For one Capitol reporter, Jan. 6 was the final straw — but he had watched a crisis brew for years  —  Andrew Taylor began his journalism career in the late 1980s, clipping newspaper articles for the politics reporters at Congressional Quarterly.  —  This spring, more than 30 years later …

Secret Talks and a Hidden Agenda: Behind the U.S. Defense Deal that France Called a ‘Betrayal’  —  In meeting after meeting with their French counterparts, U.S. officials gave no heads-up about their plans to upend France's largest defense contract.  —  The United States and Australia went …

Donald Trump wrote to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asking him to ‘decertify’ the 2020 election  — Donald Trump wrote to Georgia Secretary of State asking him to “decertify” the results of the election.  — In the letter, Trump repeated unproven claims of widespread election fraud.

Trump allies are still spreading a dangerous Jan. 6 myth  —  On Saturday, supporters of former president Donald Trump are holding a rally in Washington, D.C. in support of the Jan. 6 attackers currently detained for their role in that act of domestic terrorism.

They Shunned Covid Vaccines but Embraced Antibody Treatment  —  Championed by doctors and conservative radio hosts alike, monoclonal antibodies for Covid are in high demand — even from those who don't want a vaccine.  —  Lanson Jones did not think that the coronavirus would come for him.

Senate Republicans say they will vote to allow a debt default, leaving Democrats scrambling for plan to avert economic crisis  —  Early last year, one of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's longest rivals offered a lesson about why the Kentucky Republican is unfazed by his critics whenever he digs in on a political strategy.

Doctor Who Said Masks Cause Carbon Dioxide Poisoning Has License Revoked  —  A doctor in Oregon has had his license revoked for continually refusing to follow COVID-19 guidelines when dealing with patients and spreading misinformation about face masks.  —  The Oregon Medical Board issued …

McAuliffe, Youngkin locked in tight race for Virginia governor, Post-Schar School poll finds  —  RICHMOND — Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin are locked in a tight race for Virginia governor, with McAuliffe standing at 50 percent to 47 percent for Youngkin among likely voters in a Washington Post-Schar School poll.

POLITICO Playbook: What the Pentagon knew about that drone attack  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  SCOOP: EX-MEMBERS TELL BIDEN “FINISH THE JOB” — In a letter obtained by Playbook this morning, 21 former House Democrats who lost their seats in 2010 amid GOP attacks over their support …

The Scientist and the A.I.-Assisted, Remote-Control Killing Machine  —  Israeli agents had wanted to kill Iran's top nuclear scientist for years.  Then they came up with a way to do it with no operatives present.  —  Iran's top nuclear scientist woke up an hour before dawn, as he did most days …

Fredric March's Misguided Antiracist ‘Reckoning’ at the University of Wisconsin  —  What is it about the University of Wisconsin and race?  The administration's recent decision to move a rock from view because a journalist referred to it with the N-word almost 100 years ago was goofy enough.

W.Va. Gov. frustrated over vaccination rate: ‘We just are going to keep lining the body bags up’  —  West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) expressed frustration with his state's vaccination rate, warning constituents that people are either going to get inoculated against COVID-19, or “we're going to keep lining the body bags.”

California dreaming did not become reality for Republicans  —  California dreaming did not become reality for Republicans.  Back in August, they had high hopes of taking over the governor's mansion and pinned sitting Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom against the ropes.  Then they failed to land the knockout punch.

Alabama Pickers, couple known for reselling and vaccine opposition, both dead of COVID  —  A married Alabama couple known for their reselling videos on YouTube under the name “Alabama Pickers” have both died of COVID.  —  Dusty and Tristan Graham lived in Huntsville, where they would often post videos …

As Populists Decline, the Center-Left Sees Hints of a Comeback  —  A long-struggling political faction has seen surprising gains this year, in part because of changes wrought by the pandemic.  Can it hold on to them?  —  A style of politics long considered in decline is experiencing something …

A scary court victory for Devin Nunes  —  Countless journalists and other professionals have ruined their livelihoods via errant tweets.  Never tweet, the saying goes.  —  Now, courtesy of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, comes a baffling new warning for social media types …

‘Pro-Life’ Group Endorses Youngkin After He Says Abortion Ban in Virginia Is ‘Appropriate’  —  The Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) on Friday announced it is endorsing Republican Glenn Youngkin in his bid to become the new governor of Virginia.  —  Voters will decide on November 2 …

We're not calling out Nicki Minaj.  We're calling her in.  —  Oni Blackstock is a primary care and HIV physician and founder and executive director of Health Justice.  Uché Blackstock is an emergency physician and founder and chief executive of Advancing Health Equity.

How not to lobby Brett Kavanaugh  —  The First Amendment protects “the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances.”  So the crowd of 50 or so abortion rights activists who marched on Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh's Chevy Chase home this week …

Chris Christie's nephew's bar mitzvah leads to COVID-19 outbreak, NJ school closure  —  A New Jersey middle school was forced to hold virtual classes on Friday after several students contracted COVID-19 while celebrating the bar mitzvah of former Gov. Chris Christie's nephew, The Post has learned.

Bully Pulpit No More: Jen Psaki's Turn at the Lectern  —  President Biden's press secretary has tamped down the vitriol that colored news briefings during the Trump administration.  She still may not answer your question, though.  —  WASHINGTON — Jen Psaki, President Biden's press secretary …

‘Death panels’ arrive — in COVID-stricken Republican Idaho  —  It may be recalled that one of the chief GOP arguments against the Affordable Care Act in 2010 was that it would institute bureaucratic “death panels” to determine, in the words of former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, whether someone was “worthy of healthcare.”

No, You Don't Have to Be a Criminal to Want to Limit Government  —  At the Bulwark, Jim Swift writes: … After dismissing a cherry-picked set of criticisms — and ignoring that, thus far at least, even Democrats in the House have rejected this proposal — Swift concludes that: … Ah, yes.