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Johnson aide advised against Hutchinson subpoena over concerns about lawmakers' ‘sexual texts’ — The move was intended in part to prevent the release of sexually explicit texts that lawmakers sent Cassidy Hutchinson.


A federal judge temporarily blocks Trump's executive order redefining birthright citizenship — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order redefining birthright citizenship, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional” during the first hearing in a multi-state effort challenging the order.
Discussion:
Washington State Standard, Fox News, Rolling Stone, Axios, Washington Examiner, CBS News, NPR, WNYW-TV, RedState, The Gateway Pundit, WUSA, KFMB, The Post Millennial, The Hill, DNyuz and Al Jazeera
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Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump's Plan to End Birthright Citizenship — A federal judge in Seattle has issued a temporary order halting the president's plan. — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Trump's executive order to end automatic citizenship to babies born on American soil …
Discussion:
Alternet.org


Judge blocks Trump's ‘blatantly unconstitutional’ executive order that aims to end birthright citizenship — A federal judge said Thursday that President Donald Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship was “blatantly unconstitutional” and issued a temporary restraining order to block it.
Discussion:
Politico, Business Insider, Bloomberg, Chicago Sun Times, Forbes, Raw Story, The Guardian, DNyuz, Mediaite and PoliticusUSA


Trump administration defends his birthright citizenship order in court for the first time — A federal district court hearing Thursday in Seattle will be the first action in what promises to be a protracted and wide-ranging battle over the new administration's agenda.
Discussion:
ABC News, UPI, The Guardian, The 19th and New Republic


Trump Revokes Security Detail for Pompeo and Others Despite Threats From Iran — The officials had been part of an aggressive posture against Iran during President Trump's first term. — President Trump revoked security protection for his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo …


Senate confirms John Ratcliffe to be Trump's CIA director — Ratcliffe becomes the second Trump nominee to be approved by the Republican-led Senate. — WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to confirm John Ratcliffe as the next CIA director under President Donald Trump …
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Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Pentagon clears a key hurdle in the Senate — Senators voted 51-49 to advance Hegseth's defense secretary bid, which has been mired in a series of controversies. — WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday voted to advance Pete Hegseth's nomination …
Discussion:
The Hill, Washington Examiner, Axios, ABC News, Bloomberg, The Guardian, IJR, New York Post, Alternet.org, Political Wire and Daily Kos


Hegseth's ex-wife gives new statement to FBI amid scrutiny over his nomination — Pete Hegseth's ex-wife recently gave a new statement to the FBI about the defense nominee's alcohol use, according to two sources familiar with the matter, an issue that has become a source of controversy during his confirmation process.
Discussion:
Slate, Fox News, USA Today, The Federalist, DNyuz, New York Magazine, The Hill and Breitbart


CNN Plots Major Overhaul as It Enters a New Trump Era — Mark Thompson has promised to reinvent CNN since he arrived in 2023. Now, he is remaking the network's TV lineup and its work force. — Give people news when and where they want it. — That, says Mark Thompson, CNN's chief executive …
Discussion:
New York Post, Eschaton, TVLine, Adweek, The Independent and Variety, more at Mediagazer »
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Trump Administration Temporarily Mutes Federal Health Officials — Scientific meetings were canceled, and research data on the bird flu outbreak was delayed, amid confusion over the directive. — The Trump administration, moving quickly to clamp down on health and science agencies …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, NPR, CBS News, DNyuz, MedPageToday.com, Daily Kos, Washington Post and Gizmodo
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Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, Talking Points Memo and carpe natem

Trump administration's abrupt cancellation of scientific meetings prompts confusion, concern
Discussion:
The Guardian and IJR


The Price of Speaking Up in Trump's America — A bishop asked the president to show mercy to immigrants and scared children. The response tells us everything about the next four years. — On Tuesday morning at Washington's National Cathedral, Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Atlantic, DNyuz, NPR, Truthout, LGBTQ Nation, Global News, Deadline, Fox News and Rolling Stone
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President Donald Trump says he'll ‘demand that interest rates drop immediately’ — WATCH NOW — President Donald Trump lobbed his first volley at the Federal Reserve, saying Thursday that he will apply pressure to bring down interest rates. — Speaking to an assembly of global leaders …


Musk mocks Nazi salute accusations with puns — Elon Musk referenced Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders in a social media post filled with puns early Thursday taunting those who accused him of doing a Nazi salute at an event after President Trump's inauguration. — “Don't say Hess to Nazi accusations!
Discussion:
Axios, Scripps News, Gizmodo, HuffPost, Forbes, New York Post, Futurism, Fox News, The Forward, IJR, Newsbusters, NewsNation, DNyuz, TMZ.com, PinkNews, The Gateway Pundit, Advocate, Raw Story, Politico, Mediaite, LGBTQ Nation and Al Jazeera, more at Mediagazer »
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Elon Musk Doubles Down On Salute Controversy With A Bunch Of Nazi Jokes
Discussion:
PinkNews


F.B.I. Pick Pushed False and Misleading Claims About Trump Investigations — Kash Patel, Donald J. Trump's choice to run the bureau, has made a series of spurious assertions about the Russia, Jan. 6 and classified documents inquiries. — Kash Patel, President Trump's pick to lead the F.B.I. …


