Behind the Curtain: Trump's exponential power surge  —  Something shocking — and telling — has unfolded beyond Donald Trump's onstage, online and courtroom theatrics: He's running a professional, well-managed, disciplined presidential campaign.  — His 2024 operation is more sophisticated …

Trump warns he will blacklist Nikki Haley campaign donors  — In a post on the Truth Social social media platform, former U.S. President Donald Trump said that anyone who contributes to Haley's platform “from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp.

1/25/24 ☀️ Punchbowl News AM … Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did four extraordinary things Wednesday afternoon, all of which we scooped in our PM edition Wednesday night. … McConnell told GOP senators that before border security talks began, immigration policy united Republicans and Ukraine aid divided them.

Biden to deploy CIA director to help broker major Gaza deal  —  William Burns is looking to close gaps between Israel and Hamas on a deal that includes the release of all hostages in Gaza and a two-month cease-fire  —  President Biden plans to dispatch CIA Director William J. Burns …

U.S. economy booms with 3.3% growth in final quarter of 2023 … - The economy moderated in the September-December period compared to the previous quarter's 4.9% growth, which got a notable boost from companies building up inventories. … - That dynamic continued in the fourth quarter …

Tea with salt?  American scientist's “outrageous proposal” leaves U.S.-U.K. relations in “hot water,” embassy says  —  How do you take your tea?  One lump of sugar, two or maybe some milk?  Unless you're adding salt, one U.S. scientist says, your cup won't be perfect …

Penn Jillette Wants to Talk It All Out  —  Penn Jillette has a large, framed French-language poster of Renaldo and Clara behind him.  Most people wouldn't know what that is, but as a Bob Dylan fan, I do — it's his largely forgotten, widely panned 1978 film that he wrote, directed and starred in.

Housing is now unaffordable for a record half of all U.S. renters, study finds  —  Over the past two years, Genuine Campbell was shocked at how rent for her two-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia just kept going up — from $1,300 a month to $1,600.  She's a single mom of four …

Who are No Labels' donors?  Democratic groups file complaints in an attempt to find out  —  For months, the centrist group No Labels has stockpiled cash and diligently worked to secure ballot access for a potential third-party presidential bid, striking fear among allies of President Joe Biden …

Intimidation of State and Local Officeholders  —  Left unchecked, abuse harms not only elected officials but also the public they serve.  —  The January 6 insurrection at the Capitol seemed to mark a new peak in extremist intimidation targeting public officials.

An Iowa bill would make students sing the national anthem every day.  One lawmaker sang it  —  When it came time for her closing comments at Wednesday's Iowa House subcommittee meeting, Rep. Sue Cahill stood — and began singing the national anthem.  —  “O say can you see, by the dawn's early light …

U.S. Secretly Alerted Iran Ahead of Islamic State Terrorist Attack  —  Washington passed actionable intelligence to Tehran about the plot that killed 84 and wounded many more  —  WASHINGTON—The U.S. secretly warned Iran that Islamic State was preparing to carry out the terrorist attack early …

MoMA Sued by Artist Who Performed Nude in Marina Abramovic Work  —  The artist, John Bonafede, says museum officials failed to prevent visitors from sexually assaulting performers in the 2010 show.  —  A performance artist has sued the Museum of Modern Art, saying that officials neglected …

Outrage as New Restaurant Opens Called ‘October 7’  —  “We expect the Jordanian government to condemn this publicly and unequivocally,” wrote Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid.  —  A new restaurant apparently named after the brutal massacre of Israelis by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 has opened in Jordan, sparking outrage in Israel.

Democrats Are Having a Blast Making a Circus of the GOP's Hunter Biden Probe  —  “We're calling out their bullshit like every single time, and I think they're surprised by it,” one Democrat on the Oversight Committee said. … When Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) arrived at the Hunter Biden contempt hearing …

SCOTUS is poised to take a sledgehammer to federal agencies  —  Why overturning the Chevron precedent would be very big (and bad) deal.  —  ∙ Paid … Since conservatives fully captured the US Supreme Court during the Trump administration, right-wingers have been racking up wins.

Ex-Trump aide Peter Navarro sentenced to 4 months for defying Jan. 6 committee subpoena  —  The former White House adviser was sentenced on Thursday.  —  In this Sept. 7, 2023 file photo, Peter Navarro, an advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks to reporters as he arrives …