Federal Debt and the Statutory Limit, February 2023  —  The debt limit—commonly called the debt ceiling—is the maximum amount of debt that the Department of the Treasury can issue to the public or to other federal agencies.  The amount is set by law and has been increased or suspended …

New York Times Writers Call Out the Paper's Anti-Trans Onslaught  —  “This is not quite business as usual anymore,” one of the organizers of an open letter to the NYT told Hell Gate.  —  On Wednesday morning, a group of almost 200 journalists and writers released an open letter addressed …

Christie on DeSantis: ‘None of Us Really Know Who He Is’ … The GOP 2024 presidential field grows from one to two today.  Only 800 more announcements to come! … - Nikki Haley is set to officially kick off her presidential campaign at an event in Charleston today, but the former South …

First on CNN: DOJ officially decides not to charge Matt Gaetz in sex-trafficking probe  —  The Justice Department has informed lawyers for at least one witness that it will not bring charges against Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz after a years-long federal sex-trafficking investigation.

Judge to Trump: Too late to offer DNA to rebut rape claim  —  Former President Donald Trump missed his chance to use his DNA to try to prove he didn't rape a longtime magazine advice columnist, a federal judge said Wednesday, clearing away a potential roadblock to an April trial.

Buffalo grocery store mass shooter apologizes for racist attack as he receives sentence of life in prison  —  The 19-year-old White man who killed 10 people in a racist mass shooting at a grocery store in a predominantly Black area of Buffalo last May cried and said he regretted his actions …

Nicola Sturgeon says time is right to resign as Scotland's first minister  —  Nicola Sturgeon has announced she is resigning as Scotland's first minister after more than eight years in the role.  —  The Scottish National Party leader said she knew “in my head and in my heart” this was the right time to step down.

Donald Trump Changes Tune on Mail-in Voting, Ballot Collection  —  After years of attacks on early voting, Trump follows other Republicans in suggesting party should embrace tactic  —  After years of assailing early voting, Donald Trump is having a change of heart.

McConnell vs. Scott: The Senate beef that won't die  —  Rick Scott suspects he was booted from his preferred committee in an act of retribution by Mitch McConnell — after the Florida senator challenged the longtime GOP leader for his post.  —  Scott says he's figured out a novel strategy …

The Sleeper Charge Related to January 6  —  How do you get Capone?  —  We learned this week that following the 2020 presidential election the Trump campaign hired an outside research firm to attempt to bolster its claims of election fraud.  The firm, Berkeley Research Group …

Revealed: the hacking and disinformation team meddling in elections  — Group sells hacking services and access to vast army of fake social media profiles  — Evidence unit behind disinformation campaigns across world  — Mastermind Tal Hanan claims covert involvement in 33 presidential elections

Biden's Plan to Limit ‘Junk Fees’ Has Overwhelming, Bipartisan Support  —  Among generations, baby boomers are most likely to support Biden's proposals to reduce or eliminate hidden ticket and entertainment fees  —  Democrats and Republicans don't agree on many things but paying less …

Chris Miller, the MAGA SecDef, Explains His Anger  —  In a memoir he recounts his military career and his eventful short tenure as Trump's last Pentagon chief—including his bitterness about Jan. 6th.  —  Soldier Secretary: Warnings from the Battlefield & the Pentagon about America's Most Dangerous Enemies

George Santos was interviewed by police in 2017 international credit card fraud probe  —  In the early evening on April 17, 2017, a Chase Bank security officer in Seattle watched through an ATM's camera as a man approached and removed a card-skimming device.

The Wisconsin GOP's High Court Crackup  —  They've picked a helluva time for a food fight  —  The election that the media has dubbed “the most important election nobody's ever heard of,” is just weeks away, and has already drawn international attention.  —  The “Stakes are monstrous,” declared Britain's Guardian.

Gavin Newsom says Kimberly Guilfoyle ‘fell prey’ to the culture at Fox News and was a ‘different person’ when they were married  — California Gov. Gavin Newsom told CNN his ex-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle “fell prey” to Fox News.  — Guilfoyle was a “different person” when they were together, Newsom said.

Warming seas are carving into massive Antarctic glacier that could trigger sea level rise  —  New research provides a startling and unprecedented look at how warmer oceans, driven by climate change, are gouging Thwaites Glacier.  West Antarctica, and 10 feet of sea level rise, could ultimately be at stake.

The Long Descent to Insurrection  —  Editor's note: listen to a conversation with the author and Lawfare Senior Editor Quinta Jurecic on the Lawfare Podcast here.  —  The release of the final report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol …

Warren Calls Out Buttigieg, Vilsack For Failing To Stop Monopolies  —  In a speech Wednesday morning, the senator praised the Biden administration's antitrust work, but said more needs to be done.  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called out two major federal agencies for failing to play …

How Deadly Was China's Covid Wave?  —  Two months after China ended “zero Covid,” rough estimates suggest that between 1 and 1.5 million people died — far more than the official count.  —  China's official count  —  83,150 deaths  —  Model based on Shanghai outbreak  —  1.6 million deaths

Republicans are doubling down on abortion.  They'll regret it.  —  Republicans' extreme antiabortion stance cost them dearly in the midterms, especially among women, young people and college-educated voters.  But rather than adjust course, they are doubling down.

Top Republicans plot Santos' ouster as embattled freshman weighs reelection  —  Embattled Rep. George Santos is contemplating a nightmare scenario for House Republicans: Trying to stick it out in Congress, even if he is indicted on criminal charges.  —  After previously signaling to Republicans …

Berlusconi acquitted in trial tied to ‘bunga bunga’ parties  —  1 of 5  —  Italian former Premier Silvio Berlusconi was found not guilty Wednesday of witness tampering, in a trial related to the sexually charged “bunga bunga” parties he held at his villa near Milan while he was in office.

White House weighs possibility of Biden addressing UFOs  —  White House aides are weighing whether to have President Biden address the public about a series of unidentified flying objects that were shot down by the U.S. military in recent days, according to an official familiar with the conversations.

Alex Murdaugh Intended to Die in Botched Labor Day Shooting, Lawyer Says  —  DESPERATE  —  Alex Murdaugh “didn't intend to still be alive” after the September 2021 botched assisted-suicide plot on a South Carolina backroad, his lawyers said Wednesday.  During a hearing without the jury …