Quite a mess brewing in Calif. But some of us can remember a gov race there that featured a porn star, the kid from Diff’rent Strokes, Arianna Huffington, a 100-year-old woman, Larry Flynt, a sumo wrestler and … Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Great reporting from Liz Goodwin and Dan Merica -- Is Chuck Schumer leaving his top candidate recruit twisting in the wind? www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

From @iarnsdorf.bsky.social -- Truce or consequences? Trump’s Iran brinkmanship escalates backlash and intensifies debate about his credibility, morality and sanity. wapo.st/4trpqrw

In case you need something sweet to smile about: The Washington Post’s 2026 Peeps diorama contest winners wapo.st/3NM3nwF

YES! How a twangy country ballad captivated the nation -- By Emily Yahr wapo.st/4tsQC9i

Today's shot and chaser -- US Solicitor General John Sauer: “8 billion people are one plane ride away from having a child who is a US citizen.” Chief Justice John Roberts: “It’s a new world, but it’s the same Constitution.”

Squeezing dressing packet on salad in a plastic clamshell and then giving it a good shake is not unusual behavior. I do it and highly recommend. It's the only way to assure you don't get globs in some parts, nothing in others. (And no, no matter how much you beg, I'm not running for president.)

Gallup: U.S. Energy Concerns Not Spiking in War's Early Stages news.gallup.com/poll/704228/...

Fascinating essay on the significant impact of John Quincy Adams -- by Lindsay M. Chervinsky open.substack.com/pub/inpursui...

He wants you to do as he says and not how he does? From @merica -- Trump just voted by a method he calls ‘mail-in cheating’ wapo.st/47MIxnq

I love Dana Evans. I want to BE Dana Evans. #thepitt

As the Senate is once again considering the future of the filibuster, could we pause to remember the most entertaining filibuster of all time? @pkcapitol.bsky.social www.upi.com/Archives/198...

No animals were harmed in the making of this joke.

Given what is going on in the world, have decided it is time to convert to more reliable, stable and time-tested sources of energy. All my home appliances are now running on peat and whale blubber.

Always, always read David Ignatius: Iran’s Islamic Republic 2.0 is coming — and it won’t be pretty www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

In 1972, Rita Marshall and Darlene Gilleland found the baby in a parking lot at an Ohio mall hours after she was born. The baby, later named Pearl Marshall, was adopted and recently reunited with the women who found her. https://wapo.st/46QWz7g

A @washingtonpost.com poll of 1,005 Americans finds less opposition to the U.S. military actions than when they began, although more people still would prefer that the strikes stop than continue. Story with @erxclau.me & Isabelle Gibson www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

New reporting from @oliviacgeorge.bsky.social -- Police say Jan. 6 plaque is unlawfully hidden from public at U.S. Capitol wapo.st/4bpg1t9

Anyone else here old enough to remember gas lines and even-odd days?

Veterans refer to those who serve as "the other 1%." @daniellepaquette.bsky.social looks at one such family: A veteran thought her son was enlisting in peacetime. Now the U.S. is at war. wapo.st/4ropZ3I

Another scoop from the @washingtonpost.com : Govt IG is investigating allegation that a former DOGE member claims to have taken private Social Sec data on a thumb drive to his new private employer. By @merylkornfield.bsky.social Elizabeth Dwoskin and Lisa Rein www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

A really important story from @lizcgoodwin.bsky.social -- In Trump’s Washington, Congress has little power left wapo.st/3Pa6QFm

Noticed this new construction at Johns Hopkins this morning:

Minnesota endured ‘generational trauma,’ @governorwalz.mn.gov tells me, but showed America "what Minnesotans always knew ... a community that looks out for their neighbors.” wapo.st/4cBBP7a

Installed at 4 AM, let that sink in.

EXCLUSIVE reporting from @oliviacgeorge.bsky.social -- www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS: Intel report warns large-scale war ‘unlikely’ to oust Iran’s regime @johnphudson.bsky.social and Warren Strobel -- wapo.st/4lcrq3M

"Stand your butt up." "You stand YOUR butt up." That time Bernie Sanders had to stop a fight: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR94...

My home state is voting today on a U.S. Senate seat first held by Sam Houston, the father of Texas. The anniversary of his birth — yesterday — is celebrated as Texas Independence Day.

Happy Texas Independence day to those who celebrate.

Less than 4 years ago, 21 were killed by a gunman. Now Uvalde appears likely to elect "the AK guy." This from @teoarmus.bsky.social tells much about the reality of gun politics in Texas -- In tragedy-torn Uvalde, it’s a scandal-ridden incumbent or ‘the AK Guy’ www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Again? -- US military used laser to take down Border Protection drone, lawmakers say apnews.com/article/mili...

The @washingtonpost.com continues to break major stories.

Trump, seeking executive power over elections, is urged to declare emergency. A scoop from @iarnsdorf.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Trump has spread accusations about Clinton for more then a decade, often to deflect questions about his own association with Epstein. The Clintons will now tell their own story. -- www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Republicans stare down epic voter enthusiasm gap ahead of 2026 midterms @lizcgoodwin.bsky.social @sfcpoll.bsky.social poll wapo.st/3MPdeRx

SOTU: Trump reframes America, in two acts wapo.st/4s9uFLE

When I first covered Congress back in the Pleistocene Era, reporters joked on SOTU Day that the House Chamber's center aisle was "ass-kisser's alley." Members planted themselves there hours in advance of the speech to get a fleeting second on TV with the president as he entered.

Interesting tidbit from a veteran Republican operative in Texas: In the early vote so far, they are seeing Democrats turning out who "never voted in a primary and they're young."

Dear Google: Your gmail "suggested reply" feature is a really, really bad idea.

Such a fun story from @amyargetsinger.bsky.social -- How Keri Russell’s suede Coach boots ended up in my closet www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/20...

NEW: 60% disapprove of Trump ahead of State of the Union, Post-ABC poll finds. But Democrats have made little headway in persuading Americans they have better ideas or policies to offer. @danbalz @sfcpoll wapo.st/3ZPiyaE

MY SUNDAY ANALYSIS: SCOTUS tapped the brakes on Trump's unprecedented use of emergency powers to achieve his agenda. But decades of sloppy lawmaking by Congress made it possible for him to do it -- and only Congress can fix what it created. wapo.st/46n8KZb

Jesse Jackson's was the first presidential campaign I had ever covered. One day stands out in my memory more than any other (giftlink): wapo.st/4aTlHMK

On President's Day, a story I think about is how a U.S. House member who served only one term was present when they laid the cornerstone of the Washington Monument in 1848. His name: Abraham Lincoln. Love to imagine what he was thinking.

Six congressional primaries that explain where the country is headed wapo.st/3ZDDFfX

Primary season is already here. Typically only one in 5 voters bother to show up in primaries. Here's why primaries will be some of the most important races in 2026. Plus six early ones to watch. wapo.st/3ZDDFfX (giftlink)

Politics questions? Join us at noon Eastern for my every-other-week Live Chat. wapo.st/4arJG4d

Terrific reporting from @iarnsdorf.bsky.social and @lizcgoodwin.bsky.social -- Trump leaves Republicans guessing on midterms plans as outlook darkens (gift link) wapo.st/3O0AXPb

Hello, God. It's Karen: Could we have a rewind of this week?