The ‘Red Wave’ Washout: How Skewed Polls Fed a False Election Narrative  —  The errant surveys spooked some candidates into spending more money than necessary, and diverted help from others who otherwise had a fighting chance of winning.  —  Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat …

Pope Benedict XVI Dies  —  Updates: Pope Francis Will Preside Over Benedict's Funeral on Thursday … The first pope to step down in six centuries dies in retirement.  —  Pope Benedict XVI, the eminent German theologian and conservative enforcer of Roman Catholic Church doctrine who broke …

Barbara Walters, trailblazing TV icon, dies at 93  —  The pioneering TV news broadcaster was the first female anchor in evening news.  —  Barbara Walters, the trailblazing television news broadcaster and longtime ABC News anchor and correspondent who shattered the glass ceiling and became …

Trump's Taxes Are the Best Case Yet for Putting Him in Prison  —  This Friday news dump is a huge deal, and should be the final nail in his coffin. … Don't let the cynics who know little about our tax system trick you into thinking there was nothing all that new or important in the six years …

The talented Mr. Santos: A congressman-elect's unraveling web of deception  —  Even by the low standards for truth-telling in politics, the scope of the falsehoods from the newly elected House Republican has been breathtaking  —  The Republican who won a congressional seat on Long Island …

When the House needed two months and 133 votes to elect a speaker  —  For the first time in exactly 100 years, the U.S. House of Representatives may need more than one round of voting to elect a speaker when the new Congress convenes on Tuesday.  —  But a few extra rounds of balloting …

Fidelity slashes Twitter value by 56%  —  Fidelity slashed its carrying value of Twitter by 56% during the first month of Elon Musk's ownership, according to a new disclosure.  —  Driving the news: Fidelity was among the group of outside investors that helped Musk finance his $44 billion takeover …

Shameless George!  Santos plans ‘questionable’ fundraiser off swearing-in  —  Public backlash is not stopping Long Island and Queens Rep.-elect George Santos from trying to milk still-loyal supporters for money when he gets sworn into office on Jan. 3.  —  The 34-year-old Republican …

A Charity Tied to the Supreme Court Offers Donors Access to the Justices  —  The Supreme Court Historical Society has raised more than $23 million in the last two decades, much of it from lawyers, corporations and special interests.  —  In some years, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. does the honors.

Trump wanted to trademark ‘Rigged Election!’ and other key findings from the Jan. 6 panel's latest release  —  The House select committee investigating January 6, 2021, on Friday released another wave of witness interview transcripts.  —  The new drop, which complements the panel's sweeping 845-page report …

AG: Meadows won't face voter fraud charges in North Carolina  —  Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff to President Donald Trump, won't face voter fraud charges related to his 2020 registration and absentee vote in North Carolina, the state's attorney general announced Friday.

Divisive social media star Andrew Tate detained in Romania  —  Andrew Tate, a divisive social media personality and former professional kickboxer, was detained in Romania on charges of human trafficking and rape, an official said Friday.  Tate, a British citizen who previously was banned …