Law & Crime reports: A Michigan militia member stole a baton from a police officer guarding the U.S. Capitol and used it to assault other cops on Jan. 6, 2021, federal prosecutors claim. Arrested on Tuesday, Matthew Thomas Krol describes himself as an executive officer of the Genesee County Volunteer Militia. The affidavit is filled with screenshots from the footage …

The New York Times reports: Ivanka Trump, former President Donald J. Trump’s eldest daughter who served as one of his senior advisers, is in talks with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol about the possibility of cooperating with the panel, according to two people familiar with the discussions. It was not immediately clear whether the …

From the right wing commentator Erick Erickson: Let’s be honest, environmentalists are oftentimes the bad guys. The situation in Ukraine is the perfect example. Environmentalists pushed the U.S. and Europe to drastically cut their carbon footprint by divesting in fossil fuels and heavily relying on solar and wind power. Knowing that the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t …

The Austin American-Statesman reports: Responding to conservative Republican opposition to gender-affirming care for young transgender Texans, Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday ordered the state child welfare agency to investigate reports of “gender-transitioning procedures” as child abuse. The move came one day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a written opinion defining gender-affirming care as child abuse under state laws …

Via press release from the White House: Since Russia began deploying troops to the Ukrainian border, the United States has worked closely with our Allies and partners to deliver a strong, unified response. As I said when I met with Chancellor Scholz earlier this month, Germany has been a leader in that effort, and we have closely coordinated our efforts …

The Texas Tribune reports: Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday blasted the indictment of more than a dozen Austin police officers for alleged excessive force during the May 2020 racial justice protests — and dangled the possibility of pardons for them. “Those officers should be praised for their efforts, not prosecuted,” Abbott said in a statement. “Time will tell whether the …

NBC News reports: A Donald Trump supporter who entered the U.S. Capitol through a broken window and declared “this is war” on Jan. 6 was sentenced to 45 days behind bars on Wednesday. Mariposa Castro, also known as Imelda Acosta, went live on Facebook on Jan. 6 when she was at the western front of the Capitol, where some of …

The Daily Beast reports: Ukrainian government websites were knocked offline Wednesday in a new wave of cyberattacks pummeling Ukraine, just as Russian forces are starting to roll into the country and Ukraine declares a nationwide state of emergency over Russia’s recent aggression. The sites of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its Security Service or SBU, and Cabinet of Ministers were …

Politico reports: In a late Monday court filing, state attorneys said a provision of the 14th Amendment — disqualifying insurrectionists from holding federal office — is not a defunct Civil War-era relic meant to apply only to former Confederates but a guard against future acts of insurrection. In his lawsuit, Cawthorn claims the 14th Amendment provision was intended to apply …

TMZ Sports reports: Longtime NBA referee Ken Mauer says he was forced out of the league after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious reasons. The 36-year NBA veteran joined Jason Whitlock on his show, “Fearless” and revealed the reason he’s been MIA from the hardwood this year is because of the league’s vax mandate. “I never thought …

CNN reports: The United States has issued a new warning to the Ukrainian government that the latest intelligence points to a full-scale Russian invasion imminently, according to Ukrainian, US and Western officials familiar with the matter. The new warning was conveyed on Tuesday morning local Kyiv time, according to three of the sources. A senior Ukrainian official said Ukraine has …

The Associated Press reports: The Democratic-majority state Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision picked a 17-district map that had been proposed by a group of Democratic-aligned voters who sued last year in an effort to get the court involved. It is unlikely to create a big shift in the makeup of the congressional delegation, as the state loses a seat, …

The New York Times reports: On Thursday afternoon, L.G.B.T.Q. groups are planning to gather on the steps of City Hall to protest Mr. Adams’s decision to name Mr. Cabrera and two other men who have voiced opposition to gay marriage to City Hall posts. To gay and lesbian leaders, the appointments feel like a betrayal. The appointments also highlight another …

CNET reports: Former US President Donald Trump’s recently launched app Truth Social has reportedly banned a user for trying to make an account called @DevinNunesCow, despite Trump positioning the social network as a bulwark against censorship. The account’s handle referred to Trump Media and Technology Group CEO and former US representative Devin Nunes. It seemed to be inspired by the …

The New York Times reports: Two doses of a new Covid vaccine that is based on a conventional approach achieved 100 percent efficacy against severe disease and hospitalizations, and it could be an effective booster after other Covid shots, the vaccine’s manufacturers announced on Wednesday. The vaccine, made by the Europe-based pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and GSK, is one of four …

The CBC reports: The office of Governor General Mary Simon is telling Canadians that they can’t dissolve the federal government simply by contacting her office. Rideau Hall issued what it called the “important message” Tuesday evening on Twitter. “The Office of the Secretary of the Governor General is aware that misinformation encouraging citizens to contact the Governor General or our …

The New York Daily News reports: Mayor Adams dismissed criticism Tuesday over his decision to tap two Christian pastors with histories of anti-gay views for senior roles in his administration, declaring that the controversial hires are “what’s best for the city.” Adams, who has come under fire from the LGBTQ community in recent days, made the sweeping defense of his …

“One of the reasons why Vladimir Putin is able to do this in the first place – one of the reasons why he feels emboldened is because of a set of energy policies that Joe Biden put forward. “Cheap oil is a deterrent from tyrannical Third World dictators from invading other countries. Could it be that Greta Thunberg and Leonardo …

The Washington Post reports: Ukraine announced plans Wednesday to declare a state of emergency, as the nation prepared to defend itself from an expected Russian invasion. The 30-day state of emergency would impose curfews and restrict mass gatherings in certain regions “if necessary” to confront increased Russian aggression, the chief of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council said. Ukrainian President …

The Associated Press reports: The Pentagon has approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital as it prepares for trucker convoys that are planning protests against pandemic restrictions beginning next week. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the request Tuesday from the District of Columbia government and the U.S. Capitol Police, the Pentagon said in a …