- Trump taunts don’t shake McConnell’s hold on Senate GOP (Politico) – The crumbled alliance between Trump and McConnell, who worked hand-in-glove on political and legislative strategy for four years, has finally brought the GOP to the reckoning that never happened after the 2016 election.
- This Congress is the most diverse ever. But Hill staffers remain overwhelmingly white. (Politico) – There is only one Black chief of staff in the Senate and just four Latinos. The chamber has two Black communications directors.
- Trump’s Tax Returns Aren’t the Only Crucial Records Prosecutors Will Get (The New York Times) – In addition to the tax returns, Mr. Trump’s accountants, Mazars USA, must also produce business records on which those returns are based and communications with the Trump Organization.
- U.S. arrests wife of ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán on international drug-trafficking charge at Dulles Airport (Washington Post) – Emma Coronel Aispuro, 31, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana for importation into the United States with Guzmán’s Sinaloa Cartel.
- Dominion Voting Systems sues MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell for $1.3 billion (CBS News) – The defamation lawsuit alleges that Mike Lindell falsely accused the company of rigging the 2020 presidential election.
- California legislators approve $7.6-billion COVID-19 package, including $600 stimulus checks (Los Angeles Times) – The pandemic assistance plan also includes more than $2.1 billion in grants and fee waivers for small businesses.
- Trump to claim total control of GOP (Axios) – A longtime adviser called Trump’s speech next weekend a “show of force,” and said the message will be: “I may not have Twitter or the Oval Office, but I’m still in charge.” Payback is his chief obsession.
- E.U. imposes sanctions on Russian officials after Navalny imprisonment (Washington Post) – The asset freeze and travel ban is intended to send a message to the Kremlin.
- Hearings examine consequences of massive SolarWinds breach (The Hill) – The massive Russian hacking incident will be in the spotlight on Capitol Hill this week as multiple House and Senate panels examine the extent of what is likely the largest cyber breach in U.S. history.
