‘This to Him Is the Grand Finale’: Donald Trump's 50-Year Mission to Discredit the Justice System  —  The former president is in unparalleled legal peril, but he has mastered the ability to grind down the legal system to his advantage.  It's already changing our democracy.

US and UK carry out strikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen  —  The US and UK militaries launched strikes against Houthi targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Thursday, marking a significant response after the Biden administration and its allies warned that the Iran-backed militant group …

Elise Stefanik's Ugly “Hostages” Barb Points to Serious GOP Mayhem Ahead  —  GOP Representative Elise Stefanik no doubt thought it was shrewd to describe the rioters who attacked the Capitol as “January 6 hostages.”  This sort of talk hits a sweet trifecta for a GOP leader with seemingly limitless ambition.

Iowa blizzard cancels GOP events, threatens caucus turnout  —  Candidates are canceling events, as extreme weather shuts campaigning down.  —  WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Every campaign takes a certain number of precautions heading into the critical stretch run of a primary.

Statement from President Joe Biden on Early Student Debt Cancellation for Borrowers Enrolled in SAVE  —  From Day One of my Administration, I vowed to fix the student loan system and make sure higher education is a pathway to the middle class - not a barrier to opportunity.

EXCLUSIVE: Here's The Tape of Roger Stone Discussing Assassination of Democrats — Which He Denied Ever Doing  —  Roger Stone has contested Mediaite's reporting this week regarding comments he made on tape floating the assassination of two members of Congress.

The real Senate battleground  —  PROGRAMMING NOTE: We'll be off this Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day but will be back in your inboxes on Tuesday.  —  THE BUZZ: BANKING ON THE BAY — Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff launched their first TV ads of the Senate campaign this week …

Hunter Biden reverses course, would sit for closed-door deposition with new subpoena  —  Hunter Biden on Friday reversed course and said he would agree to give closed-door testimony to Congress if the House Oversight and Judiciary committees issue new subpoenas.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Threatens to Vacate Johnson If Ukraine Spending Approved  —  The Georgia Republican previously bashed notions to vacate the speaker, calling it ‘the dumbest thing that could happen’  —  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Friday said she will fight pairing supplemental aid …

Don't Turn Away From the Charges of Genocide Against Israel  —  With the question of whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza now before the International Court of Justice, the Biden administration has struck a tone of glib dismissal.  —  “Meritless” seems to be the agreed-upon term among U.S. officials.

Independent Party ID Tied for High; Democratic ID at New Low  — 43% identified as independents in 2023, tying 2014 record  — Record-low 27% identify as Democrats, tying Republicans  — Republicans maintain slight edge in leaned party identification

Johnson confronts biggest test yet: Whether to walk away from his own funding deal  —  Conservatives are pushing him to renege.  Most of the rest of his party wants him to stand firm.  Whichever path he chooses carries real risks.  —  Speaker Mike Johnson's grip on his fractious conference slipped …