Putin Thought Ukraine Would Fall Quickly.  An Airport Battle Proved Him Wrong.  —  Russia wanted to use Hostomel Airport outside Kyiv to bring troops directly to the capital.  A band of Ukrainian soldiers fought to keep the Russians from using the landing strip, forcing them to move soldiers and supplies over land.

RT America ceases productions and lays off most of its staff  —  New York (CNN Business)The production company behind the American version of the Russian state-funded network RT laid off most of its staff on Thursday, according to a memo obtained by CNN.  —  Misha Solodovnikov …

Panel Suggests Trump Knew He Lost the Election, Eyeing Criminal Case  —  At the core of the theory of a possible criminal case against former President Donald J. Trump is the argument that he knew he had lost the election and sought to overturn it anyway.  —  WASHINGTON — Shortly …

Another Russian yacht seized in France (plus two more that could be seized soon)  —  Yesterday, German authorities seized the largest yacht in the world after sanctions on Russian oligarchs were put in place by the US and EU.  The 512-foot Dilbar belongs to Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov and is reportedly worth $600 million.

When I Confronted Trump About Election Fraud  —  In an excerpt from his new memoir, the former Attorney General recalls the explosive White House meeting where he rejected President Trump's claims about the 2020 election.  —  The first day of December 2020, almost a month after the presidential election, was gray and rainy.

Wisconsin Supreme Court picks Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' maps in redistricting fight  —  MADISON - A divided state Supreme Court approved election maps Thursday that were drawn by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers but will let Republicans keep the upper hand in races for the Legislature.

BBC revives shortwave radio dispatches in Ukraine, and draws ire of Russia.  —  As Russia is trying to cut off the flow of information in Ukraine by attacking its communications infrastructure, the British news outlet BBC is revisiting a broadcasting tactic popularized during World War II: shortwave radio.

Florida Lawmakers Vote to Ban Abortions After 15 Weeks  —  The legislation is modeled after an abortion law in Mississippi that the Supreme Court appears poised to uphold in a ruling expected this summer.  —  MIAMI — Florida legislators voted to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy on Thursday …

Melania Trump Event Called Off After Officials Question Fund-Raising  —  Florida regulators found that a company working on the charitable event had not registered properly.  The former first lady's office said it would be rescheduled.  —  WASHINGTON — A Florida fund-raiser planned for April …

“Anastasia” Removed From Disney+ (US)  —  With the start of a brand new month, Disney is often forced to remove some content from Disney+ in the United States due to pre-existing contracts made before Disney+ was created.  —  Unfortunately, this month, the classic animated film from 20th Century Studios …

Ex-Fox News Director Charged With Working for Russian Oligarch … Jack Hanick, a onetime director at Fox News, has been indicted on charges of working for a sanctioned Russian oligarch to establish TV networks in Russia and in other European countries.  —  Hanick, 71, is accused of working …

YouTube Won't Distinguish Between Misinformation and Reporting, So It Suspended My Channel  —  On December 9, 2020, YouTube announced it would take down videos that alleged widespread fraudulent voting in the 2020 presidential election.  A month later, after President Donald Trump's lies …

Bronx subway feces attack suspect curses judge, is back on the street day later  —  A homeless defendant with a double-digit rap sheet, accused of smearing his own feces on a woman inside a Bronx subway station, left a courtroom in handcuffs — for his monthsold murder threat against a Jewish man …

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 …

Jon Stewart on Why the Right Would ‘Rather Do a Deal With Putin Than Pelosi’  —  (SINGING) When you walk in a room, do you have sway?  —  Oh, wait one second.  I'm going to just turn off my heat.  —  Jon Stewart  —  Did you say turn off your heat?  She's going to freeze to death if this goes on.

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 …

UC Berkeley must withhold thousands of acceptance letters after state Supreme Court ruling  —  UC Berkeley must cut enrollment by about 3,000 students for next fall after the California Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court's order that the prestigious university freeze enrollment at 2020 levels.