Nicole Lafond

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Nicole Lafond is TPM’s deputy editor, based in New York. She has also worked as the special projects editor and as a senior newswriter for TPM. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and previously covered education in central Illinois.

Where Things Stand: New Study Finds Just 12 People Are Behind Most Online Vax Disinfo Prime Badge
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Fox News’ Tucker Carlson may be one of the most prominent voices spreading vaccine speculation on the airwaves, but social media’s prowess is arguably just as far reaching.

A new study first picked up by NPR has found that there are just 12 people behind much of the spread of disinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine on social media, specifically on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Where Things Stand: An Anti-Climactic End? Prime Badge
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The Justice Department and the House Judiciary Committee reached a settlement on how to proceed with the panel’s years-old subpoena of former White House counsel Don McGahn for testimony related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe and President Trump’s alleged efforts to obstruct it.

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Where Things Stand: Cheney Ousted For Refusing To Whitewash The Insurrection Prime Badge
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Today in Congress we’re seeing a pseudo reckoning for the Jan. 6 insurrection playing out in real time.

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Where Things Stand: Hawley’s Been Defending Extremism Since His Teen Years Prime Badge
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Sen. Josh Hawley’s (R-MO) raised fist — coupled with his vote against the Electoral College certification and various other instances of stolen-election fearmongering — has earned him accolades with the Trump true believers and made him one of the most prominent faces of insurrection incitement, aside from Trump himself and, perhaps, Ted Cruz.

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Where Things Stand: Cheney’s Almost Certainly Toast Prime Badge
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“Yes, I do.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) sealed Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-WY) fate over the weekend with those three words.

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UNITED STATES - JANUARY 26: Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., listens to Gina Raimondo, nominee for Secretary of Commerce, testify remotely during her Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing in Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/POOL) Where Things Stand: The Great GOP COVID Relief Credit Theft Continues Prime Badge
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The small club of Republicans shamelessly touting COVID-19 relief they voted against in March has grown steadily every week since. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), preemptively annoyed that this would happen since before the American Rescue Plan even passed, has been diligently blasting out press releases calling out the GOP lawmakers for their hypocrisy. She’s been kept busy. 

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UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 19: Jenna Ellis, right, and Sydney Powell, attorneys for President Donald Trump, conduct a news conference at the Republican National Committee on lawsuits regarding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election on Thursday, November 19, 2020. Trump attorney Rudolph Giuliani also attended. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Where Things Stand: The Gang’s All Here Prime Badge
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Some of Trump’s closest “Big Lie” allies along with one of his former lawyers are launching a new advocacy group to try to further cement former President Trump’s false claims about a stolen election into reality.

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Where Things Stand: McCarthy’s Back On The Couch Prime Badge
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Just in case the House minority leader’s sleeping arrangements were keeping you up at night — he told “Fox and Friends” this morning that he will soon be back to sleeping on the couch in his office on the Hill where he, apparently, belongs.

Nature is healing, etc.

But why are Kevin McCarthy’s sleeping arrangements a topic of discussion? Read More 

Where Things Stand: Flynn Has Been Busy Post-Pardon Prime Badge
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In the waning days of his presidency, former President Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, ending a years-long, messy legal battle in which Flynn pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI only to reverse course, hire Sidney Powell as his lawyer, and seek to reverse his plea.

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Where Things Stand: We’ve Been Covering The Duggars For A While Prime Badge
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The oldest son of the Duggar family clan, Josh Duggar was indicted by a federal grand jury in Arkansas for allegedly receiving and possessing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment after being arrested last night by U.S. Marshals in Arkansas.

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