The Intercept reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has compiled a short list of successors in his home state of Kentucky, preparing for the possibility that he does not serve out his full term, Kentucky Republicans tell The Intercept. The list is topped by his protégé, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and also includes former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft, …

Boise’s NBC News affiliate reports: It’s five words that many have likely heard their children or someone arguing in social media comments say; “I have done some research.” That’s also what Representative Karey Hanks (R- St. Anthony) said while speaking in support of a bill that would ban any sort of face mask mandate issued by local governments in Idaho. …

ABC News reports: A key Senate committee on Thursday approved the nomination of New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland to be interior secretary, clearing the way for a Senate vote that is likely to make her the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved Haaland’s nomination, 11-9, sending it to the Senate …

Changing America reports: A prototype of SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft that the private rocket company is hoping to one day send to the moon and Mars successfully landed for the first time following a high-altitude flight test on Wednesday. Several minutes later, the stainless steel rocket ship was destroyed in a fiery explosion on the landing pad. Despite the explosion, the …

Forbes reports: One day after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) eliminated most of his state’s coronavirus restrictions, the governor claimed immigrants released into his state by federal authorities are helping to spread the virus. Abbott tweeted Wednesday that President Joe Biden’s administration is allowing “hundreds” of undocumented immigrants who tested positive for the coronavirus to enter his state, a claim …

The Daily Beast reports: This won’t come as a shock — but Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott’s announcement that he’s ditching his state’s mask mandate did not come with the blessing of his team of medical advisers. In fact, according to the Texas Tribune, most of them didn’t know anything about it. Three of the four experts told the newspaper that …

The Associated Press reports: Family members of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem received more than $600,000 in funds from a state grant program pushed by the governor that directed federal coronavirus relief funds to small businesses. A ranch belonging to Noem’s family, Racota Valley Ranch Partnership, received one payment of $500,000, and a business operated by her brothers, Rock and …

The Texas Tribune reports: The board overseeing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the independent nonprofit entity that operates and manages the electricity grid that covers much of Texas, fired ERCOT CEO Bill Magness Wednesday night. The move by the board to vote in favor of a “60-day termination notice” came after they convened in a private executive session for …

CBS News reports: Speaking for the first time from jail, the man known as the “QAnon Shaman” told 60 Minutes+ correspondent Laurie Segall he doesn’t think his actions during the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol were an attack on the nation. “No, they were not, ma’am. My actions were not an attack on this country. That is incorrect. …

“They don’t want to protect your America. They want to create an alternative America. It’s an America of racial deep inequality and an anti-white, and by the way, anti-Asian basis. “It’s an America in which transgender dominates Christianity and Judaism. It’s an America in which they want to actually pass a bill to create a permanent machine just like California, …

Politico reports: Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested Wednesday that he would run for president in 2024 if former President Donald Trump decides against seeking the White House for a second time. Appearing Wednesday night on Fox News, the former Trump administration official was asked by host Sean Hannity whether he would “consider getting in that race” should the …

Mediaite reports: When the House passed the police reform bill named for the late George Floyd, only one Republican had voted for it — by accident. The bill’s stated purpose is “To hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies.” But less than an hour after that vote, Gooden …

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports: A Buncombe County commissioner who gained national prominence in the campaign to fully legalize same-sex marriage has said she will seek the congressional seat held by far-right Republican Madison Cawthorn. The Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara of Asheville announced her run March 3 for the 11th District seat, taking an immediate shot at Cawthorn and his Washington speech …

The Texas Tribune reports: U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, has ratcheted up his rejection of allegations of misconduct during his time as the top White House physician. Jackson released a video on Wednesday denying the allegations, calling the investigation “a political hit job” and that it “purposely left out key facts,” though it is unclear what facts were not included. …

The Associated Press reports: Police have made an arrest following a 15-month-long investigation into vandalism at a group of rock configurations in New Hampshire called “America’s Stonehenge.” Mark Russo, 51, of Swedesboro, New Jersey, has been charged with one count of felony criminal mischief, accused of defacing the stone in Salem in September 2019. A lawyer entered a not guilty …

CNN reports: A criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia is set to intensify this week, as a grand jury convenes, offering the local district attorney her first shot at seeking subpoenas for records and interviews. Two grand juries are set to convene in Fulton County on Thursday. A person familiar …

The Washington Post reports: A coronavirus resurgence across Europe has ended a six-week decline in new cases on the continent, the World Health Organization said Thursday, reflecting a broader global trend that has seen infections on the rise again. New covid-19 cases in the European region rose by 9 percent over the past week, the WHO’s regional director for Europe, …

The Hill reports: Merrick Garland’s attorney general nomination is hitting GOP roadblocks that will likely delay his confirmation to lead the Justice Department until next week. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) — a member of the Judiciary Committee viewed as a potential 2024 contender — said on Wednesday that he is blocking an effort by Democrats to expedite Garland, whom they …

Politico Playbook reports: After Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale was demoted last summer, he considered quitting and sabotaging the campaign by turning off the “lights” to the campaign website, the email system, the transfer of data between the campaign and the RNC and even the Amazon server. That’s according to Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen in their new book, “Lucky: …

The Washington Post reports: Last week, former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) was inspired to donate a quarter-million dollars to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s war chest. The hefty donation came about a month after Rauner’s ultrawealthy and exclusive community on the northern tip of Key Largo received enough coronavirus vaccine doses for 1,200 residents over the age of 65, according …