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.

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.

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 …

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 …

US, British militaries team up again to bomb sites in Yemen used by Iran-backed Houthis  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries bombed multiple sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Monday night, the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes …

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 …

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.

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.

‘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 …

Appeals Court Revives Mexico's Lawsuit Against Gunmakers  —  The decision, which is likely to be appealed, is one of the most significant setbacks for the gun industry since passage of a federal law that provided immunity from some lawsuits.  —  A federal appeals panel in Boston ruled …

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.

Ron DeSantis Spent More Than $53 Million To Win 23,420 Votes In Iowa  —  It's a conservative estimate that doesn't take into account what DeSantis spent in the final weeks of his campaign.  —  Ron DeSantis ran for president for less than nine months before ending his campaign following the Iowa caucuses …

Elon Musk: Diversity-based hiring is antisemitic  —  The tech billionaire visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and later doubled down on his comments on diversity, equity and inclusion.  —  KRAKÓW, Poland — Elon Musk has upped his war on woke by saying …

Phillips campaign rules out ‘No Labels’ run  —  Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), the long shot challenging President Biden for the White House, will not run as a candidate with No Labels.  —  Phillips's leading campaign adviser Jeff Weaver confirmed to The Hill that the congressman …