Trump's advisers point the finger at McConnell as reports of DeSantis feud swirl  —  MIAMI — When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis went on a top political podcast last week, he panned the Covid lockdowns encouraged by former President Donald Trump early in the pandemic.

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.

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 …

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.

The Dallas QAnon Cult Believes JFK Was Disguised as Trump at Arizona Rally  —  Michael Protzman, who leads the Dallas QAnon cult, promised his followers that Trump's rally would have major revelations.  —  DG  —  At former President Donald Trump's rally in Arizona on Saturday …

The GOP Had Better Wake Up … If you're a Republican in Washington and you want to be liked, get a dog.  Because kowtowing to the Democrats' narrative that the 2020 presidential election was free, fair, and utterly uncontroversial isn't going to earn you any lasting friendships.

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.) …

Russia Thins Out Its Embassy in Ukraine, a Possible Clue to Putin's Next Move  —  The slow evacuation may be part propaganda, part preparation for a conflict or part feint, Ukrainian and U.S. officials say.  It could be all three.  —  KYIV, Ukraine — The week before intensive diplomatic meetings began …

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.

The Silent, Vaccinated, Impatient Majority  —  Politicians rarely set out to piss off their constituents, much less admit to doing so.  So when French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his desire to antagonize France's unvaccinated citizens into receiving COVID vaccinations …

The Undoing of Joss Whedon … In the fall of 2002, 160 scholars convened at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.  They were an eclectic group — theologians, philosophers, linguists, film professors — and they had descended on the medieval city for a conference dedicated …

Ghislaine Maxwell ends fight to keep eight ‘John Does’ secret, court to decide whether names should be unsealed  —  (CNN)Ghislaine Maxwell will no longer fight to keep the names of eight ‘John Does’ secret and will leave it to the court to decide whether the names should be unsealed …

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.

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 …

2022 election: FL Democrats struggle to recruit candidates  —  Just seven months to the August primary, Democrats have little clue whose names they'll be marking on their ballots for two of South Florida's most competitive congressional races.  —  Evidence is piling up that Democrats …

Akron Rep. Emilia Sykes enters race for competitive 13th Congressional District  —  Ohio Rep. Emilia Sykes will run for the open the 13th Congressional District, giving Democrats a high-profile contender in what's shaping up to be a competitive race.  —  Sykes announcement on Tuesday came weeks …

Detainees Sue Arkansas Jail That Gave Them Ivermectin to Treat Covid  —  For months, the jail's doctor has promoted the drug, which health experts say should not be used to treat or prevent Covid-19.  —  Detainees at an Arkansas jail who had Covid-19 were unknowingly treated …

The Hostages Escaped.  But Synagogues Ask, How Can They Be More Secure?  —  The hostages whispered instructions and edged closer to the door — part of invaluable training that anxious congregations are using.  —  DALLAS — For 11 hours, the hostages talked to the ranting gunman, hoping that he would see them as human.

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:

When being unvaccinated means being locked out of public life  —  OSIGO, Italy — After many rounds of rules targeting the unvaccinated, the chamber musician's new life is unrecognizable from the old.  Claudio Ronco once performed all over Europe, but now he can't even board a plane.

Even as His Big Conspiracy Theory Crumbles, Darren Beattie's Star Continues to Rise in Trump World  —  The creator of Revolver News was praised by Trump and fired by Biden in the same week.  —  Last Friday, the White House demanded the resignations of six members of an obscure government body …