Top of the Fold

• Biden’s plan to rig upcoming elections: Republicans have been ringing the alarm bells against an executive order Joe Biden signed last March directing all federal agencies to “consider ways to expand citizens’ opportunities to register to vote and to obtain information about, and participate in, the electoral process.” Last month, 33 House Republicans sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget requesting specific details regarding Biden’s order, but that has thus far gone unheeded. Republicans allege that the Biden administration is using the EO as a means of implementing the Democrats’ failed “For the People Act”: “This EO’s strategy appears to enable the Biden administration to use federal government resources, funded by American taxpayers, to circumvent newly passed state election integrity laws. These laws make it easier to vote and harder to cheat. The Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to federalize state-run elections will erode these important protections.”

• NYC mayor fires 1,400 unvaccinated city workers: On Monday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams gave more than 1,400 government workers their walking papers after they refused to get the COVID vaccine. The number of fired workers included 36 from the NYPD, 25 from the FDNY, and 914 individuals from the Education Department. Adams praised those who caved to his continuation of former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s draconian vaccine mandate as “showing how they are willing to do the right thing to protect themselves and all New Yorkers.” But Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association President Harry Nespoli criticized Adams: “Workers should not get fired. There are a lot of people who don’t believe in putting this stuff in their bodies.”

• Federal judge tosses Palin’s defamation suit: Sarah Palin, former Republican governor of Alaska and vice presidential candidate, had her defamation lawsuit against The New York Times dismissed by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff over insufficient evidence. Jurors are still deliberating and will not be informed of dismissal, but Rakoff decided to dismiss and still have the jury come to a decision for the sake of the appellate court and to avoid a potential retrial. Palin launched her suit against the Times in 2017 after the Times falsely asserted that Palin’s political-action map incited a deranged individual’s 2011 murderous attack in Tucson. Despite the obvious nature of the case, Rakoff said that Palin failed to produce evidence supporting the allegation that the Times acted with actual malice.

• Manchin scuttles Biden’s FDA nominee: Joe Manchin has said no to Joe Biden’s nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration. “My opposition is nothing new,” Manchin stated, citing his opposition to Dr. Robert Califf five years ago for the same role. The reason behind Manchin’s rejection of Califf has everything to do with the opioid epidemic, as Manchin’s West Virginia has been one of the hardest hit states. Manchin explained: “In the five years since Dr. Califf was confirmed, more than 400,000 Americans, and 5,000 West Virginians have died from drug related overdose. … Califf bears a great deal of responsibility for these deaths.” He added, “Do not expect a different outcome” this go around. Manchin keeps proving to be quite the thorn in Biden’s side.

Headlines

• Most Democrats say Hillary Clinton should be investigated for role in Russia collusion scandal (Washington Times)

• Ukraine president walks back statement that Russia will attack Wednesday (NBC)

• Enes Kanter Freedom is out of an NBA job (Power Line)

• DC will still require masks for students despite dropping mandates at bars, restaurants, and strip clubs (Daily Wire)

• Seattle’s soda tax goes horribly wrong (PJ Media)

• Scores of congregations quit United Methodist Church over gay clergy, same-sex marriage (Washington Times)

• U.S. corn-based ethanol worse for the climate than gasoline, study finds (Reuters)

• Policy: How China spies on nations throughout the Western Hemisphere (Daily Signal)

• Satire: LA schoolchildren dress up as Super Bowl celebs so they won’t have to wear masks (Babylon Bee)

For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit Headline Report.

The Patriot Post is a certified ad-free news service, unlike third-party commercial news sites linked on this page, which may also require a paid subscription.