Thoughts On the Hur Report  —  Let me share a few thoughts on the Biden special counsel report.  —  First off, this is another example of the universal rule: Republican special counsels are chosen to investigate Democrats.  And Republican special counsels are chosen to investigate Republicans.

'It's devastating': Trump seizes unmatched control over GOP  —  Trump's influence was felt across the country, from Nevada to Congress to the Republican National Committee.  —  RENO, Nevada — Donald Trump long ago bent the Republican Party to his will.  But seldom has the sheer sweep …

Hogan running for Senate  —  Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is launching a Senate bid, according to a person familiar with the matter.  The anti-Trump Republican is expected to file for the open Senate seat on Friday, the last day of the filing deadline.  Hogan is popular in Maryland …

Jury awards climate scientist Michael Mann $1 million in defamation lawsuit  —  A jury on Thursday awarded $1 million to climate scientist Michael Mann who sued a pair of conservative writers 12 years ago after they compared his depictions of global warming to a convicted child molester.

Israel-Hamas war: Netanyahu orders Gaza's crowded Rafah evacuated ahead of an expected ground invasion  —  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said he has ordered the military to prepare a plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah ahead of an expected Israeli invasion of the densely populated southern Gaza city.

Scoop — Forthcoming book on Jill Biden in 2022: “Why didn't anyone stop that? … President Biden and top aides were gathered in the Treaty Room, the president's study in the executive residence, after a press conference that ran nearly two hours. … - Suddenly, the group saw First Lady Jill Biden …

Revealed: rightwinger Leonard Leo linked to efforts to keep Trump on ballot  —  Federalist Society co-chair has ties to the groups arguing in the US supreme court case that Trump should stay on the Colorado ballot  —  The man behind the conservative effort to move the judiciary to the right …

Inflation in December was even lower than first reported, the government says  —  The prices consumers pay in the marketplace rose at an even slower pace than originally reported, according to closely watched revisions the government released Friday.  —  Updates to the consumer price index showed …

Putin walks away with propaganda victory after Tucker Carlson's softball interview  —  Editor's Note: A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter.  Sign up for the daily digest chronicling the evolving media landscape here.  —  CNN —

Supreme Court almost certain to allow Trump to remain on Colorado's primary ballot  —  The justices appeared to be more concerned about what removing Trump from the ballot would do rather than whether the Constitution says he is disqualified.  —  After a little more than two hours of arguments Thursday …

Arizona prevents election recount nightmare scenario with a bipartisan fix  —  Lawmakers approved a change to the battleground state's election policies to ensure Arizona delivers its presidential electors to Washington on time in the event of a close race.  —  Arizona lawmakers dodged …