Trump releases audio that appears to refute claim he walked out of interview over 2020 questions  —  WASHINGTON — An audio recording obtained by NBC News appears to show that former President Donald Trump's highly publicized interview with Piers Morgan did not end with Trump storming off the set …

McConnell and McCarthy's Jan. 6 Fury at Trump Faded by February  —  In the days after the attack, Representative Kevin McCarthy planned to tell Mr. Trump to resign.  Senator Mitch McConnell told allies impeachment was warranted.  But their fury faded fast.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

‘I was not there to do his bidding’: Sen. Mike Lee breaks his silence about White House text messages  —  Utah Sen. Mike Lee on his ‘thoughts and intents’ behind texts with Mark Meadows for Donald Trump  —  Sen. Mike Lee says the text messages he sent to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows …

Dismantling Disney World's special district status would be complicated and expensive  —  The Florida Legislature is moving swiftly to strip The Walt Disney Co. of a series of unique legal protections that essentially give the company sweeping governmental powers.

Checking Out: Trump Hotel Sale Will End an Era  —  The $375 million sale of a Washington hotel that served as an influence and access bazaar for lawmakers, administration officials and other Trump allies is slated to be finalized this month.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

CDC Statement on Masks in Public Transportation Settings  —  CDC Statement on Masks in Public Transportation Settings  —  To protect CDC's public health authority beyond the ongoing assessment announced last week, CDC has asked DOJ to proceed with an appeal in Health Freedom Defense Fund, Inc., et al., v. Biden, et al.

US unveils latest sanctions targeting Russia  —  The United States on Wednesday unveiled its latest round of sanctions going after Russia over its war on Ukraine, this time targeting a key commercial bank and “a global network of more than 40 individuals and entities led by U.S.-designated Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev.”

Russia's Missile Test Fuels U.S. Fears of an Isolated Putin  —  WASHINGTON — President Vladimir V. Putin's calculated move on Wednesday to test-launch a new intercontinental ballistic missile, declaring it a warning to those in the West who “try to threaten our country,” …

Sanders ‘has not ruled out another run for president’ if Biden doesn't  —  ‘In the event of an open 2024 Democratic presidential primary, Sen. Sanders has not ruled out another run for president,’ writes a top adviser  —  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is open to running for president in 2024 …

Don't Call Them Moderates, Call Them Govern-ers  —  GOP Rep. Fred Upton's announcement last week that he was retiring from his western Michigan district after 35 years means that moderate Republicans are now almost entirely extinct from the U.S. Congress.  Twenty to thirty years ago, Republicans like Upton were more plentiful.

Trump Campaign Ordered to Pay $1.3 Million to Omarosa Manigault Newman in NDA case  —  An arbitrator found Mr. Trump's campaign owes the former White House aide and “Apprentice” star for legal fees, after he sued her for writing a tell-all book.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

He Worked for Moscow's Police for Nearly 20 Years.  Then He Spoke Up About the Ukraine War.  —  Sergei Klokov, one of many Russian-Ukrainians, now faces 10 years in prison  —  Sergei Klokov has worked for the Moscow police for nearly two decades.  —  It was week three of Russia's invasion …

Waiting for a Covid vaccine for your under-five kid?  It may take a bit longer.  —  The Biden administration may now wait until as late as June to authorize a coronavirus vaccine for the nation's youngest children, three people with knowledge of the matter told POLITICO.

Parachute demo at Nats Park causes brief Capitol evacuation  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Capitol was briefly evacuated Wednesday evening after police identified an aircraft that they said posed “a probable threat” — but the plane was actually carrying members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights …

Many say Biden not tough enough on Russia: AP-NORC poll  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Many Americans still question whether President Joe Biden is showing enough strength in response to Russia's war against Ukraine, even as most approve of steps the U.S. is already taking and few want U.S. troops to get involved in the conflict.

Eric Adams Has a Secrecy Problem  —  From tweaked tax returns to ethics advice given to top officials, the current mayor is breaking from predecessors' practice of releasing records — and from his own promises to be open with New Yorkers.  —  Mayor Eric Adams has declared …

We Are Sorry to Say That You Should Take Tucker Carlson's Testicle-Tanning Stuff Seriously  —  Tucker Carlson wants you to tan your testicles.  Or at least to seriously consider it.  No, really, he does.  Unless, of course, he doesn't.  In fact, he's probably just using a juvenile joke …

Russia Faces New Urgency to Avoid Default, Sidestep Wall Street  —  Russia's race to avoid default just escalated.  —  The country has been inching closer after JPMorgan Chase & Co., under orders from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, halted interest payments the country owed on two dollar-denominated bonds in recent weeks.

Biden's dismal poll numbers imperil Dem Senate control  —  Democrats' path to saving their narrow Senate majority comes down to defending four states this fall.  And in all of them, President Joe Biden is underwater in the polls.  —  Biden's drag on swing-state incumbents is emerging …

Proposal to change Utah GOP platform on abortion eliminates language on exceptions for rape, incest and preserving life of the mother  —  Proposed change takes a harder stance on abortion than the LDS Church.  —  Amid the campaigning and politicking at the Utah Republican State Convention on Saturday …

Obamas to Leave Spotify, Seek Multimillion-Dollar Deal Elsewhere  —  Barack and Michelle Obama's time with Spotify Technology SA is coming to an end.  —  The former first family's production company, Higher Ground, won't be signing a new deal with the audio platform, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

How Loneliness Is Damaging Our Health  —  Even before the pandemic, there was an “epidemic of loneliness,” and it was affecting physical health and life expectancy.  —  For two years you didn't see friends like you used to.  You missed your colleagues from work, even the barista on the way there.