Trump campaign officials, led by Rudy Giuliani, oversaw fake electors plot in 7 states  —  Washington (CNN)Trump campaign officials, led by Rudy Giuliani, oversaw efforts in December 2020 to put forward illegitimate electors from seven states that Trump lost, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the scheme.

BREAKING: Fulton DA requests special grand jury for Trump probe  —  Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is requesting a special grand jury to aid in her investigation of former President Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results.

How Not to Build a Coalition  —  The Left's Theory of the Case Falls Apart  —  It's fair to say that the left of the Democratic party has been in ascendance for some time.  You could see it in how candidates positioned themselves during the Democratic primaries.

Rep. Lauren Boebert Asked A Group Of Jewish Capitol Visitors If They Were Doing “Reconnaissance”  —  Rep. Lauren Boebert left a group of Jewish visitors to the Capitol bewildered Thursday morning when she asked them if they were doing “reconnaissance” after seeing them at an elevator at the Capitol.

Treasury Sanctions Russian-Backed Actors Responsible for Destabilization Activities in Ukraine  —  WASHINGTON - Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned four individuals engaged in Russian government-directed influence activities to destabilize Ukraine.

I Am Embarrassed for the Supreme Court  —  Having asked for institutional transparency for the sake of the Supreme Court's legitimacy last week, I am now just embarrassed.  In case the Supreme Court Color War of 2022 isn't occupying 100 percent of your attention this week, let me catch you up …

Mitch McConnell Says Black People Vote Just as Much as ‘Americans’  —  COME AGAIN?  —  If only politicians thought before they talked.  Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) seemingly implied on Wednesday that Black Americans are not true Americans.  Following a failed vote on Democrats' John Lewis …

Trump held secret meetings in days before Capitol attack, ex-press secretary tells panel  —  Stephanie Grisham gave more significant details than expected about what Trump was doing before 6 January, sources say  —  The former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told …

An American Airlines flight turns back over the Atlantic because of a passenger mask dispute.  —  An American Airlines flight to London from Miami turned around about an hour into its journey on Wednesday night because of a passenger who refused to follow coronavirus masking rules, the airline said.

Due to COVID Concerns, ESPN Will Not Staff Winter Olympics in China  —  Robust remote coverage plans will kick off prior to start of competition  —  Due to concerns about COVID-19 and other COVID-related restrictions, ESPN will not be sending any news personnel to the Winter Olympics in China …

Rep. Madison Cawthorn Cleans Gun During Veterans Hearing  —  The North Carolina Republican lived up to his claim to fame on Wednesday of being the youngest current member of Congress.  —  The House Veterans' Affairs Committee took Wednesday as an opportunity to hold a virtual hearing on how toxic chemicals are killing U.S. soldiers.

Peloton to halt production of its Bikes, treadmills as demand wanes  — Peloton is temporarily halting production of its connected fitness products as consumer demand wanes and the company looks to control costs, according to internal documents obtained by CNBC.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm violated a federal conflict-of-interest law by improperly disclosing stock sales  — Granholm sold up to $240,000 in stocks from April 2021 through October 2021.  — She disclosed the trades in December 2021 — weeks or months after a federal deadline.

Reality check: President Joe Biden's year-one grade?  A+  —  Any other answer is insane.  —  As President Biden marked the anniversary of his first year in office Wednesday, the reviews have come in.  A raft of pundits and pollsters describe him as “limping,” “struggling” even “failing.”

Time is running out for Biden's Justice Department to prosecute Trump for 10 possible crimes detailed in the Mueller report  — The five-year deadline is closing in to charge Donald Trump with crimes detailed by Robert Mueller.  — Trump benefited in office from a DOJ policy against prosecuting a sitting president.

Hot Package: Billy Ray, Adam McKay Team For ‘J6,’ Film About January 6 Assault On Capitol  —  EXCLUSIVE: The January 6 assault on the US Capitol, considered the worst attack on democracy since the Civil War, will be the subject of a feature film scripted and to be directed by Billy Ray …

Belarusian Government Officials Charged With Aircraft Piracy For Diverting Ryanair Flight 4978 To Arrest Dissident Journalist In May 2021  —  Senior Belarusian Officials Conspired to Use a False Bomb Threat to Unlawfully Divert a Passenger Flight Carrying American Citizens in Order to Arrest Belarusian Dissident

Tennessee-based adoption agency refuses to help couple because they're Jewish  —  A Knoxville couple is suing the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, saying a state-sponsored Christian-based adoption agency refused to help them because they are Jewish.

Why I Almost Didn't Read My Poem at the Inauguration  —  Amanda Gorman is a poet and the author of “The Hill We Climb” and “Call Us What We Carry.”  —  It's told like this: Amanda Gorman performed at the inauguration and the rest is history.  —  The truth is I almost declined to be the inaugural poet.

An anti-Black backlash — with no end in sight  —  We are in the midst of an aggressive, sustained backlash against recent shows of Black political power.  The Senate's rejection of a comprehensive voting rights bill on Wednesday night both leaves in place some of the most pernicious elements …

A Dam in Syria Was on a ‘No- Strike’ List.  The U.S. Bombed It Anyway.  —  A military report warned that striking the giant structure could cause tens of thousands of deaths.  —  Near the height of the war against the Islamic State in Syria, a sudden riot of explosions rocked the country's largest dam …

‘The Lowest Point in My Lifetime’: How 14 Independent Voters Feel About America  —  How do independent voters feel about President Biden and America after his first year in office?  Let's put it this way: His weak approval ratings might go up if he pulled a Trump and just declared that America …