Rail unions tell Biden officials that workers have fallen ill at Norfolk Southern derailment site  — The presidents of U.S. railroad unions told Biden administration officials that rail workers have fallen ill at the Norfolk Southern derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio, in a push for more train safety.

‘Heavily armed’ man targeted Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and other Jewish officials, FBI and AG say  —  Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel was targeted last month by a “heavily armed” man who threatened injury and death to Jewish members of the state's government, she said Thursday morning.

US condemns Israel far right minister's call for Palestinian town ‘to be erased’  —  Israel's far-right finance minister's call for a Palestinian town “to be erased” was harshly condemned by US State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday, who described the comments as “repugnant” and “irresponsible.”

Finally, Democrats appear ready to wage war on Fox News  —  For years, Democrats have been deeply conflicted about Fox News.  At times, they've shunned the network as an irredeemable source of disinformation, boycotting it or banning it from covering Democratic presidential primary debates.

Biden seeks $1.6 bln to tackle COVID relief fraud ahead of Republican probes  —  President Joe Biden plans to ask Congress to provide $1.6 billion in new funding to tackle fraud tied to U.S. pandemic relief programs and help victims of identity theft, the White House said.

Republicans Can't Wait for Trump to Implode  —  Donald Trump has had a terrible couple of months — and still leads national polls for the Republican nomination handily.  —  Almost everything that he's done lately — really, everything since he's left office — should redound to his discredit …

March 1, 2023  —  Drugmaker Eli Lilly announced today that it will cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month, bringing costs for people with private insurance and those without insurance who sign up for Lilly's copay assistance program into line with the $35 cap for Medicare recipients Congress imposed …

The Rise of the Right-Wing Peacenik  —  ‘I realized that my own side was led by a bunch of incompetents and ideologues who had taken our country down a path of destruction.  And for what?’  —  Once upon a time, Congressman Ron DeSantis strongly supported arming Ukraine against Russia.

The FBI Desperately Wants to Let Trump Off the Hook  —  He just won't allow it.  —  The way conservatives tell it, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is a hive of anti-Trump villainy, filled with agents looking for any excuse to hound the former president with investigative witch hunts.

“Non-Person” Donald Trump faces “soft ban” at Fox  —  Donald Trump, who once dominated the Fox News broadcasts, is now running into a brick wall with what four members of his circle say is a “soft ban” from the top of the conservative news channel, as it rolls out the red carpet to even the low-profile rival candidates.

Starbucks committed ‘egregious’ violations in battling union, judge rules  —  The administrative law judge's order requires the company to stop a long list of behaviors and reinstate workers who began a nationwide union drive  —  By Jacob Bogage and Lauren Kaori Gurley

Kellyanne Conway Meets With Prosecutors as Trump Inquiry Escalates  —  The Manhattan district attorney's office is scrutinizing the former president's role in the hush money payment to a porn star.  —  Kellyanne Conway, who managed the final months of Donald J. Trump's 2016 campaign …

Parents push back on allegations against St. Louis transgender center.  'I'm baffled.'  —  ST. LOUIS — Explosive allegations made public last month about a St. Louis clinic that treats transgender children have flung parents into a vortex of emotions: shock, confusion, anger, fear.

Dallas Morning News Fires Reporter for Calling Mayor ‘Bruh’ on Twitter  —  Meghan Mangrum moved to Dallas to cover education.  —  Meghan Mangrum moved to Dallas last summer to cover education as part of the Dallas Morning News' Education Lab.  She'd previously worked the education beat …

Dallas GOP dinner featuring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis closed to media  —  The Reagan Day Dinner, the local party's annual fundraiser, is usually open to reporters.  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' “fireside chat” at Saturday's Dallas County Republican Party's Reagan Day Dinner will occur behind closed doors.

Biden administration lawyer may have saved student loan forgiveness plan at Supreme Court, experts say  — Experts have predicted the Supreme Court would rule against President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, but some changed their minds after oral arguments, praising the lawyer who presented the administration's case.

Christopher Wray is getting away with doing a lousy job  —  The MAGA right thinks FBI Director Christopher A. Wray is some sort of patsy for Democrats.  But the problem is not that Wray, a Trump appointee, is showing favoritism to a Democratic administration.

Here's why Biden's new cyber strategy is notable … Welcome to The Cybersecurity 202!  What a busy Wednesday it was.  You'll see what I mean very soon.  Just scroll on down.  —  Reading this online?  Sign up for The Cybersecurity 202 to get scoops and sharp analysis in your inbox each morning.

Would a large GOP presidential field help Trump?  Not necessarily.  —  The consensus among political elites holds that a large, divided GOP presidential field would help former president Donald Trump.  That view is likely wrong.  —  The common wisdom goes something like this: In 2016 …

Give Kamala Harris the Credit She Is Due  —  Vice President Kamala Harris occupies an office that can be the butt of jokes and criticism.  The only duties of the vice president spelled out in the Constitution are to cast tiebreaking votes in the Senate and to become president if the office becomes vacant.

Texas congressman who backed gun-control bill faces GOP censure vote  —  Rep. Tony Gonzales cast the vote in the last Congress after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which is part of his district.  —  Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Tex.) is facing a censure vote this weekend …

Blinken and Lavrov meet on G-20 sidelines in first meeting between top diplomats since Ukraine war began  —  Blinken urged Russia to reverse President Vladimir Putin's decision to suspend New START, a key nuclear arms control treaty between the world's two largest nuclear powers

Menendez, Booker, nine House members slap Star-Ledger for closing Washington bureau  —  Two U.S. Senators and nine members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to Star-Ledger and NJ Advance Media executives protesting their decision to close their Washington …

Clashes as Charlie Kirk Speaks at California University  —  ‘FASCISTS OFF CAMPUS’  —  Scores of students were seen protesting outside the University of California Wednesday night ahead of an appearance by far-right youth leader Charlie Kirk, who appeared at the university for his Live Free Tour.

Senate votes to overturn Biden administration retirement investment rule Republicans decry as ‘woke’  —  The Senate passed a politically charged resolution on Wednesday to overturn a Biden administration retirement investment rule that allows managers of retirement funds to consider the impact …

‘Have not heard of him’: George Santos has a new campaign treasurer but questions persist  —  More than a week after embattled Rep. George Santos named his new campaign treasurer, questions persist over the identity of the person who has filled that role and the campaign's filings with federal regulators.

Exclusive: US Air Force fires leaders for failing nuclear safety inspection  —  Two US Air Force commanders and four of their subordinates at a key nuclear base in North Dakota were relieved of duty this week after their units failed an inspection designed to ensure that the nuclear weapons stockpile …