‘Havana syndrome’ not caused by energy weapon or foreign adversary, intelligence review finds  —  After a years-long assessment, five U.S. intelligence agencies conclude it is ‘very unlikely’ an enemy wielding a secret weapon was behind the mysterious ailment

Showdown before the raid: FBI agents and prosecutors argued over Trump  —  An exclusive look at behind-the-scenes deliberations as both sides wrestled with a national security case that has potentially far-reaching political consequences  —  Months of disputes between Justice Department prosecutors …

Drugmaker Eli Lilly caps the cost of insulin at $35 a month, bringing relief for millions  —  Eli Lilly will cap the out-of-pocket cost of its insulin at $35 a month, the drugmaker said Wednesday.  The move, experts say, could prompt other insulin makers in the U.S. to follow suit.

Senior McCarthy aide, House Oversight chairman each met with mother of Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt  —  A senior staffer to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met this week with Micki Witthoeft, mother of Ashli Babbitt, the woman shot and killed by police as she breached a set of doors to the Speaker's Lobby on Jan. 6, 2021.

Pence won't commit to supporting Trump if he's the nominee  —  Former Vice President Mike Pence still won't say whether he's running for president next year, and he won't speak ill of his ex-boss, former President Donald Trump.  But in an interview with CBS News in Michigan on Wednesday …

Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, man in custody  —  The passenger is now in FBI custody.  —  An explosive device was found in a checked piece of luggage at Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley International Airport on Monday, according to a criminal complaint.

DeSantis is championing medical freedom.  GOP state lawmakers like what they see.  —  The “medical freedom” movement, mostly known for its opposition to vaccine requirements, was long consigned to the fringes of libertarian and left-wing politics.  Then came Ron DeSantis.

Capitol Hill swarmed by performers in straightjackets  —  Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) turned heads on Capitol Hill this week by sending performance artists dressed in straitjackets and blue-and-red tinted glasses to the House offices.  —  Why it matters: It's part of a campaign Kinzinger …

Biden administration lawyer may have saved student loan forgiveness plan at Supreme Court, experts say  — Experts have predicted the Supreme Court would rule against President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, but some changed their minds after oral arguments, praising the lawyer who presented the administration's case.

Schumer, Jeffries pressure Murdoch, Fox News over Trump's false election fraud claims  — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are calling foul on Rupert Murdoch.  — The top Democrats in Congress sent a letter to Murdoch, urging Fox News leadership …

Senate votes to overturn Biden administration retirement investment rule Republicans decry as ‘woke’  —  The Senate passed a politically charged resolution on Wednesday to overturn a Biden administration retirement investment rule that allows managers of retirement funds to consider the impact …

Exclusive: US Air Force fires leaders for failing nuclear safety inspection  —  Two US Air Force commanders and four of their subordinates at a key nuclear base in North Dakota were relieved of duty this week after their units failed an inspection designed to ensure that the nuclear weapons stockpile …

Florida GOP lawmaker pitches bill to eliminate the Florida Democratic Party  —  A Republican in Florida's state Legislature has filed a bill that, if enacted, would eliminate the Florida Democratic Party.  —  “The Ultimate Cancel Act,” filed on Tuesday by state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia …

White House slams ‘despicable’ suggestion Beau Biden should have been indicted  —  Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) criticized a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for not prosecuting President Biden's late son when he was still alive  —  Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) criticized a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney …

Former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney will be a professor at the University of Virginia  — Former Rep. Liz Cheney is about to become a professor at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.  — The former Jan. 6 committee vice chair was defeated by a Trump-backed challenger last year.

NBA star Ja Morant accused in police reports of punching teen, making threats  —  Ja Morant is among the brightest young stars in the NBA, with a new signature Nike shoe, a top-selling jersey and a team, the Memphis Grizzlies, poised for a deep postseason run.

Starbucks committed ‘egregious’ violations in battling union, judge rules  —  The administrative law judge's order requires the company to stop a long list of behaviors and reinstate workers who began a nationwide union drive  —  By Jacob Bogage and Lauren Kaori Gurley

Ron DeSantis is using a new breed of local right-wing media to make national news  —  These websites didn't exist five years ago.  —  The Florida Standard is a fledgling website, launching last July.  It lists only five writers and editors on its site.  But in January, it landed a blistering scoop …

In an Epic Battle of Tanks, Russia Was Routed, Repeating Earlier Mistakes  —  A three-week fight in the town of Vuhledar in southern Ukraine produced what Ukrainian officials say was the biggest tank battle of the war so far, and a stinging setback for the Russians.

Whiskey Fungus Fed by Jack Daniel's Encrusts a Tennessee Town  —  The dark growth, fed by alcohol vapors from barrels of aging Jack Daniel's whiskey, has coated homes, cars, patio furniture and road signs in a sooty crust, residents said.  One woman is suing Lincoln County.

The Left Has Never Stood for No Rules or Expectations on Personal Behavior  —  we've really gotten ourselves into a weird ass place  —  The woman whose account appears at the top of this picture started a Twitter storm, somehow, by publicly wishing that she could take her child onto …

Genetics study lays bare Ice Age drama for humans in Europe  —  Europe was no balmy paradise during the Ice Age, with the vast glaciers that blanketed large parts of the continent rendering wide swathes inhospitable for humans.  But our species - a new immigrant to Europe - endured, though with great hardship.

Video appears to show Texas drag bill author dressed in drag  —  A Texas lawmaker who authored a bill that would restrict drag performances appears to have dressed in drag himself while a student.  —  A video that surfaced on Twitter and TikTok this week appears to show Texas state Rep. Nate Schatzline …

Biden personnel head under fire after hires with history of sexual misconduct  —  House and Senate leaders are intensifying pressure on the leader of the federal government's personnel agency after two high-profile hires to senior roles were found in separate investigations to have a substantiated history …

How the NIH Pushes DEI on Scientists  —  The institutes are spending $241 million to push ideological litmus tests for faculty hiring.  —  WSJ Opinion: The Coronavirus ‘Lab Leak’ Origin Returns  —  YOU MAY ALSO LIKE  —  Created with sketchtool.  —  1x

U.S. says Israeli minister's call to wipe out Palestinian town is “disgusting” … - Smotrich later Wednesday issued a statement appearing to walk back the comments. … - Shortly after, hundreds of settlers went on a rampage in Hawara, attacking Palestinian and torching several homes and cars.

This Is Trump's ‘Magic Trick’  —  In his effort to outflank Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida — his most potent challenger-in-waiting for the Republican presidential nomination — Donald Trump goes only in one direction: hard right.  —  At the start of this year, Trump announced his education agenda …

Christie: Trump grand jury foreperson ‘did a lot of damage’ to case  —  Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said on Wednesday that the foreperson of the Georgia special grand jury investigating former President Trump's efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results “did a lot of damage” …

New York Will Pay Millions to Protesters Violently Corralled by Police  —  The police boxed in racial justice demonstrators in 2020, an anti-protest practice known as “kettling,” then hit them with batons and pepper spray.  Hundreds will receive $21,500 each.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blames election loss on racism, gender  —  Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blamed racism and her gender for her landslide defeat in her re-election bid, as Chicagoans wary of the rising crime of her watch celebrated her fall from “political rock star to rock bottom.”