Biden begins 2023 with a stronger hand to play and an inclination to play it  —  A year makes a difference after all.  —  President Joe Biden begins 2023 politically stronger than 12 months ago, bolstered by his party's surprise midterms success, a robust set of legislative accomplishments …

Trump rings in 2023 facing headwinds in his White House run  —  Donald Trump began 2022 on a high.  Primary candidates were flocking to Florida to court the former president for a coveted endorsement.  His rallies were drawing thousands.  A bevy of investigations remained largely under the radar.

The ‘Red Wave’ Washout: How Skewed Polls Fed a False Election Narrative  —  The errant surveys spooked some candidates into spending more money than necessary, and diverted help from others who otherwise had a fighting chance of winning.  —  Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat …

The talented Mr. Santos: A congressman-elect's unraveling web of deception  —  Even by the low standards for truth-telling in politics, the scope of the falsehoods from the newly elected House Republican has been breathtaking  —  The Republican who won a congressional seat on Long Island …

Benedict XVI, First Modern Pope to Resign, Dies at 95  —  He defined a conservative course for the Roman Catholic Church, but his papacy was noted for his struggle with the clergy sexual abuse scandal and for his unexpected resignation.  —  Benedict XVI, the pope emeritus …

Trump Called Supporters Storming Capitol ‘Trashy’ But Good ‘Fighters’: Jan. 6 Testimony  —  He was “reveling” in how they were “fighting for him,” testified former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.  —  When Donald Trump was watching last year's Jan. 6 riot unfold on TV …

Anthony Fauci Quietly Shocked Us All  —  The first time I met Dr. Anthony Fauci was at the International AIDS Conference in Montreal during the summer of 1989.  ACT UP, the AIDS activist group I was a part of, had scared the bejesus out of conference organizers by seizing the stage during …

The Invention of Elise Stefanik  —  To rise through the Trump-era G.O.P., a young congresswoman gave up her friends, her mentors and her ideals.  Will it be enough?  —  Elise Stefanik had had enough.  —  In the wake of the 2018 midterms, the young congresswoman was sick of commuting …

Authorities tracked the Idaho student killings suspect cross-country to Pennsylvania, sources say  —  Authorities tracked the man charged in the killings of four Idaho college students all the way to Pennsylvania and surveilled him for several days before finally arresting him on Friday, sources told CNN.

Trump's Taxes Are the Best Case Yet for Putting Him in Prison  —  This Friday news dump is a huge deal, and should be the final nail in his coffin. … Don't let the cynics who know little about our tax system trick you into thinking there was nothing all that new or important in the six years …

Award-winning broadcaster suspended for speaking the truth during a college bowl sportscast  —  North Carolina State radio broadcaster Gary Hahn was suspended on Friday.  His offense was referring to “illegal aliens” in El Paso while giving an update on the Sun Bowl being played in El Paso.

Elon Musk Becomes First Person Ever to Lose $200 Billion  —  Elon Musk was the second person ever to amass a personal fortune of more than $200 billion, breaching that threshold in January 2021, months after Jeff Bezos.  —  The Tesla Inc. chief executive officer has now achieved a first of his own …

Chief justice: Judges' safety ‘essential’ to court system  —  With security threats to Supreme Court justices still fresh memories, Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday praised programs that protect judges, saying that “we must support judges by ensuring their safety.”

Barbara Walters dies at 93; news anchor broke the boy's club of network television  —  Barbara Walters, the first woman to break up the all-male club of network television anchors and one of the last remaining megastars in broadcast news who deftly coaxed world leaders and celebrities alike …