Johnson says Ukraine aid and border policy reform ‘likely’ to be split  —  House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told the three leaders of the Baltic parliaments that President Biden's national security supplemental that includes aid for Ukraine is “likely” to be split up over concerns …

The Surprising Twist That Saved Fani ... for Now  —  As the late, great Wilford Brimley declared in Absence of Malice: “Wonderful thing, subpoenas.”  In a divorce action that had dragged out for over two years, Jocelyn Wade had sent a subpoena to Fani Willis to explain why Wade's estranged husband Nathan …

2024 Matchups: Biden Opens Up Lead Over Trump In Head-To-Head, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Haley Leads Biden 1 On 1, But Trails When Third Party Candidates Are Added  —  mail_outline  —  As signs point to the 2024 presidential election being a repeat of the 2020 race between …

Pennsylvania man arrested after allegedly decapitating his father and displaying his head on YouTube  —  In the video, which has since been removed, Justin Mohn says his father was a federal employee and refers to him as a traitor while voicing right-wing conspiracy theories.

Judge dismisses Disney's lawsuit alleging retaliation by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis  — A judge dismissed a lawsuit Disney filed against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that alleged he retaliated against the company for publicly criticizing a controversial parental rights law the governor backed.

Why Trumpers are losing it over Taylor Swift  —  Swift goes to football games to support her boyfriend, shattering MAGA brains. … MAGA this week at last found its true, final, most hated enemy.  Not Barack Obama.  Not Hilary Clinton.  Not Joe Biden.  Not even Hunter Biden.

Republicans are weaponizing a boring House tradition.  The result is more paralysis.  —  GOP rebels are tanking “rules” to push their demands, raising the threshold to pass legislation to a supermajority and making the House look more like the Senate.  —  WASHINGTON — When Speaker Mike Johnson …

John Podesta to succeed John Kerry as top U.S. climate diplomat  —  The veteran Democratic political strategist will add the role to his duties at a crucial time for President Biden's climate agenda  —  President Biden will tap senior adviser John D. Podesta to replace outgoing U.S. special …

Mark Zuckerberg apologizes to parents at online child safety hearing  —  “I'm sorry for everything you've all gone through,” the Meta CEO said at a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing called “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis.”  —  Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized Wednesday …

House Republican reported for doing pull-ups at the top of Capitol dome  —  The Capitol Visitor's Center reported Rep. Rich McCormick to the sergeant at arms for “unsafe actions” while on a tour, according to an email reviewed by POLITICO.

Scoop: State Department reviewing options for possible recognition of Palestinian state  —  Secretary of State Tony Blinken asked the State Department to conduct a review and present policy options on possible U.S. and international recognition of a Palestinian state after the war in Gaza …

Nikki Haley says Texas can secede from US if it wants but 'isn't going to'  —  That view contradicts centuries of history and precedent.  —  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley attends a Lady Hawkeyes Tailgate campaign event in Coralville, Iowa, December 30, 2023.

Elon Musk cannot keep Tesla pay package worth more than $55 billion, judge rules  —  Elon Musk is not entitled to a landmark compensation package awarded by Tesla's board of directors that is potentially worth more than $55 billion, a Delaware judge ruled Tuesday.

The ‘Profound Influence’ of Christian Extremists on Mike Johnson  —  Speaker Mike Johnson's spiritual journey reveals ties to Christian fundamentalists who support slavery.  Johnson's office won't say where he stands on that issue. … If you want to know where Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson stands …

Islamic Resistance in Iraq group is to blame for Jordan drone strike  —  The United States on Wednesday attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden weighs his options to respond to the strike.

California introduces first-in-nation slavery reparations package  —  The set of bills notably excludes direct cash payments.  —  SACRAMENTO, California — California state lawmakers introduced a slate of reparations bills on Wednesday, including a proposal to restore property taken by …

US veteran accused of tearing down Satanic Temple idol in Iowa Capitol charged with hate crime  —  A U.S. Navy veteran who is accused of tearing down a Satanic Temple statue within the Iowa state Capitol has been charged with a hate crime.  —  Michael Cassidy, a conservative Christian veteran …

Even Jefferson Davis recognized Section III ‘automatically disqualified him’: Dozens of historians urge Supreme Court to remove Trump from 2024 ballot  —  Even Jefferson Davis, leader of the Confederacy — and his lawyer — knew the insurrection clause in the U.S. Constitution not only disqualified …

Gaetz's measure on Trump and Jan. 6  —  Rep. Matt Gaetz is rounding up support for a measure that says Donald Trump did not “engage in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or give aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,” according to a copy reviewed by POLITICO.

A State Supreme Court Just Issued the Most Devastating Rebuke of Dobbs Yet  —  The Supreme Court's eradication of the constitutional right to abortion in 2022's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization had an immediate and devastating impact on gender equality in the United States.

QAnon supporters to host fundraiser for Kari Lake  —  Former Vice President Mike Pence once backed out of a fundraiser with the couple after their QAnon ties were revealed.  —  Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake is headlining a campaign fundraiser on Friday hosted by two wealthy QAnon supporters …

Trump's mobilizing his “prayer warriors”: Religion scholar on what MAGA means by “spiritual warfare”  —  Professor André Gagné explains that MAGA's “adoption of aggressive spiritual warfare language” is a warning sign  —  Donald Trump may control the Republican Party — but his power is not 100 percent absolute.

Chinese hackers are determined to ‘wreak havoc’ on US critical infrastructure, FBI director warns  —  Chinese government hackers are busily targeting water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure inside the United States …

Activist who led ouster of Harvard president linked to ‘scientific racism’ journal  —  Christopher Rufo recommends a newsletter to his readers that has published several supporters of discredited genetics theory  —  Rightwing activist Christopher Rufo has links to a self-styled …

U.S. winning world economic war  —  The United States economy grew faster than any other large advanced economy last year — by a wide margin — and is on track to do so again in 2024.  —  Why it matters: America's outperformance is rooted in its distinctive structural strengths, policy choices, and some luck.

Under Ken Paxton, Texas' Elite Civil Medicaid Fraud Unit Is Falling Apart  —  Co-published with The Texas Tribune … For years, an elite team of lawyers at the Texas attorney general's office went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world …