What Republicans Could Cut to Pay for Trump's Tax Cuts: Medicaid and More — President Trump wants a massive tax cut and immigration crackdown bill. Now Republicans must decide what to cut to help pay for it. — Top Republicans are passing around an extensive menu of ideas to cover …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Guardian, ABC News, Center For Children …, Democrats, Fox Business, Raw Story and Axios


Mississippi lawmaker introduces ‘Contraception Begins at Erection Act’ — The bill, which is unlikely to pass, would make it unlawful for “a person to discharge genetic material without the intent to fertilize an embryo.” — Mississippi state Sen. Bradford Blackmon, a Democrat …
Discussion:
The Hill, Raw Story, Alternet.org, DNyuz and WLBT-TV


The Truth Speakers — In a terrible week for our country, three stars shone brightly through the gloom. — There's been no shortage of rich men kissing Trump's ass lately, even showing up to his inauguration to cozy up to him and his fascist new bestie, Elon Musk.
Discussion:
The Guardian, RNS and Raw Story
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The Bishop Who Pleaded With Trump: ‘Was Anyone Going to Say Anything?’
Discussion:
New York Magazine, PinkNews, Off Message, The Guardian, The Hill and The Independent


Donald Trump Is Running Riot — I have never been more concerned about the rule of law in the United States. — I was born in 1969 — five years after the Civil Rights Act was passed — and I have no memory of the legal system operated in the Jim Crow South, when there was one code …
Discussion:
Raw Story, The Bulwark and Twitchy


Justice Dept. Cancels Entry-Level Job Offers in Honors Program — The program, which has functioned quietly for decades, is the latest target of Trump administration appointees who are eager to exert more control over who gets government jobs. — The Justice Department has abruptly rescinded job offers …
Discussion:
Washington Post


CNN's Jim Acosta Reminds Pardon-Dodging GOP Lawmaker That He Isn't On Fox News — The anchor and Tim Burchett kept up their animosity for quite a long time. — LOADING — CNN's Jim Acosta repeatedly grilled Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) over his refusal to condemn President Donald Trump's pardon …


Jeffries draws red line on debt-for-aid deal: ‘Nonstarter’ — Top House Democrats are pouring cold water on a Republican proposal to trade a debt limit increase for California wildfire aid, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries telling reporters it was a “nonstarter.”
Discussion:
Axios and PoliticusUSA


Shelling out: Egg prices rise nearly 37 percent — Eggs cost as much as $9 per dozen in some states — Those shopping for their daily breakfast essentials may notice an increase in the total on their grocery store receipts. — The Consumer Price Index shows egg prices are up 36.8% from this time last year.
Discussion:
New Republic, The Bulwark, Alternet.org, KCUR, New Jersey Online and Daily Kos


USCP Arrests Man with Gun — “On Tuesday, January 21, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) received a lookout for a man with reported mental health issues and suicidal thoughts who was believed to be armed and in the area. At approximately 1:15 p.m., USCP officers spotted the man's car on First Street …
Discussion:
The Hill


Trump, Energy and MAGA Brain — One key to understanding many of the destructive policies coming down the pike is to realize that Donald Trump suffers from what I've been calling MAGA brain, although it actually predates Trump. I'd define it as the belief that effective governance comes …


Donald Trump's war on DEI is not about “merit” — Executive orders attacking DEI are about promoting unqualified white men over diverse candidates — Donald Trump lies about everything, but the lies strewn throughout his executive order shutting down diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) …
Discussion:
Orange County Register, Skift, Althouse, Megyn Kelly, Al Jazeera and Metalheads for Black …


Trump's D.E.I. Order Creates ‘Fear and Confusion’ Among Corporate Leaders — The executive order signals that private businesses and organizations could be investigated over their diversity policies. — More than 200 diversity officers, some from Fortune 500 companies and some from nonprofits …
Discussion:
Forbes, Semafor, Kentucky Lantern, Reuters, Raw Story, Hollywood Life, Quillette, Axios, CNN, Associated Press, Vanity Fair and New Republic


Trump Administration Live Updates: Justice Department Halts New Civil Rights Cases — Where Things Stand — Civil rights: The Justice Department has ordered an immediate halt to all new civil rights cases or investigations — and signaled that it might back out of Biden-era agreements …
Discussion:
NOTUS, MeidasTouch News, Lawyers, Guns & Money, CoinDesk, Raw Story and Washington Post


ChatGPT down: AI chat app not working as website goes offline — Your support helps us to tell the story — From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro …
Discussion:
The Register, TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, Hollywood Life and DNyuz, more at Techmeme »


The shitcoin presidency — $TRUMP is taking corruption to new levels. — Donald Trump declared on the campaign trail that he'd be a “crypto president” during his second term. He said he'd make America “the crypto capital of the planet” and a “bitcoin superpower.”


Antioch school shooting: Nashville suspect, 17, posted alt-right paraphernalia, photos from past school shootings — Two students are dead and one injured after a 17-year-old male student armed with a handgun opened fire in the cafeteria of Antioch High School in Nashville on Wednesday morning.
Discussion:
WTVF-TV, New York Post, The Forward, TMZ.com, WSVN-TV, DNyuz and Townhall