R.N.C. Signals a Pullout From Presidential Debates  —  The Republican National Committee says it will require candidates to pledge to not participate in debates run by the Commission on Presidential Debates.  What would replace them, if anything, was unclear.

Oath Keepers Leader Charged With Conspiracy in Jan. 6 Investigation  —  The F.B.I. arrested Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right militia, in a major step forward in the investigation into the attack on the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump.  —  Stewart Rhodes, the leader and founder …

The Doom Loop Of “Relevance”  —  Rich Lowry and I disagree about Liz Cheney and Ron DeSantis  —  “Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey.  I hate it to end this way, oh my God I hate it. ...  All I can say is count me out.  Enough is enough.”  —  Lindsey Graham, Now: (January 12, 2022)

The Capitol Riot Really Was an Insurrection  —  A response to Jeffrey Scott Shapiro on the legal definition in the U.S. Code.  —  Jeffrey Scott Shapiro is correct that insurrection under 18 U.S.C. 2383 is a crime with specific elements ("Stop Calling Jan. 6 an 'Insurrection,'" op-ed, Jan. 6).

Glenn Beck has Covid again after refusing vaccine: 'It's going into my lungs'  —  Right-wing talk radio personality Glenn Beck on Wednesday said he has contracted Covid-19 for the second time and complained about the disease's effect on his lungs.  —  “It's starting to go into my lungs today and a little disturbing.

Sinema scuttles hopes for filibuster reform  —  Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) doubled down on her support for the 60-vote legislative filibuster Tuesday, roughly an hour before President Biden meets with Democrats to push for changing the Senate rule in order to pass voting rights legislation.

Michigan woman arrested near Capitol had loaded shotgun, and she wanted to talk about Jan. 6, police say  — U.S. Capitol Police said they arrested a Michigan woman on multiple gun charges after she drove to Washington and told officers she wanted to talk about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Is Omicron Peaking?  —  In parts of the Northeast, it seems to be.  —  The number of new Covid-19 cases in New York City rose more than twentyfold in December.  In the past few days, it has flattened.  —  In both New Jersey and Maryland, the number of new cases has fallen slightly this week.

How the Right's Rules of Rhetoric Create Racial Provocateurs  —  Anti-anti-racism can look a lot like ... racism … One of our nation's most important religious, cultural, and political projects is creating and sustaining a robust and just public policy aimed at repairing the harm inflicted …

‘Under Trump it was so much better’: The reality Democrats may be missing is that people are hurting right now  —  Reno, Nevada (CNN)Outside a Costco, Laura Godinez lifts meat, toothpaste, coffee, bottled water and bulk supplies of DayQuil from her cart — just the staples …

Loudoun Rapist Sentenced, Put On Sex Offender Registry For Life  —  LOUDOUN COUNTY, Virginia — The 14-year-old boy who raped a ninth-grader in a girls' bathroom while he wore a skirt and blouse was sentenced on Wednesday to residential treatment, as it emerged that he also allegedly attacked a third girl …

When Librarians Unionize  —  Northwestern librarians organize after pandemic-related budget cuts and years of wanting more say in how they work and are compensated.  —  After furloughs, layoffs and benefit cuts during COVID-19, librarians and other library workers at Northwestern University have voted to form a union.

Army offers up to $50k in enlistment incentives  —  The U.S. Army is offering its largest bonus ever for new recruits with up to $50,000 available to qualified individuals who sign on for a six-year active-duty enlistment.  —  The total incentive package for a new recruit is based …

Republican rep who voted to impeach Trump running for reelection  —  Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump last year, announced on Wednesday that he would be running in California's newly drawn 22nd congressional district.

The past seven years have been the hottest in recorded history, new data shows … In the middle of a historically sweltering summer, a NASA researcher stood before Congress and declared the unvarnished, undeniable scientific truth: “The greenhouse effect has been detected,” James Hansen said.

Fire Jeff Zients  —  Biden's COVID czar has gone from ‘Mr. Fix-It’ to grim reaper, steering the administration's pandemic response to catastrophic lows.  —  White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients speaks during a press briefing at the White House, April 13, 2021.

The Cops Who Didn't Come Home  —  Seventy-three officers were killed feloniously while on duty last year, a 20-year high.  —  While many Americans celebrated the holidays with their families in the final week of 2021, law enforcement kept working.  Tragically, four officers didn't make it home to their loved ones that week.