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 …

Jared Kushner expected to appear before Jan. 6 committee this week  —  Plans are for Kushner to appear virtually before the panel, say sources.  —  Jared Kushner, former President Trump's son-in-law who served as a senior West Wing aide during the Trump administration …

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 …

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  —  This article was featured in One Story to Read Today, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a single must-read from The Atlantic, Monday through Friday.  Sign up for it here.  —  HELOTES, Texas—Last spring, having just retired from Congress, Will Hurd was feeling adrift.

Florida governor signs controversial 'Don't Say Gay' bill into law  —  The bill bans lessons on sexual orientation or gender identity in some grades.  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed the “Don't Say Gay” bill by critics.

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.

We are reinstating our SAT/ACT requirement for future admissions cycles by Stu Schmill '86  —  in order to help us continue to build a diverse and talented MIT … When we initially suspended our testing requirement due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote:

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.

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 …

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.

ABC, CBS, NBC ignore Hunter Biden scandals, haven't mentioned his name in 259 days, study says  —  'Twelve days after the Times confirmed that Hunter Biden's laptop is real, ABC, CBS and NBC are still silent,' Scott Whitlock wrote  —  Hunter Biden story resurrected

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

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 …

Shifting Support for Some, But Not All, Covid Mandates  —  West Long Branch, NJ - Support for Covid-19 face-mask and social distancing guidelines has dropped from half of the public to just a third in the past two months as a large majority of Americans endorse the C.D.C. relaxing its recommendations.

‘Biggest fraud in a generation’: The looting of the Covid relief plan known as PPP  —  They bought Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Bentleys.  —  And Teslas, of course.  Lots of Teslas.  —  Many who participated in what prosecutors are calling the largest fraud in American history …