Comment on Putin says he's confident of long-term Russian growth

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has been making calls and telling people she is likely to make a bid for governor, Axios reports.

“At least four Democratic political committees suspect their former campaign treasurer is behind the “misappropriation” of hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds,” Rolling Stone reports. “The committees — including those led by Virginia’s two U. S. senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner — have alerted law enforcement officials and federal regulators and continue to internally investigate the matter.” “The alleged misappropriations of funds are the latest in a string of high-profile thefts and unauthorized financial transactions that have recently walloped federal political committees of all partisan stripes, collectively costing them millions of dollars.”

Jonathan Last: “Imagine that his character was sterling. That he was a fine, upstanding man, admired by all who know him. That he had dedicated his life to service and been judged to be as good a human being as Mister Rogers or Dolly Parton.” “And now imagine that his politics were perfectly in line with your politics.

“Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday backed away from a plan to address the approaching federal debt cliff in a party-line reconciliation package, acknowledging several major challenges that may force Republicans to deal with the borrowing limit in bipartisan talks with Democrats,” Politico reports. “Those obstacles include fractious House conservatives and ongoing strategic disputes with the Senate.”

Speaker Mike Johnson announced that American flags will fly full-staff for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday after all, “to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President,” Politico reports. “President Joe Biden ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff for 30 days after former President Jimmy Carter died last month, in keeping with tradition following the death of the president.

Punchbowl News: “Ernst — a prominent Hegseth skeptic in the early weeks of Hegseth’s nomination — appeared set to support Hegseth. Ernst had indicated her support weeks earlier. During her questioning, she showed satisfaction with Hegseth’s current stance on women serving in combat and preventing sexual assault.” “The upshot of Ernst’s position is that Hegseth, despite enduring tough moments during the hearing, is all but certain to advance from the Armed Services Committee next week.”