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.

Former Trump administration officials hold call to strategize against former boss' efforts in 2022 and 2024  —  (CNN)Around three dozen former Trump administration officials, disillusioned with their former boss and concerned about his impact on the GOP and the nation, held a conference call …

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%

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 …

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 …

Democrats ponder Plan B strategy to circumvent voting-rights filibuster  —  Senate Democrats are scrambling for a Plan B to pass voting rights legislation after Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced last week that they would not vote to change the Senate's filibuster rule despite …

Fauci Must Go  —  President Joe Biden should relieve Dr. Anthony Fauci of his duties at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as chief medical adviser to the White House, and as the public face of the American government's response to Covid-19.

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.

How a GOP majority in Congress might handle Biden in 2023  —  Republicans are feeling so good about their chances of retaking Congress this fall that they're already debating their governing relationship with President Joe Biden.  And they're divided over how to handle their potential big wins.

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.) …

Investor's Uyghur Comments Are Even Worse Than You've Heard  —  On the menu today: Most folks are focusing on the comment from Chamath Palihapitiya, a Sri Lankan-born Canadian and American venture capitalist, that he doesn't care about the Uyghurs in China.  But he went much further, and he said worse things.

What Does It Mean If Republicans Won't Debate?  —  Last week, the Republican National Committee announced its plans to prohibit Republican presidential candidates from participating in the official general election debates sponsored by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.

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 …

Democrats are shattering Dr. Martin Luther King's dream  —  On Monday, the country celebrated the life and legacy of civil rights hero Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King had a dream that all people were created equal — the core tenets of the Declaration of Independence.

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 …

Scoop: Al Jazeera quietly sidelines conservative outlet “Rightly”  —  Al Jazeera, a media company funded by the government of Qatar, has quietly stopped creating new content for its conservative digital outlet “Rightly,” four sources confirm to Axios.  —  Why it matters: The outlet was launched …

White House plots public reset as Biden's agenda flails  —  With President Joe Biden rounding out his first year in office amid a sinking approval rating and multiple setbacks to his agenda, the White House is planning a new communications strategy, senior administration officials say.

Joe Biden's voting rights push is futile  —  He doesn't have the votes—and his proposals are misguided  —  WHAT BETTER way to chase one humiliating setback and waste of political capital than with another?  That seems to be the outcome of President Joe Biden's latest political strategy …

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.

Former AG William Barr's memoir to be published March 8  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Former Attorney General William P. Barr has a memoir coming out March 8 titled “One Damn Thing After Another,” and billed by his publisher as a “vivid and forthright book” of his time serving two “drastically different” …

The savvy turn in political journalism  —  For 15 years I have been writing about what I call the savvy style in the American press.  This post is about the moment when a journalist goes there.  Or refuses to.  —  But first: what is the savvy style?  This is from 2011:

Gay rights icon Jim Obergefell running for the Ohio House, sources say  —  Gay rights icon Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the landmark 2015 case that legalized same-sex marriage across the country, is running for a seat in the Ohio House.  —  He is holding online press conference at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Microsoft to Buy Activision Blizzard in All-Cash Deal Valued at $75 Billion  —  Activision CEO Bobby Kotick expected to step down following the deal which would make Microsoft the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue  —  Microsoft Corp. agreed to buy Activision Blizzard Inc …