The Democratic Senate majority was already dicey.  Then came Virginia.  —  A favorable map is not going to be enough to save Senate Dems.  But they might get help from a few tarnished GOP candidates.  —  The Youngkin playbook suggested Republicans could put together a winning blue-state coalition …

Gloomy landscape for Democrats for midterms as Biden's approval drops to 38%: USA TODAY/Suffolk poll  —  A year before the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans hold a clear early lead on the congressional ballot as President Joe Biden's approval rating sinks to a new low of 38%.

Russiagate has no rock bottom  —  The indictment of the Steele dossier's key source newly humiliates the Clinton campaign, FBI, and US media.  —  It did not seem possible for the Steele dossier - the collection of Trump-Russia conspiracy theories funded by the Clinton campaign …

Covid Gets Even Redder  —  The partisan gap in deaths has grown larger.  —  As 2020 wound down, there were good reasons to believe that the death toll during the pandemic's first year might have been worse in red America.  There were also good reasons to think it might have been worse in blue America.

Big Bird's vaccination announcement sparks backlash from conservatives, GOP  —  Big Bird's seemingly innocuous — and obviously fictional — announcement Saturday that he has been vaccinated against Covid-19 caused a stir online, as Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas accused …

Report from Las Vegas: Some Jewish Republicans have Trump fatigue, but they just can't quit him  —  LAS VEGAS (JTA) — The Republican Jewish Coalition conference was about 2022, and also 2024.  It was about how a near Republican sweep in state and local races last week revealed a way back to GOP control of the federal government.

Who Wants to Hang Out With Eric Adams in Puerto Rico?  Everyone.  —  Mr. Adams celebrated his victory in the New York City mayoral race with elected officials and lobbyists at a nonstop tropical party known as Somos.  —  SAN JUAN, P.R. — Three days after winning the New York City mayor's race …

'I'm done': Trump's post-Jan. 6 threat to GOP comes to light: The Note  —  New reporting from ABC's Jonathan Karl reveals Trump's threat to leave the GOP.  —  There's no questioning the Republican Party's loyalty to former President Trump these days — and a gathering of potential 2024 candidates …

Countries' climate pledges built on flawed data, Post investigation finds  —  Malaysia's latest catalogue of its greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations reads like a report from a parallel universe.  The 285-page document suggests that Malaysia's trees are absorbing carbon four times faster …

Sen. Josh Hawley defends speech on porn and video games  —  Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told “Axios on HBO” he'll make masculinity a signature political issue, because he claims “the left” is telling men: “You're part of the problem. ...  Your masculinity is inherently problematic.”

Notes on an Authoritarian Conspiracy: Inside the Claremont Institute's “79 Days to Inauguration” Report  —  Claremont's post-election war game provides a window into the group's ambitions.  —  The sun rises on January 6, 2021 while a nation is in crisis.  —  Michigan's presidential electors …

A love letter to Kabul  —  This summer's Taliban takeover was a seismic moment for Kabul.  Those who call this city their own wonder if life has changed forever.  Much of what made Kabul special is now a cultural battlefield - evocative street murals have been painted over with Islamic verses …

After FBI spying, Muslim Americans ask Supreme Court to OK religious bias suit  —  Government state secrets privilege is at issue in the religious freedom case.  —  Three Muslim Americans subjected to FBI surveillance inside their places of worship will ask the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday …

CIA Director had rare conversation with Putin while in Moscow last week  —  (CNN)CIA Director Bill Burns held a rare conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week, to convey “serious” US concerns about Russia's military buildup along the Ukrainian border and to attempt …

Trump bashes Senate Republicans, McConnell over infrastructure bill  —  Former President Trump on Sunday doubled down on his criticism of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other Senate Republicans who voted in favor of passing a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Hackers have breached organizations in defense and other sensitive sectors, security firm says  —  (CNN)Suspected foreign hackers have breached nine organizations in the defense, energy, health care, technology and education sectors — and at least one of those organizations is in the US …

Ted Cruz Talks About Joe Rogan Being ‘President’ Of Texas If State Secedes From U.S.  —  “If there comes a point where it's hopeless, then I think we take NASA, we take the military, we take the oil,” Cruz told an audience at Texas A&M University.  —  Video

For Whom Do the Covid “Fact Checkers” Really Work?  —  I recently came across two tweets that caught my eye.  —  Here is the first one from the CDC director: … And here is the second one, from a couple months back: … Together they got me thinking.  What do they have in common?

CORRECTED: Guardian op-ed says Trump is likely 'Biden's best hope for re-election'  —  CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified the author of the Guardian op-ed. The author is Michael Cohen, the author of “Clear and Present Safety: The World Has Never Been Better and Why That Matters.”

Columbia Campus Cleared After Bomb Threats At Ivy Schools  —  Columbia University said its buildings have been cleared for re-entry after bomb threats on Sunday were deemed “not credible” by the New York City Police Department.  —  Two other Ivy League universities — Cornell University …