Sen. Kyrsten Sinema: Why I'm registering as an independent  —  The Arizona senator explains why she has left the Democratic Party.  —  There's a disconnect between what everyday Americans want and deserve from our politics, and what political parties are offering.

Justice Department asks judge to hold Trump team in contempt over Mar-a-Lago case  —  The request came after months of mounting frustration from the Justice Department with the former president's lawyers.  —  Prosecutors have urged a federal judge to hold Donald Trump's office in contempt …

Brittney Griner back home in US after Russian prisoner swap  —  Brittney Griner returned to the United States early Friday, nearly 10 months after the basketball star's detention in Russia made her the most high-profile American jailed abroad and set off a political firestorm.

Just What Did the Times Walkout Change?  —  As they have been threatening to do for months now, the New York Times newsroom went on a one-day strike today.  —  As a reader, you might not have noticed.  The paper got its Brittney Griner-is-free scoop out on a push notification before the Washington Post did.

Trump's 2024 Campaign So Far Is an Epic Act of Self-Sabotage  —  But is this really the end of an error?  —  The official campaign for the 2024 Republican Presidential nomination is barely three weeks old, but there is one clear takeaway so far: Donald Trump is running against himself—and losing.

Private RNC member emails reveal anger to Trump, frustration with McDaniel's response to him  —  A handful of Republican National Committee members denounced former President Donald Trump, with one pushing for fellow members and RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel to forcefully condemn his decision …

First on CNN: January 6 committee considers criminal referrals for at least 4 others besides Trump  —  The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection is considering criminal referrals for at least four individuals in addition to former President Donald Trump, multiple sources told CNN.

Biden earned political capital this fall.  He's quietly spending it.  —  White House officials and senior Democrats believe the party's better-than-expected fall has relieved considerable pressure on Joe Biden to act quickly on a reelection bid.  —  But they're still making moves.

Energy department official accused of stealing luggage from Las Vegas airport  —  LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — An energy department official is accused of stealing luggage from Harry Reid International Airport, the 8 News Now Investigators learned Thursday.  —  A felony warrant was issued for Sam Brinton …

Indicted sponsor of Florida's 'don't say gay' bill resigns from Legislature  —  One day after being indicted on charges of money laundering and wire fraud, state Republican Rep. Joe Harding of Ocala announced his resignation from Florida's House of Representatives.

Making PACER court records system free wouldn't add to deficit, CBO says  —  Making the federal judiciary's online court records system known as PACER free under a pending bill in the U.S. Senate would not add to the federal deficit as initially presumed, but would actually cut it by $14 million …

I Lost My Brother Twice  —  First to schizophrenia, then forever to the city.  —  The police officer said “an incident had occurred in a subway station” concerning my brother Zack, but he wouldn't say what exactly had happened.  They had called his mother, who had then called my father, who then called me.

Inside the Herschel Walker campaign fiasco  —  Back in August during the heat of one of the most important Senate races in the country, Herschel Walker's campaign staffers were preoccupied with a dog. … - “Alvin the Beagle” was a star of Sen. Raphael Warnock's campaign ads …