Open revolt: McCarthy rejected a second time  —  Kevin McCarthy again failed to secure the votes for speaker in a highly unusual second ballot, as his dozen-plus detractors refused to relent in their push for fresh leadership atop the party.  —  This time, conservative hero Rep. Jim Jordan …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Biden to Renominate His Picks for Judicial and Diplomatic Posts  —  Nominees, including Eric Garcetti as ambassador to India, to be resubmitted after failing to win Senate confirmation last year  —  WASHINGTON—The White House intends to renominate dozens of presidential selections who failed …

Madison Indigenous arts leader, activist revealed as white  —  Early in 2020, an Indigenous artist urged the owners of a new music venue in town to change its name.  —  It was called The Winnebago, after the street on which it stands.  Many Indigenous people and allies let the owners …

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.

Metal detectors removed from outside the House chamber  —  Metal detectors were removed from outside the House chamber with the start of the new Republican-controlled House on Tuesday.  —  The extra layer of security was ordered put in place by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) …

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.

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 …

Two charged with attacks on four Pierce County power substations  —  Attacks over the Christmas holiday caused $3 million in damage and cut power to thousands  —  Tacoma - Two Puyallup, Washington, men will appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma today charged with conspiracy …

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.

No Action Taken Against Army Officer After Public Dustup with Tucker Carlson over Women Serving  —  The Army took no action against Maj. Gen. Patrick Donahoe and allowed him to retire Sunday, ending a controversy after the service began an investigation into the armor officer's conduct online following posts …

McConnell breaks Senate record for longest serving leader  —  The chamber's minority leader officially beat the previous 16-year tenure of former Sen. Mike Mansfield with the opening of the new Congress Tuesday.  —  Mitch McConnell officially broke the record for longest serving Senate leader on Tuesday.

DeSantis strikes defiant tone in inauguration speech amid 2024 speculation  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) took aim at the “floundering federal establishment” in Washington during his inauguration speech on Tuesday, lauding his accomplishments during his first term as governor and calling Florida a symbol of freedom.

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 …

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 …