“They're Scared Shitless”: The Threat of Political Violence Informing Trump's Grip on Congress  —  With the president smashing norm after norm, even lawmakers within his party have feared for their personal safety, and at least one has told confidants that it has swayed his decision-making.

ICE Prosecutor in Dallas Runs White Supremacist X Account  —  Fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids began to spread the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated for the second time.  Posts on social media and Reddit claimed that ICE had already been spotted …

One confirmed dead in Marana Regional Airport crash Wednesday morning  —  KGUN 9 has a crew on scene  —  MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — A crash has occurred at Marana Regional Airport, 11700 W. Avra Valley Road, Wednesday morning, KGUN 9 has confirmed with airport personnel.

Majority Say System Of Checks & Balances Not Working Well, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Congressional Job Approval: Democrats Hit All-Time Low, Republicans Hit Record High  —  mail_outline  —  Less than 4 in 10 voters think the system of checks and balances between the executive …

Trump receives widespread backlash to social post calling himself ‘king’  —  US president made comparison after administration rescinded New York City's congestion pricing plan  —  Donald Trump is receiving widespread backlash after he likened himself to a “king” on social media following …

Trump administration orders Pentagon to plan for sweeping budget cuts  —  The directive, detailed in a memo dated Tuesday, exempts a handful of programs, including the president's expanded military mission along the U.S.-Mexico border.

IRS expected to fire 6,700 employees beginning Thursday  —  The Internal Revenue Service is preparing to conduct mass firings of 6,700 employees beginning Thursday, according to multiple employees notified of the plans.  —  Staff in their probationary periods—mostly recent hires …

These Are the SpaceX Engineers Already Working Inside the FAA  —  SpaceX engineers were said to be simply touring the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday.  In fact, some were already being onboarded at the agency under a policy designed to increase “employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”

Trump Team Finds Loophole to Defy Spirit of Court Orders Blocking Spending Freezes  —  Officials cite other legal authorities — not Mr. Trump's court-blocked directives — to keep withholding foreign aid and domestic grant money.  —  The Trump administration is systematically exploiting loopholes …

Oops: Trump-Musk Cuts Just Wrecked an NIH Org Championed by GOPers  —  With co-Presidents Donald Trump and Elon Musk now inflicting deep cuts on federal agencies that sponsor medical research, thousands of scientists, researchers, and medical professionals are getting fired.

D.C. U.S. attorney probing Democrats over alleged threats, documents show  —  Analysts say Ed Martin's ‘Operation Whirlwind,’ which targets statements by Democrats and others about Elon Musk, justices and government workers, is meant to stifle criticism.  —  D.C.'s top prosecutor escalated …

Cal Fire captain found stabbed to death inside of her San Diego County home  —  A Cal Fire captain was found stabbed to death inside of her San Diego County home on Monday and authorities are still searching for the suspect.  —  Deputies were dispatched to a home in the 20200 block …

Ex-NFL punter Chris Kluwe arrested over protest at Huntington Beach City Council meeting  —  Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe was arrested over a protest at a city council meeting in Huntington Beach, California on Tuesday.  —  Kluwe was protesting Huntington Beach's decision to display a plaque …

Trump's approval rating slips as Americans worry about the economy  —  U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating has ticked slightly lower in recent days as more Americans worried about the direction of the U.S. economy as the new leader threatens a host of countries with tariffs, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

A Frustrated Trump Wants His New Air Force One Planes Pronto  —  Among the ways being discussed to force faster delivery of two presidential planes are relaxing security clearances for Boeing workers and even purchasing a temporary luxury plane and retrofitting it.

Judge delays decision on whether to dismiss N.Y. Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case  —  Adams was indicted in September on five counts, including bribery, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations.  —  A federal judge on Wednesday questioned a top Justice Department official …

Trump says ‘inflation is back’: ‘I had nothing to do with it’  —  President Trump is seeking to distance himself from a rise in inflation, arguing that the uptick had “nothing to do” with his return to the Oval Office.  —  Trump instead placed the blame on former President Biden in an interview Tuesday …

Two more staffers quit John Fetterman's office as the senator carves his own lane with Trump  —  The imminent exit of two of Fetterman's longest-serving staffers continues a string of departures from the senator's office over the past year.  —  Two of Sen. John Fetterman's longest-serving staff members …

Citing ‘Biological Truth,’ Kennedy Issues Guidance Recognizing Only Two Sexes  —  The new guidance follows President Trump's demand that the Health and Human Services Department align with his executive order barring transgender athletes from women's sports.

Diary  —  I decided to keep a record of my thoughts as events transpire, a diary.  I have read several reactions by Germans to the rise of Nazism and I was struck by their difficulty to understand where the daily events they lived through could or would lead.  In retrospect, we will know, analyze, and make sense.

DOGE Has ‘God Mode’ Access to Government Data  —  The president's special commission now has an unprecedented ability to view and manipulate information at many federal agencies.  —  If you have tips about the remaking of the federal government, you can contact Charlie, Ian …