Putin Threatens Loss of Statehood; Russian Troops Near Odessa  —  The Russian leader escalated his threats as Ukrainian forces continued to resist.  Protests broke out in the first major city captured by Russia.  A limited cease-fire collapsed in a besieged city.  Israel's prime minister visits Moscow.

US works with Poland to provide Ukraine with fighter jets  —  Kyiv ratchets up pressure on west to bolster its air force so it can repel Russian air strikes  —  The US is working with Warsaw on a deal to provide Ukraine with Polish fighter jets as Kyiv ratchets up the pressure on the west …

U.S. Officials Travel to Venezuela, a Russia Ally, as the West Isolates Putin  —  The trip is the highest-level visit by American officials to Caracas in years, driven by a desire to separate Russia from its remaining Latin American allies.  —  Senior U.S. officials are traveling to Venezuela …

WTF: Trump rages to friends about his social network's problems, says report  —  The disgraced former President Trump's Wall Street-fueled Twitter knockoff is two weeks old, and the rollout is going so badly reports say he's cursing the venture to his friends.

Two GOP senators share photos of Zelenskyy during call after being asked not to by Ukraine  —  Two Republican senators are facing criticism after tweeting photos of a video call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy even though participating lawmakers were told to not share pictures on social media while it was in progress.

Brittney Griner, Star W.N.B.A. Center, Is Detained in Russia  —  WASHINGTON — Russia said on Saturday that it had detained an American basketball player in Moscow on drug charges, entangling a U.S. citizen's fate in the dangerous confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

Russia's Ukraine invasion could be a global economic ‘game changer’ … Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the financial reckoning imposed on Moscow in response are proof that the triumphant globalization campaign that began more than 30 years ago has reached a dead end.

How the Manhattan D.A.'s Investigation Into Donald Trump Unraveled  —  The criminal investigation into the former president crashed amid a disagreement about the merits of bringing a case.  The debate pitted a new district attorney against two veteran prosecutors who had pursued a case against Mr. Trump for years.

‘We Have to Run’: Inside the Exodus of Moscow  —  Even Moscow's most determined, most outspoken, most optimistic people have decided to go: “Everything we hoped for is falling apart, all our dreams”  —  MOSCOW — In that moment, it hit me just how quickly things had gone wrong.

Visa Suspends All Russia Operations  —  Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) today announced it is suspending its Russia operations.  —  Effective immediately, Visa will work with its clients and partners within Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.  Once complete, all transactions initiated …

RFE/RL Suspends Operations In Russia Following Kremlin Attacks  —  WASHINGTON - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has suspended its operations in Russia after local tax authorities initiated bankruptcy proceedings against RFE/RL's Russian entity on March 4 and police intensified pressure on its journalists.

'I Just Can't Stand By': American Veterans Join the Fight in Ukraine  —  All across the country, small groups of military veterans are hungry for what they see as a righteous fight to defend freedom against an autocratic aggressor.  —  Hector served two violent tours in Iraq as a United States Marine …

Iowa Poll: As 2022 governor's race takes shape, Kim Reynolds leads Deidre DeJear … Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds holds an 8-point lead over Democratic challenger Deidre DeJear as Iowa's race for governor begins to take shape.  —  The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows 51% …

Scattered corpses.  A rain of rockets.  A week inside Russia's war against Ukraine  —  The shell that reamed the Russian soldiers' vehicle scattered them in all directions.  One was face down on the asphalt, arms outstretched.  Another was a mass of white and red in barely-there fatigues.

Russian demand for sanctions relief threatens Iran nuclear talks … VIENNA — Russia presented a new condition for a revival of the Iran nuclear deal on Saturday: A U.S. guarantee that the sanctions that have been imposed on Moscow for invading Ukraine won't be applied to Russian trade and investment with Iran.

Fox News & Newsmax Took Biden Money To Push Deadly COVID Vaccines To Its Viewers  —  Corporate news outlets did not disclose the money they took to push dangerous drugs to their conservative audience  —  Two days ago, Chris Pandolfo at Blaze Media revealed that his media organization …

Ukraine War Fever Could Kill GOP Midterm Chances  —  How does any rational or caring human being watch us lose a 20-year war against cave-dwelling barbarians, and not just lose that war, but lose it in the most humiliating fashion imaginable, and less than a year later already have a war-boner for Ukraine?

Volodymyr Zelensky Leads the Defense of Ukraine with His Voice  —  At the most consequential hour in Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union, a comedian has assumed the role of Winston Churchill.  —  At the most consequential hour in Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union …

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox Says He Plans To Veto Trans Sports Ban Bill  —  “I just want them to know that it's gonna be okay.  We're gonna work through this,” Governor Spencer Cox said of trans student athletes.  —  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that he plans …

How the West Marshaled a Stunning Show of Unity Against Russia  —  In a few frantic days, the West threw out the playbook it used for decades against the Kremlin and isolated Russia with unparalleled sanctions and penalties.  —  LONDON — The day after Russian tanks and troops poured across …

Russia's invasion prompts more assertive foreign policy from Japan  —  Japan this week announced it would accept refugees from Ukraine and send bulletproof vests to Kyiv — extraordinary measures taken by one of the countries least welcoming to refugees and also has a self-imposed arms exports ban because of its militaristic past.

‘Freedom Convoy’ spinoff rallies in Md. with about 1,000 vehicles and unclear plans … HAGERSTOWN, Md. — They drove pickup trucks, RVs, 18-wheelers and minivans, some making a 2,500-mile journey from Southern California.  More joined as the convoy passed through Amarillo, Tex. …