBC News, called former president Donald Trump a “colorful individual” and said he can work with President Joe Biden.

Nevada schools reckon with race, triggering polarization  —  RENO, Nev. (AP) — One year after protests over racial injustices and police violence swept the country, clashes over how to teach students about racism and its role in U.S. history are raging in school districts across Nevada and elsewhere …

Revealed: rightwing firm posed as leftist group on Facebook to divide Democrats  —  FEC investigation failed to uncover link to Rally Forge, a firm with close ties to Turning Point USA  —  digital marketing firm closely linked to the pro-Trump youth group Turning Point USA was responsible …

Chicago police officer charged in connection with US Capitol breach  —  Karol J. Chwiesiuk is at least the 10th individual from Illinois charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol breach, and he is the fourth on that list from the Chicago area.  —  Federal authorities have arrested …

Two Black Students Won School Honors.  Then Came the Calls for a Recount.  —  After two white families claimed a grade calculation error, a Mississippi school added their children as co-valedictorian and co-salutatorian, reviving questions about race and equity.  —  At first, it seemed a joyous occasion.

The War Over Reality and Control: Critical Race Theory As An Opening For Fascist Power  —  Governor Ron DeSantis opened a Florida Board of Education meeting on Thursday by voicing his opposition to critical race theory, painting it as an effort to teach America's students that …

One worked for Trump.  The other for Obama.  This is their advice on unifying the country.  —  We must overcome political differences and honor our precious rights.  Otherwise, the country will fail entirely.  —  As President Joe Biden heads out to rally the world, our biggest vulnerability is ourselves.

EXCLUSIVE: 'It's a problem here in Puerto Rico - not with Washington.' AOC's aunt says Trump is NOT to blame for lack of aid to the struggling island after the congresswoman bashed the former president for damage to her grandmother's home  — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared images on social media …

Garland announces expansion of Justice Department's voting rights unit, vowing to scrutinize GOP-backed voting restrictions and ballot reviews  —  Attorney General Merrick Garland pledged Friday to double the size of the Justice Department's voting rights enforcement staff to vigorously combat efforts …

Trump's false Lafayette Square exoneration  —  Don't be fooled by the media's credulous acceptance of a new report  —  One of the most notorious events of the Trump presidency was the attack at Lafayette Square on June 1 last year.  Cops from numerous law enforcement agencies suddenly charged …

America must rethink its unique and contradictory advocacy of Israel's Jewishness  —  As a new Israeli government takes shape, the Biden administration must rethink its messaging about Israel and the Palestinians, especially in the absence of a clear path to ending their conflict.

‘People of Praise leaders failed me’: Christian group tied to Justice Amy Coney Barrett faces reckoning over sexual misconduct  —  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — In December, Katie Logan called the police in this Minneapolis suburb to unearth a buried secret: Her high school physics teacher …

Attorney General Wanted Lockdown-Defying Restaurant Owner Arrested Before Going On Fox News  —  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel: ‘We should just have her picked up before she goes on’  —  After learning that a Holland woman who defied state lockdown orders by keeping her restaurant open might …

Coronavirus restrictions spark mutiny against GOP governor  —  BOISE, Idaho — Gov. Brad Little had only briefly traveled out of state to attend a Republican governors' conference when his own lieutenant governor made him regret it.  —  Without warning, GOP Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin took advantage …

YouTube Bans Sen. Ron Johnson For Discussing Early Treatment Of COVID-19  —  YouTube's position is that content on the site must parrot whatever comes from its narrow set of authorities, even though their positions change frequently and dramatically.

Inside the palace intrigue in Jordan and a thwarted ‘deal of the century’  —  President Donald Trump had a dizzying dream for a diplomatic “deal of the century” for Arab-Israeli peace that would unite his allies Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Jeff Brain, Whose Site Organized ‘Patriot Caravans’ On January 6, Is Threatening To Sue The Uprising  —  This is a special issue of The Uprising, a daily politics newsletter.  If you appreciated this story and want to help support this work, please sign up!

Emergency Department Visits for Suspected Suicide Attempts Among Persons Aged 12-25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 2019-May 2021  —  Ellen Yard, PhD1; Lakshmi Radhakrishnan, MPH2; Michael F. Ballesteros, PhD1; Michael Sheppard, MS2; Abigail Gates …

“It Is a Sordid Thing, This Divvying Us Up by Race”  —  The use of race by government or in government-funded programs divides our politics.  On one side, some citizens, predominantly but by no means exclusively Republicans, want the government to reject racial preferences in benefits and education.

Oregon legislators expel Rep. Mike Nearman, who helped armed protesters enter Capitol  —  The Oregon House voted 59-1 Thursday to expel Rep. Mike Nearman, the first time it has ejected a sitting representative.  —  Lawmakers removed Nearman because he let far-right demonstrators …