Haberman book: Flushed papers found clogging Trump WH toilet  —  While President Trump was in office, staff in the White House residence periodically discovered wads of printed paper clogging a toilet — and believed the president had flushed pieces of paper, Maggie Haberman scoops in her forthcoming book, “Confidence Man.”

U.S. Inflation Accelerates to 40-Year High  —  Consumer-price index rose at 7.5% annual rate in January  —  U.S. inflation accelerated to a 7.5% annual rate in January, reaching a new four-decade high as strong consumer demand and pandemic-related supply constraints kept pushing up prices.

CNN Poll: Most Biden detractors say he's done nothing they like since becoming president  —  (CNN)Nearly 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of how Joe Biden is handling his presidency, with most of that group saying there's literally nothing Biden has done since taking office that they approve of.

Politics drives the end of covid mitigation.  It should — but that's too bad  —  Welcome to The Daily 202!  Tell your friends to sign up here.  According to the Associated Press: On this day in 1936, Nazi Germany's Reichstag passed a law investing the Gestapo secret police with absolute authority, exempt from any legal review.

How organizers with police and military expertise may be helping Ottawa convoy protest dig in  —  Those involved with organizing protest include former RCMP and military officers  —  For nearly two weeks anti-vaccine mandate demonstrators and their big rigs have entrenched themselves …

The Cynical Spectacle of Sarah Palin's Lawsuit Against the New York Times  —  In an age when every arena of politics and media is infused with remorseless combat, James Bennet has a rare distinction: The former New York Times editorial page editor has been circled by ideological packs on left and right with equal ferocity.

Oscars: COVID-19 Vaccination Will Not Be Required for In-Person Attendees (Exclusive)  —  The Academy intends to require just a negative PCR test and a negative rapid antigen test on the day of the event, unlike the SAG Awards and Critics Choice Awards, which will require proof of vaccination.

Tesla Sued by California Agency for Alleged Racial Discrimination, Harassment  —  California Department of Fair Employment and Housing says it acted after receiving hundreds of complaints from workers  —  A California regulatory agency said it filed a lawsuit against Tesla Inc. …

Dems face a sobering possibility: Build Back ... never  —  Build Back Never?  The thought has crossed Democrats' minds.  —  President Joe Biden's $1.7 trillion social and climate spending plan is dead as written, rejected by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).  The Senate is moving onto a host …

Black female lawmakers warn against pitting Supreme Court candidates against each other  —  At the forefront of their minds: Making sure the eventual nominee is not tainted by Democratic infighting ahead of expected GOP attacks on her qualifications and judicial philosophy

EARN IT earns a markup  —  With help from Rebecca Kern and Leah Nylen  —  Editor's Note: Morning Tech is a free version of POLITICO Pro Technology's morning newsletter, which is delivered to our subscribers each morning at 6 a.m. The POLITICO Pro platform combines the news you need with tools …

Montana senator criticizes fellow Democrats for not appealing to rural Americans more  —  (CNN)Montana Sen. Jon Tester criticized fellow Democrats for not appealing to Middle America more and said Democrats need to “show up” in those places if they want to win elections.

House Republicans Press Biden DOJ on Soft Sentence for Floyd Arsonist  —  House Republicans are pressing the Justice Department to explain why it advocated a reduced sentence for an arsonist who killed a father of five during the 2020 George Floyd riots.  —  Rep. Chip Roy (R., Texas) …

Timothy Ramthun, a Republican pushing to overturn 2020 election, appears poised to enter race for Wisconsin governor  —  MADISON - A state lawmaker who was disciplined by the Assembly leader over false election claims and who has repeatedly called on his colleagues to take the impossible action …

Facebook Has a Superuser-Supremacy Problem  —  If you want to understand why Facebook too often is a cesspool of hate and disinformation, a good place to start is with users such as John, Michelle, and Calvin.  —  John, a caps-lock devotee from upstate New York, calls House Speaker Nancy Pelosi …

Inside Patriot Front: The Masked White Supremacists On A Nationwide Hate Crime Spree  —  A new HuffPost investigation exposes the inner workings of the secretive American fascist group destroying Black Lives Matter symbols across the country.  —  In the early hours of June 24, 2021 …

Ranking the States Demographically, from Most Republican-Friendly to Most Democratic-Friendly  —  Dear Readers: Join us Tuesday, Feb. 15 as Center for Politics Director Larry J. Sabato interviews ABC News' Jonathan Karl about his new book, Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show.