R.N.C. Signals a Pullout From Presidential Debates  —  The Republican National Committee says it will require candidates to pledge to not participate in debates run by the Commission on Presidential Debates.  What would replace them, if anything, was unclear.

Oath Keepers Leader Charged With Conspiracy in Jan. 6 Investigation  —  The F.B.I. arrested Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right militia, in a major step forward in the investigation into the attack on the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump.  —  Stewart Rhodes, the leader and founder …

Trump is eyeing the White House and wants a more compliant Senate for when he gets there  —  As Donald Trump charts out his midterm elections strategy, his focus has turned to the contest for the Senate, not just in hopes of getting it back under GOP control but of having more compliant lawmakers there should he become president again.

The Doom Loop Of “Relevance”  —  Rich Lowry and I disagree about Liz Cheney and Ron DeSantis  —  “Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey.  I hate it to end this way, oh my God I hate it. ...  All I can say is count me out.  Enough is enough.”  —  Lindsey Graham, Now: (January 12, 2022)

The Capitol Riot Really Was an Insurrection  —  A response to Jeffrey Scott Shapiro on the legal definition in the U.S. Code.  —  Jeffrey Scott Shapiro is correct that insurrection under 18 U.S.C. 2383 is a crime with specific elements ("Stop Calling Jan. 6 an 'Insurrection,'" op-ed, Jan. 6).

Glenn Beck has Covid again after refusing vaccine: 'It's going into my lungs'  —  Right-wing talk radio personality Glenn Beck on Wednesday said he has contracted Covid-19 for the second time and complained about the disease's effect on his lungs.  —  “It's starting to go into my lungs today and a little disturbing.

Michigan woman arrested near Capitol had loaded shotgun, and she wanted to talk about Jan. 6, police say  — U.S. Capitol Police said they arrested a Michigan woman on multiple gun charges after she drove to Washington and told officers she wanted to talk about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Is Omicron Peaking?  —  In parts of the Northeast, it seems to be.  —  The number of new Covid-19 cases in New York City rose more than twentyfold in December.  In the past few days, it has flattened.  —  In both New Jersey and Maryland, the number of new cases has fallen slightly this week.

The New Voting Rights Bill Is the Law We Need Right Now  —  Democrats have released their final bill to fight voter suppression and prevent future election subversion.  The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act is, as its name suggests, a merger of the Senate's Freedom to Vote Act …

How the Right's Rules of Rhetoric Create Racial Provocateurs  —  Anti-anti-racism can look a lot like ... racism … One of our nation's most important religious, cultural, and political projects is creating and sustaining a robust and just public policy aimed at repairing the harm inflicted …

Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Rise  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose in the first week of January amid raging COVID-19 infections, but remained at a level consistent with rapidly tightening labor market conditions.

The latest Kamala Harris interview went as well as expected  —  How often do clips from an interview with a major politician genuinely make you laugh out loud?  —  Not in a spiteful performative sense, I mean, but in sincere amusement at the haplessness on display?

‘Under Trump it was so much better’: The reality Democrats may be missing is that people are hurting right now  —  Reno, Nevada (CNN)Outside a Costco, Laura Godinez lifts meat, toothpaste, coffee, bottled water and bulk supplies of DayQuil from her cart — just the staples …

Loudoun Rapist Sentenced, Put On Sex Offender Registry For Life  —  LOUDOUN COUNTY, Virginia — The 14-year-old boy who raped a ninth-grader in a girls' bathroom while he wore a skirt and blouse was sentenced on Wednesday to residential treatment, as it emerged that he also allegedly attacked a third girl …

When Librarians Unionize  —  Northwestern librarians organize after pandemic-related budget cuts and years of wanting more say in how they work and are compensated.  —  After furloughs, layoffs and benefit cuts during COVID-19, librarians and other library workers at Northwestern University have voted to form a union.

Army offers up to $50k in enlistment incentives  —  The U.S. Army is offering its largest bonus ever for new recruits with up to $50,000 available to qualified individuals who sign on for a six-year active-duty enlistment.  —  The total incentive package for a new recruit is based …

Republican rep who voted to impeach Trump running for reelection  —  Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump last year, announced on Wednesday that he would be running in California's newly drawn 22nd congressional district.