• NY appellate court throws out Trump’s $494 million fine: A New York appeals court overturned the $464 million judgment against Donald Trump for civil fraud Thursday morning. Justice Peter Moulton wrote in one of three opinions that the nearly half-billion-dollar fine “is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution.” The judgment apparently threw out the fine despite maintaining that the president had run afoul of certain laws. The fine was imposed at the culmination of NY Attorney General Letitia James’s campaign to get Trump for something, which she promised to do as far back as 2018.

• Texas House passes redistricting: By a vote of 88-52, the Texas House of Representatives finally passed a new redistricting map. This vote had been delayed after Democrat lawmakers fled the state in a failed effort to prevent Republicans from moving forward. The new map buoys Republicans, with many believing it will swing five more congressional seats toward the GOP, helping the party retain control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterms. As Republican State Rep. Todd Ames Hunter explained, “The underlying goal of this plan is straightforward: improve Republican political performance.” The new map now heads to the Republican-controlled state Senate, where it is expected to easily pass, sending it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

• California gerrymander proceeds apace with Obama’s praise: On Wednesday, the California Supreme Court ruled against four GOP state legislators who pointed out that a gerrymander proposal did not undergo the required 30-day waiting period between introduction and passage. The gerrymander proposal will be put to a vote today and is expected to easily pass despite California Republicans’ promises to keep fighting. Former President Barack Obama, meanwhile, praised California’s efforts to counter the new Texas map that is expected to erase five Democrat seats. Despite Obama’s claim that the new Texas map is an attempt to “fix the game,” gerrymandering is a longtime practice of both political parties, with most analyses reporting that Democrat states are the worst offenders.

• America Party canned? In the immediate wake of congressional Republicans passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Elon Musk, who had repeatedly criticized and objected to the legislation over its failure to seriously cut government spending, announced he was starting a new third party dubbed the America Party. However, The Wall Street Journal reports that Musk is “quietly pumping the brakes on his plans to start a political party.” The Journal claims that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who has maintained ties with Vice President JD Vance, is being encouraged not to move forward with third-party plans. Musk responded, “Nothing [WSJ] says should ever be thought of as true.”

• President Autopen pardoned child-killers over DOJ objections: Even Joe Biden’s Department of Justice was dumbfounded at the sweeping pardons handed out days before he left office. Emails internal to the Biden administration have now been released, showing that Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer was actively criticizing the autopen-signed warrant that pardoned hundreds of criminals. Then-DOJ Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer and DOJ employee Elysa Wan begged the White House for clarity on the commutations that was never forthcoming. Biden — or rather the “politburo” that was running the nation in his name — claimed that the hundreds of criminals he pardoned were “convicted of non-violent drug offenses.” In one communication, Weinsheimer advised the administration to drop that line “because it is untrue or at least misleading.” Indeed, violent felons were pardoned, including Russell McIntosh, who shot and killed a mother and her two-year-old child for threatening his drug trade.

• Hillary’s law license in jeopardy: Democracy Restored, a government watchdog group, has filed an ethics complaint with the Arkansas state bar requesting a “formal review of the conduct of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Esq., a licensed attorney in the State of Arkansas, in connection with her actions during the 2016 presidential campaign.” The complaint stems from recently declassified documents related to the FBI’s “Russiagate” investigation. It notes that documents suggest “Clinton approved a plan created by one of her advisors to release false information with the purpose ‘to smear’ her political opponent during a presidential campaign and distract from the news surrounding her own legal accusations.” While no criminal charges have been filed against Clinton, the complaint contends, “Regardless, the legal profession holds its members to higher standards.”

• DNI Gabbard launches ODNI 2.0: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is being remade under Tulsi Gabbard’s leadership. In a DOGE-like effort, the ODNI will shrink by nearly 50% in fiscal year 2025, saving hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. The effort announced Wednesday informed employees that they would receive an email that afternoon notifying them if their position had been eliminated. The 30%-40% of positions that are eliminated will be separated from the ODNI by September 30. The “thoughtful review” that was approved by President Trump will also streamline several offices and programs together. The National Intelligence University will be transferring its intelligence programs and students to the National Defense University.

