2/3/26☀️ AM: … The partial government shutdown, all of three days old, is likely to end at some point this afternoon.  It was a mostly fruitless exercise, and it sets Congress up for another, more politically charged funding cliff at the end of next week.

Trump Had Unusual Call With F.B.I. Agents After Election Center Search  —  The phone conversation was arranged by the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who met with the agents a day after the search for reasons that remain unclear, The New York Times has learned.

‘Crisis’: The fallout from Trump's surprise plan to close Kennedy Center  —  The president's announcement shocked artists and staff.  A message obtained by The Washington Post brought the National Symphony Orchestra's future into focus.  —  President Donald Trump's surprise Sunday announcement …

Justice Dept. demotes Ed Martin, stripping Trump ally of most authority  —  Martin will no longer head the Justice Department task force that pushed investigations into Trump's foes.  —  Top Justice Department officials have stripped Ed Martin of the bulk of his expansive responsibilities …

DHS's account of two Venezuelans shot by border patrol falls apart in court: ‘A smear campaign’  —  Immigration officials said agent shot two ‘vicious gang members’ in Portland, but records obtained by the Guardian reveal US prosecutor contradicted claims  —  Immediately after a US border …

What it's like to see ICE tear gas kids  —  The Handbasket is now on Instagram!  Follow here for news updates.  —  If you want to support my 100% independent journalism, subscribe to The Handbasket for free now.  You can also become a premium subscriber or leave a tip.

Bill and Hillary Clinton now agree to testify before Congress … Although both have said they had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes, they have maintained that the subpoenas were not tied to a legitimate legislative purpose, rendering them invalid.  They also complained the GOP-led exercise …

Trump Is Said to Have Dropped Demand for Cash From Harvard  —  Hours after The Times reported that President Trump had lowered the bar for a deal, he denied backtracking and made new threats against Harvard.  —  President Trump has backtracked on a major point in negotiations with Harvard …

Defendant contacted police before freeway shooting  —  Charles Glen Simmons, 53, of Dillard, is in the Douglas County Jail on $1 million bail after Thursday morning's alleged crime spree.  According to a press release from the Oregon State Police, Simmons had contacted their office before at least one shot was reportedly fired nearby.

Wall St. Lawyer Brad Karp Says He Regrets Epstein Interactions  —  Newly released emails between Mr. Karp, the chairman of Paul Weiss, and Jeffrey Epstein reveal a number of social interactions between them.  —  Brad Karp, chairman of the giant law firm Paul Weiss, said on Monday that he regretted …

ICE Employees Vent on Reddit, Saying They're Not Getting Paid and Still No Insurance Despite Promises  —  Staff claim promised bonuses and insurance have failed to materialise, with some reporting they cannot afford medical care for sick children  —  US Immigration and Customs Enforcement …

Peter Attia ‘Ashamed’ After Epstein Emails Become Public  —  The longevity influencer said he “never witnessed illegal behavior” but would not defend his crude remarks about women and comments on Jeffrey Epstein's “outrageous” life.  —  The physician and longevity influencer Peter Attia …

Every Homeland Security officer in Minneapolis is now being issued a body-worn camera, Noem says  —  Every Homeland Security officer on the ground in Minneapolis, including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will be immediately issued body-worn cameras, Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday …

Trump ally Pirro threatens jail for anyone bringing a gun into D.C.  —  U.S. Attorney and President Trump ally Jeanine Pirro warned Monday that anyone who brings a gun into Washington, D.C., would face “going to jail.” … - “I don't care if you have a license in another district and I don't care …

Feds Identify “Leader of Antifa”  —  This story is the first in a three part series on the government's war on American “terrorism” - please subscribe so you don't miss the next two (and to make this work possible!)  I don't have any corporate money, I just have readers like you; so please chip in if you are able!

As threats against public officials rise, election officials head for the exits … The new data on election officials comes at the same time as another report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue — shared first with POLITICO — found a more than 200 percent increase …

Judge lifts order to preserve evidence in Alex Pretti shooting … “Though the record is not one-sided, the greater weight of the evidence shows Defendants are not likely to destroy or improperly alter evidence related to Mr. Pretti's shooting during the life of this case …

Where are ICE and Border Patrol agents coming from?  —  ProPublica has identified the Border Patrol agents who shot and killed Alex Pretti as Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez, both of South Texas.  There have been numerous reports that the federal agents who've blanketed Minnesota …

U.S. Manufacturing Is in Retreat and Trump's Tariffs Aren't Helping  —  Levies on imports were supposed to bring back a golden age of U.S. manufacturing.  They haven't worked, so far.  —  The manufacturing boom President Trump promised would usher in a golden age for America is going in reverse.

Tulsi Gabbard accused of trying to ‘bury’ whistleblower complaint  —  Gabbard's press secretary said that the intelligence chief hadn't tried to stonewall Congress and that the whistleblower complaint was “baseless.”  —  Listen to this article with a free account

The last US nuclear weapons treaty with Russia is dying … “We're looking at a very uncertain path ahead,” said Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association.  “Unless Trump and Putin reach some sort of understanding soon, it's not unlikely that Russia and the U.S …

Monday's Final Word  —  Ya got tabs on your face, big disgrace, somebody better put you back into your place ...  Fox News: Conservative critics unleashed on Newsom attempting to portray himself as having a struggling childhood when his father worked as a “consigliere” — or trusted advisor …

Investigation Finds Credit Suisse Had Wider Nazi Ties Than Previously Known  —  A lawyer who has been scrutinizing archives for the bank, which is now part of UBS, is expected to testify about his findings on Tuesday.  —  A lawyer who has been conducting a yearslong investigation …

Man, 24, sparks evacuation at French hospital after doctors find 8ins-long live WW1 artillery shell in his rectum  —  A man sparked an evacuation at a French hospital after doctors discovered an eight-inch-long live World War I artillery shell in his rectum.