Inside Ted Cruz's last-ditch battle to keep Trump in power … Sen. Ted Cruz was dining near the Capitol on the evening of Dec. 8, 2020, when he received an urgent call from President Donald Trump.  A lawsuit had just been filed at the Supreme Court designed to overturn the election Trump had lost …

Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian Peace Negotiators Suffer Symptoms of Suspected Poisoning  —  The Russian oligarch and others developed symptoms they blamed on hard-liners in Moscow who they say want to sabotage talks to end the war  —  Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian peace …

Academy ‘strongly considered’ removing Will Smith from Oscars after slapping Chris Rock, source says  —  (CNN)Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences leadership “strongly considered” removing Will Smith from the Oscars telecast Sunday night after the actor stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock …

Ukraine says it retook several towns as it seeks to relieve hard-pressed cities.  —  Despite talk of Russia focusing its ambitions in the east, action on several battlefronts suggested a more dynamic and volatile situation.  Ukraine and Russia will meet this week for in-person talks.

Russia no longer demanding Ukraine be ‘denazified’ in ceasefire talks  —  Requests include Kyiv dropping Nato pursuit in exchange for security guarantees and EU membership  —  Russia is no longer requesting Ukraine be “denazified” and is prepared to let Kyiv join the European Union …

'Don't Say Gay' bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, a policy that has drawn intense national scrutiny …

Chris Wallace's stark admission about Tucker Carlson shames Fox News  —  When Chris Wallace resigned from Fox News last December, media observers correctly diagnosed the move's real meaning: This stripped away one of the last fig leaves disguising Fox's increasing role as a propaganda operation on Donald Trump's behalf.

The Revenge of the Normal Republicans  —  HELOTES, Texas—Last spring, having just retired from Congress, Will Hurd was feeling adrift.  He had agreed to write a book, telling his remarkable life story and diagnosing a malfunctioning political system, all while teasing out a run for the presidency in 2024 …

For red and blue America, a glaring divide in COVID-19 death rates persists 2 years later  —  Post-vaccine, death rates in red states were 38% higher than in blue states.  —  Political polarization in the U.S. was evident and intensifying long before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, two years ago.

How an Ivy League School Turned Against a Student  —  Mackenzie Fierceton was championed as a former foster youth who had overcome an abusive childhood and won a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.  Then the University of Pennsylvania accused her of lying.

The drone operators who halted Russian convoy headed for Kyiv  —  Special IT force of 30 soldiers on quad bikes is vital part of Ukraine's defence, but forced to crowdfund for supplies  —  One week into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia massed a 40-mile mechanised column in order to mount an overwhelming attack on Kyiv from the north.

Ukrainians claim to retake ground ahead of latest talks  —  LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces claimed to have retaken a Kyiv suburb and an eastern town from the Russians in what is becoming a back-and-forth stalemate on the ground, while negotiators began assembling for another round of talks Tuesday aimed at stopping the fighting.

First look: Biden to ask Congress to fund the police  —  President Biden will propose more than $32 billion in new spending to fight crime, two White House officials familiar with his 2023 budget plans tells Axios, putting a price tag on his State of the Union call to fund — not defund — the police.

Trump staff defensive over claims of ‘anemic’ turnout at Georgia rally: ‘Fake news!’  —  'This is the smallest crowd I've seen at a rally of his in Georgia since he won the 2016 election,' says journalist Greg Bluestein  —  (Related) Trump teases 2024 presidential run and repeats false claim election was stolen

Rival Networks Aided Fox News After Ukraine Tragedy, Highlighting War-Zone Collaboration  —  Journalists are coordinating on an array of challenges, including travel routes, evacuation plans and access to supplies  —  In the hours after three journalists working for Fox News in Ukraine took fire …

Calling Gabbard and Carlson Traitors on Russia Only Grows Their Appeal  —  It's an old story: In times of war, antiwar voices are labeled disloyal.  —  This month, former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Tucker Carlson's show on Fox News, where they both alleged …

5-year and 30-year Treasury yields invert for the first time since 2006, fueling recession fears  —  U.S. 5-year and 30-year Treasury yields on Monday briefly inverted for the first time since 2006, raising fears of a possible recession.  —  Earlier on Monday, the yield on the 5-year Treasury note rose …