CNN Poll: 7 in 10 who watched say Biden's speech left them feeling optimistic  —  Biden: A nation in crisis is ‘on the move again’  —  (CNN)About half of Americans who watched President Joe Biden's address to Congress had a very positive reaction to the speech, and 71% said they walked away feeling …

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by President Biden — Address to a Joint Session of Congress … Madame Speaker.  —  Madame Vice President.  —  No president has ever said those words from this podium, and it's about time.  —  The First Lady.  —  The Second Gentleman.  —  Mr. Chief Justice.

US investigating possible mysterious directed energy attack near White House  —  Washington (CNN)Federal agencies are investigating at least two possible incidents on US soil, including one near the White House in November of last year, that appear similar to mysterious …

Biden's first big speech to Congress bombs on all counts  —  President Biden's speech Wednesday night failed on all counts: It didn't sell his latest spending plan, it didn't sell his larger agenda — and, worst of all, it didn't sell him.  —  Start with the utterly bizarre “mask theater.”

‘America is not a racist country’: Sen. Tim Scott delivers GOP response  —  Sen. Tim Scott on Wednesday accused Democrats of using race as a political weapon in order to pass their agenda.  —  “Race is not a political weapon to settle every issue the way one side wants,” he said.  “It's far too important.”

Trump's Battle to Win the First 100 Days  —  There's not just one 100-day clock that's reached its peak this week—there are two.  —  First, of course, is Joe Biden's—the collective assessment of what he's said and done since his inauguration as the 46th president on January 20.

Exclusive data: Biden staffing makes history  —  President Biden put his Cabinet in place faster than any other administration since President Reagan, the White House Office of Presidential Personnel says in a report provided first to Axios.  —  By the numbers: Biden has announced his intent …

Preet Bharara Thinks Rudy Giuliani Is in ‘Deep Trouble’  —  On Wednesday, federal agents raided Rudy Giuliani's apartment as part of an investigation into his dealings in Ukraine, which included digging up dirt on Joe Biden in that country.  The investigation is being led by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.

Vaccine rollout indicts Canada's government health care system  —  Share to Facebook Share to Twitter  —  For years the left has told Americans their health care system is too expensive, inefficient and will better serve everyone so long as it is fully run and controlled by the federal government.

Stocks Are Off to Best Start to a Presidential Term Since Great Depression  —  S&P 500 has risen 10% since Mr. Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration  —  The stock market is set to close out President Biden's first 100 days in office on Thursday with its best start to a presidential term since the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Trump supporter found guilty of threatening to kill members of Congress after Jan. 6 insurrection  —  NEW YORK — Brendan Hunt, an enthusiastic Trump supporter who called for killing members of Congress days after the Jan. 6 insurrection, was found guilty Wednesday of making a death threat against elected officials.

De Blasio says New York City plans to “fully reopen” on July 1  —  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on MSNBC Thursday that New York City plans to “fully reopen” on July 1, with no restrictions on restaurants, retail, or any other business.  —  Why it matters: It will be a major milestone …

Feds plan to indict Chauvin, other three ex-officers on civil rights charges  —  Ex-cop would face federal charges in two cases; three others just in Floyd case.  —  TEXT SIZE  —  MORE  —  Leading up to Derek Chauvin's murder trial, Justice Department officials had spent months gathering evidence …

Your Woke Money Is No Good Here  —  Corporations have taken advantage of Republicans for too long.  I won't take their PAC dollars anymore.  —  Georgia's new election law runs 98 generously spaced pages.  A fast reader can get through it in one sitting.  If you're the CEO of a major corporation …

U.S. Economy Grew Robustly in First Quarter  —  GDP grew 6.4% in the first quarter as the government distributed Covid-19 stimulus checks and consumers stepped up spending  —  U.S. gross domestic product rose at a 6.4% annual rate in the first quarter, expanding a consumer-led rebound from the pandemic.

In Whitmer kidnapping plot, extremists also wanted to blow up a bridge, tried to buy explosives, feds say  —  Last September, as two would-be kidnappers made their way to the vacation home of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) for nighttime surveillance, the pair made a pit stop at a nearby highway bridge, according to prosecutors.

What can Never Trump learn from the nineteenth century's Free Soilers?  —  What next for the Never Trump Republicans?  Their bête noire may be out of the White House, but the Donald's influence over the GOP endures.  Some, like Bill Kristol, have made the case for continued support for Joe Biden and allying with the Democrats.

The evolution of ‘defund the police’  —  Share to Facebook Share to Twitter  —  “Defund the Police” is not what you think.  —  In the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody, captured for all the world to see on nine-and-a-half minutes of excruciating video, violent protests …

Cuomo Aides Spent Months Hiding Nursing Home Death Toll  —  Aides to the New York governor, Andrew M. Cuomo, repeatedly prevented state health officials from releasing the number of nursing home deaths in the pandemic.  —  The effort by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office to obscure the pandemic death toll …

‘We are witnessing a crime against humanity’: Arundhati Roy on India's Covid catastrophe  —  It's hard to convey the full depth and range of the trauma, the chaos and the indignity that people are being subjected to.  Meanwhile, Modi and his allies are telling us not to complain

Advantage, GOP  —  Why Democrats have to win large majorities in order to govern while Republicans don't need majorities at all  —  In tennis, the two players switch sides of the court after every odd game — to even out any advantages that one player might have due to the sun.

After the J&J Vaccine Pause, Daily Vaccination Rates Plummeted  —  A couple of weeks ago we were arguing about the public effect of the CDC's pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  Would it make people more confident in vaccines because it shows that the CDC is really on the job?