FBI searches Pence’s house: The FBI on Friday was searching the Carmel, Indiana, house of former Vice President Mike Pence, looking for classified documents. Pence voluntarily agreed to the search. Pence has been subpoenaed by Special Counsel Jack Smith who is conducting the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Donald Trump’s attempted coup. The subpoena would require Pence to testify under oath and tell the truth about Trump’s actions in trying to get him to refuse to count the Electoral College votes that elected Joe Biden as president. In an interview with the Associated Press, Pence said yesterday that he believes Trump has a right to run again for the White House if that’s what he wants to do. However, Pence told the AP he believes the American people are looking for new leadership. Pence said he doesn’t yet know whether he’ll run for president.
 Santos’ bad check charges: In 2017, before Republican George Santos of New York was elected to Congress, he was charged with writing bad checks in Pennsylvania. Multiple bad checks totaling $15,000 were passed to dog breeders and Santos was charged with the crimes in York County, Pennsylvania. An attorney convinced the authorities that blank checks had been stolen from Santos and forged by someone else. The charges against Santos were dropped.
New Russian attacks: Russia’s latest offensive in Ukraine is intensifying with new missile attacks on civilian targets in the eastern part of the country as the Feb. 24 one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches. Ukrainian authorities said today that 71 missiles were fired by the Russians and seven drones were used in the latest attacks.
22,000+ dead in quake: Turkish President Erdogan, who stands for reelection in May, said today in an understatement that the earthquake that hit his country and Syria is one of the greatest disasters Turkey has ever faced. The known death toll from the quake has now gone over 22,000. Rescuers still were able to pull a few survivors from the rubble as of this morning.
Russian oil production: Russia says it will cut oil production by 500,000 barrels a day beginning in March. Russia says it wants to force up the price of oil in retaliation for economic sanctions imposed by the West because of the war Russia started against Ukraine.
Super Bowl: U.S. television viewership for the Super Bowl is expected to be more than 100 million on Sunday. The price of a 30-second commercial went up by $500,000 from last year to reach $7 million this year. On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs meet the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
