Supreme Court justices aren't ‘scorpions,’ but not happy campers either  —  It was pretty jarring earlier this month when the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court took the bench for the first time since the omicron surge over the holidays.  All were now wearing masks.  All, that is, except Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Where are the interviews with regular Americans terrified for our democracy?  —  I'm terrified.  —  And I know I'm not the only one.  —  I am terrified by the increasingly real possibility that this country — if Republicans take Congress in 2022 and Trump prevails in 2024 …

Florida governor proposes special police agency to monitor elections  —  No state has such a force, which Gov. Ron DeSantis wants empowered to arrest voters and others who allegedly violate election laws  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A plan by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would establish …

Senate Dems free-fall toward filibuster face-off without a parachute  —  Senate Democrats will stick together on this week's vote to push their voting and election reform bill past Republican opposition.  Then they'll focus on isolating two of their own centrists.

White House warns Russian invasion of Ukraine may be imminent  —  WASHINGTON — The White House believes Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine at any moment, press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday, warning that an “extremely dangerous situation” is building along the Ukrainian border.

How the White House hopes to save Biden's Build Back Better bill  —  The White House is seeking to “reset” talks on its $1.75 trillion spending bill, aiming to salvage climate change measures but pare down or cut items like the child tax credit and paid family leave to appeal to U.S. Senator Joe Manchin …

Republicans demand Fauci apologize for calling senator ‘moron’  —  Rep. Greg Murphy said Fauci's comment is the ‘latest example of his tragic failure to lead’  —  Media taking Fauci's side  —  FIRST ON FOX: The GOP Doctors Caucus sent a letter to White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci demanding …

Hochul Dominating Primary Field; Viewed Most Favorably by Dems  — Only 29% Say It's Very Likely US Will be Democratic Republic in 2030; Another 38% Say Somewhat Likely; 22% Say Not Very or Not at All Likely  — Trump Should Be Required to Testify in AG James' Civil Investigation, 63-27%

U.S. Senate candidate from Louisiana smokes marijuana in campaign ad  —  Gary Chambers, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate from Louisiana, unveiled a new ad Tuesday in which he is shown smoking marijuana.  —  In the spot, Chambers, who is seeking to unseat Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.) …

Texas Synagogue Attack Smells Like More Evidence Of FBI Corruption  —  This caught-off-guard response from FBI agents is sadly what Americans have come to expect from our top law enforcement agency.  —  After all hostages were released from Beth Isreal Synagogue in Colleyville …

Capitol attack panel grapples with moving inquiry forward: to subpoena or not?  —  The committee is undecided on making the near-unprecedented step as the threat of Republican retaliation looms  —  The House select committee investigating the Capitol attack is weighing whether to subpoena …

What the Kids Are Reading  —  I'm Paul Musgrave, a political scientist and writer.  This is Systematic Hatreds, my newsletter about politics and the study of politics.  The newsletter takes its title from a line in The Education of Henry Adams: … This week, we're talking about teaching politics to the post-legacy media generation.

Texas says supply chain issues have limited the number of voter registration forms it can give out  —  The Texas Secretary of State's office is having more trouble than usual getting enough voter registration cards to groups who help Texans register to vote.

In his own words|  Rep. Jim Langevin: Why I won't be running for reelection in 2022  —  For the last 37 years, I have woken up every day with one goal in mind: serving the people of Rhode Island.  After all, I love this state, and I love the people who live here.

Judge Approves Deal to Resolve Puerto Rico Bankruptcy  —  The plan restructures $33 billion in debt nearly five years after Puerto Rico became the first U.S. state or territory to essentially declare bankruptcy.  —  MIAMI — Puerto Rico received approval from a federal judge on Tuesday …

Florida could shield whites from ‘discomfort’ of racist past  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A bill pushed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that would prohibit public schools and private businesses from making white people feel “discomfort” when they teach students or train employees …

A year ago, Biden unveiled a 200-page plan to defeat covid.  He has struggled to deliver on some key promises.  —  The U.S. would have been better prepared for virus curveballs if the administration had moved more quickly to boost testing, acquire real-time data on the virus and convey risks more clearly, say some co-authors, advisers

Attorney General Nessel: ‘Absolutely’ enough evidence to charge GOP electors  —  Lansing — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she believes there's “absolutely” enough evidence to bring criminal charges against 16 Republicans who signed a certificate falsely claiming to be the state's presidential electors in December 2020.

Distrust in political, media and business leaders sweeps the globe  —  Trust in government is collapsing, especially in democracies, according to a new global survey.  —  Why it matters: People also don't think media or business leaders are telling them the truth, and this suspicion …

The New York Post Gets Its Own Tabloid Scandal  —  The New York Post was rocked Tuesday morning by a sexual-harassment lawsuit filed by Michelle Gotthelf, the former digital editor-in-chief who was quietly fired last week after more than two decades at the paper.

Dear media: Stop giving Republicans the benefit of the doubt  —  The Republican Party has a reliable — albeit inadvertent — ally in the mainstream media.  The latter remain all too anxious to make the authoritarian and often blatantly racist party seem “normal.”

Representative Matt Gaetz's ex-girlfriend granted immunity in sex trafficking probe  —  Prosecutors granted immunity to an ex-girlfriend of Representative Matt Gaetz before she testified last week in front of a federal grand jury hearing evidence in the investigation of the congressman, according to a source familiar with the matter.

NASA scientists estimate Tonga blast at 10 megatons  —  NASA researchers have an estimate on the power of a massive eruption that took place on Saturday near the island nation of Tonga.  —  “We come up with a number that's around 10 megatons of TNT equivalent,” says James Garvin …

Drugmaker Gilead Alleges Counterfeiting Ring Sold Its HIV Drugs  —  Gilead says HIV drugs were replaced in some cases with an antipsychotic drug or an over-the-counter painkiller  —  Drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc. said that a network of little-known drug suppliers and distributors sold illicit …

Airlines warn of “catastrophic” 5G aviation “crisis” tomorrow  —  If this entire situation goes pear-shaped tomorrow, don't say that you didn't receive plenty of warnings.  We learned over the Christmas holiday period that the nation's airlines were in a panic over the impending launch …