Behind Trump's Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears  —  The president's impulsive style has never before been tested during a sustained military conflict; ruminating on Jimmy Carter  —  It seemed like Donald Trump's appetite for risk had run out, and his fears were ramping up.

Live updates: Standoff escalates after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz over US blockade  —  Confusion over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence a new deal was within reach.

Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial  —  Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later. … Donna Gustafson had a harder time than usual shaking off …

Syrian Billionaires Needed a Favor in Washington.  They Invoked the Trump Name.  —  The attempt by the Khayyats to influence foreign policy while discussions are underway about potential Trump family deals is an increasingly common feature of the president's second term.

Trump lawyer from effort to overturn 2020 election to oversee probe of ex-CIA director, DOJ official says  —  Add CBS News on Google  —  Joseph DiGenova, a conservative attorney who previously represented President Trump's campaign when it challenged the results of the 2020 election …

Trump's fixation on White House ballroom is increasing, Post analysis finds  —  The president has publicly highlighted his ballroom project on roughly a third of the days this year.  —  Summary  —  President Donald Trump had just begun a Jan. 9 meeting at the White House with oil …

A forceful opening  —  The opinion opened with unusually blunt language, calling out the case as a broader test of the rule of law.  —  “Unserious leaders are unsafe.  There is nothing more serious than our leaders' dedication to the rule of law so that we might maintain the integrity of our constitutional democracy,” Kasubhai wrote.

Battleground Republicans are starting to worry about the Senate … “Republicans have the best candidates that they've had in a long time but are facing serious headwinds,” said New Hampshire GOP strategist Mike Dennehy.  —  “I wouldn't say I feel warm and fuzzy about things right now,” …

Poll: Trump's approval rating hits second-term low as Americans sour on the economy and Iran war  —  Two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of inflation, according to an NBC News Decision Desk Poll, with some cracks emerging in his GOP support.

JD Vance could yet save his political skin.  But it will mean turning on Trump - and soon  —  The vice-president has endured his most humiliating - and damaging - week as his boss's fall guy.  How much more can Maga's great hope take?  —  For a would-be president, JD Vance has an unfortunate habit …

Behind the Curtain: China wins by watching  —  Chinese President Xi Jinping has spent the Iran war doing what he does best — patiently exploiting America's distraction and discord. … - The implications touch supply chains, energy procurement, geopolitical risk, and the race for superior AI and weaponry.

FBI's Kash Patel denies excess drinking amid officials' US security concerns  —  Agency director threatens to sue Atlantic for report citing allegations from two dozen current and former colleagues  —  The FBI director, Kash Patel, is denying allegations detailed in a new report that he drinks …

They're Young.  They're Conservative.  And They're Split Over the War.  —  On college campuses from the Northeast to the Southwest, the conflict in Iran is testing the fealty of young Republicans during the second Trump administration.  —  As a teenager, Alex Johnson joined rallies …

Trump to read Bible verse from Oval Office after feud with Pope and deleted AI image  —  Congressional news Donald Trump January 6th AI  —  President Donald Trump will participate in a public Bible reading this week as the administration continues to integrate religion, particularly Christianity, into official business.

Poll: Trump's immigration message changed.  Voters' opinions have not. … Yet three months later, Americans' views of President Donald Trump's deportations campaign remain broadly negative.  —  New results from The POLITICO Poll show that even as the spotlight has moved away …