Lab testing confirms state's first COVID-19 case involving Omicron variant  —  Infected Minnesota resident recently returned from domestic travel; variant was found through MDH variant surveillance program, which is one of the strongest surveillance programs in the nation

The minoritarian third of the Supreme Court  —  The Supreme Court seems likely to significantly scale back access to abortion when it rules on a Mississippi law that sharply limits the procedure — if the court doesn't overturn Roe v. Wade entirely.  That's a function of the court's shift …

‘Handful of fanatics’ to blame for Capitol riot, Trump ally Meadows says in book  —  Ex-chief of staff downplays Trump involvement in insurrection and says mob had ‘absolutely no urging’ from the president  —  In his new memoir, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows blames just …

Why a Pollster is Warning Democrats About the 2022 Midterm Elections  —  Focus groups with Virginia voters led to a bluntly worded memo on what Democrats need to do going into the midterms.  —  Brian Stryker, a Democratic pollster, didn't work for Terry McAuliffe's campaign in the Virginia governor's race.

Two Election Workers Targeted by Pro-Trump Media Sue for Defamation  —  The two Georgia workers were falsely accused of manipulating ballots by Trump allies and right-wing news sites.  Election officials said the workers did nothing wrong.  —  Two Georgia election workers who were the targets …

If Trump Voters Lived in Germany, They'd Be in the Fascist Party … A recent global poll, which came to my attention via the Liberal Patriot, framed the political choice facing the public in an interesting way.  It asked which position comes closest to the poll taker's own belief …

Hill leaders strike short-term funding deal as shutdown looms  —  The House plans to vote Thursday on a short-term funding patch to avert a government shutdown in less than 48 hours and punt the new deadline to mid-February, though hurdles still remain across the Capitol.

Alec Baldwin exclusive: 'The trigger wasn't pulled.  I didn't pull the trigger'  —  George Stephanopoulos' exclusive interview airs Thursday on ABC, streams on Hulu  —  Actor Alec Baldwin told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in an exclusive interview that he had “no idea” …

Biden's COVID failure  —  “I will end this,” then-candidate Joe Biden promised during his second presidential debate with President Donald Trump.  “220,000 Americans dead — anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United States of America.”

‘Magic dirt’: How the internet fueled, and defeated, the pandemic's weirdest MLM  —  The social media posts started in May: photos and videos of smiling people, mostly women, drinking Mason jars of black liquid, slathering black paste on their faces and feet, or dipping babies and dogs in tubs of the black water.

Germany imposes curbs on unvaccinated, to make shots mandatory … Germany on Thursday imposed restrictions on the unvaccinated as it sought to break a dramatic surge in daily coronavirus infections exacerbated by the discovery of the Omicron strain.  —  Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel …

Symone Sanders to leave the VP's office  —  Symone Sanders, the senior adviser and chief spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris, is expected to leave the White House at the end of the year, according to five administration officials familiar with the matter.

We Opened the Schools and ... It Was Fine  —  When the coronavirus pandemic first hit, many states and towns closed everything, including schools.  Public-health experts didn't know enough about how COVID was spread or how contagious it was, and the health-care system was overwhelmed in parts of the country.

U.S. and Mexico reach deal to restart Trump-era ‘Remain in Mexico’ program along border  —  The Biden administration has reached a deal with the Mexican government to restart the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” program that requires asylum seekers to wait outside U.S. territory while their claims are processed …

Trump intervenes in Ohio Senate primary — for himself  —  The Ohio Senate race is turning into one of the most brutal contests of next year's midterm elections — and former President Donald Trump is worried it could hurt him if he waged a 2024 comeback bid.

I.O.C. Says It Held Second Call With Peng Shuai  —  Olympic officials insisted they “shared the same concern as many” about the safety of the Chinese tennis star but offered no details of what they discussed with her.  —  The International Olympic Committee said Thursday that it had held …

Revealed: how Sidney Powell could be disbarred for lying in court for Trump  —  The former lawyer filed cases across America for the former president, hoping to overturn the results of the 2020 election  —  Sidney Powell, the former lawyer for Donald Trump who filed lawsuits across America …

Florida Power & Light execs worked closely with consultants behind ‘ghost’ candidate scheme, records reveal |  Special Report  —  Top executives at utility giant Florida Power & Light worked closely with the political consultants who orchestrated a scheme to promote spoiler candidates …

Inflation Causing Hardship for 45% of U.S. Households  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the peak of holiday shopping approaches and winter temperatures drive up heating costs across the U.S., 45% of American households report that recent price increases are causing their family some degree of financial hardship.

Trump could pocket $100 million in deal for money-losing D.C. hotel  —  He lost millions running his D.C. hotel, according to financial documents, but could set a record with a $375 million sale  —  When Donald Trump offered to spend $200 million overhauling one of Washington's …