McCarthy Proposes Gutting Office of Congressional Ethics in Bid for Speaker  —  House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy spent the first two days of the new year trying to shore up GOP support for his bid to be Speaker by releasing a series of proposals aimed at winning over hard-right detractors who stand to torpedo his ascension.

Pro-Putin operatives in Germany work to turn Berlin against Ukraine  —  In Germany some are clamouring for a change in course on Ukraine.  Key figures in the campaign have links to the Russian state or far right, a Reuters investigation has found.  —  In a square beneath the twin spires …

Kellyanne Conway Reveals Only Person Donald Trump ‘Reserves Fear For’  —  Conway said she contacted Melania Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, to have her husband quell the growing mob — because Melania was the only person Trump feared.  —  Donald Trump feared just one person during his volatile one-term presidency: his own wife, Melania Trump.

George Santos Comes to Washington.  It Could Be Awkward.  —  On the first day of the 118th Congress, the representative-elect, a Republican who has made false claims about his background, education and finances, will bring his saga to Capitol Hill.  —  WASHINGTON — Representative-elect George Santos has been hard to pin down.

Exclusive: Donald Trump Jr. signs 7-figure podcast deal with Rumble … - Rumble went public via a blank check company merger in September that valued the platform at over $2 billion at the time.  — The company has made strides in user growth, but continues to burn through cash as it launches new features and spends on marketing.

Trying to Trademark ‘Rigged Election,’ and Other Revelations From the Jan. 6 Transcripts  —  The Jan. 6 committee released a whirlwind of documents in its final days and wrapped up its work on Monday.  —  WASHINGTON — The nation's top military officer saw the Jan. 6 attack as similar to the …

Virgin Islands Attorney General Loses Her Job Days After Suing JPMorgan Chase in Connection with the Jeffrey Epstein Probe  —  The Virgin Islands top prosecutor who reached a more than $105 million settlement with Jeffrey Epstein's estate lost her job days after suing JPMorgan Chase in connection with her probe.

Americans Largely Pessimistic About U.S. Prospects in 2023  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Coming off several challenging years, Americans enter 2023 with a mostly gloomy outlook for the U.S. as majorities predict negative conditions in 12 of 13 economic, political, societal and international arenas.

Trump's Tax Returns Are Only Part of the Picture  —  Democrats released six years' worth of former President Donald Trump's tax returns last Friday, confirming earlier findings outlined in a pair of congressional analyses of the records: Trump took hundreds of millions of dollars …

Muzzled by DeSantis, Critical Race Theory Professors Cancel Courses or Modify Their Teaching  —  Co-published with The Atlantic … Jonathan Cox faced an agonizing decision.  He was scheduled to teach two classes this past fall at the University of Central Florida that would explore colorblind racism …

Trump seems to have a large war chest - but is he struggling to raise money?  —  Some high-profile mega-donors have fled, small-dollar donor stream that fueled his past runs is drying up, and he is accused of violating ‘soft money’ laws  —  ith his 2024 presidential candidacy officially kicked into gear …

Colorado plans to send more migrants to New York  —  NEW YORK — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis plans to send migrants to major cities including New York, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday, warning that the nation's largest city is already struggling to deal an influx of people sent from Texas and other Republican-led states.

A Far-Right Gang Of House Members Will Hold Power Over Their Caucus — With A Megaphone  —  The GOP lawmakers, who have spent years becoming far-right influencers, are poised to hold a concerning amount of control over the new Congress.  —  The day after Election Day, Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona …

Nikki Haley slams McConnell, Biden ‘publicity stunt’ in Kentucky: ‘Nothing to celebrate’  —  Haley blasts ‘woke, bloated infrastructure law’ ahead of Biden, McConnell event in Kentucky

David French Joins The Times as an Opinion Columnist  —  Opinion announces that the writer and legal scholar David French is joining The New York Times staff as an Opinion columnist.  Read more in this note from Kathleen Kingsbury and Patrick Healy.  —  Writing about politics and current affairs …

Patty Murray makes history as first female Senate pro tem  —  Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) was elected Senate president pro tempore Tuesday, becoming the first woman to hold the job since its inception and putting her third in the line of presidential succession.