FBI director says COVID pandemic ‘most likely’ originated from Chinese lab … Christopher Wray: COVID-19 origins most likely caused by Chinese lab ‘incident’  —  FBI Director Christopher Wray said that the COVID-19 pandemic was likely caused by a lab leak in Wuhan, China.

Murdoch, exposed  —  It's not a secret that Fox News is a political operation seeking to bolster the prospects of Republicans.  Jeanne Pirro, co-host of Fox News' The Five, regularly appears at Republican fundraisers.  Mark Levin, who hosts a weekly Fox News program, appeared at a rally …

Trump's February bump  —  Four new polls show former President Trump has received a boost in Republican support — with one survey showing him hitting 50% support in a crowded GOP field. … - His visit to the derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio — ahead of President Biden …

Lori Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election  —  CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her bid for re-election Tuesday, ending her historic run as the city's first Black woman and first openly gay person to serve in the position.

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 …

Ohio senators ready rail safety bill after fiery crash  —  1 of 4  —  Railroads like the one involved in last month's fiery crash and toxic chemical release in Ohio would be subject to a series of new federal safety regulations and financial consequences under legislation being introduced Wednesday by the state's two U.S. senators.

The story behind Gaetz citing Chinese propaganda at a hearing  —  In 2021, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) decried what he labeled “a fusion of the interest of the Chinese Communist Party and much of the apparatus of the United States government.”  —  At a hearing Tuesday, Gaetz cited …

Senate group wades into tough talks on Social Security  —  A bipartisan group of senators is treading carefully into the politically difficult discussion of making changes to Social Security to extend its solvency.  —  Senators from both parties who have been involved in the talks …

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.

US House Speaker McCarthy says he will provide Jan. 6 defendants with security footage  —  Republican U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Tuesday that he would provide defendants in criminal cases from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol with access to thousands of hours of internal security footage of the melee.

Nigeria Declares Bola Tinubu Winner of Presidential Election: Live Updates  —  Here's the latest on the election in Nigeria.  —  Bola Tinubu, the governing party candidate and a perennial political kingmaker who campaigned on the slogan “It's my turn,” was named by election officials …

Girls high school basketball team forfeits tournament rather than play against transgender player  —  A Vermont girls high school basketball team forfeited an out of state tournament after refusing to play against a team that had a transgender player.  —  Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) …

The NFL deserves every bit of its raging Daniel Snyder headache  —  Dan Snyder is being unreasonable, is he?  Making irrational, insulting and perhaps even extortive demands?  Stifle for a moment your heavy, knowing sigh over the predictability of Snyder's conduct and the fact that he hasn't sold the Washington Commanders yet.

Biden and House Democrats head to Baltimore to plot 2024 strategy  —  President Joe Biden will huddle with House Democrats in Baltimore on Wednesday as they work to develop a messaging strategy to help them hold the White House and flip the five seats needed to take back the House in 2024.

Dark money and special deals: How Leonard Leo and his friends benefited from his judicial activism  —  A network of political non-profits formed by judicial activist Leonard Leo moved at least $43 million to a new firm he is leading, raising questions about how his conservative legal movement is funded.

Capitol Hill's great unifier  —  The legacy of the 118th Congress — even amid its high-profile divisions — is set to be defined by an unprecedented focus on the threat emanating from the Chinese government. … - It's a testament to just how far the bipartisan consensus on China has shifted …

You probably won't get any student loan relief, thanks to a GOP-controlled Supreme Court  —  At the end of the day, the most important question in US law is which political party controls the Supreme Court.  —  If you were hoping that your student loans would be forgiven under a program …

Abbe Lowell Built Ties to Trump World.  Now He's One of Hunter Biden's Lawyers.  —  The shift by Mr. Lowell, one of Washington's best-known scandal lawyers, highlights the blurry lines between self-promotion, access to power and the right to legal representation.

Hundreds massacred in Ethiopia even as peace deal was being reached  —  Soldiers from neighboring Eritrea went house to house killing villagers in Ethiopia's Tigray region, witnesses say  —  NAIROBI — Just days before a deal to end the war in Ethiopia's Tigray region …

Deadly Collision of Passenger, Freight Trains Kills Dozens in Greece  —  TEMPE, Greece (AP) — A passenger train carrying hundreds of people collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in northern Greece, killing 32 and injuring at least 85, officials said Wednesday.

Georgia Republicans want to make it easier to challenge voters' eligibility  —  Georgia Republicans introduced legislation Tuesday making it easier to kick voters off the rolls through mass challenges, according to a copy of the bill sent to lawmakers and shared with NBC News by an aide to two of the bill's sponsors.

Blaise Ingoglia bill would ‘cancel’ Democratic Party … Mike Wright  —  Mike Wright is a former reporter with the Citrus County Chronicle, where he had covered county government and politics since 1987.  Mike's skills as an investigative reporter earned him first-place awards in investigative writing.

Finland starts building fence on Russian border as MPs prepare to vote on Nato bid  —  Construction begins on fence along part of 1,340km boundary amid fears Moscow could weaponise mass migration against Helsinki  —  Finland has started construction of a fence along parts of its 1,340km …

Lawmakers Question Pentagon on Ukraine Funds, Signaling Fresh Concerns  —  Some Republicans and Democrats quizzed military officials about the money that has been sent to Kyiv so far and what is still to come, threatening a consensus in favor of aid.  —  WASHINGTON — Republicans …

Mississippi governor signs bill banning transgender health care for minors  —  Mississippi on Tuesday became the seventh state to enact a restriction on certain transition-related health care for minors.  —  Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, said he signed the bill, which bars puberty blockers …