Ballroom won't be funded after Senate GOP drops $1 billion Trump security request … And several GOP senators aired public concerns about including any ballroom funding in a bill otherwise dedicated to immigration enforcement.  A larger swath of Republicans were privately opposed …

2 Jan. 6 police officers sue to block Trump DOJ's ‘slush fund’  —  There's no shortage of questions surrounding the Trump administration's controversial new $1.776 billion fund.  White House friends and foes alike have wondered aloud about who'll receive taxpayer-financed checks …

Why Thomas Massie Thought He Was Different  —  For a long time, Representative Thomas Massie confidently defied an ironclad law of modern Republican politics—that to oppose President Trump was to start a ticking clock on your electoral career.  “I'm not worried about losing,” …

Trump officials say they can build 250-foot arch without Congress's okay  —  To build a triumphal arch near Arlington Cemetery, the administration hopes to rely on a 100-year-old authorization for a different project in the area.  —  Summary  —  The Trump administration does not plan …

Former federal prosecutor indicted for stealing copies of unreleased Jack Smith report … U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has barred public release of that volume of Smith's report, which discusses his investigation into the presence of classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.

Barney Frank, Gay Pioneer and Liberal Stalwart in Congress, Dies at 86 … Barney Frank, the brassy, lightning-quick former Massachusetts representative who for decades was the most prominent gay politician in the country and who was an author of the most significant overhaul …

Trump's Handling Of Economy Hits All-Time Low, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Prefer Dems To Win Control Of House But Give Them Poor Marks For Current Job  — mail_outline  —  More than two months after the U.S. launched an attack on Iran and with a jump in oil prices …

He Was Jailed Over a Charlie Kirk Post.  The Sheriff Now Owes Him $835,000.  —  Larry Bushart sued a Tennessee sheriff who claimed he wanted to incite hysteria with a post after Mr. Kirk's killing and jailed him for 37 days.  —  A Tennessee man who was jailed for 37 days over a Facebook post …

U.S. indicts Cuba's Raúl Castro on murder and conspiracy charges for downing of planes in 1996  —  Add CBS News on Google  —  Washington — Former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and five others have been indicted by a U.S. grand jury in Florida in connection with the Cuban military's fatal downing …

White House must comply with Presidential Records Act, judge rules … Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, faulted the OLC opinion for relying on a “stark misreading” of Supreme Court precedent.  He also rejected the Justice Department's arguments that the law is unconstitutional …

CNBC Exclusive: Transcript: Jeff Bezos Speaks with CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin on “Squawk Box” Today  —  Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC exclusive interview with Amazon Executive Chairman & Founder, Blue Origin Founder and Project Prometheus Co-Founder & Co-CEO Jeff Bezos live …

James Murdoch, Intent on ‘Thoughtful Journalism,’ Buys Half of Vox Media … James Murdoch is acquiring roughly half of Vox Media, a dramatic expansion in American media for the younger son of the media mogul Rupert Murdoch.  —  The deal includes Vox Media's podcast network as well as New York magazine …

70% of Faculty Vote to Overhaul Harvard Grading With A Cap  —  Faculty voted 458-201 to cap A grades beginning in fall 2027, while rejecting a companion measure that would have let courses opt out.  —  Harvard faculty voted to impose a roughly 20 percent cap on A grades beginning in fall 2027 …

RFK Jr. fires leaders of group that determines what insurers must cover … “If it had been doing its job, we would have early screening,” he told Ohio Republican Troy Balderson.  —  Some advocates for people with diseases are already lobbying to expand the range of services the task force …

Teen attackers in San Diego Islamic Center shooting were wallowing in nihilistic hate, investigators say  —  Add CBS News on Google  —  The two teenagers who carried out a deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday blamed Jews for the ills of the world and spewed …

Democrats scramble to contain their Maureen Galindo problem  —  House Democrats are in a mad dash to isolate Texas Democratic congressional candidate Maureen Galindo, who has said she wants to turn an ICE facility into a “prison for American Zionists.”

From Dropping Bombs to Dropping Bonds  —  The economic costs of the Iran debacle keep rising  —  Busy day, so just a note on the latest bad news.  —  This morning's economic headlines are largely about spiking interest rates.  “The global bound rout is accelerating,” says the Wall Street Journal.

They're Really Going For It  —  Trump's plan to overturn the midterm elections comes into focus.  —  ∙ Paid  —  There's no contradiction between Donald Trump's deepening unpopularity—and his evident commitment to further unpopular conduct—and his intensifying assault on democracy and the rule of law.

After Town Bans Flock, Councilmember Crashes Out, Proposes Internet and Phone Ban  —  A Texas councilmember will propose “a total ban on all cellular and GPS-capable devices for all operations within city limits” and"a total termination of all internet services."