Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken is fueling tensions between Ukraine and Russia with a visit to Kyiv; Supreme Court justices signaled support for Senator Ted Cruz in a case that could change the limits on how much money political candidates can recoup from their campaigns; The Biden administration announced a new program to give 400 million N95 masks to Americans free of charge, and more.

National

Ted Cruz finds friendly high court audience in campaign finance challenge

Despite retorts from liberal justices warning of a bribery scheme, the conservative supermajority Supreme Court indicated support Wednesday for a case that could change the limits on how much money political candidates can recoup from their campaigns.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, greets a crowd before he speaks at a campaign rally for Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Cumming, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Tapping 8 more for judgeships, Biden pads record for first year in office

President Joe Biden appointed eight to the federal bench Wednesday, bringing his record-breaking number of judicial nominations to 83 during his first year in office.

President Joe Biden nominated Arianna Freeman, a managing attorney with the Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, for a Third Circuit post on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Image courtesy of EDPA via Courthouse News)

Biden to provide 400 million N95 masks to Americans

As the omicron variant surges and hospitals are pushed to capacity, the Biden administration announced a new program Wednesday to give 400 million nonsurgical N95 masks to Americans free of charge.

President Biden says his administration is ordering 500 million more rapid Covid-19 tests to be sent to Americans via mail for free, speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (Image via Courthouse News)

Regional

Retired judges fight to advance age-bias lawsuit against California’s Judicial Council

An age discrimination lawsuit challenging new limits on how long judges can continue working after retirement may be too sparse on details to survive, a San Francisco judge said Wednesday.

Covid quarantines put brakes on Virginia GOP agenda

Covid-related quarantines are holding up legislative efforts in the Republican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates, after the new GOP leadership rolled back safety protocols.

Virginia's GOP House leaders, including Speaker Todd Gilbert, center, hold a press conference previewing the 2022 legislative session on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. (Brad Kutner/Courthouse News)

International

War drums beat louder as Blinken visits Kyiv

Ahead of decisive talks with Russia's top diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched down in the powder-keg Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Wednesday in a show of NATO support in the face of a possible Russian invasion.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks as he greets staff at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

T-Mobile parent wins $2 million in back interest on reduced EU fine

The EU owes Europe’s largest telecommunications provider $2 million, the bloc’s second-highest court ruled Wednesday.

A man uses a mobile phone outside a T-Mobile store, Monday, April 19, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Syrian doctor goes on trial in Germany for crimes against humanity

The trial of a Syrian doctor accused of torturing and killing patients at military hospitals during the country's civil war opened in Germany on Wednesday.

An unidentified Syrian doctor is led by his lawyer into the security room of the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Boris Roessler/Pool Photo via AP)

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