House GOP eyes Social Security, Medicare amid spending battle  —  Republicans have pledged to cut spending and balance the budget, triggering a delicate conversation on the future of Americans' benefits  —  House Republicans have started to weigh a series of legislative proposals targeting Social Security …

7 dead, 1 critically injured after shootings at 2 farms in Half Moon Bay; suspect in custody  —  A source tells ABC7 there are seven dead and one critically injured at Mountain Mushroom Farm and Concord Farms in HMB.  —  HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KGO) — Seven people are dead …

Initial Senate Ratings: Democrats Have a Lot of Defending to Do  —  Dear Readers: Please join us this week for a pair of special Center for Politics forums, both of which are free and open to the public and will also be livestreamed.  —  Today (Tuesday, Jan. 24) at 4 p.m. …

US Confronts China Over Companies' Ties to Russian War Effort  —  The Biden administration has confronted China's government with evidence that suggests some Chinese state-owned companies may be providing assistance for Russia's war effort in Ukraine, as it tries to ascertain if Beijing …

Political books are often bland.  Mike Pompeo's is savage.  —  ‘Never Give an Inch’ recounts his hard-nosed tactics in the Trump administration, his love for the former president and his disdain for his enemies  —  “Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love” …

National Poll: Biden's Approval Recovers Two Years into Term, Trump Maintains Lead over DeSantis in GOP Primary  —  Home Polls National Poll: Biden's Approval Recovers Two Years into Term, Trump Maintains Lead over DeSantis in GOP Primary  —  Majority of Democratic Voters Think Biden Should be the Nominee in 2024

DeSantis Is Right on African-American Studies  —  With the state of American historical and civic knowledge in near collapse, who thinks high-school students need to be brushing up on ‘Black Queer Studies’?  —  Florida governor Ron DeSantis stands accused of a long parade of horribles …

Remember OAN?  Newsmax Could Be the Next Channel in Danger  —  GOP lawmakers are now pressuring the satellite TV provider to pay Newsmax “fair and equitable” fees to broadcast the right-wing channel to its millions of subscribers.  —  According to a letter sent by House Republicans last week …

Ron DeSantis Believes in Free Speech as Long as You Only Speak About the Awesomeness of Straight White People  —  The Florida governor's decision to block an AP African studies course is just the latest example of his war on the expression of beliefs—and the teaching of facts!—that he doesn't agree with.

Nate Silver and FiveThirtyEight Are on ABC's Chopping Block … This reporting is one of several scoops featured in this week's edition of Confider, the newsletter pulling back the curtain on the media.  Subscribe here and send your questions, tips, and complaints here.

‘Diamond’ of pro-Trump commentary duo dies of heart disease  —  Lynette Hardaway, a zealous supporter of former President Donald Trump whose death had prompted widespread speculation over its cause, died earlier this month of a heart condition, according to a death certificate obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

Rebranding rift guts Blue Dog Dem ranks  —  Congress' influential Blue Dog Coalition is getting chopped nearly in half after an internal blow-up over whether to rebrand the centrist Democratic group.  —  Seven of the 15 members expected to join the Blue Dogs this year, including Reps. Abigail Spanberger …

Judge to consider release of grand jury report on Trump Georgia election probe  —  A judge is set to hold a hearing Tuesday to consider whether to release a report by a Georgia special grand jury that conducted a criminal investigation into whether then-President Donald Trump …

A Plan for Blowing Up U.S. Climate Politics  —  A small band of political strategists gathered last September in a restaurant near Dupont Circle to meet a visitor from the other side of the world.  Everyone at the table was immersed in the battle against climate change …

First look: NRSC blitz pressures “Maserati Manchin” to retire … The National Republican Senatorial Committee is portraying Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) as a Davos-trekking elitist in a direct mail and digital ad campaign directed at West Virginia voters.  —  Why it matters: The NRSC's early …