What if the Jan. 6 insurrection had succeeded in illegally installing Trump?  —  What if Donald Trump were illegally installed for a second term?  Election stealer would then have moved quickly to consolidate power, with Republican help.  —  View Comments

Ben Smith Is Leaving The Times for a Global News Start-Up  —  Mr. Smith will help start a new organization with Justin Smith, the chief executive of Bloomberg Media.  —  Ben Smith, the media columnist for The New York Times, is leaving the paper to start a new global news organization with Justin Smith …

The smoking gun that Liz Cheney is looking for on Trump comes into view  —  For weeks, Rep. Liz Cheney has hinted that the House select committee examining Jan. 6 might urge the Justice Department to consider prosecuting Donald Trump.  The grounds for this criminal referral might be that Trump obstructed the …

No Way to Grow Up  —  American children are in crisis.  —  American children are starting 2022 in crisis.  —  I have long been aware that the pandemic was upending children's lives.  But until I spent time pulling together data and reading reports, I did not understand just how alarming the situation had become.

Kelly Ernby, former Orange County GOP state Assembly candidate and deputy D.A., dies of COVID-19  —  Kelly Ernby, a political newcomer who ran for an Orange County state Assembly seat two years ago as a Republican, died this week of COVID-19.  In addition to political activism …

Elizabeth Holmes Found Guilty of Four Charges of Fraud  —  Here's what you need to know:  —  Elizabeth Holmes is found guilty of four counts of fraud.  —  SAN JOSE, Calif. — Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the failed blood testing start-up Theranos, was found guilty of four of 11 charges …

Ron Johnson escalates attack on vaccines: ‘Why do we think that we can create something better than God?’  —  Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) this week doubled down on his campaign to promote the so-called “natural immunity” that occurs after one has been infected by Covid-19.

Manchin: There are ‘no negotiations’ on Biden spending bill ‘at this time’  —  Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told reporters Tuesday that he isn't involved in any serious talks at this time about reviving President Biden's sweeping climate and social spending bill, underscoring the lack of progress …

Biden disapproval hits new high as voters give him bad grades on economy, new CNBC/Change poll says  — President Joe Biden's overall disapproval rating reached a new high in December as more voters signaled their unhappiness with his handling of the economy and the Covid pandemic.

A record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November  —  WASHINGTON — A record 4.5 million American workers quit their jobs in November, a sign of confidence and more evidence that the U.S. job market is bouncing back strongly from last year's coronavirus recession.

The Radicalization of J.D. Vance  —  As he runs for the Senate, the ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author has gone from media darling to establishment pariah.  Is his new, fiery, right-wing persona an act?  Or is something more interesting going on?  —  Let's start with the beard.  J.D. Vance didn't used to have one.

Hogan declares 30-day state of emergency as state enters its ‘most challenging time’ of the pandemic  —  Gov. Larry Hogan declared a 30-day state of emergency that mobilizes the National Guard to assist state and local health officers at testing and vaccine sites and authorizes the state Department …

Capitol rioter compares attacks on her to treatment of ‘Jews in Germany’  —  Jenna Ryan, a Texas realtor who has sought to parlay her role in the Capitol riot into a career as a right-wing media personality, posted a tweet in March last year that quickly went viral.

Statement from DA David Soares  —  ALBANY, NY - Albany County District Attorney David Soares announced today that a thorough and independent review of the investigation into the allegations against former Governor Andrew Cuomo has concluded.  —  “While many have an opinion regarding …

POLITICO Playbook: The election reform idea gaining currency on the right  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  TODAY'S BIG EVENT: Senate Democrats will hold a virtual meeting at 12:45 p.m. It will be the first opportunity of the new year for all 50 caucus members to talk about where Build Back Better 2. stands …