L.A. Fires Live Updates: Residents Watch for More Evacuation Orders and Warnings The New York TimesFire crews ready for Particularly Dangerous Situation red flag warnings CBS NewsMillions under extreme fire weather alert as strong winds lash Southern California The Associated Press

Live updates: Pete Hegseth, defense secretary pick, grilled during Senate confirmation hearing The Washington PostTakeaways from Pete Hegseth’s contentious confirmation hearing CNNHegseth’s Drinking, Once ‘Self-Medication,’ Could Prompt Questions at His Hearing The New York TimesMaddow Blog | The critical question Pete Hegseth dodged in his confirmation hearing Yahoo! Voices

House Passes Bill to Bar Trans Athletes From Female School Sports Teams The New York TimesGOP-led House votes to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports CNNTwo House Dems join GOP to ban biological males from girls' school sports Fox NewsU.S. House of Representatives C-SPAN House votes to ban transgender students from girls’ sports The Washington Post

Constitutional crisis: House Republicans elect speaker after Simon adjourns session Minnesota ReformerMinnesota’s Legislative Session Opens Chaotically as House Democrats Boycott The New York TimesMN House DFL members skip first day of work amid power struggle FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul

Takeaways from special counsel Jack Smith’s report on January 6 and Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election CNNTakeaways From Jack Smith’s Report on the Trump Election Case The New York TimesJack Smith Gives Up The AtlanticJudge denies Trump's last-ditch effort to block midnight release of Jack Smith's final report ABC NewsAnalysis | Jack Smith’s subtle indictment of the Supreme Court The Washington Post

Texas House to pick new speaker, concluding brutal proxy war The Texas TribuneWatch: Texas House voting on new speaker, setting the stage for 2025 legislative session The Texas TribuneRep. Dustin Burrows voted Texas House speaker, in blow to insurgent GOP movement The Texas TribuneRace for Texas House Speaker Is a Test of Hard Right’s Power The New York TimesJack Fink talks with Texas GOP chair Abraham George ahead of legislative session CBS News

Johnson announces flags will fly full-staff during Trump’s inauguration POLITICOFlags to fly at full-staff for inauguration after Trump's complaints AxiosTrump flies US flag at full height before end of 30-day mourning period following Carter's death The Associated PressSpeaker Orders Capitol Hill Flags Raised for Inauguration The New York Times

After Loss, Tim Walz Faces Party’s Sinking Fortunes in Minnesota The New York TimesPerspectives: Walz-Flanagan rift resembles prior tussles Minnesota LawyerMinnesota Gov. Walz Faces Party Challenges at Home After VP Loss Newsmax

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes $1B income tax cut as she makes post-election affordability push POLITICOHochul Proposes Cutting Income Taxes for Middle-Class New Yorkers The New York TimesState of the State: New York Governor Kathy Hochul talks tax cuts, combatting subway crime ABC7 New YorkFacing political headwinds, Kathy Hochul zooms in on affordability POLITICOGov. Hochul proposes tax cuts, baby bonuses in State of State speech Gothamist

Trump's Cabinet pick confirmation hearings set to begin and more top headlines Fox NewsSchedule of Senate Confirmation Hearings for Trump Cabinet Picks The New York TimesHow likely are Donald Trump's cabinet nominees to be confirmed? A visual health check POLITICODemocrats’ hopes of derailing Trump nominees fading fast The Hill