Fox Stars Privately Expressed Disbelief About Election Fraud Claims.  ‘Crazy Stuff.’  —  The comments, by Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and others, were released as part of a defamation suit against Fox News by Dominion Voter Systems.  —  Newly disclosed messages and testimony …

Fetterman Checks Into Hospital to Seek Treatment for Clinical Depression  —  A spokesman for the first-term senator from Pennsylvania, who suffered a near-fatal stroke last year, said his depression had grown severe in recent weeks, as he has worked to adjust to life in the Senate.

Hobby Club's Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF  —  A small, globe-trotting balloon declared “missing in action” by an Illinois-based hobbyist club on Feb. 15 has emerged as a candidate to explain one of the three mystery objects shot down by four heat-seeking missiles launched by U.S. Air Force fighters since Feb. 10.

Businessman, economist, cop, international sex crimes expert?  The stories of Congressman Andy Ogles  —  Congressman places block on confirmation of educational credentials, but NewsChannel 5 digs up an old résumé  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — If you believe Middle Tennessee's …

Judge to release parts of Georgia special grand jury report  —  A Georgia judge on Thursday released parts of a report produced by an Atlanta-area special grand jury investigating efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn Trump's 2020 election loss in Georgia …

The Contradictions of Ron DeSantis  —  Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida hasn't officially decided whether he'll seek the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.  But already the contradictions are sharpening between his prospective general-election strengths and his emerging strategy to win the Republican primaries.

The senator Biden loves to hate  —  Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration.  With help from Allie Bice.  —  Over his 36 years in the Senate, JOE BIDEN took pride in establishing friendships across the aisle.

EXCLUSIVE: FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP LEAKED CLASSIFIED RUSSIA PAPERS TO CONSERVATIVE JOURNALIST  —  Trump's leak of the records raises new questions regarding his handling of classified information as the special counsel's probe of Trump's removal of classified documents to Mar-a-Lago intensifies.

Idaho lawmakers introduce legislation to criminalize those who administer COVID vaccines  —  The bill would make administering an mRNA vaccine — a COVID vaccine — a misdemeanor.  —  IDAHO, USA — Two Idaho lawmakers have introduced a bill to charge those who administer mRNA vaccines with a misdemeanor.

Top Putin war official plunges 160 feet to her death from high-rise building  —  A high-ranking Russian defense official in the war against Ukraine was found dead Wednesday after falling from a 16th-floor window in an apartment building.  —  Marina Yankina, 58, was discovered by a passerby …

Fight the Anti-Trans Backlash With Accountability, Not Silence  —  A new book by Hannah Barnes describes how the Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock clinic in London, the United Kingdom's only dedicated gender-identity clinic, routinely put children on puberty blockers with inadequate assessment.

Jes Staley's emails with Jeffrey Epstein revealed in New York  —  Filing includes details from 1,200 emails exchanged between late sex offender and former Barclays boss  —  Emails exchanged by former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein …

Train that derailed in Van Buren Township operated by Norfolk Southern; no hazmat leak reported  —  No injuries reported in train derailment  —  A train operated by Norfolk Southern, the same operators behind the Ohio derailment, went off the rails Thursday morning in Van Buren Township.

Alex Jones is ‘holding firearms’ for Jan. 6 rioters, bankruptcy docs show  —  As Infowars founder Alex Jones is facing bankruptcy for damages he owes to the families of victims of the mass killing at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a new filing shows the right-wing conspiracy theorist has been …

Republicans Turn a Blind Eye to Elon Musk's Twitter Manipulation  —  “If he wants to get his word out that he owns the show, doesn't he own it?”  —  Good afternoon and welcome to Press Pass.  Before we jump into today's edition, please do me a favor and share this newsletter with someone …

Tesla recalls 362,758 vehicles, says Full Self-Driving Beta software may cause crashes  — Tesla is recalling 362,758 vehicles and warns that its experimental driver-assistance software, marketed as Full Self-Driving Beta, may cause crashes.  — The recall notice was posted on the website …

In Defense of J.K. Rowling  —  “Trans people need and deserve protection.”  —  “I believe the majority of trans-identified people not only pose zero threat to others but are vulnerable.”  —  “I respect every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them.”

Ron DeSantis to address powerful police union in Chicago  —  CHICAGO — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to make a trip up to Illinois on Monday to speak before local law enforcement, according to the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police.  —  “Chicago Lodge 7 Members …

‘Chernobyl 2.0’?  Ohio Train Derailment Spurs Wild Speculation.  —  For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts.  —  Stuart Thompson writes about online information flows.

A Statement from the Willis Family  —  As a family, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpouring of love and compassion for Bruce over the past ten months.  Your generosity of spirit has been overwhelming, and we are tremendously grateful for it.

Friends of Israel, Be Very Afraid  —  Friends of Israel, please be afraid.  Be very afraid.  We are not kidding around when we say Israel's democracy can be blown to smithereens in one fell swoop.  —  already dubbed “Black Monday” by opponents of the current government …

Justice Dept. in DC taking over Texas AG corruption probe  —  Justice Department officials in Washington have taken over the corruption investigation into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, removing the case from the hands of the federal prosecutors in Texas who'd long been leading the probe, according to state prosecutors.

Kari Lake loses appeal of loss in Arizona governor's race  —  An Arizona appeals court has rejected Republican Kari Lake's challenge of her defeat in the Arizona governor's race to Democrat Katie Hobbs, denying her request to throw out election results in the state's most populous county and hold the election again.

Proud Boys' lawyers plan to subpoena Donald Trump in seditious conspiracy trial  —  The defense argues that the Proud Boys participated in the Jan. 6 riot because Trump “called on patriots to stop the steal.”  It's far from certain that Trump will actually take the stand.

AZ Senate: Gallego Leads in All Head-To-Head Matchups  —  Sinema's Independent Status is the Real Wild Card  —  Toplines and crosstabs can be found here  —  PHOENIX (February 16th, 2023)- The 2024 Senate election is inching closer and the race for Arizona's Senate seat is wide open.

Sen. Tim Scott test drives a potential presidential campaign message in South Carolina speech  —  CHARLESTON, S.C. — Sen. Tim Scott did not announce he is running for president here at the Charleston County GOP's Black History Banquet Thursday night.  But at times, it sounded like he was already a candidate.

Rep. George Santos responds to questions about his finances … NEW YORK - Rep. George Santos gave an exclusive interview to FOX 5 News on Thursday to answer questions about his finances and an ethics investigation.  —  When asked by Jodi Goldberg to comment on a recent report claiming …

Research, Teaching, and DEI  —  Diversity statements—short essays that express one's past contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and future plans to advance the cause—have become ubiquitous in academia.  As I've written before, many universities embrace these requirements …