• Feds adding heat to border fencing: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in New Mexico on Tuesday assessing the progress of border wall construction. Speaking to reporters, Noem noted another feature that will be applied to the wall: black paint. “That is specifically at the request of the president, who understands that in the hot temperatures down here, when something is painted black, it gets even warmer, and it will make it even harder for people to climb,” she explained. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act allocates some $46.5 billion to the southern border wall construction. With illegal border crossings dropping to historic lows, the wall will help to ensure that these numbers remain low.

• Cracker Barrel signs up for the Bud Light treatment: Cracker Barrel was a classic country-style restaurant chain beloved across the nation for its down-home decor. Not anymore. The company’s new female CEO launched a three-year plan last year to update the chain after facing post-COVID losses. The updates include losing the down-home decor and wood-slat walls in favor of white walls and a modern-kitchen aesthetic. The logo has been simplified down to the name, with the iconic man in the rocking chair by a barrel going by the wayside. Even the classic peg game was not spared, with new models dropping the teasing “eg-no-ra-moose” line. The move is surprising at a time when cultural trends seem to be moving toward conservatism. Yet as social media users quickly determined, the brand has gone all in on woke, including sponsoring the Nashville pride parade.

• Bed Bath & Beyond gets out of Dodge: Another retailer is leaving California. Bed Bath & Beyond’s executive chairman, Marcus Lemonis, announced that the chain, which had been acquired by Overstock.com two years ago, was exiting the Golden State. “This decision isn’t about politics — it’s about reality. California has created one of the most over-regulated, expensive, and risky environments for businesses in America,” he explained. “It’s a system that makes it harder to employ people, harder to keep doors open, and harder to deliver value to customers.” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office dismissively responded to the news on X: “After their bankruptcy and closure of every store, like most Americans, we thought Bed, Bath & Beyond no longer existed. We wish them well in their efforts to become relevant again as they try to open a 2nd store.”

• Target CEO gives up: Conservatives and progressives have not forgiven Target for its culture-war blunders. It turns out pushing trans propaganda and then half-walking it back is a surefire way to make everyone an enemy. Amid the ongoing double boycott, 10-year CEO Brian Cornell is handing over the reins to Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke on February 1, 2026. Cornell will stay on as the executive chair of the board of directors. Sales have dipped for the Minneapolis-based chain, with sales down 1% in the last quarter compared to a year before, while profits are down 19%. Fiddelke says the key to righting the ship is focusing on “style and design,” where Target has traditionally been a leader.

• RIP, James Dobson: Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, died this morning at age 89. “Dr. Dobson’s unwavering faith and tireless devotion to the family shaped generations,” said the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. “For nearly five decades, his voice championed life, marriage, and the truth of God’s Word.” A psychologist, Dobson founded Focus on the Family in 1977, and it became a creative powerhouse of Christian family education and entertainment, including Dobson writing more than 70 books. “At its peak under Dobson’s leadership, the Focus on the Family daily radio program was carried on more than 4,000 stations across North America,” reports Fox News. “The broadcasts were also translated into 27 languages and distributed in over 160 countries.” He also held a firm place on the Religious Right that held political sway for decades, and he advised five presidents. Rest in peace.

Headlines

• Judge rejects DOJ bid to unseal Epstein grand jury records (Just the News)

• Russia draws hard line over security guarantees for Ukraine (WSJ)

• U.S. and EU spell out tariffs for autos, pharmaceuticals, and more (CNBC)

• Trump administration says it will no longer fund political activism jobs on college campuses (Center Square)

• IRS began criminal probe into Clinton Foundation in 2019 but then suddenly stopped (Just the News)

• Victim in viral Cincinnati street brawl now charged in case (Fox News)

• Texas judge deals blow to Ten Commandments in schools (Newsweek)

• Ukrainian man accused of Nord Stream gas pipelines sabotage (Newsweek)

• Humor: Trump to receive Nobel Prize for getting Zelensky to wear a suit (Babylon Bee)

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