Biden spokeswoman slams Indiana abortion law as ‘radical’ Republican move  —  White House press secretary reiterates Democrats' long-shot strategy of codifying abortion rights via congressional legislation  —  Biden making a ‘big mistake’ by speaking for all women on abortion: Mercedes Schlapp

State Legislatures Are Torching Democracy  —  Even in moderate places like Ohio, gerrymandering has let unchecked Republicans pass extremist laws that could never make it through Congress. … As the Supreme Court anticipated when it overturned Roe v. Wade, the battle over abortion rights is now being waged state by state.

Dems near pivotal vote with climate agenda intact, prescription-drug plan dinged  —  Democrats have survived the vetting of the Medicare portions of their prescription drug reform plan, but lost ground on a separate pillar that penalizes drug companies for raising prices on individuals …

Trump blasts the Democratic-led climate and tax bill, says ‘old broken crow’ Mitch McConnell was ‘taken for a ride’ by Joe Manchin  — Former President Trump blasted McConnell and Manchin over the Democratic-led climate and tax bill.  — Trump said McConnell was “taken for a ride” …

GOP Lawmakers Lobby Oil Industry to Denounce Tax-and-Climate Bill  —  Democrats' plan includes measures lauded by some in the oil-and-gas industry, frustrating Republicans  —  WASHINGTON—Congressional Republicans are ramping up pressure on the oil-and-gas industry to take an aggressive stance …

Tim Ryan turned his race into a surprise Senate battleground.  Now comes the hard part.  —  Tim Ryan may be running ahead of J.D. Vance in Ohio.  But the cavalry is coming to Vance's rescue.  —  Whether Ryan can survive the coming ad onslaught and keep Ohio's Senate race surprisingly competitive is an open question.

Drop Box for Babies: Conservatives Promote a Way to Give Up Newborns Anonymously  —  After Roe, groups are seeking to expand safe haven laws, which allow women to surrender babies with minimal interference.  But these laws pose their own problems.  —  The Safe Haven Baby Box at a firehouse in Carmel …

WATCH: Gleeful Jeanine Pirro Says Britney Griner Won't be Taking a Knee Anymore  —  WNBA star Britney Griner was sentenced this week to 9 years in prison.  The United States is working on getting her freed from jail and has discussed prisoner exchanges.  —  Since Griner has dabbled in activism …

How ‘Loyal Dog’ Sean Hannity Went From King of Fox News to Has-Been  —  Hannity was once Fox's most-watched host, but now he's fallen all the way to fourth place.  What happened?  —  Oh, how the mighty have fallen.  —  During the Trump administration, Sean Hannity was on top of the world.

In Turbulent Times, Xi Builds a Security Fortress for China, and Himself  —  Taiwan, Covid, “color revolutions,” the classroom: everywhere, China's leader sees threats that foreign forces can exploit, and he has enlisted the whole nation to resist.  —  Over informal, private meals with American leaders …

Eric Greitens lost the Missouri Senate primary.  He won't disappear from politics  —  Whatever you want to call the two-minute speech former Gov. Eric Greitens made on election night, it wasn't a concession.  —  He did not congratulate Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on winning the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Old problem for new governor - the distraction of ambition  —  On Wednesday evening, favor-seeking business people, lobbyists and activists, having stroked checks for four and five figures to Glenn Youngkin's political action committee, streamed into the former Tredegar Iron Works …

Florida officials speak out after state attorney Andrew Warren suspended  —  “Does my vote not count?” a sign read outside at a protest outside the Hillsborough County Courthouse Thursday evening.  — The question echoed throughout Tampa Bay, and Democrat politicians voiced their outrage.

Top scientist admits ‘space telescope image’ was actually a slice of chorizo  —  A French scientist has apologized after tweeting a photo of a slice of chorizo, claiming it was an image of a distant star taken by the James Webb Space Telescope.  Étienne Klein, a celebrated physicist …

For Alex Jones, a Moment of Truth in a Flood of Lies  —  In America's clash between information and disinformation, the facts just won a rare round: Alex Jones has conceded that the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012, which he had repeatedly told millions …