We are dropping the Dilbert comic strip because of creator Scott Adams' racist rant: Letter from the Editor  —  Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip, went on a racist rant this week on his Coffee with Scott Adams online video show, and we will no longer carry his comic strip in The Plain Dealer.

No ‘apologists for Putin’: Pence draws contrast with DeSantis on support for Ukraine  —  Former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday rebuked fellow Republicans who have given less-than-robust support for America's defense of Ukraine — a group that includes potential presidential campaign rivals like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

GOP Ex-Sen. Inhofe Retired Due To Long COVID After Opposing COVID Aid  —  The longtime senator from Oklahoma said complications from the virus contributed to his stepping aside.  —  Former Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) attributed his decision to retire due to the long-term effects of COVID-19 …

Trump brutally mocked after tabloid reveals details of his new Mar-a-Lago gig  —  Critics of President Donald Trump are having a field day after learning about his new hobby.  —  Page Six reported Friday that the former president “now has a regular gig” as a DJ at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Hannity and Carlson Admit Lying to Audience (Then Try to Fire Fact-Checker), DeSantis Hires Sexist Educator, NYT Writers Protest, Roald Dahl Gets Sanitized, Roberto Clemente Bio Banned, and More  —  My thoughts on the top—and top-ish—stories in this week's political, sports, and pop culture news.

Media organizations demand Jan. 6 videos McCarthy shared with Fox News' Tucker Carlson  —  A group of media organizations, including CBS News, is demanding access to a tranche of surveillance and police videos from the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol that U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy provided to Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

George Santos lied to a judge in 2017 bid to help a ‘family friend’ charged with fraud  —  NEW YORK — George Santos lied to a Seattle judge about working for Goldman Sachs while speaking at a 2017 bail hearing for a “family friend” who later pleaded guilty to fraud in an ATM skimming scheme …

Republican elites fear the monster they created  —  On screen, Fox News personalities paint a world of clear heroes and villains, where conservatives are always strong and right and liberals are weak and wrong.  But the extraordinary private communications revealed in the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed …

Judge rejected Perry's bid to shield thousands of emails from Jan. 6 investigators  —  The chief judge of the federal district court in Washington, D.C., secretly rejected Rep. Scott Perry's bid to shield more than 2,000 messages relevant to Justice Department investigators probing efforts …

Mike Pence declines invitation to CPAC as event's leader comes under fire  —  Pence did not attend the event in 2022.  —  Former Vice President Mike Pence has declined an invitation to the Conservative Political Action Conference, sources told ABC News.  —  The decision by Pence …

China considers sending Russia artillery shells, U.S. officials say  —  China is considering sending Russia lethal military aid in the form of artillery shells as President Vladimir Putin's army rapidly depletes its supply of ammunition a year into his invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials said …

Chinese fighter jet flies within 500 feet of U.S. patrol over South China Sea  —  ABOARD A U.S. PATROL AIRCRAFT — The U.S. Navy plane had been in the air over the South China Sea for a few hours when a warning came crackling over the radio.  —  “No approaching any more or you will pay full responsibility …

Why Orrin Hatch Was Eager to Help Bill Clinton  —  The electoral appeal of the deference model  —  As we saw in my previous post, Senator Orrin Hatch was eager to make clear to the White House from the outset that he would not draw an ideological line in the sand over President Clinton's nominee to fill Justice Byron White's vacancy.

Jimmy Carter, in his final campaign, is surrounded by friends  —  Former president's hometown of Plains, Georgia prepares its farewell.  —  PLAINS — Jimmy Carter could have lived anywhere after he was defeated by Ronald Reagan, but his return to Plains more than four decades ago gave the tiny southwest Georgia hamlet new purpose.

Top labor official, union leader among contenders for Labor secretary  —  Leaders of the organized labor movement have also recommended the outgoing executive director of the National Football League's union  —  By Lauren Kaori Gurley and Jeff Stein  —  The White House is vetting top …

The AP Interview: Biden ready to run, US first lady says  —  1 of 10  —  U.S. first lady Jill Biden gave one of the clearest indications yet that President Joe Biden will run for a second term, telling The Associated Press in an exclusive interview on Friday that there's “pretty much” …

‘Rip your head off!’  Montana man charged with threatening to kill Democratic senator  —  A man from Kalispell has been arrested and charged with sending graphic death threats to Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), reported the Daily Montanan on Friday.  —  “Kevin Patrick Smith, 45 …

Tennessee is set to become the first US state to ban drag … Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill banning drag shows in public on Thursday, sending the measure to the Republican Governor Bill Lee's desk.  —  The law would make Tennessee the first state to ban public drag …

Arkansas educators express ‘concern’ over Sanders' ‘rushed’ school choice push  —  Arkansas educators and parents are openly expressing concerns around Arkansas Governor Sarah H. Sanders' hasty decision to enforce “school choice,” across the majority Republican state, ABC reports.

Flotsam found off New York may be from famous SS Savannah  —  1 of 2  —  A chunk of weather-beaten flotsam that washed up on a New York shoreline after Tropical Storm Ian last fall has piqued the interest of experts who say it is likely part of the SS Savannah, which ran aground and broke apart in 1821 …

Black TikToker Says Woman Called the Cops on Him for Shoveling Snow  —  “They don't have no respect,” she complained to police as the men kindly cleared the sidewalk outside her home.  —  A TikTok video has gone viral after a white woman called the police on two Black men for shoveling snow …

Florida bill would give DeSantis more power over state universities and ban gender studies  —  A new bill overhauling Florida universities to match Gov. Ron DeSantis' vision for higher education would shift power at state schools into the hands of the Republican leader's political appointees and ban gender studies as a field of study.

Michigan GOP leader: state is ‘ground zero for the globalist takeover’  —  Three days after delegates elected her to lead the Michigan Republican Party, Kristina Karamo reaffirmed her belief in a conspiracy theory, claiming shadowy forces are working to achieve global domination right here in Michigan.

Rep. Lauren Boebert's Shooters Grill will be replaced by a Mexican restaurant  —  Tapatios recently applied for a liquor license at 120 E. 3rd St. in Rifle  —  A Mexican restaurant is taking over a high-profile location in the town of Rifle, Colorado, where U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert's Shooters Grill previously resided.

The same old war it's always been  —  The Right's claims of AI “bias” are just the latest in the long line of insincere ref-working — and the latest in a long line of racists trying to impose their racism on all of us  —  Under the headline “The right's new culture-war target: ‘Woke AI’ …

Why scammers who stole billions in unemployment benefits may get away with fraud  —  Just a small percentage of the at least $60 billion in unemployment payments estimated to be lost to fraud during the pandemic has been recovered, and time is running out to prosecute those who committed the crime.

Patients may have permanent access to some addiction treatments through telehealth  —  Washington - Patients may soon be able to obtain addiction treatments and medications through telehealth visits — without having to see a doctor in person.  —  The Biden administration unveiled …

Biden Supreme Court commission under investigation by Jordan, Grassley, and Graham  —  House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and former Senate Judiciary chairmen Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) sent letters to former leaders of President Joe Biden's Supreme Court reform commission …