Playbook: Inside Biden's high-road SOTU  —  With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  DeSANTIS DOWNLOAD — Two new stories offer further evidence that Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS is moving deliberately toward a run for the Republican presidential nomination.

Jim Jordan is about to lead Republicans into a dangerous trap  —  House Republicans are planning a long-running extravaganza of hearings designed to dramatize the notion that the “deep state” is persecuting conservatives.  In one sense, this will find a receptive audience …

New images of the Chinese balloon recovery show the closest glimpse yet  —  U.S. service members have recovered substantial remnants of the Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down over the Atlantic on Saturday, according to newly released photos that provided the closest glimpse yet of the craft.

Santos expected to face House ethics committee probe  —  New York Republican Rep. George Santos is expected to face an investigation from the House Ethics Committee, a probe that could derail his already imperiled political career depending on the secretive panel's findings.

The Fair Tax is haunting the 2024 GOP field  —  President Biden and Democratic allies have relentlessly attacked Republicans in recent weeks for cracking the door open to a Fair Tax, a plan to scrap the American tax code and replace it with a jumbo-sized sales tax.  —  They might get many more opportunities to bring it up.

Education Issues Vault to Top of the G.O.P.'s Presidential Race  —  Donald Trump and possible rivals, like Gov. Ron DeSantis, are making appeals to conservative voters on race and gender issues, but such messages had a mixed record in November's midterm elections.

Why the Stormy Daniels Charges Might Actually Reach Trump This Time  —  A criminal investigation of former President Donald Trump that is now being restarted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and also discussed in a new book by one of his former prosecutors, Mark Pomerantz …

China Has More ICBM Launchers Than U.S., American Military Reports  —  While the U.S. leads in intercontinental missiles and warheads, China's gains are fueling debate in Congress  —  The U.S. military has notified Congress that China now has more land-based intercontinental-range missile launchers …

Marty Walsh to depart from Biden cabinet for job atop hockey players' union  —  Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is set to leave the Biden administration to run the NHL Players Association, two people familiar with the matter confirmed.  —  A separate person privy to the talks said that the two sides are currently in contract negotiations.

Trump Charges in Georgia Over 2020 Could Lead to Bigger Fed Case  —  The first major criminal charges that Donald Trump could face for interfering in the 2020 election might come from Atlanta — and what happens in Georgia isn't expected to stay in Georgia.  —  Fulton County District Attorney …

Oklahoma gender activists fight for the right to mutilate children  —  On Monday, more than 100 gender activists stormed the Oklahoma Capitol building in protest of legislation that would prohibit healthcare centers from administering chemical treatment or performing surgical sex-change procedures on gender-confused minors.

As Russia Amasses Troops in East, Questions Remain About Its Ability to Sustain an Offensive … Moscow's forces are advancing only a few hundred meters a week, U.K. intelligence says.  —  KYIV, Ukraine — As Russia makes slow, bloody gains in a renewed push to capture more of eastern Ukraine …

The High School ‘Asshole’ Who Became a Blackface-Wearing Neo-Nazi Homeschool Dad  —  “The Lawrences knew everyone, and everyone knew them,” one town resident said about the couple that started the neo-Nazi homeschool network in Ohio.  —  David Gilbert  —  When Logan Lawrence was unmasked …

Cringey 23-Year-Old Mayor Quotes Steve Jobs to Defend His Trumpian Coup  —  Residents unleashed their fury on baby-faced Goddard Mayor Hunter Larkin at a council meeting on Monday night.  —  A 23-year-old Kansas mayor who re-installed himself back into office last month in what some horrified observers …

Florida School District Bans Entire Court of Thorn and Roses Series in New Book Ban  —  A Florida school district that covers 48 schools serving over 50,000 students on Tuesday released a fresh list of books to be banned from all school and classroom libraries.

Disney still going all in on woke  —  Disney has been making some noise publicly about exiting the culture wars, but their writers and producers aren't so keen on that idea, apparently.  —  The clip below is from one of their cartoons, the “Proud Family,” which first appeared earlier …

Rep. Boebert suggests God used her to stand up to McCarthy  —  Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) suggested that God used her to stand up to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), whom she indirectly referred to as one of her “demons,” while speaking at a women's conference at a Dallas church over the weekend.

DeSantis continues broadsides against the media ahead of likely 2024 run  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is signaling plans to ramp up his attack on the news industry ahead of his likely 2024 run for president.  —  DeSantis on Tuesday held a roundtable discussion with media libel law experts …

Rancher, 73, is charged with murder on his Arizona land after shooting dead Mexican, 48, who had history of illegal crossings into US and multiple deportations: Judge refuses to reduce $1M bail despite plea his wife is alone  — George Alan Kelly, 73, was arrested for fatally shooting Gabriel Cuen-Butimea …

Ex-politician may represent himself in reporter murder case  —  A former Las Vegas-area elected official accused of killing a veteran investigative journalist wants to represent himself at trial, according to his attorney and court records.  A judge set a Feb. 28 hearing Monday on a request by Damian Sheets …

How Deepfake Videos Are Used to Spread Disinformation  —  In one video, a news anchor with perfectly combed dark hair and a stubbly beard outlined what he saw as the United States' shameful lack of action against gun violence.  —  In another video, a female news anchor heralded China's role …

Associate Of Sanctioned Oligarch Indicted For Sanctions Evasion And Money Laundering  —  Fugitive Vladimir Voronchenko Aided In Concealing Luxury Real Estate Owned By Viktor Vekselberg  —  Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Andrew C. Adams …

Why eggs are cheaper than you think  —  “Everyone in the U.S. seems obsessed with eggs right now,” my British editor told me.  “It's so bizarre.”  —  Indeed we are.  The soaring price of eggs has given rise to internet memes and a fair amount of conspiracizing — including from a U.S. senator …

Ex-Pink Floyd partner brands Roger Waters antisemitic, lip-synching Putin apologist  —  Pink Floyd star David Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson step up the long-running feud with former bandmate Roger Waters with a scathing attack on Twitter.  —  Samson, an acclaimed novelist, tweets at Rogers …

Alex Jones Urged Rogan To Host Pro-Rape Extremist  —  Alex Jones urged Joe Rogan to host rape apologist and alleged sex trafficker Andrew Tate on his popular podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience,” texts show.  —  Tate, whom Romanian authorities detained over charges of organized crime …