Russia to Recognize 2 Regions in Ukraine in the Near Future, Kremlin Says  —  White House officials said President Biden would consider direct talks with his Russian counterpart if there is no invasion of Ukraine.

How Donald Trump Played Himself  —  Donald Trump has survived multiple investigations by following the same playbook: blasting them as “witch hunts” and refusing to testify under oath.  His strategy backfired last week, as a New York state judge ordered him and two of his children to sit for depositions in 21 days.

‘Something Went Wrong’: Trump's Twitter Ripoff Suffers Bumpy Launch  —  Would-be users of Trump's new app merely struggled to create an account after Sunday night's launch.  —  Team Trump has been cooking up its own social network ever since the then-president was thrown off all major platforms for his posts inciting the Capitol riot.

Everything You Need to Know About Biden's Messaging Problems with One Easy Test  —  Democrats won't take success for an answer.  —  One of the biggest differences between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans sing Donald Trump's praises even if he's done something abjectly stupid and evil …

Trump's GOP critics to gather in Washington with an eye on 2024 presidential race  —  A group of Republican critics of former President Donald Trump will gather in Washington, D.C., this week to cheer on the two GOP members of the House select committee investigating the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol …

Texas GOP revolts against Trump's favorite cowboy  —  Maybe it was his move to raise taxes and fees on farmers.  Or his regular practice of alienating state lawmakers.  Or his decision to pick a fight with the BBQ industry.  Or the bribery scandal surrounding his political consultant.

Voters would cut grocery tax; require vaccines for first responders, teachers, medical pros but not for students; keep teaching impact of racism on society, not ban CRT  —  Summary of Key Findings  — A majority of Virginia voters prefer spending the state budget surplus …

It's Time To Cancel Presidents Day  —  The fracturing of society in recent years under the strain of Donald Trump's presidency and the racial reckoning spurred by George Floyd's murder has had one positive consequence: A widespread awakening of interest in the American past.

Kids-Last COVID Policy Makes No Sense  —  Local governments are relaxing pandemic restrictions at a dizzying pace, removing mask requirements and vaccine entry rules for businesses.  Politicians are generally pushing for a return to normalcy.  But for one group, change is not forthcoming: children.

Who is dying of COVID?  It's still mainly the unvaccinated  —  Recent CDC data shows unvaccinated people are 20 times more likely to die.  —  When the recent COVID-19 wave fueled by the omicron variant hit the U.S., no one expected it would lead to the number of deaths it did.

Former Trump chief of staff endorses Nancy Mace  —  Former Trump White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Monday endorsed Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who is battling in a GOP primary against a Trump-endorsed challenger.  —  “Congresswoman Nancy Mace is a proven fiscally conservative leader …

A 91-year-old North Korean loyalist's lonely battle against a long-dead U.S. general  —  INCHEON, South Korea — During the Korean War, Ahn Hag-sub was a devoted 22-year-old communist serving in a North Korean militia unit.  Seven decades later, he still hates the Americans, and their wartime leader, Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

India: Attacks against woman journalist Rana Ayyub must stop - UN experts  —  Relentless misogynistic and sectarian attacks online against journalist Rana Ayyub must be promptly and thoroughly investigated by the Indian authorities and the judicial harassment against her brought to an end at once, UN human rights experts* said today.

New York Times Wins 2 Polk Awards for Investigative Reporting  —  The Times was honored for coverage that revealed a plot behind the murder of the Haitian president and for investigations on the toll of America's air war in the Middle East.  —  The New York Times won two George Polk Awards …

Democrats are engaged in a ‘new politics of evasion’ that could cost them in 2024, new study says … Three decades ago, Democratic policy analysts William A. Galston and Elaine Kamarck published a bracing critique of their party, warning against a “politics of evasion” that they said ignored electoral reality …