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 …

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.

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 …

'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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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

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 …

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 …

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.

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

Facebook paid GOP firm to malign TikTok … Facebook parent company Meta is paying one of the biggest Republican consulting firms in the country to orchestrate a nationwide campaign seeking to turn the public against TikTok.  —  The campaign includes placing op-eds and letters to the editor …

Alex Jones faces fines for skipping Sandy Hook deposition  —  HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut judge said Wednesday Infowars host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones will be fined for each weekday that passes without him appearing for a deposition in a lawsuit brought by relatives …

The Daily Wire says it's pouring $100 million into kids entertainment  —  The Daily Wire is planning a significant push into kids entertainment, with what it says will be “a minimum of $100 million” investment into over the next three years. … Disney has begun to speak out about the bill …

Conspiracy Theorist Lara Logan Thanks God She Was ‘Dumped by Fox’  —  The former star journalist insisted she's relieved to have avoided “taint” of network's pro-Ukraine coverage, while touting vaccine conspiracies and Putin propaganda  —  Lara Logan — the former 60 Minutes star reporter …

Ukraine has widened the breach between U.S. and Persian Gulf countries … Russia's invasion of Ukraine has heightened existing strains in the Biden administration's relationships in the Middle East, even as it has brought new unity to NATO and transatlantic ties.