Russia Slides Into Civil War  —  Is Putin facing His Czar Nicholas II moment?  —  The hall of mirrors that Vladimir Putin has built around himself and within his country is so complex, and so multilayered, that on the eve of a genuine insurrection in Russia, I doubt very much if the Russian president himself believed it could be real.

Former Trump Campaign Official in Talks to Cooperate in Jan. 6 Inquiry  —  The office of the special counsel is negotiating with Michael Roman, who was closely involved in the efforts to create slates of pro-Trump electors in states won in 2020 by Joseph R. Biden Jr.

New U.S. intelligence report sheds little light on covid origins  —  The disclosure is unlikely to settle a heated debate about the pandemic's origins, which has exacerbated tensions between Washington and Beijing  —  Freshly declassified U.S. government intelligence about the origins …

No Labels Exposed: Here's a List of Donors Funding Its Effort To Disrupt the 2024 Race  —  The roster includes corporate execs who have financed Republican and Democratic candidates.  —  No Labels, the political outfit preparing to run a “unity” ticket in 2024 that Democratic strategists …

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs strips county prosecutors of authority to pursue abortion cases  —  Hobbs, a Democrat, said she “will not allow extreme and out of touch politicians to get in the way of the fundamental rights of Arizonans.”  —  Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed an executive order …

Giuliani sanctioned for failing to produce records in defamation case  —  Rudy Giuliani was sanctioned by a U.S. judge on Friday for failing to search for and turn over records in a defamation lawsuit brought by former Georgia election workers against him for accusing them of ballot fraud.

The Supreme Court dramatically changed public opinion on abortion  —  Support for abortion rights ticked up after the court's Dobbs decision one year ago — and has stayed there.  —  One year ago, the Supreme Court did more than just end the federal right to an abortion.

Florida's anti-drag law is likely unconstitutional, federal judge rules.  A growing pattern.  —  Florida is barred from enforcing its new anti-drag law (SB 1438), a federal judge ruled Friday, issuing a preliminary injunction in a case brought by Hamburger Mary's, the restaurant chain …

Hollywood Directors Ratify Their Contract as Writers Continue to Strike  —  The vote prevented the doomsday scenario of three major Hollywood unions striking simultaneously.  The actors' union is still negotiating.  —  Unionized movie and television directors approved a new three-year contract …

‘Watch and See If They Destroy Themselves’: US Cautiously Monitors Russia Infighting  —  The Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin's private military company, is threatening Putin, but nobody knows what's next  —  A Facebook icon representing an external link to share the article on Facebook …

4 in 10 California residents are considering packing up and leaving, new poll finds  —  With its unmatched natural splendor and cultural attractions, California is a beacon that attracts people from around the world who put down roots and call it home.  —  About 70% of residents …

Garland Pushes Back at G.O.P. Claims of Bias in Hunter Biden Investigation  —  The attorney general denied assertions that he had interfered with the case and blocked a prosecutor from lodging more charges.  —  Reporting from Washington  —  Attorney General Merrick B. Garland defended …

Elise Stefanik Is a Nuisance On Her Way to Becoming a General Blight  —  She and Marjorie Taylor Greene want to “expunge” the former president's impeachments in advance of his 2024 presidential campaign.  —  Jesus H. Christ on the Thruway, people.  Please just take a freaking nap.  From Axios: