Frustrated Putin may order escalation of violence in Ukraine, U.S. officials say  —  U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin is growing increasingly frustrated by his military struggles in Ukraine, and may see his only option as doubling down on violence …

The tide has turned against the Russia apologists — and the neutrals  —  For the better part of five-plus years, Donald Trump attempted to inject some nuance into the GOP's posture toward Russia.  It was a partially a strategy of necessity — given how Russia's 2016 election interference loomed …

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Russian Air Force  —  On the fifth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one of many unanswered questions is why Russia has launched a military campaign at huge cost with maximalist objectives, and then declined to use the vast majority of its fixed wing combat aircraft.

Monaco clamps down on Russian assets after Ukraine invasion … Monaco, a tax haven often favoured by the super-wealthy, will proceed with freezing assets and imposing sanctions on certain Russians following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the Monaco Royal Palace said on Monday.

‘Yes, He Would’: Fiona Hill on Putin and Nukes  —  For many people, watching the Russian invasion of Ukraine has felt like a series of “He can't be doing this” moments.  Russia's Vladimir Putin has launched the largest ground war in Europe since the Second World War.  It is, quite literally, mind-boggling.

Russian oligarchs move yachts as U.S. looks to ‘hunt down’ and freeze assets  — Some of Russia's wealthiest are moving their superyachts, potentially with the hope they can avoid having those items seized.  — Data reviewed by CNBC from Marine Traffic shows that at least four massive yachts owned …

Greene and Gosar increasingly isolated in Hill GOP after speaking at white nationalist event  —  Reps. Paul Gosar and Marjorie Taylor Greene are on an island among their fellow GOP lawmakers after appearing with a white nationalist group over the weekend.  —  House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy …

GOP Sen. Roger Wicker Calls For No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine  —  The Mississippi Republican says “a strong coalition of like-minded nations should step in and seriously consider this.”  —  Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) endorsed the idea of creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid the Russian invasion …

The roots of a Tai-Rahm confrontation  —  Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration.  —  In December, Ambassador to Japan RAHM EMANUEL met with U.S. Trade Representative KATHERINE TAI ahead of his move abroad.

House centrists: Tlaib “keying your own car”  —  Centrist House Democrats are unloading on Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for her plan to give a response to President Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday.  — “It's like keying your own car and slashing your own tires,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) told Axios.

Candace Owens Is Mad Girls Aren't Being Taught to Make Their Future Husbands a Sandwich — and 13 Other Crazy CPAC Moments You Missed  —  Kevin Sorbo owns a suit of his own tweets.  Mike Lindell can't figure out electoral democracy OR microphones.  And VIPs got the most expensive McDonalds dinner in history

Stacey Abrams speaks on Ukraine and conceding in 2022  —  Stacey Abrams, Democratic voting rights activist and candidate for Georgia governor, says the Ukraine situation is “not a question of Putin, it's a question of Ukrainian democracy working.” … “And the United States is not immune.”

Senate rejects Democratic bill to codify abortion rights  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 46-48 Monday to block a bill pushed by Democrats to codify abortion rights into federal law ahead of an expected Supreme Court decision that could limit access to the procedure.

Scoop: Biden to deny executive privilege for Flynn and Navarro  —  President Biden will deny the shield of executive privilege for two top advisers to former President Donald Trump — his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and former trade adviser Peter Navarro …

Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, on the Situation in Ukraine: “I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation.”  —  Last Friday, I expressed my increasing concern, echoing those of world leaders and citizens of the world alike, over the events unfolding in Ukraine.

How Russia's Nobel-Winning Newspaper Is Covering Ukraine  —  “We continue to call war war,” Dmitry Muratov, the editor of Novaya Gazeta, said.  “We are waiting for the consequences.”  —  Last year, Dmitry Muratov, the editor-in-chief of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta …

FIFA suspends Russia from World Cup, UEFA throws teams out of European competition  —  Russia have been kicked out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by FIFA after the world governing body and the European association, UEFA, issued a joint statement to confirm that all Russian national teams …

Crypto Exchanges Refuse to Freeze All Russian Accounts  —  Binance, the world's largest exchange, said “unilaterally” banning users “would fly in the face of the reason why crypto exists.”  —  MS  —  Faced with a request by Ukrainian leadership to freeze the accounts of all people in Russia and Belarus …

VIDEO: Nevada governor, first lady accosted, threatened at Las Vegas restaurant  —  ......We hope you appreciate our content.  Subscribe Today to continue reading this story, and all of our stories.  —  A video obtained Sunday night by the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak …

EXCLUSIVE: Hunter Biden's business partner Devon Archer is sentenced to one year in prison for his role in defrauding Native American tribe - as emails reveal president's son had close ties to firm involved in the scheme but later distanced himself  — Hunter Biden's friend and business partner …