FL CFO Backs Bill to Use Tax Dollars to Pay for Trump's Legal Defense  —  This is just gross.  —  Florida's Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced today that he is supporting State Senator Ileana Garcia's bill SB 1740 to create a “Florida Freedom Fighter's Fund” …

The Inside Story Of Barack Obama's 2024 Campaign Calculations  —  ‘Existential’ fears, a focus on young people, and a history of helping Biden behind the scenes  —  Barack Obama is worried about America in 2024.  —  This is an “all hands on deck moment,” a source close to former President Obama told TPM, describing his thinking.

Supreme Court allows Border Patrol agents to remove razor wire installed by Texas at Mexico border  —  The court weighed in on a dispute between the Biden administration and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who installed the wire in an effort to prevent illegal border crossings.

Republicans Push To Legalize ‘Property Owners’ Killing Homeless People in Kentucky  —  In Kentucky, politicians are preparing to vote on a law that would authorize the use of force against unhoused people who are found to be camping on private property.  —  Republican politicians in Kentucky …

The Fall of the House of Dead Bounce Ron  —  I wrote a few days ago that Ron DeSantis's long campaign collapse was likely the most ignominious and vertiginous in the presidential primary era, which dates in stages from the 1960s and early 1970s.  Some skeptics pointed to Jeb! in 2016 or Rudy Giuliani in 2008.

Ethics Ratings of Nearly All Professions Down in U.S.  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans' ratings of nearly all 23 professions measured in Gallup's 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll are lower than they have been in recent years.  Only one profession — labor union leaders — has not declined since 2019 …

Scoop: Israel proposes 2-month fighting pause in Gaza for release of all hostages  —  Israel has given Hamas a proposal through Qatari and Egyptian mediators that includes up to two months of a pause in the fighting as part of a multi-phase deal that would include the release …

Norman Jewison, acclaimed director of ‘In the Heat of the Night’ and ‘Moonstruck,’ dead at 97  —  Norman Jewison, the acclaimed and versatile Canadian-born director whose Hollywood films ranged from Doris Day comedies and “Moonstruck” to social dramas such as the Oscar-winning “In the Heat of the Night,” has died at age 97.

US, British militaries launch new round of joint strikes against multiple Houthi sites in Yemen  —  The U.S. and British militaries bombed eight locations used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Monday night, the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes …

‘The Right Kind of Crazy’: Matt Gaetz Makes MAGA World Swoon  —  MANCHESTER, New Hamphire — Standing inside a makeshift office, a crowd of red hat-wearing MAGA acolytes in front of him and a massive mural of piercing-eyes Donald Trump on the wall behind, Matt Gaetz comfortably took questions …

The Supreme Court Cooked Up Another Phony Case to Tear Down Major Precedent  —  This is part of Opening Arguments, Slate's coverage of the start of the latest Supreme Court term.  We're working to change the way the media covers the Supreme Court.  Support our work when you join Slate Plus.

Message from Chancellor King  —  On Sunday, Jan. 21, at around 5:40 p.m., UW-Whitewater police received reports of four people outside of Knilans residence hall chanting racist words, lighting what appeared to be road flares and displaying antisemitic symbols.  —  Police quickly responded to the scene.

Georgia Judge Unseals Trump Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade's Divorce Records  —  Nathan Wade was hired by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as the special prosecutor in her sweeping election-racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and others

Far-right AfD leader vows to campaign for Brexit-style EU exit vote in Germany  —  Alice Weidel says UK departure is model for her country as party struggles with reaction to exposé about deportation ‘masterplan’  —  The leader of Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland …

Biden campaign features OB-GYN who left Texas for abortion in new ad  —  President Biden's reelection campaign on Monday dropped an ad to mark the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade that features an OB-GYN who couldn't receive an abortion in Texas after the landmark law was overturned