Exclusive: Trump ‘hush money’ grand jury called off for Wednesday, delaying possible indictment vote  — A Manhattan grand jury meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the Trump ‘hush-money’ case.  — Wednesday's grand jury session has been canceled, high-ranking law enforcement sources tell Insider.

DeSantis to expand 'Don't Say Gay' law to high schools  —  The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law critics call “Don't Say Gay” as the Republican governor continues …

Judge approves ‘crime fraud exception’ in special counsel probe of Trump classified documents  —  WASHINGTON — Special Counsel Jack Smith's office presented sufficient evidence to establish that former President Donald Trump committed a crime through his attorneys, a U.S. district judge ruled Friday night …

2 faculty members shot at Denver's East High School, police search for student suspect  —  A student at Denver's East High School shot two administrators Wednesday morning — leaving one critically injured — while the teen was being searched for weapons, police officials said.

Europe should detain Putin, give him to ICC if he visits, Blinken says  —  European countries should detain Vladimir Putin and turn him over to the International Criminal Court if the Russian president visits their countries, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told lawmakers Wednesday.

The Paradox of Republican Pain  —  Three charts explain why Republicans will defend Trump even while secretly hoping he gets indicted and then convicted.  —  Tomorrow night is likely to be a very lively TNB livestream.  Mark it on your calendar now.  I'll be joined by Amanda Carpenter …

Ex-Florida lawmaker behind the 'Don't Say Gay' law pleads guilty to COVID relief fraud  —  A former Florida lawmaker who sponsored a bill dubbed the “Don't Say Gay” law by critics has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funds.  —  Joseph Harding entered a guilty plea …

Trump Gains on DeSantis  —  MAGA loyalists stand by former president  —  West Long Branch, NJ - Former President Donald Trump now holds an advantage over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as Republican voters' preference for the party's 2024 nomination.  The Monmouth ("Mon-muth") …

Rand Paul stunned by Moderna CEO: Less risk of myocarditis for people who take vaccine  —  Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel surprised Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) by explaining that the risk of myocarditis decreased in boys who took the company's Covid-19 vaccine.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's ties to billionaire George Soros are not as close as Republicans claim  — Key Republicans aim to discredit Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's expected indictment of former President Donald Trump by accusing him of being controlled by billionaire Democratic donor George Soros.

Death toll linked to contaminated eye drops rising as more report vision loss  —  Four people have reportedly had to have their eyeballs surgically removed.  —  This scanning electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

German officer shot during raids targeting Reichsbürger movement  —  One person held on suspicion of several counts of attempted murder after search of properties in far-right investigation  —  A German police officer has been shot and wounded during raids on properties across the country …

Former aide says Trump has ‘learned nothing’ from Jan. 6  —  A former Trump White House aide lamented Tuesday that former President Trump has “learned nothing” from the events of Jan. 6, 2021, after he urged supporters to protest his potential indictment in New York City.

Fed delivers small rate hike, says ‘some additional’ tightening possible  —  The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, but indicated it was on the verge of pausing further increases in borrowing costs amid recent turmoil in financial markets spurred by the collapse of two U.S. banks.

🎧 LEVER TIME: She Was Blocked for Being Right on Banks  —  On this week's Lever Time: Saule Omarova's warnings about deregulation were rejected  —  In the new episode of our weekly podcast Lever Time, we reached out to two people who know what's really going on in the banking system …

‘Poop-themed dog toys’ shaped like whiskey bottles face Supreme Court trademark showdown  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday will debate whether Jack Daniel's has to grin and bear it over humorous dog “poop-themed” toys that bear a resemblance to its iconic whiskey bottles.

Michigan GOP attempts to tie gun reforms to Holocaust, faces backlash  —  Lansing — The Michigan Republican Party's official social media accounts made misleading posts Wednesday to try to connect Democrat-backed gun proposals to the Holocaust, spurring criticism from both sides of the political aisle.

TikTok ban would be ‘a slap in the face’ to young Democratic voters, activists warn  —  WASHINGTON — In the nation's capital, the debate over banning TikTok has largely focused on whether the app's Chinese parent company poses a security threat to Americans.

‘This Might Be the End’: TikTok Showdown Reaches Fever Pitch with CEO's Congressional Testimony  —  Washington is closer to cracking down on the app, but the company is mobilizing its users to oppose a ban.  —  TikTok's last major chance to fight off an impeding U.S. regulatory crackdown …

Republican Rep. Jim Jordan Issues Sweeping Information Requests to Universities Researching Disinformation  —  In the letters, Jordan asserted that the schools may have contributed to the Biden administration's “censorship regime by advising on so-called misinformation.”

North Carolina's Lt. Governor Is A Facebook Brawler Whose Posts Railed Against Gays, Blacks, And Jews  —  Earlier this month, North Carolina Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson (R) delivered a pair of speeches that sparked speculation he might be running for governor next year.

Gov. Polis' housing proposal would allow duplexes, townhomes, ADUs across many cities in Colorado … The Polis administration has laid out a sweeping plan that would explicitly allow more dense housing across Colorado's increasingly expensive metropolitan areas and resort communities …

A Journalist Believes He Was Banned From Midjourney After His AI Images Of Donald Trump Getting Arrested Went Viral  —  “I suspect it was pushing my luck when I did the [Twitter] thread,” Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins said.  —  Prosecutors in New York are thought to be on the brink …

With Friends Like These: A rough start to testimony from defense witnesses at Proud Boys sedition trial  —  From emptywheel: Please help support Brandi's important coverage with a donation to the site.  —  There was a moment outside of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when Proud Boy Travis Nugent turned …