Ronna McDaniel, R.N.C. Chairwoman, Plans to Step Down  —  Donald Trump is likely to back a supporter of his false claims of election fraud, Michael Whatley, the head of the North Carolina G.O.P., to replace her.  —  The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel …

Behind the border mess: Open GOP rebellion against McConnell  —  The Republican leader told POLITICO that his critics “had their shot” already.  But conservatives are not done whacking him over the immigration-for-Ukraine aid implosion.  —  Conservative hardliners once celebrated Mitch McConnell …

In stunner, House GOP bid to impeach Mayorkas fails  —  A House GOP effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas failed in embarrassing fashion Tuesday as three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against what would have been the second-ever impeachment of a Cabinet official.

D.C. Circuit panel unanimously rejects Trump's criminal immunity claim  —  On Tuesday morning, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit unanimously rejected Donald Trump's claims that he is immune from criminal prosecution for life for acts he took while president.

Not wearing a mask during COVID-19 health emergency isn't a free speech right, appeals court says  —  A federal appeals court has shot down claims that there's a First Amendment right not to wear face masks during the COVID-19 outbreak  —  TRENTON, N.J. — A federal appeals court shot …

A 7,000-Pound Car Smashed Through a Guardrail.  That's Bad News for All of Us.  —  It's a nightmare situation on a highway: Your car hits a patch of ice and starts to skid.  Unable to regain control, you panic as you veer toward the roadway's edge.  —  In emergencies like this, guardrails provide a failsafe.

Nikki Haley loses to ‘none of these candidates’ in the Nevada GOP primary  —  NBC News projects that more voters chose not to pick a candidate at all than back Haley.  Trump wasn't on the ballot, since he's participating in Thursday's caucus, instead.  —  Nikki Haley faced no major challenger Tuesday in Nevada's presidential primary.

JPL Workforce Update  —  Workforce statement and memo to employees. … - I am directing most employees to work from home tomorrow, Wednesday, February 7, so everyone can be in a safe, comfortable environment on a stressful day. … - Tomorrow, leadership (mostly at the Division and Directorate level) …

James Lankford Stands in Border Deal Wreckage Wrought by His Own Party  —  Senator James Lankford, the Oklahoma Republican who brokered the doomed compromise, has fended off attacks from his own party while fighting to keep the bill alive.  —  It was late on a Thursday afternoon …

Former State Department security officer arrested on Jan. 6 charges  —  A former U.S. State Department security officer was arrested Tuesday after being identified as having been at the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. … - Investigators identified him using Google location data …

DOJ report on Biden classified documents coming soon; no criminal charges  —  The special counsel report criticizes how Biden and aides handled sensitive material after his vice presidency but says those actions don't amount to crimes  —  The Justice Department is preparing to release …

Getting serious about wage theft  —  Over $203 million in wages were stolen by employers from nearly 127,000 workers in New York between 2017 and 2021, according to a report last year by Documented and ProPublica.  Of that amount, more than $52 million was stolen from people working in restaurants - the most in any industry.

Inside Donald Trump's Incredible Cash Crunch  —  Two New York laws are about to smack Trump in the face, no matter if he plans to appeal two massive civil judgments that could wipe out all the cash in his pocket. … Donald Trump is just days away from getting slammed with a court judgment …

FDA says hands tied after suspect named in applesauce lead poisonings  —  Authorities in Ecuador have named a suspect in their investigation of now-recalled lead-tainted applesauce, which has been linked to poisonings of more than 400 Americans across 43 states, the Food and Drug Administration …

EPA announces tougher standards for soot emissions  —  The Environmental Protection Agency has announced stricter standards for fine particle pollution, generally known as soot.  —  Speaking to reporters ahead of the announcement, EPA Administrator Michael Regan touted the standards …