My Nikki Haley Theory  —  From the day she came in third in Iowa to her 20-point loss to Donald Trump on Saturday in South Carolina, Nikki Haley and her aims have been the subject of intense speculation.  Clearly, in the absence of a lightning bolt from the blue that strikes Donald Trump …

Trump Has a Hilarious New Excuse for Why He Can't Put Up Bond  —  Donald Trump is arguing that he shouldn't have to post the massive bond in E. Jean Carroll's defamation case against him ... because he's simply too rich.  —  Trump owes Carroll $83.3 million for defaming her in 2019 when she first accused him of sexual assault.

Republicans' Absurdist Reproductive Policies Are Coming for Us All  —  When I first heard Roe v. Wade would be overturned, I knew I had to move my embryos out of a red state.  The past few weeks have proven why.  —  Nearly two years ago, late into the night on a Monday …

Pride flags would be largely banned in Tennessee classrooms in bill advanced by GOP lawmakers  —  The GOP-led Tennessee House has passed a bill that would largely ban displaying pride flags in public school classrooms  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill that would largely ban displaying pride flags …

A Spike in Heart Disease Deaths Since Covid Is Puzzling Scientists  —  Mortality data of the past four years show a wave of deadly cardiovascular and metabolic illness.  —  Almost three weeks before Covid-19 was reported to be spreading in the US, Patricia Cabello Dowd dropped dead in the kitchen of her San Jose, California, home.

Jack Smith Pounds Trump For His Unprecedented Conduct In MAL Case  —  A lot of things happened.  Here are some of the things.  This is TPM's Morning Memo.  —  No One Has Ever Done What Trump Did  —  Special Counsel Jack Smith unleashed a tight, targeted fusillade in the Mar-a-Lago case …

Trans Virginia lawmaker storms out of chamber after being called ‘sir’ by Lt Gov Winsome Sears  —  Virginia state Sen Danica Roem is state's first transgender legislator  —  A transgender lawmaker stormed out of the Virginia Senate chamber in protest after Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears referred to the lawmaker as “sir” on Monday.

Monica Lewinsky urges shoppers to vote in new fashion collection  —  Women's clothing brand Reformation has tapped activist and author Monica Lewinsky to be the face of their latest voting campaign to get shoppers to the ballot boxes this November.  —  Reformation's “You've Got the Power” …

Former Australian PM: Trump acts like 12-year-old boy around Putin  —  Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described former President Trump's rhetoric around Russian President Vladimir Putin as an admiring “12-year-old boy.”  —  Speaking on Australian ABC's “Q+A” show …

Scoop: U.S. wants Israeli written assurances on using U.S. weapons in Gaza by mid-March … - It also stresses that a country that uses U.S. weapons in conflict areas needs to provide “credible and reliable written assurances” that it will “facilitate and not arbitrarily deny, restrict …

'The numbers right now aren't good.'  —  FOR YEARS, DONALD TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN STAFF struggled to get him to make donor calls and take fundraising seriously.  —  But that was before Trump faced an incumbent president and a primary opponent who was outraising him.

In leaked audio, Supreme Court Justice John Devine railed against “brainwashed” GOP colleagues  —  Devine, a former anti-abortion activist, faces a heated primary challenge that has focused on questions about his ethics.  —  Speaking to a group of East Texas voters in September …

Two candidates for mayor of a Mexican city are shot dead within hours of each other  —  Candidates Armando Pérez and Miguel Ángel Zavala were found dead days before campaigning was set to formally begin.  —  MEXICO CITY — Two candidates for mayor in the Mexican city of Maravatio …

US Army is slashing thousands of jobs in major revamp to prepare for future wars  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army is slashing the size of its force by about 24,000, or almost 5%, and restructuring to be better able to fight the next major war, as the service struggles with recruiting shortfalls …

Kroger's “nefarious bargain”  —  This is a special joint edition of Popular Information and Fingers, a newsletter about drinking in America by journalist Dave Infante.  Fingers is a must-read for anyone who cares about the business, culture, and chaos of booze.  Sign up HERE.

U.S. Launches Antitrust Investigation of Healthcare Giant UnitedHealth  —  Investigators have been interviewing healthcare industry officials who compete with UnitedHealth  —  The Justice Department has launched an antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth Group, owner of the nation's biggest health insurer …

Controversial Ohio GOP congressional candidate considers dropping out (again)  —  House Republican leaders have been desperate to stop J.R. Majewski from winning the nomination to take on Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who defeated him in 2022.  —  J.R. Majewski, the controversial Ohio congressional candidate …

The economy is roaring.  Immigration is a key reason.  —  Momentum in the job market picked up aggressively over the past year — all while Washington is deadlocked on a border deal.  —  Immigration has propelled the U.S. job market further than just about anyone expected …

Schumer, Jeffries say Ukraine discussion was ‘intense’  —  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) both characterized a Tuesday meeting between President Biden and congressional leaders as “intense” amid tension over Ukraine aid.

Vice president's SUV was partially ‘airborne’ during 2022 motorcade accident, records show  —  The Secret Service agent involved in the accident was allowed to avoid defensive driving training.  —  The back end of the vehicle carrying Vice President Kamala Harris “became momentarily airborne” …

School board member bragged of drinking Fireball and Coors Light in Capitol on Jan. 6, FBI says  —  Miles Adkins, a member of the Frederick County School Board in Virginia, was charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack after he was identified by online sleuths.