Russia Central Banker Wanted Out Over Ukraine, But Putin Said No  —  Russia's highly regarded central bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina sought to resign after Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, only to be told by the president to stay, according to four people with knowledge of the discussions.

Statement by Mo Brooks  —  It's disappointing that, just like in 2017, President Trump lets Mitch McConnell manipulate him again.  Every single negative TV ad against our campaign has come from McConnell and his allies.  I wish President Trump wouldn't fall for McConnell's ploys, but, once again, he has.

Madeleine Albright, first female US secretary of state, dies  —  Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright dies at 84  —  (CNN)Madeleine Albright, the first woman US secretary of state, who helped steer Western foreign policy in the aftermath of the Cold War, has died of cancer.  She was 84 years old.

Supreme Court Nominee Jackson's Support Tied for Highest  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Initial public support for judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court ties as the highest Gallup has measured for any recent nominee.  Fifty-eight percent of Americans say the Senate should vote …

Trump aide Manafort removed from plane for revoked passport  —  MIAMI (AP) — Former Trump adviser Paul Manafort was removed from a plane at Miami International Airport before it took off for Dubai because he carried a revoked passport, officials said Wednesday.

High court won't say whether Thomas remains hospitalized  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court declined to say Wednesday whether 73-year-old Justice Clarence Thomas remains in the hospital, though he had been expected to be released by Tuesday evening.  —  The court said Sunday that Thomas …

Breaking: Supreme Court, in Bizarre Unsigned Opinion, Strikes Wisconsin Legislative Maps on Voting Rights Grounds, Signalling New Hostility to the Voting Rights Act  —  In a per curiam (unsigned) opinion on the shadow docket, over the dissent of Justices Kagan and Sotomayor …

Russia and Far-Right Americans Find Common Ground With Ukraine War  —  Some conservatives have echoed the Kremlin's misleading claims about the war and vice versa, giving each other's assertions a sheen of credibility.  —  After President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia claimed that action …

NATO: Up to 40,000 Russian Troops Killed, Wounded, Taken Prisoner or Missing in Ukraine  —  NATO says that up to 40,000 Russian troops have been killed, wounded, taken prisoner or are missing in Ukraine, said a senior military official from the alliance.  —  The North Atlantic Treaty …

Pelosi backs Rep. Henry Cuellar's reelection bid in Texas despite FBI investigation … House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that she supports embattled Rep. Henry Cuellar's (D-Tex.) reelection bid in Texas, despite an ongoing FBI investigation and a primary runoff race against a liberal candidate in May.

Debra Meadows appears to have filed at least two false voter forms  —  “What we do know is a number of times as we have mail-in ballots, if there is not a chain of custody that goes from the voter to the ballot box, mischief can happen.”  — Then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows …

Philly's Wilma Theater is returning a donation from a group close to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich  —  The Wilma Theater ended a partnership this month with an arts group backed by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich that was supporting the debut of a play in Philadelphia.The break …

MacKenzie Scott donates a record $275 million to Planned Parenthood  —  Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $275 million to women's healthcare provider Planned Parenthood, the largest gift from a single donor in the organization's more than 100-year history, Planned Parenthood said on Wednesday.

Pity the Zoomer Athlete  —  Why the Gen Z stars seem more easily broken  —  There are many great dialogue exchanges in Mad Men, but this is the one I keep coming back to.  In it, aging bon vivant Roger Sterling chastises the slightly younger depressive genius Don Draper over his lack of joy when drinking.

Biden administration eyeing booster shot recommendation within weeks  —  The Biden administration could authorize a second Covid-19 booster shot for older Americans within weeks, amid rising concern over a potential resurgence of cases, four people with knowledge of the matter told POLITICO.