Trump plays catch-up with GOP rivals on fights over race and gender in schools  —  Some conservatives say they see Trump as a latecomer on this front, where state-level leaders wield more power and his record as president was thinner by comparison  —  When Donald Trump hit the campaign trail …

Pentagon Downed Object Over Alaska, Official Says  —  The incident comes less than a week after U.S. fighter jet shot down a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic.  —  WASHINGTON — The Pentagon downed an unidentified object over Alaska on Friday at the order of President Biden, according to U.S. officials.

Santos, already raising funds for 2024, is asked by FEC to clarify if he's running for reelection  —  His fundraising has triggered a requirement that he declare a 2024 campaign.  —  The Federal Election Commission is asking embattled Rep.  —  George Santos

DOJ recovers additional classified document from Pence's home  —  Federal investigators found one additional document with classified markings during a search of former Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana home on Friday.  —  The Justice Department conducted a search of Pence's home roughly three weeks …

Fetterman, Recovering After Stroke, Labors to Adjust to Life in the Senate  —  The first-term Democrat is adapting to Congress while coping with the lasting effects of a near-fatal stroke, and the institution is adapting to accommodate him.  —  WASHINGTON — At Senator John Fetterman's desk …

Obama veteran Ben LaBolt to become White House communications director  —  Kate Bedingfield, a senior Biden adviser for four years, will leave the post for a strategic role in President Biden's expected reelection campaign  —  Ben LaBolt, a former adviser to Barack Obama who has worked …

DeSantis wanted to ban guns at event, but not to be blamed, emails show  —  As Gov. Ron DeSantis prepared for an election night party in downtown Tampa last year, city officials received a surprising — and politically sensitive — request.  —  The Republican governor's campaign wanted weapons banned …

Compact A Black Professor Trapped in Anti-Racist Hell  —  On the sunny first day of seminar, I sat at the end of a pair of picnic tables with nervous, excited 17-year-olds.  Twelve high-school students had been chosen by the Telluride Association through a rigorous application process …

The making of Anna Paulina Luna  —  Luna's sharp turn to the right, her account of an isolated and impoverished childhood, and her embrace of her Hispanic heritage have come as a surprise to friends and family who knew her before her ascent to the U.S. House this year.  —  By Jacqueline Alemany and Alice Crites

White House says Biden won't do Super Bowl interview, blames Fox  —  President Biden will not sit for the traditional pre-Super Bowl interview with Fox, which is airing the game on Sunday, the White House said Friday.  —  The president typically gives an interview to air in the lead-up to the Super Bowl …

U.S. Shoots Down High-Altitude Object Over U.S. Airspace  —  Object ‘roughly the size of a car’ was flying at 40,000 feet and posed threat to civilians, officials say  —  WASHINGTON—A U.S. military jet fighter shot down a high altitude object spotted in Alaskan airspace, the White House said Friday.

Scoop: Tim Scott raises presidential buzz with super PAC hires  —  South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has hired former Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner and longtime Republican operative Rob Collins to co-chair a super PAC (Opportunity Matters Fund Action) supporting the senator's political efforts.

Florida legislature expands Ron DeSantis' program to fly migrants to blue states  —  Florida lawmakers passed a bill Friday expanding a program used to fly migrants to Democratic-led cities and states.  Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration will now be able to relocate migrants elsewhere …

Scientists fear a Great Toxic Dustbowl could soon emerge from the Great Salt Lake  —  On the shore of Great Salt Lake, Utah CNN —  Like the rest of the West, Utah has a water problem.  But megadrought and overconsumption aren't just threats to wildlife, agriculture and industry here.

The Relentless Attack on Trans People Is an Attack on All of Us  —  Over the past year, we have seen a sweeping and ferocious attack on the rights and dignity of transgender people across the country.  —  In states led by Republicans, conservative lawmakers have introduced or passed dozens …

Maggie Haberman Claims Asking a Witness to Repeat What He Said in Print Is “Most Aggressive” Move Yet  —  Exactly three months ago, I noted how some journalists were sowing false drama over whether DOJ would subpoena Mike Pence, given that he wrote up key details about January 6 in the WSJ (and his book).

‘1st Amendment’ Group Sues New York Times Over Unflattering Description  —  The paper described the group as pro-Trump, right-wing extremists.  The group says it exists to protect people engaged in free speech — and wants massive damages over the paper's coverage

Miami preschool teacher paints kids in blackface for lesson.  ‘You should know better’  —  Last Friday, Courtney Politis was preparing for her daughter's first birthday party when another parent from her child's school sent her photos of at least three students from her daughter's class dressed in blackface.

Pentagon looks to restart top-secret programs in Ukraine  —  If approved, the move would authorize U.S. Special Operations troops to employ Ukrainian operatives to observe Russian movements and counter disinformation  —  The Pentagon is urging Congress to resume funding a pair of top-secret programs …

The NRA Has Lost Over a Million Members Since Corruption Allegations Surfaced  —  The National Rifle Association keeps shrinking.  —  Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre told attendees at the gun-rights group's most recent board meeting that the organization is down to 4.3 million members, according to multiple sources.

Amish country farmers say George Santos took puppies, left bad checks  —  One breeder recounted how the future member of Congress made off with four golden retrievers, leading to a criminal charge in 2017  —  YORK COUNTY, Pa. — It was after dark when George A. Santos approached the farmer …

Biden administration braces for ruling that could ban abortion pills  —  Doctors and advocates are urging people to pre-order and stockpile abortion pills while they still can in the face of a looming court decision that could wipe out access to the drugs nationwide.

Trump — Not Biden — Tried to Censor Tweets  —  Elon Musk's selective leaks suggested Twitter ‘censored’ Conservatives, but evidence shows they refused to boost a right-wing disinformation campaign around Hunter Biden's laptop  —  Having taken control of the House of Representatives …

What's the matter with Portland?  Shootings, theft and other crime test city's progressive strain  —  If you want to understand the schism that dominates the political and social landscape in this famously liberal city, a walk down Southeast Rhine Street might be a good place to start.

What do conservative donors want?  —  Conservative philanthropy is in crisis.  It needs to be self-critically clear and honest about its position, as well as disciplined in pursuing its issues and aims.  —  Part of The Giving Review's online symposium, “Conservatism and the Future of Tax-Incentivized Big Philanthropy.”

S.F. officials were flooded with disturbing emails after Paul Pelosi attack.  Here's what they said  —  The attack on Paul Pelosi prompted a flood of vitriolic emails to San Francisco officials, many from people influenced by conspiracy theories who accused the district attorney of lying and corruption …

Review: There Is No Magic in Hogwarts Legacy  —  The game is mid at best, and its real-world harms are impossible to ignore. … Rating: … Yikes, y'all.  I don't even smoke and I feel like I need a cigarette before I get this thing started.  We're here to talk about Hogwarts Legacy …

‘The Last of Us’ Is a Zombie Show for the Post-Covid Era  —  Dystopian fiction once reflected a concern about big, chillingly technocratic government.  Now, our worry is something even worse.  —  Joanna Weiss is a POLITICO Magazine contributing writer and the editor of Experience magazine, published by Northeastern University.