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.

DeSantis Faces Swell of Criticism Over Florida's New Standards for Black History  —  In one benchmark, middle schoolers would learn that enslaved Americans developed skills that “could be applied for their personal benefit.”  —  After an overhaul to Florida's African American history standards …

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.”

Tony Bennett, enraged by racism, championed civil rights alongside MLK  —  In an era when most white entertainers stayed on the sidelines, the singer marched for racial equality and resisted apartheid.  —  In the 1950s, Tony Bennett watched with dismay as Black musicians like Nat King Cole …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

‘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

New York Republicans to House leaders: Hold the SALT at your own risk  —  Tensions are flaring between House Republicans as lawmakers from New York have threatened to oppose a major upcoming tax bill unless it raises the current $10,000 cap on the State and Local Tax Deduction, a pricey proposition that many in the party oppose.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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

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.

EXCLUSIVE: Hunter Biden's lawyer Kevin Morris is seen smoking a BONG on the balcony of his LA home while clearly visible from the road during a visit from the president's son  — DailyMail.com saw Hunter Biden's hotshot lawyer Kevin Morris smoking from a large bong on the balcony of his Los Angeles home on Thursday

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 …

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.”