In new memoir, Mike Pompeo says Trump told him to ‘shut the hell up’ about China  —  Donald Trump told former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to “shut the hell up for a while” about China at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in order to avoid angering the country's leader, according to a memoir that Pompeo will publish next week.

Trump thought photo of accuser was of ex-wife during deposition  —  NEW YORK — Donald Trump mistook his sexual assault accuser E. Jean Carroll for his ex-wife Marla Maples when shown a photograph from the 1990s in a deposition at Mar-a-Lago last year, potentially undermining one of the common defenses he has used to deny an attack.

Biden world giddy at MTG, Gosar, and Boebert being placed on Oversight  —  House Republicans' installation of some of their most incendiary conservatives on the Oversight Committee is sparking an unexpected feeling inside the White House: unbridled glee.  —  The panel tasked with probing Biden policies …

Inside the White House document strategy and its pitfalls  —  Biden aides are said to have tried to defer to DOJ, lay low and avoid Trump-like behavior.  They got a political firestorm — and then a special counsel.  —  One of President Biden's personal attorneys entered …

‘Ground zero of the Republican Civil War’: The Indiana Senate race could get ugly, quickly  —  The latest front in the Republican civil war is set to erupt in the otherwise quiet state of Indiana.  —  Party officials and insiders are girding for an increasingly nasty primary battle …

GOP Rep. Steube sustains ‘several injuries’ after accident on his property  —  Rep. Greg Steube of Florida sustained “several injuries” Wednesday after being involved in an accident at his property, his office said.  —  It was not immediately clear the severity of the injuries or how they occurred.

Embattled U.S. Rep. Santos was drag queen in Brazil pageants, say associates  —  U.S. Representative George Santos competed as a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago, two acquaintances told Reuters on Wednesday, adding to contrasts that have drawn criticism …

Jacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New Zealand  —  Labour leader says she ‘no longer had enough in the tank’ to do the job  —  New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has announced her resignation in a shock announcement.  —  At the party's annual caucus meeting on Thursday …

Putin ally Medvedev warns NATO of nuclear war if Russia is defeated in Ukraine  —  Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, an ally of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, warned NATO on Thursday that the defeat of Russia in Ukraine could trigger a nuclear war.  —  Striking a similar tone …

Georgia State Patrol trooper shot during raid to remove ‘forest defenders,’ shooter killed by police  —  A Georgia State Patrol trooper was shot today as police moved in to an area where protesters previously identified as domestic terrorists have been camping to prevent the construction of a new police training center.

Why George Santos Won't Be Able to Fake His Way Through Congress  —  Mr. King, a Republican, was a member of Congress from 1993 to 2021, representing parts of Long Island.  He served as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.  —  In the latest twist in the surreal saga of George Santos …

Florida Says AP African American Studies Program ‘Lacks Educational Value’  —  The state used Ron DeSantis' “Stop WOKE Act” to block the proposed program from its schools  —  FLORIDA HAS BLOCKED the College Board from testing a pilot Advanced Placement African American Studies (APAAS) …

U.S. readies another massive military package for Ukraine  —  The Pentagon is expected to provide, for the first time, Stryker fighting vehicles in anticipation of a coming offensive  —  The Biden administration is preparing to announce a roughly $2.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine …

Manchin floats fiscal commissions for debt limit bill  —  As President Joe Biden and most congressional Democrats say they won't negotiate with Republicans on lifting the debt ceiling, at least one party centrist is willing to work across the aisle to get a deal.

In S.C., pinball is banned for children.  A new law could change that.  —  South Carolina's pinball community is booming, enthusiast Sarah Lindsay proudly brags.  Hundreds of players showed up last year to play at dozens of tournaments and league nights, and pinball arcades are popping …

Senators Pursue Deal on Border Security and Path to Citizenship for Dreamers  —  A bipartisan group recently visited Arizona and Texas, but their efforts face hurdles in the House  —  President Biden Makes First Visit to Mexican Border  —  Created with sketchtool. … 1x

Emmy-winning journalist Cecilia Vega joins 60 Minutes  —  Emmy Award-winning journalist Cecilia Vega is joining CBS News as a correspondent for 60 Minutes, executive producer Bill Owens announced today.  Vega will begin reporting for the broadcast in the spring and will be based in Washington, D.C.

1/19/23 ☀️ Punchbowl News AM … This is notable for many reasons.  California - specifically San Francisco - is Pelosi's home turf.  And she's by far the biggest fundraiser in congressional history, raising more than $1 billion for Democrats during 20 years in leadership, according to her team.