The New York Times reports: Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to grant the Fox News host Tucker Carlson exclusive access to thousands of hours of security footage from inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack was his latest move to appease the right wing of his party, this time by effectively outsourcing a bid to reinvestigate the riot to …

“As everybody knows Kevin McCarthy and the gang released 44,000 hours from January 6th to exclusively Fox News. Well, we’re not going to sit back and let that happen. “Fox is going to sift through it and only put out what they want and I’m tired of them breaking our constitutional rights. We have to stand up with everything. Just …

Illinois Public Radio reports: A Normal man was sentenced to 88 years in prison on Wednesday for criminal sexual assault of a minor and possession of child pornography. Michael D. Schneider worked as a staff member at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington before his arrest in June 2021 on the felony charges. The victim, now a college student, struggled …

CBS News reports: Federal prosecutors have asked the chief judge in Washington, D.C.’s federal court to compel former Vice President Mike Pence to comply with a grand jury subpoena and testify as a witness in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the events surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, three people familiar with the investigation told CBS …

Via email from hate group leader Monica Cole: Thinx, the manufacturer of reusable menstruation underwear called period panties, is now promoting its Thinx Teens products to teenagers in a new commercial. It is concerning that this ad has a fully clothed mom giving her teen a tutorial on how to insert a tampon, which is repulsive and completely unnecessary in …

The Guardian reports: A lawyer’s attempt to have his pregnant client released from jail ahead of trial by arguing that her fetus has been subject to “unlawful and illegal detention” could have profound consequences for the rights of women in Florida. Attorney William M Norris filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of the “unborn child” …

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has formulated a so-called “target list” containing names of school board members across the state that he wants to challenge in their upcoming elections. DeSantis said those on the “target list” of 14 do not protect parental rights and have failed to protect students from what he calls “woke” ideologies. The announcement …

Reuters reports: The Roman Catholic religious order of Jesuits said on Tuesday that accusations of sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse against a prominent member of the order were highly credible and that restrictions on him had been tightened. The order said on its website that it would start an “internal procedure” against the priest, Father Marko Ivan Rupnik, 69, a …

Gothamist reports: In one of his first legislative acts as a new member of Congress, Rep. George Santos has backed a bill to make an AR-15 style rifle – a weapon used in some of the deadliest mass shootings of the past decade – the “National Gun of the United States.” Santos co-sponsored the bill, along with prime sponsor Alabama …

Colorado Newsline reports: Colorado attorney Jenna Ellis, one of the central figures in former President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, is the subject of a formal professional misconduct complaint that’s expected to be filed in the coming weeks. Ellis had been under scrutiny by the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which investigates allegations of professional misconduct …

Axios reports: Temperatures will sizzle toward record territory for many in the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday. Baltimore and Washington, D.C., could reach 80°F.  The freakishly mild winter in the East has led to a sense of unease. This is February, when Nor’easters normally churn the Atlantic, dumping heavy snow for millions. Instead, the only thing that has been heavy in New …

San Diego’s ABC affiliate reports: The shooting death of Ashli Babbitt at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 was a call to action for Gerhardt Fox, who worked on a legal fundraising effort in the wake of Babbitt’s death. “I feel that a person who was unarmed and who wasn’t engaging in an assault should not be shot by …

Politico reports: The Florida Department of Health’s inspector general last fall investigated Joseph Ladapo, the state’s surgeon general, after the agency received an anonymous complaint alleging he falsified a report focusing on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines for young men. Among other things, the complainant alleged Ladapo committed “scientific fraud” and “manipulated data” in a report that Ladapo later used …

The Hill reports: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) touched a nerve across the political spectrum this week with her call for a “national divorce” that echoed the nation’s history surrounding secessionism. “She wants you to cover it so she can raise money off it. She wants people talking about it,” one GOP operative told The Hill. Democrats have pounced on …

The Daily Beast reports: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) spends more of her campaign funds on security than nearly every other member of Congress—she’s underwritten well over $560,000 for her protection since late 2021—but what’s more unusual than how much she spends is who she spends it on. According to federal campaign finance filings, Sinema’s campaign committees have paid a combined …

The New York Post reports: The woman accused of setting a pride flag on fire outside a Manhattan restaurant sparked chaos in court Wednesday, repeatedly shouting during her first appearance before a judge. Angelina Cando, 35, interrupted the proceeding in Manhattan Criminal Court several times as prosecutors accused her of going on a vandalizing spree over the weekend that included …

The Associated Press reports: An Alaska lawmaker with a history of incendiary remarks was censured by the state House Wednesday after he said it has been argued that cases of fatal child abuse can be a “cost savings” because the child won’t need related government services. The House voted 35-1 to censure Republican Rep. David Eastman of Wasilla, with Eastman …

The Washington Post reports: Six months after federal agents seized his phone as part of their investigation into false election fraud claims, Rep. Scott Perry will argue Thursday in front of a panel of three judges that the device cannot be searched. The Pennsylvania Republican is supported by bipartisan leadership in the House of Representatives as he argues that the …

“A law prohibiting American citizens – who’ve not committed a crime – from voting would probably not withstand legal scrutiny.And, second, how would like a national divorce be good for conservatism? “Now, why would we want to embrace the states that gave us Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, but essentially give up on the states that gave us Reagan and …

Reuters reports: After a series of strident speeches in the runup to the anniversary of his invasion, Putin announced plans on Thursday to deploy new Sarmat multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles this year. Earlier this week he suspended Russia’s participation in the START nuclear arms control treaty. “As before, we will pay increased attention to strengthening the nuclear triad,” said Putin, …