U.S. poised to break record 142,000 covid-19 hospitalizations … The United States is poised to surpass its record for covid-19 hospitalizations as soon as Tuesday, with no end in sight to skyrocketing case loads, falling staff levels and the struggles of a medical system trying to provide care amid …

Biden Will Endorse Changing Senate Rules to Pass Voting Rights Legislation  —  In Georgia, the president will express support for altering rules around the Senate filibuster, setting up a confrontation with Republicans.  —  WASHINGTON — President Biden will endorse changing Senate rules …

GOP steps up bid to convince Hogan to run for Senate in Md.  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republicans are stepping up a personal campaign to persuade Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to run for the Senate and help the party's chances of regaining control of the chamber.

Mike Pence Seen as Key Witness in Jan. 6 Investigation  —  Getting the former vice president to answer questions under oath could be crucial as the House panel focuses on Donald Trump's responsibility for the Capitol riot.  —  As the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault …

Mocking anti-vaxxers' deaths is ghoulish, yes — but necessary  —  Among all the ways that COVID-19 affects our lives, the pandemic confronts us with a profound moral dilemma:  —  How should we react to the deaths of the unvaccinated?  —  On the one hand, a hallmark of civilized thought is the sense that every life is precious.

Chicago Teachers Union clears way for in-person classes to resume Wednesday in Chicago Public Schools after four days of cancellations over COVID-19 clashes  —  A proposal for Chicago Public Schools to resume in-person classes Wednesday has been approved by the Chicago Teachers Union's House …

Russia Positioning Helicopters, in Possible Sign of Ukraine Plans  —  The step, which could be an indication that planning for an attack continues, comes as the number of Russian troops at the border has remained steady in recent weeks, despite U.S. expectations of a surge.

Intel CEO Doubles Down on Xinjiang Apology: ‘No Reason to Call Out One Region in Particular’  —  Pat Gelsinger made the comments after his company backtracked a statement calling out forced labor in Xinjiang.  —  ntel CEO Pat Gelsinger on Monday defended his company's decision to backtrack …

Military Documents About Gain of Function Contradict Fauci Testimony Under Oath  — Military documents state that EcoHealth Alliance approached DARPA in March 2018 seeking funding to conduct gain of function research of bat borne coronaviruses.  The proposal, named Project Defuse …

Axios-Ipsos poll: America retrenches on COVID  —  Social distancing and self-quarantining have spiked in recent weeks as Omicron puts the nation in a crouch like last spring before vaccines became widely available, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.

Speaker: Nashville US House seat to split in redistricting  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Republicans plan to carve fast-growing Nashville into multiple congressional seats, making it potentially easier for the state's Republican-dominated congressional delegation to flip …

US announces $308 million in aid for Afghans as crisis grows  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has announced $308 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, offering new aid to the country as it edges toward a humanitarian crisis since the Taliban takeover nearly five months ago.

North Korea fires second suspected missile in six days  —  North Korea has fired a suspected ballistic missile, less than a week after it launched what it claimed was a hypersonic missile.  —  South Korea said it detected the launch at 07:27 local time on Tuesday (22:27 GMT on Monday).

CDC weighs recommending better masks against omicron variant  —  Agency is likely to say that people who can consistently wear N95 or KN95 masks, rather than cloth masks, should do so … The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering updating its mask guidance to recommend …

The Data Are Pointing to One Major Driver of America's Murder Spike  —  After murders in the United States soared to more than 21,000 in 2020, researchers began searching for a definitive explanation why.  Many factors may have contributed, such as a pandemic-driven loss of social programs …

Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2022  —  1. The business of journalism is looking up for some |  2. Audience strategies and publisher innovation |  3. The practice of journalism: hybrid newsrooms, generational change, and new agendas |  4. Government regulation, privacy, and the future of platforms |

Dems' filibuster conundrum: It's not just Manchin and Sinema  —  A Democratic senator from Arizona is still not sold on changes to the filibuster.  And it's not Kyrsten Sinema.  —  Mark Kelly is not yet committed to a change in the Senate rules that would allow elections reform legislation to pass by a simple majority.

America has rejected fascism before  —  The 2020s are similar to the 1940s.  —  Editorial Board readers are familiar with my obsession with political time - or how one party and its ideas prevail with a majority of Americans for four or five decades before falling into a period of transition …