RNC Moving to Declare Trump Its Presumptive Nominee  —  An RNC committeeman has submitted the proposal despite Nikki Haley's vow to stay in the race.  —  The Republican National Committee (RNC) is reviewing a draft resolution that, if approved, would declare Donald Trump …

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.

Trump Spokesperson Steven Cheung Booted From Defamation Trial for Phone Alarm  —  U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, notoriously strict about electronics in his courtroom, brought down the hammer when the alarm went off in the middle of witness testimony on Thursday

Ex-Trump adviser Peter Navarro sentenced to 4 months for contempt of Congress  —  Former Trump White House official Peter Navarro was sentenced Thursday to four months in prison for contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack.

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 …

Eagle Pass is today's Fort Sumter.  Biden must federalize the Texas National Guard.  —  The high-stakes game of Texas Hold 'Em taking place on the banks of the Rio Grande between the tin soldiers of that state's Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and the U.S. Border Patrol has reached a tension level …

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 …

New Cars Would Require Speed-Limiting Technology Under California Bill  —  A California bill would require new cars sold or made in the state to incorporate technology that limits the speed of the vehicle.  —  “This bill would require certain vehicles, commencing with the 2027 model year …

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 …

McConnell dispels doubts about his commitment to a border-Ukraine deal  —  The Senate GOP leader made clear that Donald Trump's opposition to an agreement was not souring him on the negotiations.

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 …

Vince McMahon Accused of Sex Trafficking by WWE Staffer He Paid to Keep Quiet  —  Janel Grant files lawsuit saying McMahon pressured her into sex with him and other men at wrestling business, raising questions about 2022 board probe into CEO's payouts  —  A woman who received a payout …

Nancy Mace's Bizarre Jan. 6 Plan: ‘Get Punched in the Face’  —  “She literally begged us to let her leave the office and head to the floor so she could ‘get punched in the face’ and ‘get media attention,’” one former aide said.  —  On her third day as a congresswoman, as violent marauders overtook …

White House stressing safe gun storage in new initiative  —  The White House on Thursday announced a series of actions emphasizing the importance of safe storage of weapons, the latest step in the Biden administration's efforts to curtail gun violence.  —  The Department of Justice is releasing …

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.

Elon Musk Is Spreading Election Misinformation, but X's Fact Checkers Are Long Gone  —  Civil rights lawyers and Democrats are sounding alarms about Mr. Musk's claims about voting.  The Biden campaign called his posts “profoundly irresponsible.”  —  In the spring of 2020 …

‘A Warning Shot’: Maggie Haberman Explains Why Trump Attacked Kayleigh McEnany  —  The New York Times reporter shared her analysis after Trump lashed out at his former press secretary over her comments on Fox News.  —  LOADING  —  New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman said Donald Trump's outburst …

White House's first chief diversity and inclusion officer is leaving Biden's administration  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The White House's top diversity officer and first ever aide in the role is leaving the Biden administration after three years in his position.  —  Michael Leach, a special assistant …

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 …

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 …

House Ethics Committee drops its investigation of Rep. Jamaal Bowman  —  The New York Democrat pulled a fire alarm in a Capitol office building in September as Republicans called a vote to avoid a government shutdown.  —  WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee is not pursuing an investigation …

Trump Joins Georgia Co-Defendant's Effort to Disqualify Fani Willis Over Affair and Impropriety Allegations  —  The former president on Thursday joined an effort by his co-defendant in the Georgia election-racketeering case to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis and dismiss her charges