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.

House Republicans brace for doomsday scenario if McCarthy falls short of 218 votes for speaker  —  As a right-wing faction threatens to tank his speakership ambitions, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy delivered a promise: “I'll never leave,” making clear he has no plans to drop out of the race …

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.

Private RNC member emails reveal anger at 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 …

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.

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 …

Non-binary Biden nuclear official Sam Brinton accused in second luggage heist  —  A Biden energy department official who allegedly stole a woman's suitcase from a Minneapolis airport in September has been accused of another luggage heist at a Las Vegas airport.

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.

War has tamed Ukraine's oligarchs, creating space for democratic change  —  Ukraine may have the opportunity to rebuild a postwar society that is more democratic, less corrupt and more economically diversified  —  BURSHTYN, Ukraine — Over two days in October, eight Russian cruise missiles screamed …

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.

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.

Russia is providing ‘unprecedented’ military support to Iran in exchange for drones, officials say  —  Russia is now providing an “unprecedented level” of military and technical support to Iran in exchange for Tehran supplying weapons for the war in Ukraine, senior Biden administration officials say.

Tennessee suspends ex-senator's law license over guilty plea  —  The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended the law license of a former Tennessee state senator who pleaded guilty last month to violating federal campaign finance laws.  The court suspended former Republican …