REVEALED: GOP leader, who voted to expel TN Three, resigns; found guilty of sexually harassing interns  —  A member of GOP leadership in the Tennessee House of Representatives was recently found guilty of sexually harassing at least one legislative intern, likely two, by an ethics subcommittee acting in secret,

Mike Lindell's firm told to pay $5 million in ‘Prove Mike Wrong’ election-fraud challenge  —  MyPillow founder and prominent election denier Mike Lindell made a bold offer ahead of a “cyber symposium” he held in August 2021 in South Dakota: He claimed he had data showing Chinese interference …

BuzzFeed Shuts Down Its Namesake News Division  —  BuzzFeed News, which won a Pulitzer Prize but never made money, is “beginning the process of closing,” the company's founder, Jonah Peretti, said in a memo to employees.  —  BuzzFeed is shutting down its namesake news division …

I.R.S. Official Is Said to Assert Political Meddling in Hunter Biden Inquiry  —  An agent overseeing the agency's portion of the investigation into the president's son is asking Congress for whistle-blower protection to discuss what he says is misconduct in the case.

Charges dropped against Alec Baldwin in fatal on-set ‘Rust’ shooting: Sources  —  Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.  —  Charges against Alec Baldwin have been dropped in the  —  fatal on-set “Rust” shooting  —  , according to sources familiar with the matter.

Top GOP lawyer decries ease of campus voting in private pitch to RNC  —  A presentation by Cleta Mitchell at a donor retreat urged tougher rules that could make it harder for college students to cast ballots  —  NASHVILLE — A top Republican legal strategist told a roomful of GOP donors …

McCarthy at risk of falling short on GOP votes for debt ceiling bill  —  House Republicans are feeling a debt ceiling hangover, with senior GOP sources worrying they're significantly short on votes now that members have read the 320-page bill. … - Much of the skepticism is coming …

Capitol rioter shot at local deputies after FBI informed him of Jan. 6 charges  —  Nathan Donald Pelham, of Texas, now faces an additional felony count, on top of the four misdemeanor charges stemming from the attack on the Capitol.  —  A Texas man facing charges in the Jan. 6 riot opened fire …

The (Republican) Party's Over  —  With each passing month, week, and day, the Republican Party contrives to go a little crazier, one step more radical—to smash one more norm or tradition.  If you still think that surely they'll come to their senses one of these days, you're just not paying attention.

Republicans Call for Censure of Transgender Lawmaker Who Condemned Care Ban  —  After a Democratic Montana state representative, Zooey Zephyr, said the measure was “tantamount to torture,” Republicans misgendered her and said they would formally reprimand her.

Judge who suspended abortion pill failed to disclose interviews that discussed social issues  —  The federal district judge who first suspended the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of the so-called abortion pill mifepristone failed to disclose during his Senate confirmation process …

SpaceX's Starship Rocket Will Try to Launch on 4/20: What to Expect  —  The most powerful rocket ever built got off the launchpad in South Texas, but did not achieve its most ambitious goals on Thursday.  —  A setback for Elon Musk and SpaceX, but not a fatal one.

JUST IN: Dan Bongino Parts Ways With Fox News  —  Dan Bongino, the pro-Trump firebrand who turned frequent appearances on Fox News into a job hosting a weekend show on the network, announced his departure on Thursday.  —  Bongino, the host of Unfiltered and Fox Nation's Canceled in the USA …

Critic Predicts Maria Bartiromo & Jeanine Pirro Will Be Fired As Rupert Murdoch Moves To Be Less ‘Vulnerable’ After $787.5 Million Defamation Settlement  —  At least one critic predicts Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro will be fired from Fox News as Rupert Murdoch moves to be less “vulnerable” …

LeBron James didn't pay for his Twitter checkmark, but Elon gave it to him anyway  —  / After saying he wouldn't pay, James was offered a complimentary subscription ‘on behalf of Elon Musk.’  —  Twitter has started getting rid of legacy blue checks for those who don't pay up.  Well, unless you're LeBron James.

Public schools would have to display Ten Commandments under bill passed by Texas Senate  —  The Senate also passed a bill that would set prayer and Bible reading times during the school day.  —  Public schools in Texas would have to prominently display the Ten Commandments …

‘Double Standard’: Legal Experts Slam Dems For Ignoring Liberal Justice's Failure To Disclose Spouse's Consulting Work  — Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's nominee financial disclosure from March 2022 reveals she “inadvertently omitted” consulting income her spouse “periodically receives …

Disney tells its lobbyists to step up fight against DeSantis and his allies in Florida  — Disney is preparing for a new phase of the fight with Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.  — Lobbyists are trying to target legislation moving through the state legislature including land-use bills.

Biden preparing to announce reelection campaign next week  —  Aides are looking to release a video on Tuesday declaring the president's bid to return to the White House.  —  President Biden and his team are preparing to announce his re election campaign next week, with aides finalizing plans …

How Hard Lines in Fox-Dominion Deal Talks Suddenly Softened  —  The $787.5 million settlement, believed to be the largest in a defamation case, came together quickly.  —  Reporting from Wilmington, Del.  —  On Tuesday morning, as the legal team for Dominion Voting Systems walked …

New secret recording reveals Oklahoma county leaders discussing sexual favors for pay raises  —  Last week the McCurtain Gazette News, suspecting that county meetings continued after the public left in a violation of Oklahoma's open-meetings laws, secretly placed a voice-activated recorder in the room.

Heritage Foundation Makes Plans to Staff Next G.O.P. Administration  —  No matter the Republican, the effort has set a goal of up to 20,000 potential officials in a database akin to a right-wing LinkedIn.  —  If a Republican enters the Oval Office in 2025, whether it's Donald J. Trump or someone else …

Larry Elder announces 2024 White House bid  —  Conservative talk radio host Larry Elder announced Thursday that he's launching a 2024 presidential campaign, joining a growing list of Republicans vying for the GOP nomination.  —  Elder will speak at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition this weekend.

Ron DeSantis Has a Lizard Problem  —  Florida man has a horrible, terrible week  —  Happy Thursday!  —  Tim and Charlie.  Live in NYC.  —  Folks, before we get started: We're going on the road again next month, Thursday, May 18 in NYC.  —  We open with an in-person episode …