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Republicans, Braced for Losses, Push More Voting Restrictions in Congress

(NY Times) The strict voter identification measure that Republicans have pushed through the House is just their opening salvo in a broader legislative effort aimed at keeping control of Congress this fall and helping to amplify the president’s false claims of mass voter fraud in the event that they lose. The G.O.P.’s relentless focus on the bill and an even more restrictive measure making its way through the House — both of which face a steep uphill path to becoming law — is aimed chiefly at intensifying pressure within their own ranks to muscle through new voting restrictions and seek to reshape the electorate in their favor.

ICE at the polls: Arizona Republicans push plan to require agents at all polling places

(AZ Mirror) Polling shows that Americans want to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the murders of two American citizens in Minnesota amid a violent surge to round up immigrants as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda, but Arizona Republicans want to require ICE officers to be stationed at polling places this year. This week, the Arizona Senate will take up a proposal to force all 15 of the state’s counties to sign an agreement with ICE “to provide for a federal immigration law enforcement presence at each location within this state where ballots are cast or deposited.” Even if it passes, the proposal by Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, seems to directly run afoul of federal law, which bars “any troops or armed men” who are part of “the civil, military, or naval service of the United States” from being deployed to polling locations.

Epstein Survivors Will Attend Trump's State of the Union Address Next Week

(Lincoln Square) Jess Michaels attended Pam Bondi’s hearing on Capitol Hill last week where she was asked about the administration’s handling of the Epstein files. The Attorney General, who demanded people talk about how amazing the stock market was doing, had three chances to look Epstein survivors in the eyes and apologize. Bondi refused. But while the administration says it’s time to move on, survivors like Jess are still fighting for justice. And she told Lincoln Square exclusively that they’re coming back to Washington next week to attend Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24.

Paris prosecutors open 2 Epstein-linked probes and call on victims to come forward

(AP) Paris prosecutors opened on Wednesday two new investigations into potential sex abuse crimes and financial wrongdoings linked to Jeffrey Epstein following the release of millions of files of the millionaire financier and convicted sex offender, and called on possible victims to come forward. Paris prosecutor Laurence Beccuau said the investigations are seeking to use the files released by the U.S. administration, media reports and new complaints that are being filed.

UK examining Epstein's use of airport for trafficking

(Reuters) British police are assessing whether Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women through a London airport on private flights, part of a now nationally coordinated effort to investigate the late sex offender's ties to Britain. Essex Police said on Wednesday they were looking at information that had emerged about private flights into and out of Stansted Airport, to the northeast of London, following the publication by the U.S. government of millions of documents on Epstein at the end of January.

Wednesday's Condensed News Cartoons

California preparing lawsuit over Trump administration vaccine changes

(Reuters) The state of California is preparing a lawsuit challenging recent federal changes to U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations made by the Trump administration, the state's attorney general said in an interview on Tuesday. Rob Bonta, the attorney general of the most populous U.S. state, also said he would "maybe" be open to working with the Trump administration and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit broad federal immunity for drug companies over alleged vaccine injuries.

Trump administration appeals judge's ruling over President's House slavery exhibits

(Philadelphia Inquirer) The Trump administration has appealed a federal judge’s order requiring that the National Park Service restore all the slavery-related exhibits it abruptly removed last month from the President’s House Site in Center City. The U.S. attorneys representing the federal government argued previously that the White House has full discretion over the exhibits in national parks, an argument U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe called “dangerous” and “horrifying” during last month’s hearing.

FDA reverses course, agrees to review Moderna's flu vaccine

(Statnews) The Food and Drug Administration reversed course and told Moderna it would review its application for a new flu vaccine, the company announced Wednesday. The agency told Moderna earlier this month that it would not review the submission because of a dispute over the design of a clinical trial, sparking an industry backlash and raising questions about broader decision-making at the FDA. The decision was made by top agency official Vinay Prasad, who STAT previously reported had overruled career scientists in the vaccine center.

Air Force One jets to be repainted in Trump's preferred colors

(The Hill) Air Force One jets are expected to receive a new paint job in President Trump’s preferred colors of red, white, gold and dark blue, The Hill’s sister network NewsNation has confirmed. Both the luxury jet donated by Qatar and new VC-25B Boeing jets will feature the new colors, an Air Force spokesperson told NewsNation. The Air Force One title is given to any aircraft carrying the president.