Wray, a Trump appointee who has been head of the Bureau since 2017, was grilled by Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who questioned whether it was practice for the FBI chief to have also used a government airline for his vacation, instead of a commercial flight. Hawley appeared unconvinced by Wray’s defense that it was a requirement for FBI directors to use the planes for travel, a claim that Newsweek has explored in further detail....

In a televised address from Washington’s Union Station, he took aim at former president Donald Trump and the “Big Lie, that the election of 2020 had been stolen.” Attempting to find a message of unity, the incumbent Democratic president played down the scale of what he called “MAGA Republicans”—referring to the Trump slogan “Make America Great Again”—within the GOP. But is the faction as small as he suggests? The Claim...

The second COVID-19 relief package includes $600 checks for individuals, $300 weekly supplemental unemployment insurance, small business aid through the Paycheck Protection Program, food and rental assistance, among other things. The Claim People reportedly have been receiving text messages that claim to provide access to a $1,200 coronavirus stimulus check. So is the IRS sending texts to sign up for stimulus checks? The text message allegedly states: “You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND....

In addition to the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 children were killed, it was revealed that more children have been shot and killed in the U.S. than cops on duty. The government recently signed into law background checks for buyers under 21 and measures to prevent domestic abusers from owning guns, marking the occasion at the White House. The Biden Administration lauded the move as a decisive step in the push toward stricter firearms laws, although some gun control advocates disagree....

The Claim As he addressed the Cullman crowd, Trump said a “record” number of Americans felt “better off” in 2020 while he was in office than they were in 2016, the year of his election victory. “Despite the pandemic, 56 percent—this was a record—of Americans, this is during the pandemic, believed that they were better off in 2020 than they were in 2016 when I assumed office,” he said....

Indeed, when the faculty of the African American and Africana Studies department at the University of Kentucky wrote to president Eli Capiluoto, they made 10 suggestions designed to improve race relations and the experience for African-Americans on campus. Everyone involved surely had to be aware, though, that the other nine would be overwhelmed by their call to rename Rupp Arena. In a publicity battle between high-profile sports and significant educational concerns, sports wins every time....

On January 10, FIFA voted unanimously in favour of increasing the number of teams participating in the tournament from 32 to 48 in 2026 and Delaney revealed that the FAI would be in favour of the change. Robbie Keane confirms interest from Championship clubs “In theory, I and the FAI would be supportive of increasing the number of teams to 48,” Delaney said. “But we have meetings with UEFA next Monday and Tuesday under the top executive programme to find out how that affects UEFA....

But Republicans and Democrats saw the measures, which were doomed from the outset, as an opportunity to remind voters where they stand on the issue. “Defining the positions of the parties on important questions like this is a valuable use of our time,” Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) told Newsweek. “I think it’s recognition that, given the polarized environment, there’s not a lot of chance to get things done.” Abortion legislation can place certain lawmakers in a difficult position that transcends party lines....

That combination makes the NFL’s investigation of him following an accusation of domestic violence especially troubling. It doesn’t matter that, for now, Elliott has not been arrested, or that they’re only allegations. There’s an accusation, there’s a report filed and there are pictures. That’s enough to prompt a nightmare that resonates from Columbus to Dallas. MORE: Jones’ troubling history of enabling The Buckeyes’ backfield has taken a few black eyes during the Meyer era....

Whether or not you’re an avid news-seeker, the stories that the media chooses to tell — or not tell — shape and influence the thinking of every person. Your newsfeeds connect you to the wider world and matter to you in a deeply personal way. The media is your public square — a place where a variety of viewpoints, perspectives and personalities should be featured. In that public square, you should see yourself reflected, both in people like yourself, and in others who might not share your identifiers, but who share your values and priorities....

And winning. On the other, it was certainly hard not to notice that he demonstrated his excitement over LSU winning the College Football Playoff championship by placing a huge wad of cash in the hand of receiver Justin Jefferson before giving him a congratulatory hug. It was not clear just how much money Beckham was counting out before he gave up the process and just put it all in Jefferson’s right hand, but one could see the face of Benjamin Franklin — exactly as depicted on the United States $100 bill — as he thumbed through the stack....

The 31-year-old returned to Monaco ahead of this season following unconvincing loan spells with Manchester United and Chelsea. There were question marks over whether he would be able to rediscover his old form, but he has impressed with a string of fine performances, scoring 24 goals in all competitions. WATCH: Falcao’s goal against Man City He netted a double - his second coming courtesy of a stunning chip - in the 5-3 Champions League last-16 first-leg loss to Manchester City on Tuesday, though he also missed a penalty at the Etihad Stadium....

On Tuesday, Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn said the team has a spot for the Georgia legend if he’s serious about a comeback. MORE: Best, worst offseason moves for each team | Best NFL rookies of all time | Photos of Herschel Walker “He’s one of my all-time favorite players. Yeah, we have room for him,” Quinn said, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “For him, the legacy he left at Georgia … He’d definitely fit in great from a competitive standpoint....

And now the party might just be getting started again. Atlanta’s third straight win, a 34-20 humbling of visiting Tampa Bay, kept the Falcons (7-4) on track for a playoff berth while serving as a reminder of just how dangerous this team will be if it gets there. WEEK 12: NFL scores, highlights The 2016 Falcons had the same record before they caught fire and zoomed into Super Bowl 51....

But now that Atlanta has survived the proverbial hangover — it’s the only repeat playoff team in the conference — the Falcons can’t be counted out to advance to another conference championship. Atlanta, with no chance to play a home playoff game this time, began with a tough test in the wild-card round, traveling cross-country to Los Angeles to take on the Rams, winning 26-13. But from the Falcons at 10-6 to the Eagles and Vikings at 13-3, little separates the six teams in the strong NFC playoff field....

Developed from the best-selling young-adult book series, the show follows the every move of Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), the gravitational center of all teenage life on the Upper East Side. Her classmates are so absorbed in her life that they text and e-mail her every move to the anonymous teen-society blogger Gossip Girl (voiced by Kristen Bell, late of “Veronica Mars”). When Serena breezes back into town after an abrupt exit, everyone’s Facebook pages are all atwitter....

The Illinois-formed band unveiled a snippet of the official video for the track on Twitter on Wednesday. The track is the first single from Fall Out Boy’s recently-announced eighth studio album So Much (For) Stardust, set for release in March. With this being the band’s first official single in more than three years—and with the rockers’ last album being 2018’s Mania—the video was embraced by fans as a welcome return, winning rave reviews as it hit social media....

What went wrong? For starters, wide receiver Jalen Reagor dropped not one, but two, potential touchdown passes in the final minute of the fourth quarter. If he had caught just one of them, the Eagles (5-7) would have been able to win the game. The first pass, which Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts launched from about the 50-yard line, bounced off Reagor’s helmet as he was running into the end zone....

Alonso went to the locker room with a left knee injury and was ruled out, the Eagles announced. MORE: Must-see Week 2 images | Cowboys-Eagles betting line movement Alonso, 25, missed the entire 2014 season with a torn left ACL. The Bills’ fourth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Alonso recorded 159 combined tackles as a rookie in Buffalo. 

“It feels amazing,” Kendricks told the team’s website. “All of the hard work went toward the end goal, which was to reach a second contract and now it’s here. It feels really nice. I think security is a big thing, and the fact that it’s done early, I can have peace of mind and just go out there and play the game that I love. … It’s a special day....