Trump's trial date conjures GOP's nightmare scenario  —  When the trial date for Donald Trump's Manhattan hush money case was set for March — during the GOP presidential primary schedule — the former president and leading 2024 Republican candidate shook his head.

Texas A&M President Katherine Banks resigns amid fallout from failed hiring of journalism professor  —  “The recent challenges regarding Dr. McElroy have made it clear to me that I must retire immediately,” Banks wrote in her resignation letter.  “The negative press is a distraction from the wonderful work being done here.”

Justice Department planning legal action against Texas over floating border barrier  —  The Justice Department told Texas Thursday that it intends to file legal action against the placement of floating barriers in the Rio Grande River as part of the state's operation along the Texas-Mexico border …

‘This Is a Really Big Deal’: How College Towns Are Decimating the GOP  —  Growing population in America's highly educated enclaves has led to huge gains for the Democratic Party.  And Republicans are scrambling for answers. Animation by Shira Inbar for POLITICO

Alabama GOP refuses to draw second Black district, despite Supreme Court order  —  House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., have been calling state legislators about the map, which could affect control of Congress.  —  Alabama Republicans rejected calls …

Fulton county prosecutors prepare racketeering charges in Trump inquiry  —  Exclusive: racketeering charges based on influencing witnesses and computer trespass, sources say  —  The Fulton county district attorney investigating Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results …

Biden picks female admiral to lead Navy.  She'd be first woman on Joint Chiefs of Staff  —  President Joe Biden has chosen Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy, an unprecedented choice that, if she is confirmed, will make her the first woman to be a Pentagon service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

FBI Warned Congress Against Releasing Document Alleging Biden Bribery (Exclusive)  —  The FBI warned lawmakers that the release of the information could put confidential sources at risk, according to documents obtained by The Messenger  —  A Facebook icon representing an external link …

Little change in Americans' views of Trump over the past year  —  Donald Trump's favorability rating among the U.S. public has remained largely stable over the past year, although it has slipped modestly among Republicans, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

Hunter Biden lawyer files complaint after Marjorie Taylor Greene shows Congress nude photos  —  Greene's presentation represented the latest clash between congressional Republicans and Biden over investigations the White House dismissed as baseless innuendo.

The Rise and Fall of the Chief Diversity Officer  —  Diversity executives hit the exits as company priorities shift; ‘everything is a battle’  —  Two years ago chief diversity officers were some of the hottest hires into executive ranks.  Now, they increasingly feel left out in the cold.

Fire damages building that houses office of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul  —  FRONT PAGE PODCAST  —  QUESTION OF THE DAY  —  If the AWOL GI in North Korea crossed over voluntarily, should the US government work to secure his release?  —  Question of the Day Yes, of course Probably so  —  Unsure

Leon Black Agreed to Pay $62.5 Million to Settle Epstein-Related Claims  —  The private equity mogul struck a deal with the U.S. Virgin Islands to avoid a potential lawsuit over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.  —  The billionaire investor Leon Black agreed to pay $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands …

26-year-old man who posed as Lincoln high school student accused of sex crimes  —  LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) - A man who posed as a student at two different Lincoln high schools has been arrested, police say.  —  Assistant Police Chief Brian Jackson said 26-year-old Zachary Scheich attended 54 days …

Biden: 'Tony Bennett's life was legendary'  —  President Biden had high praise for music legend Tony Bennett following news of his passing Friday.  —  “For more than 70 years, Tony Bennett didn't just sing the classics - he himself was an American classic,” Biden said in a statement.

Nebraska Teen Who Used Pills to End Pregnancy Gets 90 Days in Jail  —  Celeste Burgess, 19, and her mother, Jessica Burgess, 42, were charged last year after the police obtained their private Facebook messages.  —  A Nebraska teenager who used abortion pills to terminate her pregnancy …

Iowa poll shows Scott gaining on DeSantis; Trump with commanding lead  —  A new poll out of Iowa shows Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) gaining momentum on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in the 2024 presidential race, though former President Trump maintains a commanding lead.

JFK's Grandson Rails Against ‘Embarrassment’ RFK Jr.  —  ‘PERSONAL GAIN AND FAME’  —  The grandson of President John F. Kennedy railed against his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in an Instagram post on Friday, accusing him of trading “on Camelot, celebrity, conspiracy theories, and conflict for personal gain and fame.”

Biden to keep Julie Su on indefinitely as Labor chief despite lack of Senate votes  —  A White House official told NBC News that it will utilize a law that enables Su, who was confirmed as deputy labor secretary, to serve in an acting role without a time limit.

Trump attorneys again push to block Georgia 2020 election investigation  —  ATLANTA — Attorneys for former president Donald Trump continued their last-minute push to block an Atlanta-area investigation into whether he and his allies broke the law when they sought to overturn Trump's 2020 election loss …

Election interference grand jury heard testimony on Trump's state of mind  —  Prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smith's office focused their questioning of ex-White House aide William Russell on Trump's state of mind during and after the 2020 election.  —  Prosecutors from special counsel …