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 …

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.

‘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

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.

Poll: 68% of voters say Biden is ‘too old for another term’ — and more Democrats agree than disagree  —  The president gets high marks for his performance from Democrats, but nearly half of them say his advanced age is a problem.  —  Read full article … President of the United States since 2021

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

U.S. Condemns Smotrich's ‘Repugnant, Disgusting’ Call for Israel to Wipe Out Palestinian Village  —  ‘Just as we condemn Palestinian incitement to violence, we condemn these provocative remarks that also amount to incitement to violence,’ State Department spokesperson Ned Price says

“Non-Person” Donald Trump faces “soft ban” at Fox  —  Donald Trump, who once dominated the Fox News broadcasts, is now running into a brick wall with what four members of his circle say is a “soft ban” from the top of the conservative news channel, as it rolls out the red carpet to even the low-profile rival candidates.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Parents push back on allegations against St. Louis transgender center.  'I'm baffled.'  —  ST. LOUIS — Explosive allegations made public last month about a St. Louis clinic that treats transgender children have flung parents into a vortex of emotions: shock, confusion, anger, fear.

Washington lawyer Tom Goldstein leaves Supreme Court practice, law firm  —  Longtime Supreme Court advocate Tom Goldstein, who has argued more than 40 cases before the high court, said Wednesday that he is ending his practice and retiring from the Washington, D.C., law firm he co-founded in 2011.

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.

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 …

Board Denies Parole for Sirhan Sirhan, the Assassin of Robert F. Kennedy  —  The California parole board reversed course from its 2021 recommendation that Mr. Sirhan be released from prison.  That decision was rejected by Gov. Gavin Newsom.  —  SACRAMENTO — A California panel …

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 …

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 …

Biden admin sues petrochemical giants over deadly chemical pollution in cancer alley  —  The Biden administration on Tuesday sued two corporations behind a petrochemical plant in Louisiana, arguing that the facility poses “unacceptably high cancer risks” to the low-income and predominantly Black residents …

Lawmaker Proposes ‘Hanging on a Tree’ as Execution Method  —  Republican Paul Sherrell's attempt to add a grotesque amendment to Tennessee's death penalty options ignores his state's shameful history of lynching. … The House Criminal Justice Committee of the Tennessee legislature …

Ron DeSantis' Anti-Free Speech Crusade Would Cancel Fox News  —  The culture warrior governor wants to overturn the Supreme Court decision that protects journalists from bogus defamation suits.  Fox News just used the same case as a defense. … When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed …

Republicans are ‘emboldened’ because there has been no accountability for J6: ex-White House lawyer  —  Lawmakers who participated in the Jan. 6 attacks and the planning of the attack on the Capitol have never been held accountable for their involvement.  It's something that former acting …

Conn College students occupy buildings, call for president's resignation  —  Connecticut College students in New London have been occupying several buildings on campus since Sunday evening.  —  The protests were sparked by a canceled fundraising trip by college president Katherine Bergeron …

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.

3 abortion bans in Texas leave doctors ‘talking in code’ to pregnant patients  —  This past fall, when Lauren Miller of Dallas was 13-weeks pregnant with twins, she got horrible news.  One of the twins had trisomy 18, a genetic abnormality that causes about 90% of fetuses to die before birth.

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 …

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.

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 …

Lake appeals loss in governor's race to state Supreme Court  —  Kari Lake, the Republican who lost the Arizona governor's race to Democrat Katie Hobbs, has asked the state Supreme Court to review her challenge of election results that has so far been rejected by the courts.

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 …