
Manchin says he offered to become independent if he became a "problem" for Democrats
CBSN
Moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia said Thursday he had offered to drop his formal affiliation with the Democratic Party and instead be independent if he were causing a "problem" for the caucus.
He was asked by reporters at the Capitol about a report that he had threatened to leave the party if his demands weren't met on the social spending bill under negotiation by moderate and progressive Democrats.
"No," he said. But he disclosed a conversation in which he said that if he were ever "an embarrassment" to Democratic colleagues and the president, if "me being a moderate centrist Democrat if that causes you a problem, let me know, and I'd switch to be an independent, but I'd still be caucusing with Democrats."

Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency say they're using their access to the Social Security Administration data not only to investigate claims of waste and fraud, but also to examine claims that immigrants are abusing the system — even though undocumented immigrants contribute more to Social Security than they take.

Washington — A federal judge on Friday rejected an effort by the Justice Department to throw out a Tufts University Ph.D. student's challenge to her detention after she was taken into custody by immigration authorities or have her case moved to Louisiana, finding instead that her case should be transferred to Vermont.

SpaceX Fram2 crew splashes down off California coast to close out historic trip around Earth's poles
A wealthy space tourist and three fellow adventurers plunged back to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Friday, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California to close out the first crewed flight around Earth's poles.