Russia Makes Gains in South as Humanitarian Crisis Grows  —  Russian forces make gains in southern Ukraine as a humanitarian crisis grows.  —  A day after gaining control of their first major Ukrainian city, Russian forces on Thursday laid siege to urban areas across the country …

Russian Oligarch Igor Sechin's Yacht Seized by French Authorities, Who Say It Was Preparing to Depart  —  French authorities said they seized a yacht belonging to a company majority owned by Igor Sechin, the chief executive of Russian oil producer Rosneft.  Mr. Sechin was among a group …

Jan. 6 committee alleges Trump, allies engaged in potential ‘criminal conspiracy’ by trying to block Congress from certifying election  —  Lawyers for the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol said in a court filing Wednesday that former president Donald Trump …

Absolute Power  —  Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, is 36 years old and has led his country for almost five years.  His father, the 86-year-old King Salman, has rarely been seen in public since 2019, and even MBS—as he is universally known—has faced the world only a few times since the pandemic began.

Meeting Urgent Needs … Over the last few months, the Administration has been working closely with Congress to produce a comprehensive funding bill that will keep the government open and ensure Federal agencies have the resources necessary to advance critical national priorities …

Transfer three A-10 aircraft squadrons to Ukraine now  —  “Give us the tools, and we will finish the job,” spoke U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill in February 1941.  Following this powerful speech, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt proposed and Congress approved the lend-lease program.

International Cat Federation bans Russian cats from competitions  —  The International Cat Federation says it has banned Russian cats from its international competitions in the latest rebuke to Russia since it invaded Ukraine last week.  —  The federation, which considers itself …

Supreme Court says Republican attorney general can defend Ky. abortion law Democratic officials dropped  —  The Supreme Court on Thursday said Kentucky's Republican attorney general should be allowed to defend the state's restrictive abortion law after Democratic officials dropped the case once courts found it unconstitutional.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot blocked Columbus statue deal, berated lawyers with obscene remarks, lawsuit claims  —  Mayor Lori Lightfoot blocked a deal the Chicago Park District made with an Italian American group to allow a Christopher Columbus statue to be displayed in a parade and made obscene remarks aimed …

Rep. Paul Gosar is 1 of 3 to vote against pro-Ukraine measure  —  Rep. Paul Gosar was one of three members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday to vote against a symbolic measure calling for a cease-fire in Ukraine and support for its people.  —  The resolution passed 426-3 …

‘I have the job I want’: Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey will not run for the U.S. Senate in 2022  —  Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey will not run for the U.S. Senate this year, he told donors in a letter obtained by The Arizona Republic, finally putting to rest whether he held aspirations for elected office this cycle.

‘It could happen tomorrow’: Experts know disaster upon disaster looms for West Coast  —  It's the elevators that worry earthquake engineering expert Keith Porter the most.  —  Scientists say a massive quake could strike the San Francisco Bay Area at any moment.

The gory online campaign Ukraine hopes will sow anti-Putin dissent probably violates the Geneva Conventions … A besieged Ukraine has adopted a gruesome tactic in hopes of stoking anti-government rage inside Russia: posting photos and videos of captured and killed Russian soldiers on the Web for anyone to see.

Ukraine: Countries Request ICC War Crimes Inquiry  —  Mounting Efforts Pave Way for Justice  —  Thirty-eight governments have taken a significant step toward ensuring documentation of potential war crimes by asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor to open an investigation in Ukraine, Human Rights Watch said today.

Was Ted Cruz Right About Russia?  —  He spent years fighting Putin's prized pipeline.  —  For years, a Russian-led pipeline project has been Ted Cruz's nemesis.  Nord Stream 2, which would allow the country to export billions of dollars' worth of natural gas to Western Europe while bypassing Ukraine …

The Bizarre Story of How a Hardcore Texas Leftist Became a Frontline Putin Propagandist  —  In a contentious interview with Rolling Stone, Russell “Texas” Bentley explains why he's in Ukraine cheering on Russian troops  —  How does a 61-year-old former pot dealer named “Texas” …

Kentucky lawmaker apologizes for referencing Jewish women's sex life amid abortion debate  —  Kentucky Rep. Danny Bentley made comments about Jewish women and the Holocaust during a debate Wednesday over anti-abortion legislation, quickly drawing condemnation from several members …

Bitcoin Goes to War  —  Last month, a non-fungible token, or NFT, collector who goes by the pseudonymous Twitter handle @punk6529 posted a 56-part Twitter thread that ripped through the crypto world with viral intensity.  Writing in response to the Canadian government's decision …

POLITICO Playbook: How gas prices could crush Biden and the Democrats  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  POLICY PALOOZA DU JOUR: RUSSIAN OIL — President JOE BIDEN's conservative critics — from Fox News to Capitol Hill Republicans — have slammed the administration for exempting Russian oil from the raft …

Is America to Blame for Russia's War in Ukraine?  —  To explain a bad actor's behavior is not to justify it.  —  In mundane contexts, few people struggle to understand this point.  For example, if an alcoholic relative comes over for Thanksgiving dinner and behaves in a charming …

Sen. Ben Ray Luján returns to Senate, just one month after major stroke  —  Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico returned to work in the Senate Thursday morning, barely a month after suffering a major stroke that left him hospitalized for weeks and sent a chill through fellow Democrats clinging to a 50-50 majority.

What I Found When I Looked for the Helpers  —  Pandemic coverage has continually described America's rancor and division, political ineptitude and buck passing, fury at leaders and fellow citizens for restricting too much or not enough, for insisting on masks or refusing to wear them.

Ron DeSantis suggests France would ‘fold’ if it was invaded by Russia  —  The 2024 presidential nominee contender also angrily chastised students on stage with him for wearing masks as ‘Covid theatre’  —  Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination …