Justice Dept. expands Jan. 6 probe to look at rally prep, financing … The criminal investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol has expanded to examine the preparations for the rally that preceded the riot, as the Justice Department aims to determine the full extent of any conspiracy …

U.S. intelligence suggests that Putin's advisers misinformed him on Ukraine.  —  WASHINGTON — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has been misinformed by his advisers about the Russian military's struggles in Ukraine, according to declassified U.S. intelligence.

Revealed: Trump used White House phone for call on January 6 that was not on official log  —  Trump's call to Republican senator should have been reflected in presidential call log on day of Capitol attack but wasn't  —  Donald Trump used an official White House phone to place at least …

Turmoil at CBS News over Trump aide Mick Mulvaney's punditry gig … CBS News's decision to hire former Trump administration official Mick Mulvaney as a paid on-air contributor is drawing backlash within the company because of his history of bashing the press and promoting the former president's fact-free claims.

Will Smith refused to leave the Oscars after slapping Chris Rock, academy says  —  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that Will Smith was asked to leave the Oscars ceremony after he slapped Chris Rock, but Smith refused.  —  “Things unfolded in a way we could …

Inside Hunter Biden's multimillion-dollar deals with a Chinese energy company … The deal was years in the making, the culmination of forging contacts, hosting dinners, of flights to and from China.  But on Aug. 2, 2017, signatures were quickly affixed, one from Hunter Biden, the other from a Chinese executive named Gongwen Dong.

Ivermectin Does Not Reduce Risk of Covid Hospitalization, Large Study Finds  —  “At some point it will become a waste of resources to continue studying an unpromising approach,” one expert said.  — Give this article- - - Read in app  —  The anti-parasitic drug ivermectin …

AP sources: Asylum limits at border expected to end May 23  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is expected to end the asylum limits at the U.S.-Mexico border by May 23 that were put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to people familiar with the matter.

Scoop: FEC fines DNC and Clinton for Trump dossier hoax  —  The Federal Election Commission has fined the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign for lying about the funding of the infamous, and discredited, Russian “dossier” used in a smear attempt against Donald Trump weeks …

'He's an embarrassment': Republicans threaten to primary Cawthorn over controversial antics  —  Madison Cawthorn had a rough week 05:00  —  (CNN)Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina is throwing his weight behind a primary opponent to freshman Rep. Madison Cawthorn — an extraordinary broadside …

I'm quitting Disney after seeing it boast about pushing ‘gender theory’  —  The Walt Disney Co. just refuses to let it go.  —  On Tuesday, Christopher Rufo, known for his exposés on schools and corporations under the critical-race-theory spell, released internal Disney videos …

Biden Plan Would Release a Million Barrels of Oil a Day From Reserve  —  WASHINGTON — President Biden is considering a plan to release one million barrels of oil a day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for as long as 180 days, a move that would add a large amount of oil to the global market …

Collins to Back Jackson for Supreme Court, Giving Her a G.O.P. Vote  —  Senator Susan Collins, a centrist from Maine, said a second meeting with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson alleviated her concerns.  It is unclear if other Republicans will join her.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

Arizona governor signs bills banning gender-affirming care, trans student athletes  —  “This legislation is common-sense and narrowly-targeted to address these two specific issues - while ensuring that transgender individuals continue to receive the same dignity, respect and kindness …

Highlighting COVID-19 racial disparities can reduce support for safety precautions among White U.S. residents☆  —  Allison L.Skinner-DorkenooaApoorvaSarmalaKashee naRogbeeraChloeAndré aBhumiPatelaLeahChaa  —  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.202 2.114951 … Abstract

Ted Cruz picks the wrong time to tout the virtues of democracy  —  To hear Ted Cruz tell it, Democrats “don't believe in democracy.”  The slander isn't just wrong; it's unusually ironic.  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reflected this week on the importance of the 2022 midterm elections.

Democracy is good for your health  —  Here's a big reason to study the people of Ukraine: The war is showing in real-time the power of democracy, amid growing global clout for dictators.  —  Why it matters: Free people live better lives, a mountain of data shows.

Koch Industries' valentine to Vladimir Putin  —  Give Koch Industries credit for consistency: It's aiding the foes of democracy at home and abroad.  —  In the two weeks since I wrote about U.S. companies that remained in Russia despite Vladimir Putin's savage invasion of Ukraine …