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 …

Major social media platforms ban Russian state media in Europe … Major social media companies including YouTube, Facebook and TikTok moved to ban Russian state media outlets in Europe, blocking Moscow's biggest megaphone for influencing public opinion about the war in Ukraine in a critical region on its borders.

Biden's State of the Union address to focus on Ukraine, U.S. economy  —  What to expect during Biden's first State of the Union address amid ongoing crisis in Ukraine  —  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will come before Congress Tuesday seeking to sell his domestic and foreign policy agenda …

U.S. Satisfaction Low as Economic Concerns Remain High  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — When thinking about the state of the nation, just 21% of Americans say they are satisfied with the way things are going, and 78% are dissatisfied.  This reading, from a Feb. 1-17 Gallup poll …

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 …

Exclusive: Nord Stream 2 owner considers insolvency after sanctions … The Swiss-based company which built the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is considering filing for insolvency, two sources familiar with the situation said, as it attempts to settle claims ahead …

Louis Tomlinson, Yungblud and Franz Ferdinand pull Russian tour dates  —  Louis Tomlinson and Franz Ferdinand are the latest music stars to pull gigs in Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.  —  US band Green Day and pop punk star Yungblud have also cancelled dates.

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.

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.

‘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.

Europe needs more American oil and gas, not windmills and rainbows  —  To hear White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki tell it, the United States can reduce the world's energy dependence on Russia by installing solar panels and perhaps re-insulating homes.  —  President Joe Biden began his term …

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 …

Marco Rubio Says He's Boycotting Biden's State of the Union Over COVID Test Tantrum  —  SORE LOSS  —  Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is refusing to attend President Joe Biden's State of the Union address Tuesday because he's upset that everyone has been asked to check if they have COVID-19 before they show up.