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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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  —  The Justice Department has abruptly rescinded job offers …

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 …

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!

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 …

Trump threatens tariffs, presses allies on defense spending during remote Davos address  —  President Donald Trump took a combative tone at times as he spoke remotely Thursday to an international audience of business leaders, politicians and other elites at the World Economic Forum's annual event in Davos, Switzerland.

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 …

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 …

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.”

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

DOGE's Top Lawyer to Depart  —  Bill McGinley, the group's counsel, is planning to return to the private sector  —  The top lawyer at Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency is announcing his departure just days after President Trump's return to the White House.

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 …

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.

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 …