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.

America's Interests Are Not Necessarily the Same as Ukraine's  —  We should support Ukraine because Russia is our enemy, but that support can't be unlimited.  —  Friday marked the one-year anniversary of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.  A two-year anniversary is highly likely …

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.

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 …

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.

Chinese fighter jet confronts US Navy plane with CNN crew aboard as tensions simmer in the South China Sea  —  Kadena Air Base, Japan CNN —  The US Navy reconnaissance jet flies at 21,500 feet over the South China Sea, 30 miles from the contested Paracel Islands, a group of about 130 small atolls …

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 …

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 …

DEA Announces Proposed Rules for Permanent Telemedicine Flexibilities  —  DEA extends many telemedicine flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 PHE with appropriate safeguards  —  WASHINGTON - Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced proposed permanent rules for the prescribing …

Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S.  —  Arriving in record numbers, they're ending up in dangerous jobs that violate child labor laws — including in factories that make some of the country's best-known products.  —  Hannah traveled to Alabama, Florida …

'It's a major blow': Dominion has uncovered ‘smoking gun’ evidence in case against Fox News, legal experts say  —  Fox News is in serious hot water.  —  That's what several legal experts told CNN this week following Dominion Voting Systems explosive legal filing against the right-wing talk channel …

5 dead after Care Flight plane crash, including a patient and the pilot  —  Five people — including a patient and a pilot — were killed on Friday after a Care Flight plane crashed near Stagecoach, Nevada, about 45 miles east of Reno.  —  The incident happened around 9:15 p.m. local …

Forty years of Monster Raving Loony wannabe MPs  —  It's 40 years since the Official Monster Raving Loony Party fielded its first candidate in a parliamentary election.  Since then no election count has been complete without a garishly-dressed, garishly-named member of the party standing alongside other hopefuls.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

‘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 …

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.

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 …

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 …