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.

Senate GOP poised to block IVF protection bill  —  With assists from POLITICO's Congress team  —  SENATE GOP: WE SUPPORT IVF - BUT NOT FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR IT  —  Senate conservatives are signaling they'll block Wednesday's planned Democratic bid to enshrine protections for in-vitro fertilization …

Mike Johnson cornered at “intense” White House meeting … - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Johnson “said unequivocally he wants to avoid a government shutdown.”  — “We made it clear that means not letting any of the ... appropriations bills lapse, which means you need some [stopgap bills],” Schumer added.

Exclusive: Extremism is US voters' greatest worry, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds  —  Worries about political extremism or threats to democracy have emerged as a top concern for U.S. voters and an issue where President Joe Biden has a slight advantage over Donald Trump ahead of the November election, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

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 …

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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.

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.

Apple to Wind Down Electric Car Effort After Decadelong Odyssey  — Executives tell staff to end work on endeavor known as Titan  — Employees on some car teams will move to Apple's AI division  —  Apple Inc. is canceling a decadelong effort to build an electric car …

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” …

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 …

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 …

Arizona GOP advances bill legalizing killing undocumented migrants on suspicion of trespassing … - State Rep. Justin Heap (R.) said the bill is intended to close a loophole by which migrants have moved within the U.S., per the Arizona Mirror. … - His trial is set for March 21, per the AP.

Megan McArdle: Google's Gemini AI Said the Quiet Part Out Loud  —  I tend to like Megan McArdle's takes on things so it's no surprise to me that her take on Google Gemini is pretty solid.  As she sees it, Gemini is a case of Google saying the quiet part out loud.

Judge determines Fulton County prosecutor's divorce attorney must return to witness stand in Trump case challenge  —  A judge has determined that Nathan Wade's former law partner and divorce attorney must return to the witness stand to testify about the relationship between Fulton County …

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 …

Governor Abbott Issues Disaster Declaration For Texas Wildfires  —  Governor Greg Abbott today issued a disaster declaration for 60 Texas counties in response to widespread wildfire activity throughout the state.  Additional counties may be added if conditions warrant.