Rubio Tells Lawmakers Trump Aims to Buy Greenland, Downplays Military Action  —  The secretary of state said the White House is using rhetoric to pressure Denmark into negotiations  —  WASHINGTON—Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that recent administration threats against Greenland …

Russia Sends Submarine to Escort Tanker the U.S. Tried to Seize Off Venezuela  —  Move raises the stakes over the Trump administration's attempt to seize the Bella  —  Russia has sent a submarine and other naval assets to escort an empty, rusting oil tanker that has become a new flashpoint …

Oil companies in talks with White House on how to drill in Venezuela, officials say  —  The president said Tuesday that some Venezuelan oil will be shipped to U.S. refineries.  He faces challenges getting firms to put their money into the country's shattered industry.

Grok Is Pushing AI ‘Undressing’ Mainstream  —  Paid tools that “strip” clothes from photos have been available on the darker corners of the internet for years.  Elon Musk's X is now removing barriers to entry—and making the results public.  —  Elon Musk hasn't stopped Grok …

Congress heads toward another ACA showdown … Editorial photos provided by Getty Images.  Political ads courtesy of AdImpact.  —  PUNCHBOWL NEWS PRESENTS  —  Our new weekly show, Fly Out Day, brings you inside the most consequential decisions shaping Congress with the people at the center of the story.

GOP-led Jan. 6 committee sets first hearing for next week  —  The new Republican-led panel tasked with investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack will hold its first hearing next week, Rep. Barry Loudermilk said in an interview Tuesday — the five-year anniversary of the event.

Trump administration tells 5 states their child care funds have been frozen  —  The Trump administration sent out letters Tuesday night to five blue states, freezing about $10 billion in funding for child care and social services programs pending a “thorough review,” citing concerns over “systemic fraud.”

Texas A&M Bans Plato  —  Drop the race and gender material from your course and the Plato readings, or teach a different course.  You have a day to decide.  —  That's a paraphrase of what Martin Peterson, professor of philosophy at Texas A&M University, was told by university officials today …

Democrats advised not to center midterm campaigns on attacking Trump  —  Political strategists say Democrats running in competitive races in this year's midterm elections for the House and Senate should steer clear of making President Trump the centerpiece of their campaigns.

DOJ admits it has still not released 99% of Epstein files, violating law  —  The DOJ said it is still reviewing millions of Epstein files, after previously claiming it completed the review in July  —  In an extraordinary letter sent to a federal judge Monday evening, Attorney General Pam Bondi admitted …

The Military Isn't MAGA  —  The Uniform Code of Military Justice should not suppress free speech.  —  Mark Kelly will probably be fine.  The senator and Navy veteran isn't likely to be cowed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's lawless attempt to silence him by seeking to demote him post-retirement.

Judge orders Lindsey Halligan to explain why she's using U.S. attorney title  —  A federal judge ordered Trump ally Lindsey Halligan to explain why she's identifying herself as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia despite a court ruling that she was unlawfully appointed to the role.

Polymarket refuses to pay bets that US would ‘invade’ Venezuela  —  Prediction market disputes US raid amounted to an invasion in fight over more than $10.5mn in wagers  —  Polymarket is disputing that the mission to capture Nicolás Maduro constituted an invasion and said it will only settle …

Congress, the President, and the Use of Military Force in Venezuela  —  This is part of Just Security's Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers.  —  On Jan. 3, President Donald Trump ordered a military operation that bombed Venezuelan air defenses and other targets in the country …

We Need to Get Off the Defensive About Immigration … History is replete with times when an army in fighting retreat draws a line, digs in, and then counterattacks.  The Russians in WW2 took world-historic losses, before turning the tide with a massive counteroffensive around Stalingrad.

The Trump doctrine exposes the US as a mafia state  —  The Venezuela incursion is in line with this logic, made even plainer as the US eyes Greenland  —  When a bleary-eyed Trump explained the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro this past Saturday, he invoked the Monroe doctrine …

Life Under a Clicktatorship  —  What happens to government when everything is content?  —  One of the strangest moments to emerge from the U.S. kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro was the flurry of images posted by President Trump on Truth Social.  It felt a bit like a student who can't decide …

Béla Fleck Withdraws From Kennedy Center Concerts  —  “Performing there has become charged and political,” the 18-time Grammy winner said.  —  The celebrated banjo player Béla Fleck announced on Tuesday that he had withdrawn from three concerts at the John F. Kennedy Center …

“They say that when you win the presidency you lose the midterm,” President Donald J. Trump said today to House Republicans.  “I wish you could explain to me what the hell is going on with the mind of the public because we have the right policy.  They don't.  They have a horrible policy.