Authorities Arrest Analyst Who Contributed to Steele Dossier  —  Igor Danchenko, a Russia analyst who worked with Christopher Steele, the author of a dossier of rumors and unproven assertions about Donald J. Trump, was taken into custody as part of the Durham investigation.

Republicans Hit on Schools as a Wedge Issue to Unite the Party  —  Rallying around what it calls “parental rights,” the party is pushing to build on its victories this week by stoking white resentment and tapping into broader anger at the education system.  —  After an unexpectedly strong showing …

Jan. 6 Defendant Who Said She's ‘Definitely Not Going To Jail’ Sentenced To Prison  —  Jenna Ryan, a Texas real estate agent who flew to D.C. on a private plane and livestreamed in the Capitol, got 60 days in prison.  —  Jenna Ryan, a Donald Trump enthusiast who tweeted that she's …

More than 100 million American workers will need to be fully vaccinated by January 4  —  (CNN)The Biden administration announced Thursday that its vaccine rules applying to private businesses with 100 or more employees, certain health care workers and federal contractors will take effect January 4.

Spending $153, Edward Durr ousts NJ Senate leader Sweeney  —  TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey's longtime state Senate president, Democrat Steve Sweeney, has lost reelection, falling to a Republican newcomer who spent less than $200 on the race and leaving his party reeling.

Here's Why Rapid COVID Tests Are So Expensive and Hard to Find  —  Months-long silences.  Mysterious rejections.  Here's what's behind the shortages of a critical tool for ending the pandemic.  —  Coronavirus  —  The U.S. Response to COVID-19 … A few weeks ago, a ProPublica reporter decided to test his kids for COVID-19.

How These Ultrawealthy Politicians Avoided Paying Taxes  —  IRS records reveal how Gov. Jim Justice, Gov. Jared Polis, former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and other wealthy political figures slashed their taxes using strategies unavailable to most of their constituents.  —  Co-published with Mountain State Spotlight

House eyes vote as soon as Thursday on Biden spending plan as moderate Democrats continue to question costs  —  A new analysis of one of the measures, a $1.75 trillion proposal, reflects Democrats' contention that it is fully paid for, Pelosi said Thursday  —  House Democrats are angling …

Giuliani investigators home in on 2019 plan to advance Ukraine interests in US  —  Prosecutors believe Giuliani and two others may have violated law over agreement that would have seen them win lucrative contracts  —  The high-profile federal criminal investigation of Rudy Giuliani …

Adam Kinzinger isn't ruling out a 2024 presidential bid as he considers his future after the House  —  (CNN)Rep. Adam Kinzinger is actively weighing whether to seek his political fortunes in the Senate, the Illinois governor's mansion or even the White House, despite serious questions …

DOJ error highlights Jan. 6 mystery: Where was Kamala Harris during the attack?  —  When pro-Trump rioters attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence fled for safety.  Until recently, the Justice Department contended that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was among them.

“A racist assumption”: Mixed-race family stopped at Denver airport after Southwest employee suspected human trafficking  —  Mary MacCarthy says she wants an apology from Southwest Airlines  —  A woman and her 10-year-old daughter were stopped by police at Denver International Airport …

‘I was literally screaming in pain’: Young women say they met Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy for sex and it turned violent and humiliating … In the summer of 2020, Madison sent Barstool Sports' founder, Dave Portnoy, a direct message on Instagram complimenting his famous “one bite” pizza reviews.

The scandal involving Ron DeSantis and the silenced professors just got worse  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has remained uncharacteristically quiet about the growing scandal at the University of Florida, which has barred numerous professors from testifying as expert witnesses in lawsuits challenging the Republican governor's policies.

Ahmaud Arbery: judge seats nearly all-white jury in Georgia murder trial  —  Judge acknowledges appearance of ‘intentional discrimination’ in case of three white men who killed Arbery, who was Black  —  A Georgia judge has acknowledged there appeared to be “intentional discrimination” …

Allegations of racism and misogyny within the Phoenix Suns: Inside Robert Sarver's 17-year tenure as owner  —  ON THE EVENING of Oct. 30, 2016, at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix, Earl Watson, in just his third game as the Suns' head coach, faced a tall task: beat the powerhouse Golden State Warriors.

“Anti-CRT” school board candidates are winning  —  A new PAC focused on electing conservative candidates to public school boards — by raising fears about how racism is taught — won three-fourths of its 58 races across seven states on Tuesday.  —  Why it matters: Those wins for the 1776 Project PAC …

Rittenhouse Juror Booted After Telling ‘Joke’ About Jacob Blake Shooting  —  GROSS  —  A white juror in the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial has been dismissed after telling a sheriff's deputy a joke about the police shooting of Jacob Blake.  —  Ahead of the third day of testimony in the murder trial …

Secret Israeli dossier provides no proof for declaring Palestinian NGOs ‘terrorists’  —  Israel hoped a classified Shin Bet document would convince European governments to stop funding Palestinian rights groups.  +972 got hold of the dossier's testimonies — and found no real evidence to justify Israel's claims.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers tests positive for COVID-19, will not play in Week 9 vs. Chiefs  —  The NFL's hottest team will be without its most important player Sunday.  —  Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 and is out for Green Bay's showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.