Trump's loosening grip on GOP defines early 2024 campaign  —  Rep. Thomas Massie was so eager for Donald Trump's endorsement in a contested primary three years ago that he ran TV ads targeted at the then-president in Florida to win his support.  —  Today, Massie is all but shunning Trump and his comeback campaign.

America Is In Over Its Head  —  The greatest blunder President Vladimir Putin may have made so far in Ukraine is giving the West the impression that Russia could lose the war.  The early Russian strike on Kyiv stumbled and failed.  The Russian behemoth seemed not nearly as formidable as it had been made out to be.

Michigan AG says she was among those targeted in threat to kill Jewish members of state government  —  A Michigan man allegedly threatened on social media to kill Jewish members of the Michigan government, the FBI said, and state Attorney General Dana Nessel says she was among those targeted.

Republicans seize on train derailment to go after Buttigieg  —  Secretary's defenders say he is being targeted for reasons unrelated to the accident  —  Republicans are seizing on the trail derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, to ramp up their attacks against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg …

Finally, Democrats appear ready to wage war on Fox News  —  For years, Democrats have been deeply conflicted about Fox News.  At times, they've shunned the network as an irredeemable source of disinformation, boycotting it or banning it from covering Democratic presidential primary debates.

Fox News election fraud revelations could take down the network's embattled chief  —  New York CNN —  Who will Rupert Murdoch exile from the Fox kingdom?  —  The Fox Corporation chairman is facing an ever-deepening scandal that threatens to cause considerable financial and reputational damage …

US condemns Israel far right minister's call for Palestinian town ‘to be erased’  —  Israel's far-right finance minister's call for a Palestinian town “to be erased” was harshly condemned by US State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday, who described the comments as “repugnant” and “irresponsible.”

The FBI Desperately Wants to Let Trump Off the Hook  —  He just won't allow it.  —  The way conservatives tell it, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is a hive of anti-Trump villainy, filled with agents looking for any excuse to hound the former president with investigative witch hunts.

March 1, 2023  —  Drugmaker Eli Lilly announced today that it will cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month, bringing costs for people with private insurance and those without insurance who sign up for Lilly's copay assistance program into line with the $35 cap for Medicare recipients Congress imposed …

How a Texas girl scared of school shootings was punished  —  After a Lewisville ISD girl overheard a boy say, “Don't come to school tomorrow,” she ended up threatened with suspension.  —  The 13-year-old girl was in gym class when she said she heard a boy tell another classmate, “Don't come to school tomorrow.”

How I Changed My Mind on Social Media and Teen Depression  —  Randomized experiments and cross-national data argue that phones are making kids miserable  —  There's been a torrent of recent articles about the massive increase in depression among young Americans, particularly girls, and the possibility that social media is to blame.

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.

Clashes as Charlie Kirk Speaks at California University  —  ‘FASCISTS OFF CAMPUS’  —  Scores of students were seen protesting outside the University of California Wednesday night ahead of an appearance by far-right youth leader Charlie Kirk, who appeared at the university for his Live Free Tour.

Merrick Garland Is a Huge Taylor Swift Fan  —  The Attorney General routinely works her lyrics into conversations and legal arguments.  'My favorite song is “Shake It Off.”  - Copy Link  —  1x  —  WASHINGTON - At a Congressional hearing on Wednesday, senators grilled Attorney General Merrick Garland …

Texas congressman who backed gun-control bill faces GOP censure vote  —  Rep. Tony Gonzales cast the vote in the last Congress after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which is part of his district.  —  Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Tex.) is facing a censure vote this weekend …

Kellyanne Conway Meets With Prosecutors as Trump Inquiry Escalates  —  The Manhattan district attorney's office is scrutinizing the former president's role in the hush money payment to a porn star.  —  Kellyanne Conway, who managed the final months of Donald J. Trump's 2016 campaign …

Dallas Morning News Fires Reporter for Calling Mayor ‘Bruh’ on Twitter  —  Meghan Mangrum moved to Dallas to cover education.  —  Meghan Mangrum moved to Dallas last summer to cover education as part of the Dallas Morning News' Education Lab.  She'd previously worked the education beat …

‘Have not heard of him’: George Santos has a new campaign treasurer but questions persist  —  More than a week after embattled Rep. George Santos named his new campaign treasurer, questions persist over the identity of the person who has filled that role and the campaign's filings with federal regulators.

“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.

Christopher Wray is getting away with doing a lousy job  —  The MAGA right thinks FBI Director Christopher A. Wray is some sort of patsy for Democrats.  But the problem is not that Wray, a Trump appointee, is showing favoritism to a Democratic administration.

The Rise of the Right-Wing Peacenik  —  ‘I realized that my own side was led by a bunch of incompetents and ideologues who had taken our country down a path of destruction.  And for what?’  —  Once upon a time, Congressman Ron DeSantis strongly supported arming Ukraine against Russia.

The Hershey highway to hell  —  Next Wednesday is International Women's Day.  In the spirit of celebrating women, Hershey's Canada has issued special chocolate bars bearing the likeness of special women.  —  Women like Fae Johnstone, who happens to be a man cosplaying being a woman.

Give Kamala Harris the Credit She Is Due  —  Vice President Kamala Harris occupies an office that can be the butt of jokes and criticism.  The only duties of the vice president spelled out in the Constitution are to cast tiebreaking votes in the Senate and to become president if the office becomes vacant.

UN urged to intervene over destruction of US abortion rights  —  Exclusive: letter from human rights groups says overturning of the constitutional right violates US's obligations as a UN member state  —  Top human rights organizations are calling on the United Nations to intervene over the destruction of abortion rights in the US.

Please Lie to Me, Tucker  —  Fox News isn't news at all.  —  Oh, how conservatives loved to hate the media.  I witnessed it firsthand for decades.  In any speech before a conservative audience, the jokes about media bias got the loudest laughs and heartiest applause.

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

Here's why Biden's new cyber strategy is notable … Welcome to The Cybersecurity 202!  What a busy Wednesday it was.  You'll see what I mean very soon.  Just scroll on down.  —  Reading this online?  Sign up for The Cybersecurity 202 to get scoops and sharp analysis in your inbox each morning.

White House proposes $1.6 billion to combat ‘historic’ covid aid fraud  —  The request comes as lawmakers in Congress continue to sound the alarm about the theft of taxpayer dollars — yet largely fail to deliver more funds  —  Nearly three years after criminals first set their sights …

DeSantis Cronies Force College to Close Diversity Office  —  If Ron DeSantis has his way, what his board did at New College will happen at every public university in Florida.  —  Cameron Joseph  —  WASHINGTON, US  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' handpicked board of trustees voted to shutter …