Above the Fold

INEVITABLE OUTCOME: Impeachment witness Alexander Vindman, who is suspected of releasing classified information, is fired and escorted out of White House after Trump acquittal (Fox News)

SECOND IMPEACHMENT WITNESS SACKED: Trump recalls Ambassador Gordon Sondland (Washington Examiner)

Government & Politics

SIGNALING PRIORITIES: Trump budget would cut $4.4 trillion in spending, boosting defense while slashing safety nets and foreign aid (Fox News)

BUTTIGIEG PREVAILS: Iowa Democrat Party awards Pete Buttigieg 14 delegates, Bernie Sanders 12 after caucus meltdown (Fox News)

IF NOT FOR DOUBLE STANDARDS… Buttigieg argues for end of Electoral College after Iowa “victory” without popular vote (Breitbart)

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Buttigieg high-school essay praised “Profile in Courage” Bernie Sanders (The Daily Caller)

BRAVO: Actor Gary Sinise recognized with Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Patriot Award for supporting veterans (Washington Examiner)

Culture & Heartland

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE… Obama-produced film wins Oscar; producer quotes Communist Manifesto in acceptance speech (The Daily Wire)

COPS ATTACKED: Two New York officers shot in assassination attempts; Trump rips Mayor Bill de Blasio (USA Today)

REPUBLICANS ATTACKED: Man deliberately rams vehicle into GOP tent full of volunteers (The Daily Wire)

Closing Arguments

POLICY: China’s stranglehold on pharmaceuticals threatens Americans’ health and national security (Issues & Insights)

POLICY: Unlike in Europe, the U.S. approach to climate change is actually working (Washington Examiner)

HUMOR: Adam Schiff wins Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in a Fictional Impeachment (Genesius Times)

For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit In Our Sights.

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